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Updated 4:08 p.m. ET - STERLING, VA -- Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's campaign announced Monday afternoon that the candidate would add two campaign stops on Election Day in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
A campaign official said Romney would make stops in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, part of what the GOP nominee's campaign called an effort to "keep working until the polls close."
Pollsters divide the state of Ohio into five regions: coal country, northeastern Ohio, the auto belt, the Columbus area and the Cincinnati region. Currently, Obama is doing well in the north and has also made inroads in coal country – but the real area to watch is the auto belt where Romney will return to campaign Tuesday. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
Romney campaign advisers have eyed Pennsylvania in recent weeks as a backstop against losing other battleground states, especially as Obama has managed to maintain a mostly consistent if slight advantage over Romney in Ohio. Pennsylvania lacks a robust early voting effort and the vast majority of ballots are cast on election day. Romney's campaign and outside groups supporting it have poured money into television advertising there in recent weeks.
Pittsburgh has advantage of bleeding over into the Ohio media markets, too.
David Goldman / AP
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney waves to supporters after finishing his speech at a campaign event at the Lynchburg Regional Airport, Monday, Nov. 5, 2012.
In Cleveland, Romney will visit his campaign's victory office, according to a Republican operative familiar with the campaign's plans.
Romney will travel to the two Midwestern battlegrounds after voting in Belmont, Massachusetts on Tuesday morning.
On Monday, Romney barnstormed across four swing states, with rallies in Florida, Virginia, Ohio and New Hampshire. The New Hampshire midnight rally in in Manchester had been billed as the campaign's finale.
Jen Psaki, the traveling campaign spokeswoman for President Barack Obama, suggested the stop was a sign of weakness.
Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA
Campaigning with Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, voting and election results.
"I will say it's no surprise that Mitt Romney is headed to Ohio, or reportedly headed to Ohio tomorrow," she told reporters in a gaggle aboard Air Force One. "Without that state it's a rocky road to victory -- an insurmountable road I would say."
Romney campaign advisers say the candidate himself decided on Monday to add the last minute stops, preferring to motivate volunteers and supporters by showing them that he was working just as hard as they are in the final hours, to sitting at home and waiting for results to come in.
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MITT ROMNEY PAID ZERO TAXES 1996 - 2009:
"Using a tax shelter called a CRUT (charitable remainder unitrust) that was held by the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Mitt Romney was able to pay zero taxes (legally) every single year from 1996 to 2009. Why did he stop in 2009? Because he would make public his 2010 tax return, that is why.This tax loophole was killed by Congress in 1997. However those including Romney that were already using it were allowed to continue it. The way it works, is that Romney makes a "charitable" contribution to the Church of Latter Day Saints and it goes into a trust. Since the trust is held by the church, the money is tax deferred. Any capital gains, are non taxed because of the charities status. Like an annuity, the donor gets a charitable tax deduction and an stream of cash payments. When Romney dies, the church accepts full ownership.." (Daily Kos)
Now we understand why presidential candidate Romney refused to show more than TWO Tax Returns. And now we know Senator Reid WAS RIGHT when he said Romney paid Zero taxes for TEN years - it was longer.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-29/romney-avoids-taxes-via-loophole-cutting-mormon-donations.html
I smell a very strong stench of desperation coming from the Romney campaign, don't you?
Obama/Biden 2012! OH YES WE WILL!
A-girl,
Once exposed, the lies & cover-up from RomneyRyan and their campaign --- will stretch from here to the Caymann's, via China.
I think NH is going to the president. Ohio is going to the president. PA is going to the president. I am confident VA is going to the president.
Florida? We are seeing thousands upon thousands of Obama voters waiting in line for 6, 7, 8+ hours. This is no way to treat our fellow Americans, who just want to cast their vote.
Republican Party won't be happy until they literally steal our democracy.
There’s so much secret money in conservative politics that even volunteers are getting paid — and paid well. Grassroots activists who used to knock on doors and make phone calls for free are the latest beneficiaries of the historic spending spree to defeat President Barack Obama and elect GOP lawmakers. Read more:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83330.html#ixzz2BNapkAPd
PPP:
Based on our final polls we expect Barack Obama to win 303 electoral votes and Mitt Romney to win 191 with 44 up for grabs in FL and NC.
______________
These states are seeing more of Romney than we did in all of his years as our supposed governor.
Romney's response will be to put up TV ads claiming Obama Paid Zero Taxes ALL HIS LIFE. Oops, too bad he's out of time.
I find it very interesting that Romney's election night headquarters is going to be in Boston. By everything I have read, and comments made here and other forums, he is not a very respected former governor of MA. Do I have that right, Pat? If so, I think it will be quite hilarious that he gives his concession speech in the state that was happy to see him go.
You have NO idea how much I ♥ the smell of desperation the day before the election! lol
Candidates who possess the lead DO NOT have to peddle their crap right up until the polls close!
Pat, Boston at #1.4, how can it be "secret money" if YOU know about it???????????
Republicans:
This is VERY important.
Make sure you show your voter IQ card at the polling place tomorrow.
Anything between a 55 to 99 means you vote for Governor Romney.
Salud
Backhouse, the Mormon money is only part of what he got. It is legal, and he paid between 13 & 15% all those years on the rest of his income.
AlaskaGirl, yes you have it right. Romney is so disliked here that we never saw the president campaign here. It wasn't necessary.
IT's all tied.
Sure it is. Just like they said in 1980 - 'too close to call.'
But I do love the CNN poll all tied in a D +11 poll.
That ain't tied.
That ain't even close.
Happy days.
5th photo down says it all.
http://theobamadiary.com/
DKA,
You explanation is not sufficient. Please see the Bloomberg article.
The reason Romney has covered it up, is because it was not OK.
14/15 years of ZERO TAXES was not OK for a presidential run. No matter how "legal" Romney's legal guys spin his behavior.
Romney LIVES to not pay tax returns, we know that. Here, he is exposed.
Pat & Alaska Girl ...
It will be interesting to see how many of his "supporters" in Mass come out to his election night "party."
I don't know... What with Giuliani playing the role of "out-liar" concerning the widely regarded positive response of the administration to Sandy and Trump doing robo-calls for Romney... I just don't see how the serial lying swivel-topped bobble-headed bag of cult-like mysoginistic snott could lose.
Updated as of 3:00pm EST on Monday, November 5, 2012:
*** OBAMA, AT LONG LAST AND AS EXPECTED, PULLS AHEAD IN VIRGINIA WHILE WIDENING HIS LEAD IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Additionally, Obama's leads strengthen over the weekend in Ohio and Iowa while softening in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan; Romney successfully expands his lead in Florida while losing slight ground in North
Carolina.
Curiously, polling in Colorado has been strangely absent over the past three days.
Mischief alert: Quite a bit of suspect outlier polling favorable to Romney was floated out in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan on Sunday in the face of multiple polls which confirmed consistently strong Obama leads in each of these states (the Karl Rove axiom of 'shaping perceptions to alter outcomes,' perhaps?).
---------------------------------------------------------
With 9 hours to go in the 2012 presidential campaign, Real Clear Politics (RCP) reports that Obama leads in nine of their eleven toss-up states with Romney leading in two.
In descending order of 'percentage of lead' in favor of Obama, followed in ascending order of 'percentage of lead' in favor of Romney, here are the published averaged numbers from RCP as of 3:00pm EST together with the most recent FiveThirtyEight election night probabilities of victory for either candidate:
In WISCONSIN, with 10 electoral votes, Obama's lead fell Sunday to 4.2%, down from 5.0% on Saturday. However, FiveThirtyEight currently gives Obama a 94.5% chance of victory here, up by 1.2% from Friday and by an astounding 8.8% since Tuesday.
In PENNSYLVANIA, with 20 electoral votes, Obama's lead fell Sunday to 3.9%, down from 4.1% on Saturday. However, FiveThirtyEight currently gives Obama a 97.9% chance of victory here, up by 1.8% from Friday and by a significant 3.8% since Tuesday.
In MICHIGAN, with 16 electoral votes, Obama's lead fell Sunday to 3.8%, down from 4.0% on Saturday. However, FiveThirtyEight currently gives Obama a 98.7% chance of victory here, up 0.3% from Friday and by 0.6% since Tuesday.
In IOWA, with 6 electoral votes, Obama's lead rose late Sunday to 3.0%, up from 2.0% on Saturday morning. FiveThirtyEight currently gives Obama an 81.2% chance of victory here, down by 1.4% from Friday but up and by a substantial 7.3% since Tuesday.
In OHIO, with 18 electoral votes, Obama's lead this afternoon has risen to 3.0%, up from 2.8% this morning. FiveThirtyEight currently gives Obama an 86.8% chance of victory here, up by 6.1% from Friday and by an astronomical 13.5% since Tuesday.
In NEVADA, with 6 electoral votes, Obama's lead has been holding at 2.8%, up from 2.4% on Friday. FiveThirtyEight currently gives Obama an 90.0% chance of victory here, up by 2.8% from Friday and by an astonishing 10.3% since Tuesday.
In NEW HAMPSHIRE, with 4 electoral votes, Obama's lead this afternoon has settled at 1.7%, up from 1.5% over the weekend. FiveThirtyEight currently gives Obama a 80.2% chance of victory here, up by 1.5% from Friday and by an astounding 9.9% since Tuesday.
In COLORADO, with 9 electoral votes, Obama's lead has been holding at 0.6%, down from 0.9% on Friday. FiveThirtyEight currently gives Obama a 69.7% chance of victory here, up by 4.0% from Friday and by an astronomical 14.3% since Tuesday.
In VIRGINIA, with 13 electoral votes, Obama early this morning emerged with his own lead of 0.3%, reversing a longstanding but narrowing Romney lead of 0.3% from Saturday. FiveThirtyEight currently gives Obama a 72.6% chance of victory here, up by a substantial 7.8% from Friday.
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In FLORIDA, with 29 electoral votes, Romney's lead this morning has risen to 1.8%, up from 1.4% over the weekend. FiveThirtyEight currently gives Romney a 55.5% chance of victory here, up by 0.7% from Friday.
In NORTH CAROLINA, with 15 electoral votes, Romney's lead fell this morning to 3.0%, down from 3.8% over the weekend. FiveThirtyEight currently gives Romney a 77.2% chance of victory here, down 2.2% from Friday.
So...
In order for Obama to win re-election the least complex route would be through maintaining his existing leads in the five toss-up states where his current margins are widest (Wisconsin at 4.2%, Pennsylvania at 3.9%, Michigan at 3.8%, Iowa at 3.0%, and Ohio at 3.0%. Doing so would bring his electoral vote total on Election Day to 271. In this scenario, Obama could still surpass 270 while failing to hold Nevada, New Hampshire, Colorado, and Virginia.
However, should Obama fail to hold the strategic prize of a hotly-contested Ohio, the loss could effectively be neutralized by any of the following combination of wins from states where FiveThirtyEight is currently forecasting Obama victories:
Path #1: Obama loses Ohio but holds three of his remaining four toss-up states where his current leads are greatest, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Colorado resulting in 272 electoral votes.
Path #2: Obama loses Ohio but wins Virginia while also taking only one state from among Nevada, New Hampshire, or Colorado resulting in 272, 270, or 275 electoral votes, respectively.
----------------------------------------------------------
For Romney to unseat Obama, he not only would have to hold the two states in which he presently leads, North Carolina and Florida, bringing his electoral vote total to 235, but also steal victories in one of the two following possible combinations from states currently leaning Obama, listed in descending order of likelihood based on the reversed engineering of current FiveThirtyEight numbers for election night chances of victory:
Path A: Romney retakes Virginia and steals both Ohio and Colorado resulting in 275 electoral votes (least unlikely outcome).
Path B: Romney retakes Virginia and steals both Ohio and New Hampshire resulting in 270 electoral votes (more unlikely outcome).
Working against these two scenarios are rising averaged polling numbers over the past two days for Obama in Ohio and New Hampshire; however, in that same seventy-two hour period Romney succeeded in reducing Obama's lead in Colorado.
In any event, should Romney retake Virginia but fail to steal Ohio he could overcome this shortfall by capturing the four other states in which Obama's current leads are smallest (Colorado at 0.6%, New Hampshire at 1.7%,
Nevada at 2.8%, and Iowa at 3.0%) resulting in an electoral vote total of 273.
--------------------------------------------------------
FiveThirtyEight this morning estimates the chance of Election Day victory for each candidate as follows: Obama 86.3% (up significantly from Friday morning's 80.9%) and Romney 13.7% (down by a similar margin from Friday's 19.1%).
FiveThirtyEight now also projects that on Election Day the final electoral tally will be as follows: Obama 307 (up 8 from Wednesday's 299) and Romney 231 (down 8 from Wednesday's 239).
Lastly, although it makes no difference in terms of the final result which can only be determined by the Electoral College, FiveThirtyEight currently predicts a national popular vote distribution on Election Day as follows: Obama 50.6% (up from Thursday's 50.4%) and Romney 48.5% (down from Thursday's 48.6%).
--------------------------------------------------------
A Few Election Day Predictions:
Expect on Tuesday a plethora of polling place horror stories from across the nation, including fistfights and resulting arrests involving Tea Party-backed poll watchers from TRUE THE VOTE, et al in multiple urban precincts throughout many if not all of the eleven toss-up states.
Expect craziness in Republican Governor Rick Scott's Florida…sheer lunacy, in fact. Perhaps the National Guard should be charged with running elections in Florida going forward.
Expect unwillingness on the part of the Republican Secretary of State in Ohio, Jon Husted, to call the election in his state in a timely manner.
Expect a mandatory recount in Colorado if the margin of victory falls below 1.0%, bearing in mind that the Republican Secretary of State in Colorado, Scott Gessler, is a doppelganger for Ohio's Jon Husted.
Expect Paul Ryan to retain his congressional seat in Wisconsin as a majority of voters in his district cast ballots against him at the national level while voting in support of him at the local level…perhaps as a form of contrition.
Expect FOXNEWS to be clamoring for congressional investigations into Democrat voter fraud, less real than imagined, even before the polls close.
Expect Right Wing talk radio to begin fomenting, if not actually inciting, popular 'resistance' to the certification of the legitimate Electoral College outcome, and we all know what THAT is code for, while condemning the continued use of the Electoral College itself.
In spite of these obstacles, Obama wins the White House with an electoral vote tally of 303 to Romney's 235, takingColorado and Virginia but failing to steal Florida which had already been stolen for Romney by Rick Scott.
All legal challenges to the certification of the election in federal courts are summarily dismissed with prejudice and Barack Hussein Obama is sworn in for his second term as President of the United States on January 20, 2013.
The very next day, and with no fanfare or publicity, the lights come on in Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign headquarters.
They will probably be "paid supporters". Why not, they probably have a ton of campaign money left over, why not pay some shills so that the event looks filled with more than those directly connected to the campaign. I would imagine that all campaign people have been directed to bring anyone they can strong arm to the event. I've heard one campaign surrogate is bringing long lost relatives who they only reconnected with when they constantly hit them up for campaign donations.
It's already over. Romney can deliver his concession speech now. He needs to check his binders for the right one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oHWvFrpocY&feature=g-logo
Layton, they'll be paid to attend. Everything about Romney and the GOP is money and not allowing democrats vote. And of course - tax cuts for themselves.
I hope that Mitt gets HUGE crowds at his election day events because what any candicate wants on election day is people at rallys and not at the polls!
Pat--- That photo pretty much says it all for us Democrats.
And we were singin'....
"Bye, bye, Mr. It's All My Pie,
Drive your Caddies to the levee, let the Tea party die,
And good old boys will drink their whiskey and rye,
Singin' 'Grover Norquist, we spit in your eye'".
Backhouse,
Willard isn't even half the man his father was!
I wonder what his parents would of thought about the way he has ran his campaign?
From what I understand George Romney had integrity which obviously has skipped a generation...
Fabulous, Real American!
Obama! Obama! Obama! Obama!
4 more years! 4 more years! 4 more years!
MITT ROMNEY PAID ZERO TAXES 1996 - 2009:
Using a tax shelter called a CRUT (charitable remainder unitrust) that was held by the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Mitt Romney was able to pay zero taxes (legally) every single year from 1996 to 2009. Why did he stop in 2009? Because he would make public his 2010 tax return, that is why.
______________________________________
Outhouse, you are a moron: You really shouldn't be relying on daily kos for tax advice. First of all a CRUT must be an IRREVOCABLE trust which means once it is set up it CANNOT BE CHANGED. Therefore daily kos saying Romney changed it in 2009 is RIDICULOUS. Second the CRUT's annuity payments to Romney would be subject to federal and state income taxes.
What is this..Romney's 216th stop in Ohio? The guy is shaking like a leaf..hello Willard there is more to the nation besides Ohio!
OBAMA 2012..to easy
Pat - what a WONDERFUL PHOTO! The look on that young man's face says it all! And, the crowds in the photo before are unbelievable!
Obama/Biden 2012
Mitt,
Instead of wasting all that Gas criss crossing the Country this late, why not spare it for your trip to the Cayman Islands come Nov. 7th?
Just heard Octane Jet Fuel for your Boeing 777 is up to $8.99 a Gallon...
Dude, whadya have on that Jet, a fully operational Bank with ATMs and Tellers or something?
Pat Boston MA.
Have you noticed an increase of anti-Obama ads in Mass? In the past 2 days it's nonstop. Do they really think they have any chance in Mass or is it to protect Romney's BFF Scott Brown?
Pat & Tom, that picture made me cry. Bayllie, we're getting those same ads in upstate New York. What an a$$!
Hi Backhouse,
Thanks for the information. We all knew Willard is hiding something on his lack of paying taxes.
Don't Care-2441184
NY maybe but in Massachusetts? In the state that hates Romney most?
Bayllie,
Same here in the Chicago market... lol
bayllie - we have TONS of anti-Obama ads in Chicago. Shows what small brains the Republicans have - doesn't it?
Obama/Biden 2012
wow, didn't expect that. I do see occassional Obama ads made by the President but not many anti-Romney. I guess the GOP money grows on so many unidentified corporate trees that they can spend it anywhere and everywhere...
All these idiots on Fox News is saying Romney is going to win by a Landslide.
Well if that is true, then why in the hell is Romney going to OH and PA on Election Day. President Obama gonna be in Chicago chillin waiting for the results. Is Romney that desperate that he needs to campaign on Election Day. Wow...
Obama/Biden tomorrow....I can't wait to see the racists heads explode, again.
They are running these Anti-Obama ads everywhere...
It is a ploy to run up the national vote total to de-legitamize Obama's re-election..
That's why the dog whistles have become bull horns...
He is giving out checks for votes..
He is lazy..
He is the foodstamp pres.
Blah Blah Blah.
Shame has no limit.
Liberal - it's NOT a charity - it's a way around paying taxes and the reason Mitt won't release any of his returns. It shows the fraud he's committed! And THIS is the best the GOP can do????
Pathetic!
Obama/Biden 2012
I bet GA, AL , MS, LA, TX, SC ,AR are a lot closer than usual....He might even win GA.
SS- Liberal is hoping he is a billionaire soon and he wants the same greedy rules in place...
He wants to be the next JP Morgan....
sw - I'd LOVE it if he took SC and AR - especially AR! Too bad he can't take Utah - that would just be too funny!
Obama/Biden 2012
@ Alaska Girl
The reason your not seeing paid supporters of the current POTUS is because the campaign doesn't have any MONEY!!! Did the POTUS DNC campaign pay off the 15 million they were in debt? I believe they got a loan (I may be wrong). If they did receive the loan, what did they use it for? Oh, I see, you don't care, and neither do your minnions. I'm sure after the election, they will just declare bankruptcy, and have the banks eat it. Funny, that sounds like how he is running this country.
Liberal,
You are a < 24-hr-old rereg which will be deleted soon like the rest of them.
The stupid one is Romney who thinks that he will fool anyone by manipulating his tax returns..oh, wait...nevermind. He's got you fooled....
I wouldn't give Romney the right time of the day, I don't shine up to liars !!!!!!!!!!
Bayllie,
The best part is, come Wednesday the majority of these pain in the asses will vanish! ☺
Most of my family still resides in MA. They all own various small businesses and they all will be voting for Romney. They do not think him perfect but they think he will be a much better president than Obama.
lulu98, your family resides in your imaginary part of Massachusetts...you don't see Romney signs anywhere. because people don't like Romney in Mass. Nice try!
Feisty, I think they will come back on Wednesday just to diminish or discredit President Obama's victory.
All of these weird surprises, like a NV stop by Ryan, and a PA push make me nervous that they know something we don't.
Of course, that's probably the idea. I still don't like it. Another reason not to like them. They ought to know it's hopeless, right? Unless, they know something we don't......
So don't skip voting because you think it's in the bag.....
SBO,
It is a page right out of the Karl Rove 2000 playbook, to give the impression they have momentum where there is NONE! lol
If you remember, they campaigned in CA the day before the election... lol
Hang tight my friend, by 10:00 tomorrow night, President Obama will have a second term!
Aw ... the sweet smell of republican fear ... a heady yet onerous aroma!
Mitt ... time to go home. Leave America to REAL Americans and take your entitlement attitude with you.
Romney for 1% of Americans ... Obama for ALL Americans!
They'll be here - crying that "If it wasn't for Sandy, Mitt would have won!"
It's starting already.
Here is a partial-list of Romney's Mega-Rich 1% Donors.Who more than ever this election are trying to BUY our Democracy.Here in is part of the rouges gallery, symbols of what is wrong with the Romney ideas for America.Tomorrow Nov 6th,lets go to Polls and show them we won't let them buy our Freedom:
1. Sheldon & Miriam Adelson
Total contributions: $53.1 million
Business: Casino mogul
Donations: Restore Our Future: $20 million (Romney); Winning Our Future: $15 million (Gingrich); YG Action Fund: $5 million (House GOP); Congressional Leadership Fund: $5 million; Freedom PAC: $2 million (pro-Connie Mack for Senate); Independence Virginia PAC: $1.5 million (pro-George Allen for Senate); Ending Spending: $1 million; Patriot Prosperity PAC: $1 million; Treasure Coast Jobs Coalition: $1 million
Amount to candidates and party committees: $341,800
What He Wants: He is the pay-master for Israels PM Netanyahu as well. And wants the US to attack and go to war with Iran. A total war-monger on the Middle East. He won't be happy until we are in another neo-con war.
2. Harold & Annette Simmons
Total contributions: $24 million
Business: Investor
Donations: American Crossroads: $16.5 million; Restore Our Future: $2.3 million million (Romney); Red, White and Blue: $1.2 million (Santorum); Winning Our Future: $1.1 million (Gingrich)
Amount to candidates and party committees: $200,900
What He Wants Plans to store radioactive waste from 36 states in an underground dump in Texas; has been sued repeatedly by the Justice Department for failing to clean up contaminated Superfund sites.
3. Bob & Doylene Perry
Total contributions: $22 million
Business: Homebuilder; owner, Perry Homes
Donations: Restore Our Future: $10 million (Romney); American Crossroads: $7.5 million; Club for Growth: $1 million; Congressional Leadership Fund: $1 million; Independence Virginia PAC: $1 million (pro-George Allen for Senate)
Amount to candidates and party committees: $209,200
What He Wants Perry's top issue is "tort reform," which would limit the size of jury awards against homebuilders who do shoddy work. He knows political favors can be bought: He was a big donor to every justice on the Texas Supreme Court – known derisively as "the Perry Court" – which vacated an $800,000 judgment against Perry for crappy construction. A jury in the same case later hit Perry with $58 million in damages.
4. Joe & Marlene Ricketts
Total contributions: $13 million
Business: online brokerage; owner of Chicago Cubs
Donations: Ending Spending Fund: $12.3 million; Restore Our Future: $100,000 (Romney)
Amount to candidates and party committees: $76,954
5. Peter Thiel
Total contributions: $4.7 million
Business: Technology; co-founder of PayPal, founder of Clarium Capital hedge fund
Donations: Club for Growth Action: $2 million; Endorse Liberty: $1.9 million (Paul)
Amount to candidates and party committees: $59,700
6. Jerrold & Margaret Perenchio
Total contributions: $4.2 million
Business: Television; former co-owner and CEO of Spanish-language broadcaster Univision
Donations: American Crossroads: $2.5 million; Restore Our Future: $1.5 million (Romney)
Amount to candidates and party committees: $146,300
7. Robert Mercer
Total contributions: $4.2 million
Business: Hedge fund manager
Donations: American Crossroads: $1 million; Restore Our Future: $1 million (Romney); Prosperity First: $750,000
Amount to candidates and party committees: $241,900
What He Wants To squelch a proposed tax on stock transactions – a move that would limit his ability to game the market with algorithm-crunching computers.
8. John & Marlene Childs
Total contributions: $3.5 million
Business: Private equity
Donations: Club for Growth: $1.1 million; American Crossroads: $1 million; Restore Our Future: $1 million (Romney); Congressional Leadership Fund: $250,000
Amount to candidates and party committees: $167,700
9. Foster & Lynette Friess
Total contributions: $3 million
Business: Former investment manager
Donations: Red, White & Blue Fund: $2.1 million (Santorum); Restore Our Future: $100,000 (Romney); Freedomworks for America: $100,000
Amount to candidates and party committees: $185,700
10. Paul Singer
Total contributions: $2.9 million
Business: Hedge fund manager
Donations: American Unity PAC: $1.2 million; Restore Our Future: $1 million (Romney); Club for Growth: $100,000
Amount to candidates and party committees: $142,796
What He Wants Needs backing from the U.S. government for his lawsuit to collect more than $2 billion from Argentina. Also loathes the Federal Reserve, which he calls a "group of inbred academics."
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79413.html#ixzz2BOBTtmYL
I do get a kick from you desparate libbies who have had too much of the kool-aid to drink. Republicans have no fear - Romney will be successful in this election, as will many House and Senate candidates.
D. Appel, keep talking to make you feel better, but Barrack is toast. You have really bought into the lies of the left.
@Feisty, when one does a search of the internet, it is interesting to see that both you and Jen Rene have identical cell phone numbers. Same address too?
Do you return to GSG after the election?
So...looking beyond the re-election, where are We The People going to steer our political conversation? Do we want to attempt a legislative repeal of Citizens United? Do we want an Infrastructural Jobs Program? Do we want to allocate more of our tax dollars to helping students and teachers? How hot are we for larger defense budgets, tax cuts for the wealthy, or extended military entanglements? How do we solve looming budgetary problems over Social Security and Medical expenses? Can we improve our criminal justice system? Should we legalize weed? ...Let's keep talking after the election.
Will our elected officials listen to us and work together if We Unite and give them direction?
I want Romney and his entire family run out of this country! Cowards, they are nothing but COWARD! It goes all the way back to his Grandfather an immigrant from England being investigated for Polygamy. Run Grandpa Run! Even Romney himself has a Ran from the Government when he ran to France during the Vietnam War. Now tell me how he would make a good leader. He is bringing disgrace to this nation and our Vets. Our men and women in our Military deserve better! My father and Uncle died in that war they deserve better!
Confused is an appropriate name to use here.
Our men and women in the military deserve better than Mitt? How about deserving better than the guy currently in charge that gave up four lives in Libya? Isn't this a serious crime? Talk about disgracing the nation, our vets and the boys/girls in uniform?
What is Obama saying: it's okay to leave people behind? A movie caused this, huh?
Too late for this, but I hope it makes headlines before the end of the day tomorrow.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/11/05/dutch-source-confirms-romney-paid-zero-taxes/
Our President said that he would bring the nation together. That did not work.
Our President said that he could work with the opposition party by reaching across the isle. That did not work.
Our President said that his administration would be free from lobbyists. That did not work.
Our President said that his administration would be the most transparent ever. That did not work.
Our President said that he would fix the economy within three years. That did not work.
Our President said that his health care bill would lower health care costs. That did not work.
Our President said that he would not raise taxes on 95% of Americans in any way. That did not work.
Our President said that his stimulus spending bill would solve our employment problem. That did not work.
Our President said that he would cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term. That did not work.
Our President has provided an economic "plan" for the next 4 years that is mathematically impossible. That cannot work.
I see a pattern here. Our President said that if he could not fix the economy within three year that he did not deserve a second term.
For Joe in Albany and others who doubt the veracity of the story revealing Citizen Romney's "charitable soul" vis-a-vis his use of a CRUT, here's the citation to the business organization that broke the story.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-29/romney-avoids-taxes-via-loophole-cutting-mormon-donations.html
Character counts in a president.
How can anyone, let alone a nation, trust Citizen Romney when he steals from his own church via a trust, under the guise of being a "compassionate conservative"?
Romney/Ryan: None and Done.
Again, Romney sent a large portion of his wealth to the Mormon church in exchange for an annuity. This annuity payment may or may not be taxable depending upon how the Mormon church is set up.
Despite what he gave to the Mormon church He still holds a net worth of about $250 Million in a blind trust to which he pays taxes at the capital gains rate on.
My Great Aunt set such a trust up with her church. Once the wealth is transferred to the church it is theirs and is not included in your net worth.
It will be nice to have this behind us so that our President can continue to show the republic party how the country's problems get solved. Of course the republicans are one of the biggest problems this country has.
OBAMA/BIDEN in a few hours
Everyone whom you can muster to get out and vote for our President, please do so. Remember 2007-2009? The republicans do. They remembered enough to make sure they concealed George W. Bush under a rock during their convention.
Put another way: If even the republicans think republicanism is toxic, then maybe you should too.
Think it over,...... then vote a straight Democratic ticket.
Please, please, vote for Obama, The republicans are so toxic.
Oh it's tax free all right, trust Robme to use the Church to hide a few million $$, you see it was'nt REALLY a "charitable" contribution, it was "TITHING" which every Mormon is "supposed to pay", at the end of every month. You are supposed to base the amount that you pay, on your MONTHLY INCOME, but the Church's "recommended amount" is 10%, no-one with a "BRAIN" believes that Robme pays 10% of his income to the Church every month!! So he divised a way to "pay his tithing", and hide alot of his and Ann's money at the same time. HE CAN'T BE TRUSTED!!!! OBAMA/BIDEN FORWARD!!!!!!!
I will be casting my vote for Obama when the polls open in about 20 minutes.
I remember how it was when he took the helm in the White House:
Want a repeat OF THAT??!!
Then join me in voting a straight Democratic ticket and throw out the republican pestilence that has been a parasite on our people for far too long. Make the repubs get a real job and put them to work off the government dole for once in their miserable lives.
OBAMA/BIDEN today, now. The battle is joined!
Nothing says "I lost this election" more than a desperate vain attempt to win votes by campaigning on election day!
How true!!
So the President is hard at work at the White House these days
Yep, he goes to White house every night after he's done campaigning. Don't worry you'll get use to seeing more of Obama in the white house for another 4 more years.
If Romney has the election wrapped up, then why he is going to OH and PA on ELECTION DAY.. Hello!!! Desperation at its best. People will be out at the Polls not worrying about this guy.
Jason - actually President Obama is on the phone with various agencies throughout the day - keeping track of the issues caused by Sandy as well as other functions the President must be on top of. He doesn't get to stop working just because he's campaigning!
Obama/Biden 2012
Watch out for the GOP trying to steal the Election, don't let anyone bully you when you go to Vote !!!
@Pat. That would be the Democrats doing the stealing. Especially in Chicago as usual.
Jason,
From ABC news
Campaigning on Election Day is not unprecedented. Sen. John McCain campaigned in New Mexico and Colorado on Election Day in 2008 and then- Sen. Barack Obama made a campaign stop in Indiana.
Good question Jason.
1) Insurance on not winning Ohio. The public polls might be showing Obama winning, but the early vote and absentee behavior says the polls are wrong.
2) Expansion means a stronger mandate.
If they try,....call me. I'll head butt them myself. Maggot repubs.
Good to see this. He is working just as hard as we are to get Obama out of the White House. One more day!!
Obama is going to Salt Lake City to win the Mormon vote.
Capt. Smash ... oh if that were true! We'd love to have him in Salt Lake! You do know that the Trib supports him? Loved that little jab!
Obama/Biden 2012
Our little 5 Electoral votes will go for the President.
Martin Heinrich should win as well.
"Obamanos!!!"
("Let's go Obama.")
Salud
Capt Smash, you always crack me up!
He already has a lot of the Mormon vote.
Nice little pun there, Amy! :)
charlie, he probably does. Mormons do what they are told, or so I've heard.
right after he gets back from nairobi to secure the kenyan vote. oh wait kenyan votes dont count here.
Go home Henry, your irritating with your nonsense. Dumb post.
Obama 2012
Nevada1050 - no but with every post you show YOU are morally bankrupt!
Obama/Biden 2012
Nevada, want to speak of morals, really, lying is a way of life for Romney, Mormonism says its ok to lie to non-believers. The President is morally bankrupt because he cares for the least of our society and Romney demeans and dismisses half the American population in an unguarded moment. How people behave when they don't believe they are been watched is a great indicator of character or lack of it, Romney has no core and stands for nothing. a real moral person your boy Romney, not!
Obama 2012
Willard Romney... Media darling of the under-educated white male. Hmm... Or should that be "Under-educated white males"... Cultish, racist, cannon-fodder.
I find it very odd that the description of who holds him closest to their hearts are the very ones he shats on most often.
And BTW... Don't blame me for the race card, it's all the polls that called you under-educated white male voters (aka racists). But don't you worry, Willards taking his whole "constitcheny" to the big rock candy mountain!
Pathetic...Now the left is taking their facts from Bloggers ...Whats next?
Is America experiencing a moral and ethical decline much like the Roman Empire did after their rise to greatness? We elect politicians who are grossly dishonest just because they are aggressive and allude that they’ll provide “more”. We applaud financial success no matter how it is achieved and ignore quality without it. We follow clergy who excite with hype created over being “holier than thou” when all religious doctrines teach humility is God’s true way. We rationalize that we individually deserve “more” based on others having it and seek to attain it however we can. We have political movements shouting and demonstrating with their “more for me for nothing” mentality. We have a political party that just gives the 99% subterfuge as they self-servingly concentrate on catering to the 1% for their support. We have activists who are on national media constantly ranting and raving about how justified it is for the few to always be gaining “more” and rationalize that those needing are just looking for a handout. We have media, owned by billionaires and staffed by millionaires, who work to influence, at the minimum subtly, the public’s thinking, thereby failing their responsibility and the public’s trust. We have politicians who want to even cut benefits for children in order to give “more” to the very wealthy. ...
... We have politicians, with strong support from the “money”, who manipulate public opinion with deceptions aimed to excite emotions and appeal to selfish interests. They fault “big government”, which didn’t cause our problems, to distract from and condone the aggressive exploitation by the few, which does constantly cause our problems. We rationalize that our religious beliefs should dominate and control yet we fault countries who have followed those same paths. We have business, community and government leaders who demonstrate self-aggrandizing without ever conscientiously serving more than their own interests. We see many who take pride in their financial gains, with pride in real quality disappearing. We see the 1% constantly pushing for “more”, without concern for the 99% and then they propagandize that the 99% are at fault for needing more. On and on with the measurement and the motivation always being for material success, without any guilt or concern for neglecting compassion or for being dishonest. No, this isn’t true of everyone but there is little evidence of it not being tolerated by everyone. Where is the honesty, the conscience, the compassion, the humility and the striving for personal quality that made America great? Is America in a drastic moral decline - I don’t know, but maybe you can tell by your own reaction to this and by how you vote.
There is nothing like a belt and suspenders approach. Something real business people do all the time. Pennsylvania has been looking pretty Romney since after the Debates.
Romney fell for the "Fools' Gold" of Pennsylvania, same as McCain did. He can't win PA. He just realized Ohio is probably gone, and he became desperate to find another path to victory. Six of the most recent PA polls have Obama +3 to +6, and one has a tie. Even Rasmussen, which leans conservative, has Obama up +5. Not exactly "looking pretty" for Mr. Romney.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/pa/pennsylvania_romney_vs_obama-1891.html
Nevada= re-post, re-reg, spamming right wing idiot. Get lost looser..
Because the folks in Pa. and O-H-I-O...
Can't get enough political campaigning!!!
(I mean, there are hardly and ads on the tube...)
Gov. Romney is welcome to waste his time here in Pittsburgh. The Obama campaign has an AWESOME GOTV operation and southwestern Pa. is strongly Democratic.
One note---Pa. has NO early voting program at all. Our Republican-controlled legistature has no motivation to make it easier for Democrats to vote. Besides, they were too busy passing voter suppressions laws and trying to limit abortion rights.
there should be no early voting anywhere..........and i just want to remind you that abortion involves the killing of a human baby...the most defenseless among us.....not that you libs care.......i mean you libbies don't seem to care about your fellow 23 million americans who can't find work..tomorrow there will be 23 million plus one unemployed........obama will be job hunting...............but under this ass obama they can get free abortions...wonderful!!!!.....
Around the country, GOP voter suppression tactics are backfiring. It's fueling anger and boosting higher Democratic turnout -- over and above what the tight race was already generating.
"Wack[ed]" is more like it. And maybe you missed the latest news: unemployment claims are down and job creation is up.
Here’s a quick snippet, but appropriate, of a post I wrote back on September 14th.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
RE: Governor George Romney’s 1968 Presidential Campaign.
Governor Jim Rhodes of Ohio more memorably said, "Watching George Romney run for the presidency was like watching a duck try to make love to a football."
Looks like history is repeating itself.
Salud
wacked, couldn't even tell us how Romney will create 12 million new jobs.
wacked-i mean you libbies don't seem to care about your fellow 23 million americans who can't find work..
Do you really think that the American people believe that Romney,the 1%er, out-sourcer king,cares about the American worker,NOT.
True desparation. I suspect the people of those states will recoil at being harranged even as they try to go to the polls.
Seeing how close it is, and judging by my highly scientific "feel" for voter turnout, I give this one in a surprise win to Romney.
Economy, economy, economy.
Romney/Ryan 2012 - A New Hope
On the subject of the economy: consumer confidence, durable good orders, GNP, housing starts, housing sales, consumer spending, and job creation all are on the upswing, so there is reason to hope, and it's thanks to the President.
Dave the only hope I have for an obama economic awaking is someone inhabits his body in the next term. he is completely clueless to the needs of small business's in the united states. why else would 81% of all small business owners surveyed be voting for romney.
You can hope in one hand and sh!t in the other and see which one fills up faster. So far we've waited four years for that hope to pan out and still our hands are full of sh!t.
Well, tomorrow the majority in this country is going to sh!t on Romney and send him home packing..
Redhead Ranting - another Repubican showing that crude and classless is a requirement to be a Repubican!
Obama/Biden 2012
@ asuming insanity
R U kidding? You may want to start at the beginning of the posts to see the flaming crude crud flying off of the Liberals posts. Or do you only consider anything that conservatives posts crude. If so, you are single minded and haven't developed the ability debate anything. YOU ARE A MENTAL MIDGET
Saw this poem today:
Twas the Night Before the Election, and all through Romney's house,
Not a bank account was stirring, not even in Laos.
The tax returns were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes the IRS would never be there.
The family dog was nestled all snug on the roof,
While the maid tended to the dancing horse, cleaning it's hooves.
And Mitt in his car elevator, and Ann in her Cadillac,
Had just gotten home from ignoring the facts.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
Mitt sprang from the elevator to see what was the matter.
Away to the window he flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of his newly bought yacht,
Gave the lustre of mid-day to the truth he forgot.
When, what to his wondering eyes should appear,
But a fact-checking team, Mitt's number one fear!
With a sharp eye for lies, so perfect in temperament,
He knew in a moment it was the smartest of the electorate.
With binders of Mitt's lies his enemies they came,
And Mitt hooted, and hollered, and screamed out Ann's name!
"Now Taggart! now, Ben! now, Matt and Craig!
Now Josh! Grab Rafalca, Seamus and the maid!
To the back of the mansion, dash through the halls!
Now run away! Run away! Run away all!"
Did EVERYONE see how the President has gotten GAS PRICES down by 20 cents in the last 2 weeks. IT MUST BE HIM, he gets blamed when the PRICES go UP. Right republican WACKOS???? OBAMA-BIDEN 2012.
The price of gas in Idaho hasn't moved but 2 cents in the last 4 months. IDIOT
jay-The price of gas in Idaho hasn't moved but 2 cents in the last 4 months. IDIOT
Here in Texas its down more than 20 cents. It was $3.59 a few weeks ago and my son filled up at $3.11 two days ago.
Maybe Romney should have Willie Nelson's song in the background: "Desperado".
500 retired Generals and Admirals endorse Romney for President...
General Colin Powell, very respected Republican and military man, endorsed President Obama.
gee i wonder why that be?
Meat Loaf endorsed Governor Romney.
Salud
Gee, Uncle Henry, why don't you enlighten me?
ThomasGrande - Meat Loaf endorsed Governor Romney Yes and that was the most hilarious endorsement I think I've EVER seen!
Obama/Biden 2012
General Powell used and abused by the Bush administration, and gee I wonder why the General served as Secretary of State under a dry drunk white boy from Texas, tell me Henry.
Obama 2012
TomasGrande: Did this Meat Loaf jam with Ted Nugent?
Exito - not sure but he's definitely totally cooked!
Obama/Biden 2012
Word on the Street is .....obama had his homosexual lover murdered in 2008...
Mr. Romney sacrificed a virgin while praying to Cthulu last night.
(See, I can make random stuff up, too!)
what self-respecting gay man would have sex with obama?.....
Da, and Lovecraft watched applauded when the skid marked magic underwear came off.
Obama 2012
skyferret have you had a stroke? please take a break from the free internet machine at the public library there are other vagrants that need to check their hotmail.
go MITT.......time for the fraud obama to pack up and move to his $25 million beach house on oahu or wherever the hell he came from...chicago really needs a community organizer these days.........bye bye 'bama!!!.....don't let the door hit your ass on the way out....
spoken like a true uneducated, miserable, hateful and vile republican.
Hey WACKADOODLE,,, What planet are you from?
Mitt in OH and PA on election day? LOL Proof positive that he's in a tough spot. He'd be better of doing some soul searching and preparing his conciliatory speech.
Soul?
It is obvious Romney has lost Ohio if he is now campaigning in Pennsylvania. His chance of winning PA is slim and none and Slim just left the building.
sharky obama looks to still have a very slight edge in ohio but i would not bet the farm on it.
Obama has a lot more than a "very slight edge". The only way Romney can win Ohio is if all the state polls are statistically biased. It seems pretty unlikely. 11 polls favor Obama, and one (Rasmussen) has a tie. The polls have consistently favored Obama, actually improving his lead the past few weeks. Unless every single polling company is "in the tank" for Obama, Romney supporters are going to be forced to wake up to reality very soon.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/oh/ohio_romney_vs_obama-1860.html
Nate Silver forecasts that Obama has an 87% chance of winning Ohio, based on the polling.
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/
Just saw 4 Mitten/Liar smear ads while watching Wheel-of-Fortune in Pittsburgh. Serious desperation! They eve brought Pat Boone out of his coffin. Very pathetic.
Based upon the polls it looks like my candidate romney will lose in a very narrow decision. I am proud of his effort and think he did the party proud no matter what the outcome.
Bwahahahahahaha..... that's funny. Obama-Biden 2012.
So many lies............ so little time.
I hope Ann divorces the loser too!
I wonder if he will still be campaigning on the 7th.
That's funny!!! I have a question...who do you think is going to be more upset about losing the election - nitmitt or the queen b!tch? I can just see her stamping her feet in anger.
seems like all obama supporters think they have this wrapped up. i agree it looks better for obama. but oh my what a huge letdown it would be if romney won. my self i am a romney supporter that hates to lose but my beliefs will not change. there's an election every four years and my hope is the next one is just as exciting as this one.
Well said Jimmy! If Obama loses I will also accept it.
Obama will lose Virginia. http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2012/nov/04/wilder-chooses-not-endorse-president-ar-2335331/
And CNN has Obama at one point ahead in a D+1 poll. Seriously? Does Bathhouse Barry really need that much oral from his fawning media to create the appearance of success?
It's over. Romney will be the 45th President and Barry and Carter canarm wrestle for who's the worst one termer ever.
44 ain't done yet.
has anyone asked bomama what size his pleather bomber jacket is? im guessing a boys medium.
Well...It has his title on it...in case he forgot.
It is time to stop playing President and put an Adult in the Office!
It's the same size that REAGAN and BUSH used to wear around all the time when they felt like it.
Oh did they have it on during an election ...Please show me when they did
The only desperate person is OBOZO. OMG, He takes cheating Clinton along and the womanizer Bruce along. Sure tells you alot about him. Pack your bags OBOZO, its off to Kenya for you!!
RR 2012
Does Romney believe the BIBLE is the ONLY word of God? Someone explain! I'm confused Evangelicals.
Jimmy - Give Jimmy Swaggert a call.....he lay your whole Bible thing out for ya!
If Obama is so superior, popular and "accomplished" as a POTUS, why is he in a neck and neck Presidential race with a challenger?..........that simply means that he is losing this election tomorrow!!..... I can already hear the champagne corks a poppin at Jimmy Carter's House........with lots of loud "Thank You" Baracks all around.......Move over Jimmy......here comes Obama!
Electiondaycometh, It won't be neck n neck tomorrow night after most of the votes are counted. You are fool for living your political life on a bunch POLLS. Its all about turn-out.
November 5, 2012
Romney 49%, Obama 48% in Gallup's Final Election Survey
Early voting so far breaks 49% for Obama and 48% for Romney
by the Gallup Editors
PRINCETON, NJ -- President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney are within one percentage point of each other in Gallup's final pre-election survey of likely voters, with Romney holding 49% of the vote, and Obama 48%. After removing the 3% of undecided voters from the results and allocating their support proportionally to the two major candidates, Gallup's final allocated estimate of the race is 50% for Romney and 49% for Obama.
Track the 2012 race and compare it to past elections >
The survey was conducted as part of Gallup Daily tracking Nov. 1-4.
Much of this year's campaigning has focused on women and swing voters, and the race concludes with each candidate holding equally strong advantages with one gender and closely matched in support by party identification. Romney holds a 10-percentage point lead among men, 53% to 43%, while Obama is winning by nearly the same margin, 52% to 44%, among women. The two are roughly tied among independents -- 46% favor Obama and 45% Romney. Each candidate has the strong support of his own party, with 96% of Republicans backing Romney and 93% of Democrats supporting Obama.
Romney's Debate-Period Surge May Have Run Its Course
Current voting preferences mark a return to the status of the race from Oct. 1-7, when Obama and Romney were tied at 48% among likely voters. After that, Romney moved ahead in mid-October during the presidential debate period, holding a three- to five-point lead in Gallup Daily tracking shortly before superstorm Sandy devastated many areas on the East Coast Oct. 29-30. Romney's and Obama's current close positioning in the Nov. 1-4 poll was measured as the Northeast continued to recover from superstorm Sandy, and after Obama's highly visible visit to the region.
Between Oct. 22-28 and Nov. 1-4, voter support for Obama increased by six points in the East, to 58% from 52%, while it held largely steady in the three other regions. This provides further support for the possibility that Obama's support grew as a result of his response to the storm.
The poll also shows Americans giving Obama high marks for the way he dealt with the storm: 68% of likely voters approve of the way he handled "the response to Superstorm Sandy," by far his highest approval rating on any of four issues Gallup asked about in the final poll. Obama's approval rating among likely voters on the other three issues ranges from 46% on foreign affairs to 42% on the economy, and 39% on handling the situation in Libya.
Obama's overall job approval rating is 49% among likely voters, and 52% among all national adults in the Nov. 1-4 poll. Historically, presidents with a job approval rating above 50% in Gallup polling prior to an election have won their bids for a second term; however, given the Republican advantage in voter turnout this year, and Obama's resulting 49% approval among likely voters, his national 52% approval rating may not necessarily put him into the safety zone.
One in 10 Voters Still Won't Commit to a Choice; 33% Have Already Voted
Three percent of likely voters in the final poll are undecided, expressing no candidate preference. Another 7% name either Obama or Romney but say they are not totally certain they will vote for their candidate of choice and they could change their minds, even at this late juncture. By 94% to 92%, Romney voters are slightly more likely than Obama voters to say they are certain in their vote choice.
Thirty-two percent of likely voters interviewed Nov. 1-4 say they have already voted, while another 6% still intend to vote before Election Day. Early voters' preferences closely mirror the overall result, with 49% having already cast their ballot for Obama and 48% for Romney. As Gallup.com previously reported, there are highly significant differences in the rate of early voting by region, extending from 9% in the East to 50% in the West, with 25% early voting in the Midwest and 43% in the South.
Given practical difficulties in reaching a representative sample of portions of the region affected by superstorm Sandy, Gallup did not interview between Oct. 29 and Oct. 31, and resumed interviewing Nov. 1. Gallup carefully monitored the sample throughout the Nov. 1-4 survey period and determined that the coverage problems did not produce any political bias in the resulting sample that required a correction.
Obama, Romney Tied on Favorability in the Final Days
Underscoring the tightness of the race, Obama and Romney have equal 52% favorable ratings among likely voters. Gallup has shown that the candidate with the higher favorable rating usually wins, but the similarity of the two candidates' images provides no such guidance this year.
Obama's and Romney's images in likely voters' minds across a range of three personal characteristics and six issues underscore the candidates' basic positioning, which has been evident throughout this election campaign. Despite the two candidates' equal favorability scores, when Americans are asked who is more likable, Obama wins by 12 points, although this gap has narrowed over the course of the campaign. Obama also holds an eight-point advantage as the candidate better able to handle foreign affairs. Romney scores six and nine points higher than Obama as being better able to handle the economy and the deficit, respectively.
The two are more closely matched on the dimensions of being a strong and decisive leader and being better able to handle taxes as well as healthcare. Romney has a slight advantage on being able to work well with both parties to get things done in Washington, while Obama has a slight advantage on Medicare.
In the end, one of the most crucial questions that can be asked about a political officeholder seeking re-election is whether that person deserves to be re-elected. In this case, 48% of likely voters say Obama does, while 51% say he does not.
Bottom Line
Gallup finds a statistical tie among likely voters in its final presidential election survey of 2012, suggesting a very close battle in the national popular vote, and raising the possibility of a split between the popular vote and the Electoral College outcome. The race is not only close overall, but has Romney and Obama holding equally strong advantages among men and women, respectively, and closely matched among political independents. This suggests that turnout of partisans could be particularly important in deciding the election, with Romney poised to benefit slightly more if they do, with 96% of Republicans backing him, as compared with Obama's 93% support from Democrats.
Desperation is taking hold in romney land.
Bet yah Slick Willy already took care of Michelle with a cigar while Obozo himself was blowing Joe!!! What a wacked up white house. At least we will have some good people in their in January. Id hate to clean the oval office after 4 years of OBOZO and company! YUK
RR 2012
mj, a truly disgusting post, resort to that kind of nonsense when losing an argument, can't get lower than what you posted. Nasty mutt.
Obama 2012
mjbo - Guess you have to get your jollies somehow. If posting nasty stuff is your thing, have at it. I for one would rather these posts stay on a more intellectual level.
The worst thing about mjbo is that he/she/it got 4 up votes. That's almost as disgusting!!! To think that somebody else is just as sick as he/she/it.
The Obama haters only have a few hours left. Let them have their fun if that's what they want to spend their last little bit of time doing.
clotho, i agree, let these stupid idiots have their fun in these last few hours. Wednesday morning I dare any of them to come on FR.
A lot of these posters are paid trolls of the republican party. You won't hear from most of them ever again.
This is one poster that's been here years, and am neither an idiot, paid poster, or democrat. You above "enlightened and tolerant" are neither of those traits when it comes to any opinion that differs from yours. This is the most divisive administration to date; with the most incompetent president to date. When you factor in Carter and Bush, that's going some.
Divisiveness?
War on Women...... poor women; now there's a whole war against them, and their birth control. Who'd ever expect a Georgetown student to buy her own birth control. Count on the prez: http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2012/oct/17/obamas-record-mixed-hiring-women/
Class Warfare........... let's incite the "Have-nots"..... Remember the townspeople in the old westerns? They were so easy to whip up into a frenzy.... Count on the prez: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpAOwJvTOio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I79wUEqBdQc&feature=relmfu Let's just let the healthy and well fit live off me - and all the other hard-working tax payers. It seems as if it's quite productive to work. "I'm here to get a check." You all probably agree, right? "Foodstamps! It's just food!" "Thank you Barack Obama." Yes, I see how the poor and needy are being overlooked.