Axelrod: 'I like our math'
(CNN) - The same day a new poll showed the presidential race in a dead heat across three major battleground states, President Barack Obama's top campaign adviser remained confident that the numbers will line up for the president in November.
"I like our math in terms of getting to that 270, but we're going to have to fight hard," David Axelrod said Thursday, referring to the number of electoral votes needed to win the election.
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In his comments, which came in an interview to air on CNN's "John King, USA," Axelrod downplayed the tightness of the race in key swing states. Obama and Romney are neck-and-neck in Iowa, Colorado and Nevada, according to new polls released by NBC News/Marist on Thursday.
"What's happening is, in my view, absolutely predictable. We knew this would be a close race. They're called battleground states for a reason," he said. "They're going to be close throughout."
CNN Chief National Correspondent John King outlined his electoral analysis in the interview, saying he expects Obama currently stands at 247 votes, with Romney at 206, leaving six or seven states as toss-ups.
Largely agreeing with that assessment, Axelrod said he expects more states will lean toward Obama, though he didn't name the exact states he had in mind.
Pointing to an example of the campaign's readiness for a swing state fight, Axelrod mentioned the $25 million ad buy purchased by Team Obama this month across a dozen battlegrounds.
In 2008, Obama won the presidential election with 365 electoral votes, or 53% of the vote, over Republican Sen. John McCain.
While the president carried several key states last time around–Virginia, Wisconsin, Iowa, Florida–those states made big Republican gains in elected offices in 2009 and 2010, making this cycle a tougher fight for Democrats.
Watch the full interview at 6 p.m. ET on CNN's "John King, USA."
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I wonder if Axelrod is worried that Wisconsin, a solidly blue state, is going to re-elect a conservative governor; that doesn't bode well for Axelrod in the general election regardless of the math.
Virginia is in the bag Axe. This is Obama Country.
Axelrod leading the rowdy Obama campaign on Romney's turf...Perhaps Axelrod should look under one of Obama's cow-pie to add-up the "I like our math"....
The deception, lies, propaganda and constanty mis-representations to the American people by the Republicans GOP and Mitt Romney are appauling and shameful. We need to kick all the Republicans out of office and ensure President Obama gets re-elected. https://sites.google.com/site/economictruthyouneedtoknow/
The deception, lies, propaganda and constanty mis-representations to the American people by the Republicans GOP and Mitt Romney are appauling and shameful. We need to kick all the Republicans out of office and ensure President Obama gets re-elected.
So far the math used in Obama's economic and healthcare calculations have been far off the mark. This is the issue in which will be the deciding factor. Simply put, Obama has failed his math test so far.
Of course Democrats will have to fight hard, people woke up and are seeing that Obama was in-experienced in got in over his head.
All we need to do is vote and remember three things:
1) the goal of the republicans (which was to make Obama a one term president) – forget the needs of the country;
2) the way things WERE when the president took office; and
3) do you want more WAR (Iran) with YOUR sons and daughters as the human sacrifice?
Obama/Biden ALL THE WAY for me and any sane American.
Of course Democrats will have to fight hard, people woke up and are seeing that Obama was in-experienced in got in over his head.
IF this is the case – why are republicans fighting twice as hard, spending millions of dollars and using a corpse such as Willard to frighten people? Answer: because they know they are DOA and they have nothing to offer the American people except excuses.
The only reason this is a tight race is because of the GOP Super Pacs big money is going to twist the facts otherwise Obama would be polling up by double digits. I have faith in the american people and the truth always comes out, and as the truth comes out Obama's numbers will rise! The GOP has sold their souls to the highest bidder!
Beware... Axelrod is evil.
I like the math too. It will get much better when Romney is fully vetted.
Liars and cheaters always say they like their math because their math is FAKE.
I guess it is possible but I hope for the sake of everyone's children that Americans are not stupid enough to vote for Obama again. If they do then as the pastor of Obama said America go to hell. Obama is taking all of America to hell.
Yo Axlerod, so do I like the Math. We gonna beat Team Tabby Nackle & a Half by 41 States. Romney / Rubes 2012 Aint gonna happen.
Hopefully, for the sake of the country, it is the same math that the NEA teaches our kids. That way he is sure to be wrong. If not we will have four more years of the most inept, incompetent, corrupt, union toady president in history.
to grover\dutch, just because your east end newport news peeps are brainless does not mean by a long shot that obama shall have my state.
Watch the math after Magic Underwear goes viral.
Corporations are people too. How can we lose against this whackjob Romney. Well I guess maybe caus his Tabby Nackle Ass is bought & Paid for by big Oil. Thanks Scalia & Roberts & Kennedy.
Can't wait to see Obamer get destroyed. Dems are consistently taking the low road – those cretins are in for a surprise.
Also pretty hilarious that on all these posts it's the same 20 people spouting off the same anti-freedom garbage.
That shouldn't be hard for President Obama because once Mitt figures out who he is or isn't, or did I say who is or who he isn't, I don't know because Mitt Romney isn't Mitt Romney. Oh forget it, I'm so confused because Mitt Romney must have changed his hair do or something or somebody else is wearing his head.
America has the truth of the world! I have no doubt President Obama will be re-elected based on truth. The economy is not perfect, so the rest of the world. The second tenure of President Obama will bring back the best of America. My advise to President Obama is to refocus his policies more in tune of providing more economic opportunities and choices based on the capitalist ethos of entrepreneurship and academic research.....