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Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney campaign in Lancaster, Ohio
The Obama campaign has been so effective in Ohio that some polling now indicates Romney might stand a better chance in states that were not seen to be in play. For example the Quinnipiac poll out today has Obama up by five in Ohio while the Detroit News poll has Obama leading by only 2.7 percent in Michigan.
Since Romney and his allies are still flush with cash and the media markets in the top swing states are effectively saturated, it makes sense for them to make a long-shot play to expand the map. As a result the pro-Romney Super PAC Restore Our Future has put over two million dollars each into TV ads in Michigan and Pennsylvania as well as roughly a million each into Minnesota and New Mexico. All four states were basically considered out of play last month.
The move has forced the Obama team to respond with its own ad buys and even visits to the states by top surrogates.
Romney’s unorthodox attempt to expand the map with only a week left until the election seems like the textbook example of a political Hail Mary pass. It is unlikely to work but it theoretically could. Since Romney’s allies have the resources there is no reason not to take the chance even if the odds are long. As in football, if you down but have time for one last play you might as well try.
12 Comments
Bill Clinton made an unexpected stop in my small north Iowa city today for a rally. Our media market includes chunks of southern Minnesota.
So, it seems that the dems seem to be pretty quick in responding.
Mitt is behind but he still has more cash than Obama what is he waiting for to spend it? Its a week before the election !
After the election does Mitt get to keep all his campaign cash? Was that Mitt’s evil scheme all along?
I’m not really sure, but at least in some federal races I believe you’re allowed to keep the dough as long as you pay taxes on it.
In Mitt’s case that wouldn’t be a problem, it’ll just go straight to his $100 million dollar IRA.
Mitts could buy a few snappy sound bites from Frank Luntz to lobotomize the public with 24/7 until the election.
Somebody could write Mitt some new lies, those old retreads he rolling with are near blow out.
Will it be Willard or Mrs. Willard on ‘Dancin w/ the Stars’ post loss?
What is your small town? I missed the coverage.
This post reminds me of the famous words that we may not have Mr. R to “kick around anymore.” Course that guy didn’t keep his promise either; but here’s hoping. It really is time for R. to leave the stage.
Or, the dancing horse; now there’s talent.
I think it will have to be the horse; nothing makes me think that Mitt has rhythm.
If we had a real election, there would be a candidate representing the 99 Percent, and the poll numbers would not be hovering within the margin of error.
Mason City, Iowa.
The media market is–Mason City/CBS; Austin, MN, ABC; and Rochester, MN, NBC,Fox.
Won’t failing to make these ad buys/expand the map sooner end up looking like a big a big mistake? After all, if they had the money, what were they waiting for? They preferred a narrow win to a bigger one?
I find it ironic that instead of a “great ground game” Obama could have had great GRASS ROOTS support, if only he’d made even a feint or two over four years TO the grass roots, including by availing of the extraordinary network they assembled in 08.