In Shift, Romney Campaign Approaches Pennsylvania With a New Urgency

The New York Times ^ | November 1, 2012 | JEREMY W. PETERS

[LucianOfSamasota]

PHILADELPHIA — First there was quiet. Then came the “super PACs.” Now the candidate is on his way.

In a striking last-minute shift, the Romney campaign has decided to invest its most precious resource — the candidate’s time — in a serious play to win Pennsylvania.

Mr. Romney’s appearance here on Sunday could be a crafty political move to seriously undercut President Obama, or it could be a sign of desperation. Either way, his visit represents the biggest jolt yet in a state that was until recently largely ignored in the race for the White House.

Over the last several days, with polls showing Mr. Obama’s edge in the state narrowing, Republicans have sprung into action and forced the Democrats to spend resources here that could have gone toward more competitive battleground states.

[LucianOfSamasota]

In one, a young woman asks her friend about Mitt Romney. “I don’t know. He’s not as cool. And he’s a Republican,” she responds before deciding that yes, she will go with “Mr. Dependable” over “Mr. Cool.”

For an article printed in the New York Times, this seems pretty hopeful.

[all the best]

Obama may well be cool. But we need a man not a man-child. Cool be damned.

[Red Steel]

Mr. Romney’s appearance here on Sunday could be a crafty political move to seriously undercut President Obama, or it could be a sign of desperation.

No Slimes, it is not 'a sign of desperation' but confidence. It is however, a sign of the New York Times whining and worry.

[verum ago]

“It’s a little tighter than I would have expected,” said Jef Pollock, a pollster for Priorities U.S.A. Action, a Democratic super PAC. “But the question is whether this is just the natural tightening that’s going to happen.”

Oh dear, lacking confidence in public, are we? How do those internals of yours look, Jef?

[VanDeKoik]

Dont know why the Times would say it was desperate. Romney has more money than Obama. He could just pay for a fleet of buses to transport people to polls in Ohio or Iowa, plus pay for dinner and a babysitter.

[snarkytart]

Why would the run to PA if they were desperate? Wouldn’t another state be more winnable? I mean PA hasn’t went Red in two decades.

[Siegfried X]

Forced to respond, the Obama campaign has put more than $1.5 million into an ad campaign here and is planning even more. Democrats are saying that the race is much closer than they would have guessed just a week ago.

Why would the Democrats spend money unless they were really afraid of losing?

[Dr. Sivana]

In one, a young woman asks her friend about Mitt Romney. “I don’t know. He’s not as cool. And he’s a Republican,” she responds before deciding that yes, she will go with “Mr. Dependable” over “Mr. Cool.”

For an article printed in the New York Times, this seems pretty hopeful.

I showed that ad to my Canadian wife. One of the things she liked about it was the obviously fake sparkle in Mitt's teeth at the end. To her, that meant they were just having fun, and weren't taking themselves too seriously. The real joke, of course is that Romney is far from dependable and Obama is not cool. Nonetheless, the ads were well done, and may do their job with the target audience: undecided women.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Cool, as in Benghazi executioner.

[dennisw]

Tom Smith is running for the US Senate in Pennsylvania. He has a chance of beating Casey and I’m praying he does. He comes from the world of coal and farming and made his money in coal. He is not a lawyer. A good man to donate to.

Romney’s coattails can pull Tom Smith over the top!

[gov_bean_ counter]

They just write what Asselrod tells them to.

[Colofornian]

From the article: Mr. Romney’s appearance here on Sunday could be a crafty political move to seriously undercut President Obama, or it could be a sign of desperation.

Yes.

+ Could be they see PA as more in play

- Could be desperation time and Romney sees need to pre-empt Ohio as the make or break state...

[Vigilanteman]

But there is a tangible sense — seen in Romney yard signs on the expansive lawns of homes in the well-heeled suburbs, and heard in the excited voices of Republican mothers who make phone calls to voters in their spare time — that the race is tilting toward Mr. Romney.

Well, Slimes, it isn't just well-heeled suburbs. I live in a working class suburb with the average home price of around $140K, if that. There is one, single solitary jag-off with an Obama sign and scores of us with RR signs in our low-end neighborhood.

Interestingly, the Obama sign is one of the most expensive homes in the neighborhood. We suppose them to be an elitist who works for Fedzilla.

[The Sons of Liberty]

Why would the run to PA if they were desperate?

If he doesn't think Ohio is winnable, then PA might be his only hope. I pray this is not the case. I want 270 EVs, not a bunch of states where we were "close".

[Red Steel]

Because they believe they can win PA. Because they got Ohio wrapped up. Because they are expanding their winning error margin campaigning in former OBot states. Because they don’t believe the DUmb media polls that jerk you guys around so easily.

You gotta know how to win, and people here love to fret about losing.

[Vigilanteman]

I’m thinking it more likely that Tom Smith’s coattails could pull Romney over the finish line here. I haven’t seen a single Casey sign in our neighborhood. Even on the lawn of the jag-off with the Obama sign.

[Red Steel]

If he doesn't think Ohio is winnable, then PA might be his only hope.

No, the internals favor Romney in taking Ohio.

[magellan]

"Why would the run to PA if they were desperate? Wouldn’t another state be more winnable? I mean PA hasn’t went Red in two decades."

Exactly!

I think part of this strategy, to target Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota, is to force Obama to defend these states and not spend the final weekend in Ohio.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Romney demonstrated in the primaries that he knows how to close.

He does his due diligence, unlike a childish, jug-eared, village communist.

[tomkat]