Romney, Obama camps war over 'state of the race'
(CNN) - Who has the momentum in the race for the White House, President Barack Obama or GOP challenger Mitt Romney?
Each campaign says they do, and are seeking to impress upon reporters that point.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
- Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
"A week from today, we will know hopefully the outcome of the election and we believe that Mitt Romney will be the next president of the United States," Russ Schriefer, a senior adviser to Romney's campaign, said Wednesday afternoon in a conference call with reporters.
Obama campaign senior adviser David Axelrod cited poll and early voting numbers in a separate call a few hours earlier, saying, "We feel very, very good about the numbers that we're mounting up in those states."
Their efforts come with only six days remaining in the presidential contest and after several days of campaigning were scrapped as Superstorm Sandy battered several eastern states. On Monday, Obama's campaign held a call with the same theme, and earlier on Friday, Romney senior adviser Kevin Madden told reporters traveling with the candidate that Democrats were feeling under pressure.
"I think in many of these states where the Democrats considered those to be locked down, safe states that they weren't going to have to defend, they've now gone up with - they're now pouring resources into those states," he said. "They have to put up ads on the air, and I think that shows that they're playing defense, whereas when we've gone in with resources to many states, it's because we're playing offense, that we have an expanded map now to get to the, our electoral of 270."
Madden's briefing took place on a flight from Miami to Tampa, Florida, and was the first time in several days the campaign has held an on-the-record briefing for reporters.
The Romney campaign described their newly-developing effort in Pennsylvania - where they have announced an ad buy on Monday and Tuesday of next week - which Democrats have said is a bluff to show confidence.
"As you looked at the numbers in Pennsylvania starting to close it became a very interesting place for us to go in," Romney's political director, Rich Beeson, said. "And when you look at the issues in Pennsylvania, when you look at the absentee ballot numbers that are playing out there - and we are significantly over performing in those - Pennsylvania is a place that we decided to wade into as a path to 300 electoral votes."
Only 270 electoral votes are required to win the presidency, and the CNN Electoral Map predicts Romney holds 206 and Obama 237 with 95 among eight toss up states.
On Monday's Obama call, campaign manager Jim Messina said of Pennsylvania, "We're not going to take anything for granted."
Romney pollster Neil Newhouse said on his candidate's conference call that the race comes down to winning among independent voters.
"We lead among independents," he said. "If you take a step back from this you'll see exactly what this is, which is a very tight race that is very far from being decided right now."
- CNN's Rachel Streitfeld and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report
Also on the CNN Political Ticker:
- Biden: 'You'll vote for me in 2016'
- Michigan poll: Obama 48% – Romney 42%
- Back on stump, Romney aims for right tone
From CNN Politics
- Pressure builds on Biden to act on guns in wake of Colorado mass shooting March 23, 2021 01:03 pm
- Sidney Powell argues in new court filing that no reasonable people would believe her election fraud claims March 23, 2021 12:15 pm
- Postmaster General set to announce 10-year plan including longer mail delivery times and cuts to post office hours March 23, 2021 12:02 pm
- Progressive group launches $3.2 million advertising buy to push federal voting law March 23, 2021 11:01 am
- US and allies announce sanctions against Chinese officials for 'serious human rights abuses' against Uyghurs March 23, 2021 10:32 am
- Analysis: Trump's army takes aim at 2022 touting his election lies March 23, 2021 05:01 am
Gallup say Romney is leading in early voting, and everyone knows Democrats are the early voters and Republicans always come out strong on election day.
The polls are deadlocked in some states, but only because the polls have been weighted D+9 or D+11.
In Ohio for example, early voting in Democrat precincts are down, while early voting at traditional Republican precincts are up.
So the D+9 advantage the polls have been awarding Obama are NOT panning out.
Even with the D+9 advantage, these polls are all indicating a strong swing among Independent voters to Romney.
Add to that the following.
Many Catholics are turning against Obama because of his policies
Many Jewish voters are turning against Obama because of his policies
Women voters are turning against Obama in increasing numbers
Youth vote motivation isn't a fraction of what it was in 2008
Obama has lost support among almost all of his 2008 demographic, while Republicans have been chomping at the bit for 4 years to get to the polls.
Spin things any way you like....But.... Obama is toast.
I'm an Independent and I'm NOT voting for Mitt. Need reasons? OK, it starts with his taxes ... Switzerland, Cayman. Then his little snide remarks about where he's from and the "birther" thing. His disregard for AFFORDABLE health care. More spending on the military than we do now, but giving the uber wealthy even MORE tax breaks. Then it just gets worse. "Self deportation." Bringing economic prosperity to Islamic countries so that they won't be so hateful ... but in the same breath saying that our current, harsh economic sanctions on Iran aren't harsh enough. Etc etc etc etc...
But the real kicker is his stubborn refusal to answer questions (any questions) that haven't first been cleared through his campaign staff.
Compared to OurBumma – he is a SAINT. And, just think-–if OurBumma was incapacitated for any reason, Joe Biden would take over as our President. Now if that isn't a scary thought, nothing is. IMO
Gurgyl...... yep, that's pretty much the sound I expect to hear from Democrats when they discover their messiah has been kicked out of office.
^^^^ a reason stay away from progressivism
Gotta "love" liberials, they don't have a rational thought or idea, so they come out with name calling
Obama's first election could be compared to the marketing program of a prototype automobile that gets a whole bunch of hype, but is not yet available for a test drive. The initial offering results in a huge number of pre-sales. Everyone wants to get in on the action. They want to be a part of the "cool" crowd and the first on their block to have that revolutionary new car. What happens when the new prototype car is delivered and the public finds out it only makes left turns and the wheels fall off of it soon after the break-in period. The maintenance cost is sky high and the warranty is non-existent. That is what Obama will face in this election. An electorate that no longer has to listen to the hype and can look at the results of the test drive. The Obama experiment has proven to be a dismal failure.
When it comes to hype and hyperbole versus performance and effectiveness Obama is the "segway" of presidential history.
"Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience."
What a choice; 'Socialism' or 'Corporate Fascism'? Whoever thought? A government that no longer resembles the one our Forefathers intended for us, a Political Class that has evolved into a corrupt oppressive entity, and an Elite few who benefit at the expense of the many. Worst of all is a generation and a half that allows these changes.
Where are the descendents of our Forefathers?
You have to be a fool to think Obama has any chance of winning this election.
I think Sandy squashed any momentum either side might of had. Now it's just about getting to as many rallies as each side can before Tuesday. That being said, in looking at the swing state polls, I would bet on Obama to pull it out for two reasons. First – Ohio. Although most polls over the last couple of months have been within the margin of error, they have all shown Obama with a slight lead. When that many polls show the same result, albeit by a slim margin, I think that bodes well for the president. Secondly, I think Obama has an edge in Wisconsin too. Marquette released a poll today showing Obama with an 8-point lead. Last week, NBC/WSJ showed him with a 6-point lead. You can say what you want about it being Ryan's home state, but I think Scott Walker's standoff with the unions are going to motivate a lot of people to vote for Obama and this is a state that has been a blue state for the last few years. Barring him losing any big states, if Obama wins both Ohio and Wisconsin, he wins the election.
How much more can this country take before it is irreparably broken? The Obama cancer has matastasized into every organ of government. His followers have gone full zombie.. The greatest mass delusion ever experienced by US... we're doomed if Ono is re-elected!!
Can't you see the Romney landslide coming, and who would want to vote for a President, who, in is very likely to be impeached soon after the election? I mean, you can't keep this secret forever, 4 people are dead, including an Ambassador, and we now know they were warned nearly a month in advance, and Obama was caught lying repeatedly!!!!
Mitt next President of USA nobama go home with your Failures! Nobama you couldnt run a tricycle!
America cannot take another 4 Obama years. It will tear this country apart and bankrupt us for good. The TRUE Obama objective from the beginning!
Mitt Romney is going to make a great President.
People fear Obama as a commie except the stupid ones of course.
You're all obamy lacky's ...True
Mitt is going to smoke him ... I can't wait either. Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Romney offers lies, flip-flops, and absolutely no specifics about his economic vision. His "6-step Plan" is simply a list of generalities with no information to flesh-out the idea. He says "trust me because I'm a businessman". When he made his money at Bain Capital people trusted him only to be tossed out in the street without a job or a pension. That vulture capitalism crowd of rich boys trashed good companies, stripping the assets and walking away without looking back. Those people "trusted him"... how did that work out?
Hopefully the O-bomination we had the last 4 years will disappear Tuesday.
The way President Obama stepped up and took charge of the hurricane rescue plan was impressive! Governor Christie was correct in praising his attitude and leadership.
It's not Obama that scares me, it's the 45% of America that is so stupid that they would put this dangerously incompetent liar back in the WH for another 4 years. What the heck is wrong with people? Do they have a death wish?
A vote for the President is a vote for the end of the American Dream.
People know the media (except Fox) is biased toward the Democrats so we really don't believe much of what they say. The basics are that people are not satisfied with the way we are headed. Romney wins on this alone. Business owners know the Obama administration is against them and the poor aren't hiring today . The other issues will be much easier to deal with once people are working again so how anyone can vote for more of this is suicidal or an admission of slow mental capacity.
23 million out of work
$6 trillion in new debt
$1.5 Billion taxpayer money given to Muslim Brotherhood
$4 gas
Obamacare
Solyndra
Fast & Furious
Benghazi
America can't afford another four years of Obama.