
Norfolk, Virginia (CNN) –In a late campaign push to change the battleground map, Mitt Romney will travel to Pennsylvania on Sunday in the hopes of capturing the traditionally Democratic-leaning state. A Romney campaign official confirmed to CNN the GOP nominee will stop in the Philadelphia area Sunday afternoon.
The Pennsylvania event falls into the Romney campaign's newly adopted strategy of expanding the battleground map in the final week of the race. Top strategists to the GOP nominee targeted Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota this week for potential gains, pointing to polls in the states that show Romney gaining on the President.
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A Franklin and Marshall College poll released Wednesday, for example, indicated President Obama Obama had a 49%-45% edge over his Republican opponent.
Romney's campaign began purchasing air time in the state this week–a move that was countered by Obama's team. The campaign also announced Rep. Paul Ryan, Romney's running mate, will be traveling to Middletown, Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The Obama campaign immediately scoffed at Romney's Pennsylvania trip as an "act of desperation."
"Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are going all in Pennsylvania, following the lead of every Republican presidential candidate since 1992 who have made last ditch investments in the Keystone State. Not one of them carried the state," Obama campaign northeast regional press secretary Michael Czin said in a statement.
The Romney campaign instantly fired back, accusing the president's re-election advisers of reacting from a "defensive crouch."
"We are looking at an expanded map, while the Obama campaign is pouring resources into states that were supposed to be safe for them," a Romney campaign official said.
"I totally understand why Chicago is freaking out, but I just thought they'd be better at hiding it," the official added.
In the final days before the 2008 election, then GOP nominee John McCain and his running mate, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin made campaign stops in Pennsylvania with similar hopes but to no avail.
In a strategy memo, Romney campaign officials referred to recent comments made by former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell who said Democrats could let down their guards in the state, opening up the possibility of a "startling upset."
Former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge, a Romney surrogate, predicted the GOP nominee would win the state in an interview on Fox News Thursday.
Romney's upcoming visit to Pennsylvania was first reported by The Daily.


Pure panic !
What?
Is RoMoney on drugs? PA is a Democrat stronghold which rarely goes to the other side; Let him think that his crap will sway the liberal mindset that has prevailed in Pa for years and years.
Plus, don't forget the state is a union stronghold while other states have fallen off the union wagon.
He is lies very well ! Nothing but lies !
Morph Romney needs to get Florida [likely], Virgina [not as likely] and Ohio [not likely]. If one of those fall he needs to turn over one or more of those three Obama states [trending has always been strong for President Obama and a history of Democrat leaning]. I don't see him winning in Ohio so that puts his back against the wall and have to turn to turning Minnesota, Michigan, and Pennslyvannia.
China is buying up the world.
Obama is asleep at the controls I will hold my nose and vote for Mitt.
A single campaign stop 2 days before election day is not going to put PA into play. Desperate times...
Stranger things have happened.....ask Jimmy Carter.
Lies all lies
I'm already celebrating President Obama's victory! Maybe 2016 Mittens! LOL!!
I pray that normal and intelligent people will see him for what he is. Not fit to lead.
Sounds like a bunch of wishful thinking on the part of the Romney camp!
Oh, nonsense.
McCain tried the exact same gambit in 2008, and it smelled just as much like desperation back then. I remember all the headlines about him heading to PA in the days before the election. It was the final hurrah of a candidate that knew he was beaten. Pretending that you're expanding the map isn't the same as expanding the map.
In other words...ROMNEY CONCEDES OHIO, TRIES HAIL MARY PASS IN PENNSYLVANIA. Good luck with that one, governor. Better men than you have tried.
With Benghazi blowing up in obama's face and the fact that obama's incompetence is the reason 4 Americans are dead now, everything should be in play.
go robme go. but my vote is cast already. listen to you i will, but with so many flip flops in history you are done!
"that wit womney is won waskerly wabbit!" ~ Elmer Fudd
Obama is in serious trouble. He's been exposed as an inexperienced, uncreative politician. He's treading water, hoping and praying that a boat magically comes along November 6 to rescue him.
It is call , DESESPERADOS are The Reps, I don't know who gets the calls from these polls but I live in Florida nobody call me , my Family, my Friends and Myself , will be voting OBAMA/Biden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The President will win Penn, state, Florida, California, Texas , Ohio, N.and S. Carolina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Romney has as much chance of carrying Pennsylvania as I do
Hmm, wonder which lies Romney and the GOP will deploy in PA? Real American patriots, not cowardly anti-American right-wingers, are going to reward President Obama with a second term, while Romney becomes a footnote (or stain) in history. I take great comfort in knowing the diseased ideology of Conservatism, and its equally diseased, sociopathic followers, are facing imminent extinction.
If Romney dose carry Pennsylvania , it's voter fraud for sure .
Dose Tagg Romney own voting machines there as well ? Thats the only way his dad could win the Keystone State .
Romney has a better chance of catching polio than winning Pennsylvania
This all looks like last ditch desperation by the Romney campaign to gain momentum in PA which is a very blue state and it is never going to be red especially for Romney. Pennsylvanians can see through his lies and changing positions on every issue and his real thinking about the 47% of americans who favor president Obama. Romney is a rich dude and is in the pocket of the rich in the country, and he is only going to help the rich if ever he gets elected. I don't think he has any idea of poor and middle class life is in this country. It is time to say no to him and good bye on november 6..
Romney,
I no longer live in Philly, but you are an IDIOT for thinking about going there. Stay out of my state. I don't trust you, and neither will my former neighbors... Actually nevermind – waste your time here. I hope you lose the election.
The Economist has endorsed President Obama. I would hope that people who have not yet voted read the endorsement and don't just watch Fox News.