Obama Outspends Romney on Virginia Political Ads
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.
Springsteen Plays Virginia for Obama
Musical artist Bruce Springsteen played a free show for a near capacity crowd at Telos Wireless Pavilion on Monday to campaign in Virginia on behalf of President Barack Obama.
Springsteen played for nearly 40 minutes, and while on stage, showed his support for the president by stating, “I am here today because I am thankful for universal healthcare, and I am thankful for a more regulated Wall Street. I’m thankful that General Motors is still building cars.”
Democratic Senate hopeful Timothy M. Kaine also spoke to the crowd about the importance of Virginia as a swing state in the Presidential Election, and also urged the voters to “keep this country moving forward.”
Obama Still Leads in Virginia
Not much has changed recently in the battle between President Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for Virginia’s 13 electoral votes. Polls generally show that it is almost at a deadlock, with Obama still slightly leading the way.
Obama has, however, gained popularity among female voters by 15 percent in a poll conducted by Quinnipiac University.
Obamas to ‘Celebrate’ 20th Wedding Anniversary at Debate
Today marks an important day for President Barack Obama. It’s his 20th wedding anniversary with Michelle Obama. Unfortunately, rather than celebrating with his wife, Obama will be in Denver, Colo., for the first presidential debate against Mitt Romney.
Tonight’s debate, the first of three, is going to be crucial for both presidential candidates. According to ABC News, the presidential race is statistically tied with Obama at 48 percent and Romney at 45 percent. The debate in Denver could determine which way Colorado, which is one of the critical swing states, will vote.
Typically seen as a Republican state in the past, Colorado voted for Obama in the 2008 presidential election after opting for George W. Bush in 2000 and in 2004. The state is split three ways evenly between Republican voters, Democratic voters, and independent voters.
“They need those independent voters to win. They are trying to appeal to those voters, but have to figure out what is the issue that resonates with them,” E. Scott Adler, a political science professor in Colorado told ABC News.
Tonight’s debate will focus on domestic policy and will be divided into six segments of 15 minutes for each presidential candidate on topics selected by the moderator, who will open each segment with a question. Each candidate will then get two minutes to respond. The remainder of the 15 minutes will be spent in a discussion with the moderator balancing the time.
While Romney has to focus on winning the crowd over after the infamous “47 percent” comments he made in a leaked video, Obama will need to prepare for questions about health care that will be directed towards him.
The debate is slated to start at 8 p.m. and will be televised as well as live-streamed online. The debate moderator will be Jim Lehrer, host of Newshour on PBS. The two other presidential debates for this election will take place Oct. 16 at 9 p.m. at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. and on Oct. 22, also at 9 p.m., at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.
— Wesly C. Cadet, Heather M. Monahan, Aime S. Mukendi and Benjamin E. Tryon
Virginia Snapshot
Virginia has the potential to determine victory or defeat for both Barrack Obama’s and Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns.
Virginia, which has 13 electoral votes, has historically voted for the Republican ticket in most presidential elections. However, in 2008 the state went against the grain and gave its 13 electoral votes to current Democratic President Barrack Obama.
A poll published by the Washington Post on September 18 suggests that voters in Virginia may once again keep with this new trend and give their votes to President Obama. The poll reports that Obama is up 52 to 44 percent, which is an eight point lead over rival Mitt Romney.
Virginia citizens were not hurt badly by the decline in the economy as compared with other states, which suggests why Obama is still favored over Romney. The economy though is still the issue that most voters are concerned about. Mitt Romney hopes to use vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan to win some of the undecided voters
Members from both campaigns also have been visiting the state frequently to try and gain more popularity amongst voters. Ryan was in Virginia on Sept. 18 and 19, while Obama was there on the Sept. 21.
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