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Romney’s Path to 270
National Review ^ | 11/5/12 | Robert Costa

Posted on 11/05/2012 7:48:23 PM PST by Numbers Guy

Boston — Romney officials tell National Review Online that the campaign is focused on two key states as Election Day nears: Ohio and Pennsylvania. They believe that they are competitive in Ohio, but should it drift away, they’re looking at Pennsylvania and its 20 electoral votes as a possible substitute for the Buckeye State. “We have got to win one of those two states and do well everywhere else,” a Romney adviser says. “We’re still pushing in Ohio, but it’s unpredictable. Pennsylvania, however, is really in play.”

Romney’s final-day schedule reflects his strategy. On Tuesday, he will campaign in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Cleveland, Ohio, according to campaign aides. “Pennsylvania is one of the states where the president is under 50 percent,” says Kevin Madden, a Romney aide. “In the western part of the state, near Pittsburgh, there is a large coal economy and the president is losing support there. We are confident that the governor can do well in that area and in the Philadelphia suburbs, especially with independents.”

Yet as Pennsylvania rises, Ohio continues to be an uphill battle for Romney. He’s heading to Cleveland, part of a manufacturing region in northeast Ohio, hoping to win over disgruntled blue-collar workers in the final hours. “We’re doing everything we can, but I don’t see a lot in Ohio that points to a clear Republican victory,” says a Romney insider. “The president has been hammering us for months,” and the auto bailout is popular.

It’s been over a century since a Republican has won the White House without winning Ohio, but Romney advisers are confident that they can figure out a path to 270 electoral votes should Ohio and its 18 electoral votes go blue.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: ohio; romney
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This is slightly on the pessimistic side, but I suspect it does indicate where they think the opportunities are -- if not Ohio, then Pennsylvania, if not those two, then Wisconsin and Colorado. The last ditch one, if it's not a Romney blowout, is likely Iowa, Colorado, and Maine's 2nd CD for a total of 269.

Virginia is crucial, that's the one to watch early tomorrow.

I'm not saying any of this to be optimistic or pessimistic, if it's decisive one way or another, it will be known in short order. But if it's close, here's what we should be watching most closely.

1 posted on 11/05/2012 7:48:25 PM PST by Numbers Guy
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To: Numbers Guy

Here are the scenarios:
Romney takes all the McCain 2008 states, plus NC VA FL IN CO. This yields 257 EVs. Then only one of the following must be won for a Romney victory:
1. OH(18) -or-
2. PA(20) -or-
3. MI(16) -or-
4. MN(10) + [NH(4) or IA(6) or NV(6)] -or-
5. WI(10) + [NH(4) or IA(6) or NV(6)] -or-
6. NV(6) + IA(6) (the tie scenario).


2 posted on 11/05/2012 7:53:19 PM PST by Atlas Sneezed (Hold My Beer and Watch This!)
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To: Beelzebubba

You forgot one:

7. NH(4) + IA(6) + NV(6)


3 posted on 11/05/2012 7:58:18 PM PST by CatOwner
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To: Beelzebubba

8. MN(10) + WI(10) (probably the long shot)


4 posted on 11/05/2012 8:01:36 PM PST by CatOwner
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To: Numbers Guy
Should it drift away

Say what? This is not what you want to hear from the Romney people the night before elections day. I thought PA was to expand the map. This guy's making it sound like it's a necessary alternative.

5 posted on 11/05/2012 8:03:22 PM PST by Mase (Save me from the people who would save me from myself!)
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To: Numbers Guy
Should it drift away

Say what? This is not what you want to hear from the Romney people the night before election day. I thought PA was to expand the map. This guy's making it sound like it's a necessary alternative.

6 posted on 11/05/2012 8:03:34 PM PST by Mase (Save me from the people who would save me from myself!)
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To: Beelzebubba

You can have the (6a) where Romney gets the one EC from Maine.


7 posted on 11/05/2012 8:04:06 PM PST by paudio (5Bs: Bain, Big-bird, Binders, Bayonets, and... Bullshiter ! <= 0bama's campaign message)
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To: Numbers Guy

Romney was interviewed on his plane by Greta tonight and he said Ohio is done... he says he will win Ohio and the presidency and that trumps any campaign worker... named or otherwise.

LLS


8 posted on 11/05/2012 8:06:29 PM PST by LibLieSlayer (OUR GOVERNMENT AND PRESS ARE NO LONGER TRUSTWORTHY OR DESERVING OF RESPECT!)
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To: Numbers Guy

I think Wisconsin is the the surprise. Pick up WI and one a small state and you don’t need Ohio.


9 posted on 11/05/2012 8:09:54 PM PST by cornfedcowboy (Trust in God, but empty the clip.)
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To: Numbers Guy

Republicans have gained between 8.9% and 12.9% in voter self identification since 2008. These are numbers are generated by in depth studies over tens of thousands of interviews with voters. If we gain even the low end of this range, all this talk is garbage as its going to be a clean sweep.


10 posted on 11/05/2012 8:09:56 PM PST by johncocktoasten (Practicing asymetrical thread warfare against anti-Palin Trolls)
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To: LibLieSlayer

Do you think Romney would say he is going to lose Ohio? If Romney had it in the bag, he wouldn’t be going to PA and Ohio on election day. I’m not pessimistic or optimistic it’s up for grabs.


11 posted on 11/05/2012 8:11:28 PM PST by Andrei Bulba (No Obama, no way!)
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To: Numbers Guy

Be prepared for the media to do everything it can to suppress Republican votes, including calling as many states for Obama as early as they can and dragging their heels calling any states for Romney that aren’t blatantly obvious. That means guys out West will be voting thinking Obama is ahead and folks in the East going to bed with the illusion that Obama is going to win. When they wake up the next morning, they’re going to assume that Republicans stole the election again with dirty tricks when, in reality, the media vastly overstated Obama’s victories and downplayed Romney’s until the inevitable truth could no longer be avoided.


12 posted on 11/05/2012 8:13:26 PM PST by OrangeHoof (Our economy won't heal until one particular black man is unemployed.)
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To: cornfedcowboy
"I think Wisconsin is the the surprise. Pick up WI and one a small state and you don’t need Ohio." I'm hoping that is the case. Realistically, WI + IA or WI + NH avoids the need for OH, particularly if that state becomes a post-election count/recount nightmare.
13 posted on 11/05/2012 8:15:20 PM PST by CatOwner
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To: OrangeHoof

This theory is closer to reality than I want to think. I tend to agree. I’ll be flipping between CNN and Fox. I think NBCABCCBS will fall for this, CNN and Fox, not so much. As biased as CNN is they get huge numbers for their election night coverage because they are pretty good at it.


14 posted on 11/05/2012 8:18:12 PM PST by TheRhinelander
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To: Mase

That statement seems counter to the Romney “internals” showing a 1 point lead. So much smoke-screening, I guess.


15 posted on 11/05/2012 8:18:33 PM PST by CatOwner
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To: Numbers Guy

Various sources have reported that Romney’s margins in Ohio have varied between +2 and -2 over the past couple of weeks. This insider is saying Ohio is unpredictable because of that variation.

If the extremely late deciders break even remotely for Romney, he will win. If they don’t, then it will be very, very close and could go either way.

We should get a definitive answer tomorrow. Personally, I like our chances.


16 posted on 11/05/2012 8:19:27 PM PST by comebacknewt (Newt (sigh) what could have been . . .)
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To: Beelzebubba

This report is actually very depressing and I fear it may be close to the truth. My nightmare is that the surprise state outcomes that all expect will not be Romney picking off a state but instead will be Obama taking a state we are counting on like Virginia. Sorry for getting pessimistic but there it is. Let’s hope that even the Romney camp is happily surprised by what happens with turnout tomorrow.


17 posted on 11/05/2012 8:19:46 PM PST by Uncle Augie
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To: CatOwner

Doesn’t counter it at all. Just the reality of the situation.

The number has been bouncing around for the last few weeks and could change again tomorrow.


18 posted on 11/05/2012 8:21:51 PM PST by comebacknewt (Newt (sigh) what could have been . . .)
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To: Andrei Bulba

If Romney had it in the bag, he wouldn’t be going to PA and Ohio on election day


Only if he wants to win. Also, campaigning in Pittsburgh help coverage in eastern Ohio. Very good move.


19 posted on 11/05/2012 8:24:07 PM PST by cornfedcowboy (Trust in God, but empty the clip.)
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To: Andrei Bulba

I saw his face... the face of his wife and the demeanor on the plane. I know what I saw and it was a man that knows he is the next president of the US.

LLS


20 posted on 11/05/2012 8:28:17 PM PST by LibLieSlayer (OUR GOVERNMENT AND PRESS ARE NO LONGER TRUSTWORTHY OR DESERVING OF RESPECT!)
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