Beyond debate, Pennsylvania's in play

Reuters ^ | October 31, 2012 | By Thomas Ferraro

[Oldeconomybuyer]

A new poll released on Wednesday is the latest indication that Pennsylvania, which has not voted Republican in a presidential race since 1988, could do so again next week.

In one month, an 11-percentage-point lead held by President Barack Obama has dwindled to 4 points, according to a survey by Franklin and Marshall College's Center for Opinion Research.

Ann Koberna, a Democratic activist and former school teacher in the Philadelphia suburb of Doylestown, did not need a poll or ads to see that support for Obama was eroding ahead of next Tuesday's election.

She noticed it just after the first debate, on October 3, which boosted Romney's national poll numbers after his strong performance. All of a sudden, she said, Romney-Ryan lawn signs started popping up in Doylestown and now they are all over the place.

"It's troubling," she said, noting she recently planted an Obama sign in her front lawn as a "counterbalance."

"I know people who voted for Obama last time but aren't this time," Koberna said. She attributes the shift less to the debate than the economy. "They are looking for someone to blame."

The Franklin and Marshall poll supports her observation.

[randita]

PA Ping!

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[Breto]

Crow would be a welcome trade.... having said that Christie is telling us something...

[tomkat]

.. having said that Christie is telling us something

a) I'm stroking Ø's narcissism to maximize Fed disaster $
b) I'm showing 'bipartisanship' to bolster overall GOP 'likeability' for Tuesday
c) I'm slyly leading the maggøt toward a bottomless underwater sinkhole
d) I'm turning spineless to match the chinless thing
e) I'm only appearing hospitable to a guest, however vile the pØs might be
f) I know this photo op doesn't really matter because the traitor is already history
g) I think this is the stupidest multiple choice I've ever seen .. please make it stop
h) all of the above
i) none of the above

[arrogantsob]

This was one of those verbal screwups that I like. It just, I don’t know, seems to fit.

[Tennessean4Bush]

We are the challenger, on the road, with a hostel crowd and blatantly bias officials...We are playing the reining Super Bowl Champion.

Hostel crowds are usually not too difficult to handle. Hostile crowds are, so thank God we aren't dealing with those. Also, reining champs are not nearly as good as reigning champs, so I like our odds.

[Breto]

good one only one missing is

j) I liked the taste

[tomkat]

eeeewwwwwwwwww !

[dirtboy]

"I know people who voted for Obama last time but aren't this time," Koberna said. She attributes the shift less to the debate than the economy. "They are looking for someone to blame."

I live in an area that is 25 percent Jewish. I saw Obama signs all over the place in 2008, including some in Hebrew. Ain't seeing those Hebrew Obama signs this time around, and a LOT less of the English variety as well.