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LANCASTER, PA -- Even though a Republican presidential candidate has not won the Keystone State since 1988, one of Mitt Romney's top surrogates who just happens to be a potential vice presidential pick said he has "a feeling" Pennsylvania will turn red this November.
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) today addressed more than 200 supporters at a rally here, one of 18 similar Romney events taking place throughout 12 states today while the presumptive nominee closes out his overseas trip. Portman's visit here marks the second time the Ohio senator has appeared in the neighboring state of Pennsylvania.
"I got a feeling Pennsylvania is going to be in the red column this year. You're going to paint the whole Commonwealth red starting right here in Lancaster County," Portman told an energized crowd. "I got a feeling about it. And it's going to be because, in 2008, we made a mistake."
Over the past week Romney surrogates have been out in full force in battleground states while the candidate is abroad. Speaking to reporters after the event, Portman defended the former Massachusetts governor trip to the United Kingdom, Israel, and Poland -- a journey that that has had its share of ups and downs.
"I think he's had a very strong trip to Israel," said Portman, later adding that the tour "shows people, one, that he does have a lot of foreign policy interest and background, but also that he's going to stand with our allies, which is incredibly important."
Romney first drew the ire of some in England after voicing concerns that the country was not ready to handle the Olympic games. Then, in Israel, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee was criticized for comments suggesting that the reason why Israel's economy has outpaced its neighbors (including the Palestinian Authority) is due to culture.
The Romney campaign has pushed back that the comments have been mischaracterized and that they were not meant to be a slight against Palestinians.
But the freshman Ohio senator did not focus his message on overseas policy, instead concentrating on an economic message that both Democrats and Republicans acknowledge will be the deciding factor in Rust Belt states.
"The private sector -- we talked about his successes. The governor of Massachusetts, folks, they don't call it Taxachusetts for nothing," said Portman. "It's got an 85% Democrat legislature, yet he cuts taxes 19 times working with them. He starts out with a budget deficit of $3 billion, he turns it around into a surplus and a rainy day fund of $2 billion. That's the kind of leadership we want, somebody who can bring people together and solve problems."
Portman, who was introduced as "potentially the next vice president of the United States," remained dismissive of the notion when speaking to reporters inquiring about his political future.
"I'm here helping Mitt Romney, I'm not here talking about myself," he said when asked what sets him apart from the other names being talked about as joining the national ticket.
But in terms of most utilized surrogates, Portman is near the top of the list. In addition to the numerous events and fundraisers in which he's participated on Romney's behalf in his home state, the former Office of Management and Budget Director under George W. Bush has also visited North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.
And asked whether or not he is ready for a new job, he again sidestepped the question.
"I'll let the Romney folks talk about readiness. As I have said before, Romney has plenty of choices -- a lot of people out there who can do the job. And, ultimately, people are voting for the president and not the VP."
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A Wave of Red is coming!
Liberalism, Marxism, Socialism, Communism, Statism whatever this perversion Obama has brought upon us is it will be repudiated soundly come November.
Portman and his right wing governor/corporate buds have arranged it so that 20% of elegible voters will be unable to vote in Pennsylvania.
THAT folks:
Is the corrupt, Anti-democratic Romney/GOP/A.L.E.C./Koch/Foreign Government 'leadership' we are dealing with in this election.
20% of elegible voters will be unable to votein Pennsylvania
Good luck with that canard.
Sorry but no more stuffing the ballot box libbies. I can't imagine the strain for lefties to have to get off the couch over the next 99 days and go get a ID. Oh, the horror of it.
Up in MA the Republicans wanted to put pictures on the EBT cards. That would have solved this whole ID dilemma but then the democrat base couldn't trade the cards for dope so it got shot down.
stuffing the box? they the repuks could not provide any proof that it has occurred.
also, I guess the gov is unaware of the buyer regret with the gop in PA.
20% voter suppression in Pennsylvanis is the figure and it is not news.
Data shows 1.6 million registered voters will not have state IDs by November.
In the city of Philadelphia: 43% of voters won't have ID.
For the visual learner who cannot fact facts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFzp5nTepeE
When will your idiocy be remedied?
Uh, Navy? How about instead of histrionics and rabid rhetoric, you focus on a few facts
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/washington/28cnd-scotus.html
When Justice John Paul Stevens calls your arguments all wet- you have a hard time getting anybody to take them seriously.
Backhouse - How do these millions of voters buy alcohol, cigarettes, cash checks, open back accounts, etc., with out photo IDs? Find a legitimate source besides some youtube BS. You are saying 43% of voters in the city of Philadelphia won't have ID cards, why is that, are they to lazy to get off their asses to go get one, because PA will give them a free one if they can't afford one. They still have around 95 days to get a ID. If they are to stupid to know how to get one then they shouldn't be voting anyway.
All this BS about disenfranchising voters is nothing but left wing propaganda.
Glad you mentioned Justice Stevens.
Stevens was against Citizens United, that hands corporations the power to spend unlimited, secret monies on federal election candidates.
Before stepping down, he was bitterly against Citizens United for those reasons.
Historically, both parties were for reasonable limits to corporate spending - and controlling corruption.
The ordinary person and ordinary vote is what democracy is all about. But the ultra-right wing has carefully positioned themselves to do away with it - and our voices.
You are refusing to read or listen to anything but Faux News and right wing spin. The news about Pennsylvania is well-known.
.......................
The video I posted above concerning voter suppression in Pennsylvania will help you face reality:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFzp5nTepeE
Backhouse - You are the one not facing reality and relying on some left wing idiot talking on youtube. That is really a reliable source, NOT. Give me some real facts like from a PA state survey or a PA government source, or even a MSM source.
You didn't answer my question as to why don't these people get off their asses and go and get an ID or how do they do the other things I mentioned without an ID. If the news about PA is well-known then you can prove the facts with other than youtube.
All this BS about disenfranchising voters is nothing but left wing propaganda.
SFC - Which was the counter for the right wing propaganda that created the illusion of massive individual voter fraud, which is ridiculous....
sfcret, where in the US Constitution are you guaranteed the right to buy alcohol, cigarettes, get on airplanes or write checks? The right to vote is guaranteed to all citizens in our democracy and we should not have to jump through hoops to vote and that includes republicans; not all those suppressed voters can be guaranteed democrats.
We send our military to fight for the right to vote in other countries yet in the US, we have the GOP doing its level best to suppress the vote of those they fear might choose democrats. That, sfcret, is cowardice. The GOP is afraid they cannot win elections unless they prevent citizens from exercising their Consitutionally guaranteed right to vote! Hope conservatives are proud that it is their party which is anti-democratic and dictatorial.
Voter impersonation is a big zero. No evidence for it.
All the expensive Voter ID laws are for blocking elegible voters.
Florida Governor Rick Scott refused to stop his hokey voter purge, even after the Department of Justice stepped in and all the Florida Election Officials from both parties said NO.
Rick Scott must be raking in quite a lot of kick backs from the corporations.
According to the Constitution, every citizen can vote.
Yes or No?
The way voter suppression efforts are being pushed by republicans, it becoming easier to buy a gun than to vote. I hope the Justice Department will stop this crime of voter suppression.
Shown on Hardball with Chris Matthews, former governor Rendell and Eugene Robinson:
Admission of pre-meditated corruption from the podium: "Voter ID (laws) that are going to allow Romney to win - - done."
Spoken on-camera by Pennsylvania GOP State Senator Mike TURZAI a few days ago.
@Job1. The Justice Department (headed by the Attorney General) is moving tooth and nail to ensure these laws don't prevent ELIGIBLE people from voting. Republicans don't really care about democracy, they only care about themselves. They also realize that they are a dying breed as more young people are progressive and do vote democratic. Whenever I meet a teenage republican I always ask "Which ass are you trying to kiss to get ahead in life?"
Jody - When in the constitution does it say you don't need a ID to vote? You do know that each state has the right to set their own voting requirements as long as it does not violate any Federal Law. Where in the constitution, other than age, does it say every state has to follow federal guidelines, in fact, please tell me where it says that requiring a photo ID to vote is unconstitutional? The federal court has upheld the purge of Florida's voters rolls and the DOJ backed down and will allow Florida and other states to access their Homeland Security files.
The Supreme Court of the United States has upheld the requirement to show a photo ID to vote, unless the Feds can prove it falls under the Federal Voting Rights Act.
No one has answered my question why can't these people get off their asses and go out and get a acceptable ID card?
Porkman predicts his neck will turn red?? - Porkman the Red-neck.
Sorry Portman, the rigging of the election is being brought to a halt. Oh, and your candidate sucks.
Chris@SLC -- Right. Like Tom Corbett says, rightwingers just "close your eyes."
All states "should" be red this election.
The Blue team has no viable candidate.
Yeah, probably. There's a whole bunch of dumb rednecks in this state.
by hook or by crook, given their new Voter Suppression antics, right?
The only way Republicans win is by cheating. They can't win by the 'merits' of their message, that's for sure!
Rednecks are the most uneducated people I've ever met. I'm not making this up.
Portman and his right wing governor/corporate buds have arranged it so that 20% of elegible voters will be unable to vote in Pennsylvania.
THAT folks:
Is the corrupt, anti-democratic Romney/GOP/A.L.E.C./Koch/Foreign Government 'leadership' we are dealing with.
If you can't beat'em, cheat'em. The GOP way.
So says PA GOP Leader Turzai!
That alone should have gotten the electorate really annoyed. But for some strange reason, this flew over the head of the media. When you enact a law to keep certain people from voting so that your guy can get elected, then you're a treasonous, unpatriotic bastard! Disgusting bunch of humans they are. I hope they all get what they deserve.
The main core of getting a magic trick to work is to project unto the audience what they think they are seeing and do the same opposite. Republicans decided to project Democrats as voter cheats and is doing all they can to suppress Democratic votes. The magic is: Republicans are doing exactly what they are accusing Democrats of doing. Republicans are in the process of pulling off the biggest voter fraud in American history. Who is going into their 'lily white' neighborhood precincts to check their voter IDs when they are all over the urban areas creating long lines with this facade.
Romney the Mormon Bishop, the disciple of the God of Money, named Mammon will save us.
What is it with Republicans wanting to be like the Soviets?
They want to continue spending trillions in taxpayer money in other countries rather than at home.
(More troops in Iraq, more troops in Afghanistan, troops to Syria, troops to Egypt, troops to Libya, start war with Iran, spend trillions on missile defense system in Europe).
Now they brag about painting things red like the Soviets did.
So sad that Republicans prefer to spend on other countries and want Americans middle class to pay for it.
Debbie somewhere a village is missing its idiot. What does the Soviet Union have to do with taxpayer money going to other countries. Also, did you know Obama gave four of the worlds top 10 richest countries foreign aid last year. China $27.2m, India $126.6m, Brazil $25m, and Russia $71.5m.
LMAO!! The ONLY way Republicans can win an election is by stealing it! Voter suppression and fake claims of voter fraud. Where is the evidence? These are the same people who hug the founding fathers and the constitution. What a bunch of hypocrites! I hope they all get what they deserve in November. Meanwhile, the southern states have no voter fraud. Go figure!
I swear since Obama got elected in 2008, the republicans went into overdrive to ensure he's a 'one term president'. I hope all their plans crash and burn in November when the sensible folks in the country re-elect Obama.
Obama himself in his own words said he would be a one term President if he didnt turn the Economy around in his first three years We are heading for a double dip recession! You people sound like Loons and think like them also! I agree with Sfcret...........what is so wrong with telling people to get off of their duffs and go get an ID card! Some States are even telling people that they can be transported free to the places to get FREE VOTER ID CARDS!!!!! This takes care of the Voter Fraud for both Democrats and Republicans!!!! Since you are so worried about Republican Voter Fraud! Only one half of your Brain works.......The democrat side!
The pdf of the Pennsylvania 6 point stipulation as they prepare for their "defense" of voter ID laws. Note that even they specify that there is no voter fraud.
(source: http ://bradblog. com/Docs/PA_ApplewhiteStipulation_NoInPersonVoterFraud_071212.pdf )
Note that the State of Pennsylvania also specifies that the AG Kelly (appointed by Gov. Corbett) will not testify.
David Burgess, deputy secretary for planning and service delivery at Pennsylvania’s Department of State, testified today in state court in Harrisburg that the voter ID law may affect as many as 1,500,000 people. IF the State of Pennsylvania. As of 2008 there were only 8,755,000 registered voters in PA total (source: http ://www .portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/voter_registration_statistics/12725 )
So there you go, spend millions in taxpayer money for NO official reason and potentially disenfranchise almost 20% of your electorate.
At the very best this is true waste of taxpayer dollars. At the worst it is a delibeate attemt to disenfranchise AND a waste of taxpayer dollars.
THis voter suppression will be stop in Pa. And the President will take Pa. handily..THANKS TO THAT RETHUG IGGY WHO WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA SAYING THE "REAL REASON" THE RETHUG STATE LAW WAS PASS....(To stop minorities & disenfranchise the seniors and the infirm to vote for the President)....These nasty cold-hearted hypocrites will be stop!..Do they actually think the White House is going to let this illegal state law stand?...The justice dept. will put and end to this.....NEXT!!.....THIS PRESIDENT WILL WIN...GET USE TO IT RETHUGS-TEA-BAGS!!...Obama/Biden...2012
I do not know about the rest of you people, but I believe if you are illegal, or you are dead, you have no right to vote. Now I know this will upset the democrat-communists, but, oh well, tough shytt.
The problem is the millions of ELIGIBLE voters that are being purged by Governor Rick Scott in Florida, in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin.
And Snyder, et al...
So why can you vote Tony, you are braindead. The problem in PA is that a repuke state senate leader said in a private meeting, "now that the voter supression law has passed, Romney will win" That is why the state is being sued to stop the supression.
Back, Lee County, Fl. found one potential registered voter who "may" be ineligible to vote. No voter fraud exists. Not one provable case. Right wingers are buying into the hoards of illegals and dead people are storming the polling places. I'm hoping the courts will hurry up and squash voter suppression laws. We all know the targets, old, young, and poor. The only way the republicans believe they can win is to cheat, I haven't forgotten the Fl. debacle in 2000, when Gore was cheated out of the Presidency. Different world if Gore got elected.
Obama 2012
Good for you......and I would also like to add that besides being dead or illegal if you are too lazy to get off of your butt and go get an ID card you shouldn't be able to vote! You have to have ID to drive a car, buy Liquor and someplaces cigarettes, Guns, and probably other things........so come on and get a grip and see it as it really is and not how you want it to be!!
Reported.
The only way lyin Willardo, the Mexican Mormon Moron tax evader, bankrupter, draft dodger, job outsourcer and Etch a Sketch Champion can win is if voting is supressed. Otherwise, lyin Willardo should get smashed like he should be.
All braindead pathetic right wing radical cracked teanuts should listen to your leaders.
Rick the Dick Santarium has brainwashed his followers, the evangelical Children of the Corn zombies and the gay rapist, pedophile catholic priests that lyin' Willardo is a member of an evil cult and is the anti-christ. He also told them that lyin Willardo is the worst person in history to ever run for the presidency, can't be trusted and will destroy our country. Groper Nutquist, the boss of the right wing cracked teanuts and Nut Gingerhead, trhe criminal lobbyist, totally agreed with the last three assessments.
So most of the evangelical sheep will probably stay home on election day or some may even vote for Obama. They are totally scared to death of lyin Willardo, the Mexican Mormon Moron tax evader, bankrupter, job outsourcer, draft dodger and Etch A Sketch champion.
If this repuke draft dodger ever became president, and war broke out in the middle east, he will be putting his dog on the top of his car and fleeing to his birthplace in Tijuana and hide in one of his 4 grandmammmy's (father's side only) outhouses.
Pennsylvania has TOO many Minorities for it to become a Red State, wishful thinking. Minorities DON'T vote Republican.
Pennsylvania predicts Portman will turn purple in November. GOPathetic.
Nitwitt Moneybags Wrongney-WRONG for AMERICA