Obama Outspends Romney on Virginia Political Ads
Iowa Wind Industry Focus of Advertising Whirlwind
The Obama campaign, in conjunction with the League of Conservation Voters, has released an $850,000 ad that criticizes Mitt Romney’s promise to rescind tax cuts for the wind industry. An article in the The Hill described the ad as trying to tip the balance in Obama’s favor in Iowa and Colorado by “highlighting Mitt Romney’s opposition to wind energy tax credits in the campaign’s final days.”
Iowa and Colorado are key states for both candidates, and the wind industry is a major employer in each state.
The ad features a laid off worker from Vestas Wind systems, who claims that he, along with 100 other workers, lost his job because of Romney’s promise to eliminate tax credits for the wind industry. The Romney campaign has affirmed that indeed it does plan to eliminate tax credits for renewable energy projects.
In response to this ad, the Romney campaign has spent $1.4 million in Iowa on a “Flatline” ad that blames Obama for the terrible economy.
Obama Spending More on NC Ads
According to a CNN.com chart, President Obama has spent $18.91 million on ads in North Carolina, with 17 percent being positive ads and the other 83 percent being negative ads. Republican candidate Romney has spent only $13.31 million on ads with 14 percent being positive and the remaining 86 percent being negative. The CNN poll shows a closer race with Romney leading President Obama by just one point.
The Obama campaign has spent more money in the swing state during the month of October, spending a total of $5.34 million while Romney has spent just $3.28 million. Yet Romney has visited one time while Obama has not visited the state at all this month.
In comparison to other swing states such as Ohio, both candidates have spent more money and made more appearances. Romney has visited Ohio 16 times in October while Obama has visited five times and Obama has spent just over $16 million on ads while Romney has spent just $10.45 million on ads in the state.
In Colorado Obama has spent just over $8 million on ads while Romney has spent $5.29 million on ads and both candidates have held events in the state a total of three times during the month of October.
The money spent by the Obama campaign along with the events held by the Romney campaign speak to how close the presidential race is, especially in N.C.
With less than a week left before the election Mitt Romney appears to be leading in the polls for the race for North Carolina. Survey USA conducted a statewide presidential poll in N.C. that showed Romney had a five point lead. President Barrack Obama was at 45 percent compared to 50 percent for Romney. Third party candidates combined with undecided voters were at 5 percent statewide in N.C. according to the poll released by Survey USA Oct.30.
Obama Spends Almost $4 Million More Than Romney on Ads in New Hampshire
According to CNN’s Campaign Tracker, President Obama has spent $5.46 million on ads during the 2012 Presidential Election Campaign. This is compared to Mitt Romney’s $1.27 million spent on ads in the state. Just in October, Obama spent $1.52 million on ads in the Granite State. Romney’s spending for this month has not broken a million.
With New Hampshire being the smallest swing state, having only four electoral votes, candidates seem to be taking that into perspective. New Hampshire only stands in front of Michigan and Pennsylvania in amount of money raised for ad campaigns in the swing states.
CNN states that 17 percent of the ads Obama has run have been positive ads, and 83 percent of the ads have been negative. Romney has also aired more negative ads, with only 11 percent being positive and the remaining 89 percent negative.
Both candidates have recently released ads in New Hampshire. CNN reported an ad by Obama that urges citizens to vote and asks for their support in an attempt to avoid a catastrophe such as the one in the 2000 Presidential Election. The ad also reminds New Hampshire voters that while the state offers the least amount of electoral votes, they’re still important and can make a difference in the election. Romney’s ad in New Hampshire targets a specific group of New Hampshire citizens; those who rely on shipbuilding for support.
Obama Maintains Slight Lead in Virginia
A poll conducted by the pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action has the president up by three points in the state of Virginia over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Obama is up 49 percent to 46 percent. Democratic Pollster Geoff Garin said in an email this lead is partially to do with the fact that Obama’s support with white voters is “right at the mark he needs to be hitting.” Obama’s popularity with white voters has increased among white college students, and white women, which is crucial if Obama plans to win Virginia again.
Hurricane Sandy Causes Democrats to Change Plans
Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia has declared a state of emergency in response to Hurricane Sandy which is expected to hit the east coast.
This has caused the Obama campaign to cancel a scheduled rally on Monday, Oct. 29, with former President Bill Clinton. It remains to be seen whether other campaign events by either candidate will be effected by Hurricane Sandy in Virginia.
Romney Sends out Automated Phone Messages in Virginia
The Romney campaign has started to send out automated phone messages to potential Virginian voters in an attempt to gain more popularity in the state.
The phone message consists of a recorded voice that identifies herself as Christie, and also goes on to tell the listener that she voted for Obama in the last presidential election. Christie states in the message, “What has Obama done? Has he done anything to help me personally? Has any of his legislation really helped you? I think that was part of his campaign, is, ‘I got to make all these big promises, everything’s going to be wonderful, I’m going to make all these changes.’ He hasn’t done anything. He promised all this change and all these wonderful [inaudible] and none of them have happened. As far as I’m concerned, the way that politics relate to me, I mean, I feel like it’s worse now than what it was then.”
This message is another attempt by the Romney campaign to illustrate to voters that they believe that President Obama’s time in office has been a disappointment and that Obama has actually worsened conditions in the United States while president.
Swing State Update: Election Could Be Repeat of 2000
In the 2000 presidential election, former President George W. Bush won the vote of the Electoral College, but lost the popular vote.
Twelve years later, the nation could see the same thing happen again. According to the USA Today, many nationwide and statewide polls indicate that President Barack Obama could win the vote of the Electoral College and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney could win the popular vote.
RealClearPolitics.com has 11 states listed as toss ups at this point. Seven of the toss up states have Obama with a slight lead, which could change at any time. Two are listed as a tie between Obama and Romney.
New Hampshire and Nevada are two of the states that often select the candidate who ends up as president. Both states are leaning towards Obama, according to multiple polls.
But, with just seven days until the election, the presidency is still very much for grabs.
New Hampshire Gaining Attention as Battleground State
ABC News released a snapshot on New Hampshire as a swing state today. The report classified New Hampshire as one of the only independent states in the New England region whereas most surrounding states can be considered democratic.
ABC also reported that the candidate New Hampshire selects is usually the candidate to become president.
“In the ten contests stretching back to 1972, New Hampshire has voted for the winning candidate 8 times,” they reported.
While the state gave its four electoral votes to President Obama in the 2008 election, the state has more registered republicans than democrats.
According to ABC’s Swing State Map, Mitt Romney is leading Obama by point in the national polls. However, according to the same poll, Obama is edging Romney 47 percent to 41 percent.
Michigan Newspapers Swing Both Ways
Looking at the list of newspaper endorsements, the newspapers in Michigan look to be as undecided as the state.
In the list of the top 100 newspapers in the country on The American Presidency Project’s website, the Detroit Free Press has published that it once again is endorsing Barack Obama, while The Detroit News is endorsing Mitt Romney after also endorsing McCain in the 2008 elections.
With the Real Clear Politics showing Obama still in a tight four point lead, Michigan looks like it will head into Election Day at a statistical tie.
BonaSwing 