Free Republic

When most people think of battleground America, they think of Florida and Ohio, two of only three states (along with Nevada) that have voted for the winner of every presidential election since 1996. They tend not to think of Pennsylvania as a classic “swing state” — it has voted for the Democrat in every election since 1992, and it didn’t even crack the top 10 in 2012 campaign ad spending. But in 2016, Pennsylvania could be the keystone of the Electoral College and the ultimate arbiter of whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Keystone State Hasn't Backed a GOP Presidential Candidate Since '88, but as Obama's Lead Narrows, Romney's Camp Eyes It. Pennsylvania has emerged as an appealing target for Mitt Romney and the Republican Party as they consider where to invest their considerable resources during the final weeks of the presidential campaign. A quick visit to a Pittsburgh suburb on Saturday by Mr. Romney's running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, suggested that Republicans are eyeing the state—or else trying to keep their opposition guessing.

Not only does the Rasmussen Daily Tracking poll show Romney up 2 points today; not only does the Rasmussen Swing State poll show Romney up 49-46 today (included are 11 states which Obama won 53-46 in 2008); not only is Romney up by 50-37 among swing state independents; NOW Susquehanna Polling and Research (SPR) shows Mitt Romney up 49-45 in the normally deep blue state of Pennsylvania. (1) SPR is an automated poll of 1,376 likely voters, taken between October 11-13. Although its results do not include the 2nd presidential debate, Gallup incorporates over 50% of the post-debate days in...

For months, Pennsylvania was considered a cakewalk for Democrats, with Sen. Bob Casey easily cruising to reelection and its 20 electoral votes in the bag for President Barack Obama. But enter Republican Tom Smith and his personal fortune, and suddenly the Keystone State has the potential of upending the national political landscape. Buoyed by a tightening presidential race here, Smith — a no-name GOP Senate candidate and self-funding multi-millionaire — has suddenly made Republicans bullish about picking off the Keystone State to make Mitch McConnell majority leader and Mitt Romney more competitive here. “He wasn’t on any endangered list,” Rep....