Obama, Romney make last-minute pleas in close race

November 5, 2012 @ 12:19 pm


With the Wisconsin State Capitol building dome behind him, President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event, Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, in downtown Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) | Zoom
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Associated Press

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney made last-minute pleas for votes Monday, employing their last vestiges of energy, celebrity boosters and plenty of jet fuel to encourage every supporter and the few remaining undecideds to tip the 2012 election in their favor.

National polls of the eve of Election Day showed a neck-and-neck race. But the winner will be determined by which man gets 270 electoral votes, and Obama had more paths to get there.

Ohio looms large in both of their victory plans _ it was the only state both candidates were visiting Monday. And Romney's campaign announced in the afternoon that the GOP nominee would come back on Election Day for a rally in the Cleveland area. Romney also planned a Tuesday stop in the Pittsburgh area.

The incumbent and the challenger, both fighting weariness and a hoarse voice, closed by arguing they could do more to lead the country out of the tough economic times that dominated Obama's term. "This nation is going to begin to change for the better tomorrow," Romney said.

"Our work is not yet done," Obama told nearly 20,000 people who filled the street in front of the Wisconsin capital building.

Both men campaigned in states they need to win. Romney was in Florida, Virginia, and New Hampshire, while Obama was trying to protect Wisconsin from a late-breaking GOP challenge before heading to Iowa.

And in an indication of just how all-important Ohio was once again to the future occupancy of the White House, both candidates planned to be on the ground in Columbus in the evening for dueling rallies several hours and seven miles apart. The state has gone for the winner in every presidential election since 1964.

While Romney added more campaigning for Tuesday, Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the president would stay in Chicago for his election night rally and reach swing-state voters through a series of radio and television interviews.

Both candidates were also hoping to benefit from some star power. Romney planned a final rally in the day's final hour in New Hampshire with Kid Rock while country rock performers The Marshall Tucker Band was joining him in Columbus. Obama had actors Samuel L. Jackson and Chris Rock doing urban radio interviews, "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm making calls in Colorado, rapper Jay-Z joining him in Columbus and rock legend Bruce Springsteen as his traveling warm-up act.

"He promised me a ride on Air Force One," Springsteen said, strumming his guitar as he made a political pitch between songs.

The rivals planned to appeal to pro football fans in the eleventh hour, taping interviews with ESPN's Chris Berman that will air during halftime of the Monday Night Football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints.

Both candidates predicted the winner will be determined by which of their operations can get the most supporters to the polls. "This is going to be a turnout election," the president declared in an interview broadcast early Monday as he pleaded with urban radio listeners to get to the polls.

On the edge of an airport runway in Lynchburg, Va., Romney called on his supporters to "make sure we get everyone we know out to vote on Election Day." "Every single vote," he said, speaking within view of Liberty University and after its chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. rallied the conservative faithful in the crowd.

Obama raised the possibility of defeat as he pleaded with listeners of The Rickey Smiley Morning Show to get to the polls. "If we don't turn out the vote, we could lose a lot of the gains we've already made," Obama said.

It was one of two of the president's radio interviews airing Monday aimed at turning out minority voters, the other with a Spanish-language station in Ohio. The president is relying on black and Hispanic voters to help offset Romney's lead with white men in particular, but the risk for him is that some of those key supporters aren't as motivated to vote as they were in 2008.

"Four years ago, we had incredible turnout and I know people were excited and energized about the prospect of making history," Obama said. "We have to preserve the gains we've made and keep moving forward."

A final national NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll showed Obama getting the support of 48 percent of likely voters, with Romney receiving 47 percent. A Washington Post-ABC News tracking poll had Obama at 49 and Romney at 48. A Pew Research Center poll released Sunday showed Obama with a 3-point-point edge over Romney, 48 percent to 45 percent among likely voters.

Obama dispatched former President Bill Clinton to Pennsylvania on Monday to keep the state in his column. First lady Michelle Obama went south to North Carolina and Florida. Vice President Joe Biden made a final reach in Virginia, while Romney running mate Paul Ryan was covering the most ground, flying to Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The hunt for swing voters was so concentrated that Biden and Romney crossed paths in northern Virginia, the vice president's motorcade pulling past Romney's plane on the tarmac at Dulles International Airport as the GOP nominee prepared to leave the aircraft. Stopping for lunch at Mimi's Cafe in nearby Sterling, Va., Biden confidently predicted: "It's all over but the shouting."

Meanwhile, about 30 million people have already voted in 34 states and the District of Columbia, either by mail or in person, although no ballots will be counted until Election Day, Tuesday. More than 4 million of the ballots were cast in Florida, where Democrats filed a lawsuit demanding an extension of available time. A judge granted their request in one county where an early voting site was shut down for several hours Saturday because of a bomb scare.

___

Pickler reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jim Kuhnhenn and Julie Pace in Madison, Wis., Ken Thomas and Stephen Ohlemacher in Washington, Matthew Daly in Sterling, Va., and Steve Peoples in Lynchburg, Va., contributed to this report.


(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (148)


  • Add A Comment

  • Drool wrote...
    Round 2
    October 16, 2012 7:27 pm
    Obama. Stand by for the wingnuts bicthin' about the moderator.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    It's hilarious
    October 16, 2012 8:07 pm
    Switched over to Fox to see how they're reporting it and just as I thought they're not reporting what everybody else is... Polls show Obama whipped his Lilly butt
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Obama
    October 16, 2012 7:33 pm
    Same s* * t different debate. Nothing new from Barry. Same old blame game. Same old stale Democrat talking points and clichés. Time for little Barry to get his own late night talk show where he can be the singer/celebrity he really is. He definitely is NOT QUALIFIED to be POTUS! Absolutely disgraceful in his dishonesty. PATHETIC
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Funny
    October 16, 2012 8:03 pm
    You're just angry because Obama thumped your boy in that debate
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Angry? LOL
    October 16, 2012 8:33 pm
    I watched. Obama said the exact same BS he's been saying for 5 years. All talk no do....inept, incompetent, weak and a total FAILURE!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    ineptocracy
    October 17, 2012 5:29 am
    it is such a great word and it totally defines the President.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • borosnw wrote...
    between the two candidates
    October 31, 2012 4:10 pm
    I would pick Obama to lead anyday of the week. Mitt is the true liar. Phuc the Republican party. They are getting uglier everyday. Looking back, I do think Bush is a much compassionate President than any of these new crop of GOP freaks. Luckily, Washingtonians are smart enough not to vote for Mitt/Ryan. Thank goodness.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    It's pretty hard
    October 16, 2012 7:39 pm
    To be a leader when you're always on vacation. Time to give BO his walking papers so he can improve his golf game.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mjb0007 wrote...
    POTUS - Vacation
    October 17, 2012 5:53 am
    Well then according to your comment, Bush took to much vaca down at the ranch, right??? Check the facts, imbicile!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Obama kinda kicked his butt this time.
    October 16, 2012 7:47 pm
    Romney is a fool.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Kinda?
    October 16, 2012 8:05 pm
    Romney got his butt whipped in this one
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Watching the Gube debate now, and McKenna is killing Jay.
    October 16, 2012 7:50 pm
    Voting 100% for McKenna. Not because my daughter and his son go to school together, but because he is exactly what I hoped he would be. A really smart democrat who thinks he is a republican.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    Nice to see Obama in action
    October 16, 2012 8:11 pm
    While I'm not voting for either, I did think Obama had fun!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • daveismenotyou wrote...
    I don't buy that for one second cigarfan
    October 16, 2012 8:14 pm
    You won't vote for either? BS on that one.Unless you are admitting you are stupid to vote for the constipation party or some other loser party.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @daveismenotyou
    October 16, 2012 9:32 pm
    Have you looked at your voters guide? Believe me, there's plenty of candidates to vote for.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    voting for the other candidates
    October 17, 2012 5:31 am
    is a wasted vote....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    Romney looked and walked
    October 16, 2012 8:49 pm
    like he had a turd in his pants all night. Some body pass him some gas x. He still can't even come close to describing his plan, I thought it was brilliant of the POTUS to say to him that no company can come to him and tell him to invest in my company and I will tell you how you are going to make a profit after you give me the money. Priceless
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Election is over, For Romney - Ace Jackwagon time to grab the bottle of Jack Daniel . . . .
    October 16, 2012 9:20 pm
    and chug a lug. You can come to 11.7.12 This is just for you fool http://youtu.be/GUetwgYGPMM
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Canuck85 wrote...
    Round 2 Goes to Romney
    October 16, 2012 10:57 pm
    As an independent, I thought Obama did somewhat better, his answers are still lacking substance and seemed hesitant. Romney just seems overall more confident and intelligent on the issues. I realize Obama goes into the debate with a disadvantage because of the state of the economy and the recent happenings Libya, but those are his problems and he has to give a better defense on ways to fix them. I'm looking forward to the next debate.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Well you're in the minority
    October 16, 2012 11:17 pm
    Sorry that you saw it that way but the majority of Americans said Obama won the debate
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    that because the majority of Americans sit on their
    October 17, 2012 5:33 am
    butts and believe everything that comes out of their tv because is to much work to get up and look into other sources besides the liberal media.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Obama has 237 electoral votes in hand...
    October 16, 2012 11:22 pm
    Romney 190... The toss ups are favoring Obama in the polls even after the first debate... Obama just sealed the deal tonight Romney lost
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }