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Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan sing along with Janna Ryan as the Oakridge Boys perform during a campaign rally at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Marion, Ohio on Sunday.
Ohio's Republican governor said Sunday that private polls show Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney beating President Barack Obama in the all-important battleground state of Ohio just as auto industry politics assume a dominant role in the closing days of the campaign.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) predicted outright that Romney would win Ohio on "Meet the Press" and, with it, the presidential election — a overall contest which Kasich said wouldn't be that close.
"Right now, I believe we're currently ahead. Internals show us currently ahead," he said, referring to the private polling candidates routinely conduct. "Honestly, I believe that Romney is going to carry Ohio."
The governor's show of confidence comes after a week in which Obama and Romney — along with their respective running mates — barnstormed the Buckeye State in hopes of securing the state's 18 electoral votes, which would greatly enhance either candidate's hopes of winning the presidential election.
A Cincinnati Enquirer/Ohio News poll released Sunday and conducted Oct. 18-23 showed the two candidates tied at 49 percent apiece among likely voters in the state. Two other public polls earlier in the week, by CNN/ORC and TIME magazine, showed Obama leading by a small margin.
Romney was set to spend Sunday touring the Buckeye State after canceling a series of stops in Virginia due to the impending Hurricane Sandy; Obama will make a quick trip to Youngstown on Monday before returning to Washington to monitor the hurricane. The president canceled planned stops in northern Virginia and Colorado in the first half of this week.
Both the president and Romney are battling to turn out their supporters to the polls and shake loose the few remaining undecided voters in a handful of swing states. The Romney campaign has claimed that momentum is on their side, a claim which the Obama campaign argues is a bluff.
The Romney campaign circulated on Sunday several newspaper endorsements — the Des Moines Register and the Cincinnati Enquirer among them — to argue that the Republican ticket had made inroads in crucial swing states. The Obama campaign responded in kind by sending reporters endorsement editorials from the Youngstown Vindicator and the Toledo Blade, both of which referenced the 2009 auto industry bailout as a point in Obama's favor.
The auto bailout — which Romney had opposed, memorably, in a New York Times op-ed entitled "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" — has assumed a central role in the closing days of the campaign, especially as the election plays out largely on a Midwestern, industrial and economically-battered playing field.
RELATED: Auto politics haunt Romney in NW Ohio
Kasich argued that the auto bailout hadn't actually boosted Ohio's economy as much as Obama would have the state's voters think.
"We are thrilled that we have a strong auto industry," he argued, "but it doesn't account for the growth of 112,000 jobs in our state."
Reuters, Getty Images
In the final push in the 2012 presidential election, candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama make their last appeals to voters.
The Romney campaign also aired a new ad in Ohio touting an endorsement from the right-leaning Detroit News and iconic automan Lee Iacocca, while also making a controversial claim about productions of Jeeps in China.
"Obama took GM and Chrysler into bankruptcy and sold Chrysler to Italians who are going to build Jeeps in China," the ad says in reference to plans by the auto company to build a new production facility in China to sell vehicles in that country.
The ad is accurate but plays to misinformation that spread earlier this week — partly because Romney had previously voiced the claims — suggesting that Chrysler was planning to move production of all Jeeps to China. The automaker has strongly disputed those reports, though they could have an impact in battleground corners of Ohio like Toledo, a major hub for Jeep production in North America.
First Read: Romney's Ohio fortunes tied to softening bailout stance
The governors of two other battleground states — John Hickenlooper (D) of Colorado and Scott Walker (R) of Wisconsin — relied on more traditional fare to make the case for and against their candidates.
"What are those deductions and tax credits he's going to get rid of?" Hickenlooper asked of Romney's tax reform plan, seizing on the former Massachusetts governor's refusal to specify which loopholes and deductions he would eliminate to finance his proposed tax cuts.
And Walker, whose contentious collective bargaining reforms sparked a standoff with his state legislature and a recall election which he won, argued that Romney has a track record of working in a bipartisan manner.
"He's proven that he can do it in a state like Massachusetts," Walker said.
But neither Walker nor Hickenlooper seemed as confident as Kasich, who predicted that the fate of Ohio's electoral votes — and the election — would be known early on election night.
"I'm not sure the election's going to be as close as what everybody is talking about today," he said.
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I find it funny,when the polls show Willard and Eddie Munster leading, the Ditto Heads say the poles are right on.But when President Obama leads,the polls are all wrong..
One would think that the voters in Ohio would have the intelligence to be at least curious about the benefits a Romney administration would bring, not only to Ohio, but to the entire United States. Obama has no talents, economic experience, no friends who have legal economic experience. Romney has a lifetime of everything that means economic progress and success.
Some pretty dumb logic,Grasshopper....
Thats what scares us here in Ohio! Just the thought of Mitt getting elected!
What a joke that would be!
What's tha matter, nancy, are you afraid that you might actually have to earn your keep?
I feel so sorry for all the black folks out there who will never see another black man in the white house so so sad.
On the contrary, you angry white men are now a minority and most future Presidents and politicians will be increasingly black, Hispanic, Asian, etc. Get used to it. By winning a second term, President Obama will go down in history as a successful and cool guy who did the right things and sufferered the gross, uneducated indignities heaped upon him unfairly by Ah--les like Trump and Sununu with dignity and grace.
Careful, there's an Obamabot on the thread!
How can a president watch four of our proud Americans die on video lasting for hours and hours without helping them. FAST Seal teams were 30 minutes offshore and standing by while this feckless president was more concerned about his cover story. Like him or not, Romney has a set of cohones on him and would not wait, even for a minute, to help those four poor dying Americans. The top symptom of Pathological Narcissist Disorder.
They were going to take on several hundred armed individuals? Same thinking that got them killed in Granada,.
The President was not there. The military WAS! So, if there is any failure at all, blame the local military units who would supposedly be monitoring things and ready to act in defense!
Floridian -
Contrary to your belief, permission was requested several times to go rescue the ambassador and the others. Someone in the Obama administration told them to STAND DOWN.
Now, do you even understand what that means?
Evidently not.
If Robme/Lyin win Ohio, the the people of Ohio are bunch of rubes who believe anything a salesman is willing to tell them!
Maybe they want to keep their jobs and not let Obama give them to illegals as he has already done.
Well, wouldn't they already be that......after all, they did vote for Obama and he is about as big a liar/used car salesman type as you can get. Lies, fear, and hiding the truth......people are ready for a change.
Kasich also guaranteed that his Union busting bill would be upheld. Then it was soundly rejected by the people of Ohio.
He doesn't know his own electorate.
Duh...what else would you expect a Republican govenor to say!!! No news here!!
What would you expect an unwaivering Obama supporter to say???? No news here either!
What kind of morons do these Republican hacks think Americans are?! "Private" polls my ass! They are still engaging in outright lies and propaganda in an effort to con a few votes out of the public! They-of course-insist they are right (and they are-Crazy Right Wingnut types!) and all the real, objective polling and indicators are "wrong." The whole Republican campaign has been exposed long ago by the facts as just one, long serial lie, false innuendos, disrespect for the President, screwy "birthers," old men wanting to lock up every womans' vagina.... Enough already!!!!!!!!!!!!
You Obama supporters are really paranoid conspiracy theorists, aren't you? Do you realize how desperate and ridiculous you sound? Romney will win because Obama policies or lack thereof failed miseral
Retired....you sound like an individual that is crazy. Don't be so gullible that you can't see the truth. You have bought into a pack of lies and ridiculous claims. Please be more open minded.
What we have here is another republican, (Kasich) who believes everyone is dumb. The Governor is used to his followers believing every comment he comes out with, then again it's low intelligence listeners.
I live in Ohio and can't see Obama winning the state. Other than northern Ohio early voting for Obama...I see no support anywhere else. There's no billboards on the highway, no signs in the yards, no one pushing for his votes on the street like there was 4 years ago. Early voting supports Obama now but, the final tally will not.
Romney wins Ohio and I don't think it will be that close! Support for him is everywhere. I drive 75% of the state and all I see are Romney/Ryan signs.
Hey Fiesty....it's all falling apart now. Even you're beloved local newspaper the Daily Herald, (who endorsed Tammy Duckworth) came out this morning and endorsed Romney. OUCH....!
How screwed up is our country's democracy that a few thousand voters in one state out of 50 states could determine the leader of 300 million? America is becoming like Europe with wide geographical political divisions. Can anyone imagine Europe electing a "national" leader?
Unfortunately we are becoming the same divided land of conservative and liberal areas and I wonder just how long it can be held together.
If all 300 million eligible voters will vote, things would be different, however this is our reality, Politicians work for the Corporations and the lobbyists! they don"t give a darn about their constituents.
Example, all the tea party candidates that won in 2010, they ran on the platform of creating jobs, yes the only jobs they created was theirs and the ones for their cronies, look at the very first bill that came from the house in Jan of 2011. the bill had nothing to do with jobs, but everything to take away women's rights.
I believe the governor's right. Considering the Republicans' lies, misinformation, no information, voter suppression laws, voter intimidation and fraud, Willard will probably win. And if he murders someone and the Supreme Court has to decide then he definitely will win.
That and the fact that the average American still hates n — — g — rs and it's in the bag
Will the Supreme Court press charges against Obama for watching four Americans die on video? Just curious.
Urban are you an idiot, retard (oops they are smarter than you, my apoplogies to the people with learning disabilities, for the comparison) or what? Stop snorting! that funky stuff
Did you go to school? Supreme Court filing charges against a person? O Man if Mitty and his followers are anything close to you, God Save America!
Obama is a noid-void. When asked about the artist that was most influential in American since he became president, Barry said "Hip Hop!" He could not even answer an "artist" question. His depth: very, very, shallow. scary
Who cares who the most influential artist is? Idiotic question.
I rather Obama to be knowlegeable of what is taking place in the world and the threats to our Great Country, than to have to remember a "Hip hop artist"
Now on the other hand Willard before he finish his sentence would have changed his mind about 5 times and at the end he will go where the wind goes.
What a Guttless Coward! Mitty go back to your Country clubs and enjoy your car elevator!
Romneysiacs will always lie in order to get ahead, this Governor while in the Congress, he was one of the gang who voted for all the Bush tax breaks ( Kasich is one of the arquitects, supporter and creator of the 2008-09 Ressession, He voted for the WAR in Irak " Irak has weapons of mass destruction! What a LIE!), He does not give a sheet about normal working class families, regardless of their color or race. He did not care about our jobs being shipped over seas, As long as he and his buddy mitty make profits who gives a dammn where the jobs " greedy Americans they should work for a dollar an hour!" That is his and the Republican Party's motto, , He is one of the supporters of sending American jobs overseas, when he had the opportunity to do something about it while in congress, what did he do? Nothing! kept on cashing in from the lobbiest and the corporations
Kasich as the rest of the Republicans, do not care about regular american working people, they only care about their own and the unpatriotic Rich .
If Kasich is sooo against Government waste and spending, He should be the first one to reject his Congress Federal pension.
OHIO right now is Voting for Obama! and will go for Obama our 44th President x 2
I find the cocky libs amusing. The election is tied and the economy is totally tanking. This election is about the economy and as it slides further in the hole ..... on election day, folks will think about the economy and will vote Romney in as Pres. Same as Reagan vs Carter.
Hmmmmmm Economy tanking? Z-man stop watching Flux news, oh I know you rather look at women's legs than know the facts.
Republican President takes office in Jan 2011 from a Democratic President, the Country Has a balanced budget and projected surpluses. let's move fwd 8 years after the Country has been under a Republican administration. 2 unfunded Wars, one of them we were lied by the Republican President, the Republican Secretary of State, The republican Security Adviser etc. For political reasons the office of the Vice-President (Dick) a secret cia operative is exposed.
Jan 2001-Jan 2009 Republican administration, encourages American jobs to be sent overseas, make the United States one of the most disliked Country, we lose our leadership role.
Now let's see. Jan 21, 2009, President Obama is handed a Country in shambles, the economy had been contracting for the previous 2 quarters (under a Republican President), we are losing jobs like crazy, the rich take their money to the Cayman islands, Bankers who in conjunction with the Republicans are responsible for the implosion of our economy, start to cry and put their hands out to get Americans (hard earned money)taxes to bail out these greedy S of B's.
October 2012, Country is respected around the world, over 31 months of job growth in the private sector, GM went from almost disappearing to being the number one auto maker in the owrld, housing prices are going up, unemployment has been lowered to the same level or bellow as to when the Country was handed over to the current administration.
Children cannot be rejected from getting medical insurance, because they have a pre-existing condition, women now have a mechanism to sue the employers who feel women are "less" than men. Equal pay fro equal work.
The economy is not excellent, but we are heading in that direction. The Economy would be in a better situation if the REpublicans in Congress stop, obstructing the progress of the United States. 437 — filibusters by republicans? The house unable to pass the Farm bill? and these Republican congress people get paid for doing nothing?
In private business if you are not producing, then you are hasta la bye bye, we need to do this with all the Republican politicians! and the pseudo Democrats in congress!
Early voting in Ohio has Obama winning by a landslide.
wrong, sparky, go peddle this somewhere else. I just saw the numbers. Romney up 3%
Yes he was looking at the faux news ladies ( or maybe he is in love with Bill and Hannity and let's not forget Rushy!), in faux news world Willard is a Christian (He is a Mormon), the Earth is flat, the earth is only 9k years old etc.
So maybe Willard is wining by 47%
What a surprise.
Obama decided to take it upon himself to spend taxpayers money to bailout the auto industry. G/M took all that money and then sent most of it's work to China. Talk about the ultimate in outsourcing!! In Detroit, G/M is known as "China Motors" ....... so I spent my hard earned money to create jobs for the Chinese. Thanks Barry!!
Z-man, time to stop snorting that funky stuff!
Yeah you are right Willard said Jeep was moving all of their operations to China! Those outsourcing bastards!
Ooops Willard thought he was still at Bain capital!. Jeep put a press release and pretty much it called Willard what he is, Willard is a Fr@#$ Liar!
BTW speaking of outsourcing, Bain Capital is shipping American jobs at this very moment in Bainport Il, an auto supplier (made record profits in the past 2 quarters) and they think is not enough, they need to give more to their master Romney and Bain.
Read the facts !
Early voting needs to go. Anyone with half a brain can get to the polls on election day and vote. If you are too stupid to do this, you shouldn't be voting. It's set up to help Dems.
And Republicans say they support and protect the Constitution!
Go back to your white supremasist meeting!
Hawkeye -
There is a valid reason for it, however, as a means to allow our citizens serving in the military overseas to vote.
Of course he said this. The Republicans own the voting machines in Ohio, and they have been very public that they will steal this election in any way possible. Why would he not claim an early victory? Viva la democracy.
That claim has been debunked - not enough stock is owned to even approach a majority.
Next assinine claim please.
Romney tactic # 143.....Just lie; say he's winning even though he's not and that's it. Just claim victory.
Well , all the polls put together say Mitt is either tied or down by as many as 5 points.
Do those polls include the 30% of OH voters who have already voted with Obama ahead by 20%?
Does that included polling since Mitt flat out lied about Chrysler thinking of moving all of its Jeep production to China or Sununu's race baiting?
Didn't think so.
The only way Romney can win OH is to figure out a way to steal votes or make votes for Obama magically dissapear in the 4 hot countys. Somehow there will be several car wrecks involving ballots being transported that end up with a fire or servers that go off line and come back on after being purged. I'm sure he has his crack team on it as we speak.
It doesn't matter how you vote in November. America is screwed either way.
Mitt Romney will close the Child Credit, so that people will pay more income tax. Ryan is talking about giving everyone that is on welfare $22,000 dollars. Maybe he is trying to just buy votes, I have never seen a Repub give anything away especially taxpayer money. Marco Rubio speech where he claims that the Repubs were the party of the 20th. century. What he fail so say that George Busch took the presidency in the 21st century and look at where we are at today. Now we have a Democratic President trying to clean all the mess little George made.
Obama will lose Ohio and Florida. Only 1/3 of Republicans have voted yet with women voters and the undecided leaning towards Romney as the tide continues to flow against Obama. The end for him is near.
Romney may well end up with over 300 electoral votes, the popular vote and a landslide. Obama will have only memories of a failed Pesidency.
Obama will go down in history for Obamacare, greatest thing our country has ever seen!
Yeah, nancy, the largest tax increase on the middle class that the country has ever seen - a great legacy to be proud of --- NOT!
About half the republicans I know think Obama will win and they are staying home and not voting in disgust.
Really ..lolol... Obama will not win so might as well get use to it. Not even the working Democrats want him anymore.
Word is it's Obama by 8 in Ohio, I can lie also.
Not in the Ohio i live in.
Yes, you are correct, you are lying.
Actually, it is Obama +8 in Ohio. And Florida is getting tighter. It's already Obama +2 in Florida.
Yeah, but your word is the same as odumbo's it don't mean nothing anymore. Just one lie and cover up after another. Time for odumbo to go.
No, today he is up by 4, not 8.