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Updated at 5:50pmET: A rapidly-approaching conclusion loomed over the 2012 election on Saturday, as President Barack Obama, Republican nominee Mitt Romney, their running mates and surrogates swarmed a series of battleground states to make their closing messages.
Obama and Romney each employed a mixture of uplifting, forward-looking rhetoric with attacks on the other during a whirlwind tour of battleground states set to decide the election on Tuesday.
Slideshow: On the campaign trail
Looking for a catalyzing moment to push past Obama in those swing states, Romney opted to play up the president's comments Friday at a rally, at which he urged supporters to vote as a means of seeking "revenge" against Republicans.
"Yesterday the president said something you may have heard by now that I think surprised a lot of people. Speaking to an audience, he said you know voting is the best 'revenge,'" Romney said. "He told his supporters, voting for revenge. Vote for revenge? Let me tell you what I’d like to tell you: Vote for love of country."
At a campaign stop in Newington, N.H., GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney stressed his support of entrepreneurs if he is elected president.
The Obama campaign, in response Saturday afternoon, called the line of attack "very small."
"I think it's interesting that that's the closing argument that the Romney campaign is making," said Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt.
Related: Obama aide explains 'voting is best revenge' comment
The remarks were consistent with Romney's effort to project momentum heading into the campaign's final weekend, riding high after drawing the largest crowd of its campaign at a Friday night rally in Ohio. The Republican ticket has essentially tried to co-opt the themes of "change" from Obama's 2008 campaign as its closing argument now against the president.
Speaking in Mentor, Ohio, President Barack Obama speaks about his Administration's accomplishments of the last four years.
But the Romney campaign's outward optimism clashed with new polls giving Obama an ever-so-slight edge in pivotal swing states. New NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist polls showed Romney trailing Obama by six points among likely voters in Ohio, and by two points in Florida.
Related: Polls: Obama stays ahead in Ohio, deadlocked with Romney in Fla.
Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan's trip Saturday afternoon to Pennsylvania, a state which the GOP has only contended in the final days of the campaign, was emblematic of the campaigns' dueling perspectives toward the campaign. The Romney campaign argued it was a sign of surging momentum while the Obama campaign cast the trip as an act of desperation — a Hail Mary effort driven by foreclosed opportunities in other battleground states. (Romney will stop in Pennsylvania on Sunday.)
While the outcome on Election Day is far from assured, a certain wistfulness set in as Obama looked back at his four years in office. He argued his experience as president showed he was someone whom voters could trust, meaning to imply as well that Romney wasn't.
"When you elect a president, you don’t know what kinds of emergencies may happen. You don’t know what problems he or she may deal with," he said. "But you want to be able to trust your president."
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In this composite photo: President Barack Obama points while speaking at a campaign event at Mentor High School in Ohio, and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally in Dubuque, Iowa November 3, 2012.
And amid the late-breaking attack by Romney meant to cast Obama as embittered, the president told a crowd in Mentor, Ohio: "I don't feel cynical. I feel hopeful."
There were signs that awareness of the campaign's approaching horizon had set in among the Romney campaign as well.
"It was very emotional when I gave my last address by myself, because I hear the voices and the passion of the people out there that are really hurting, and they are etched in my mind and my heart, as they are with Mitt," Ann Romney told the press corps traveling with her husband. "It's been an extraordinary experience."
Recommended: Ryan travels to Pennsylvania, trying to put state in play
The full range of reflection would have to wait, though, until Wednesday. Obama and Romney — along with their running mates, Vice President Joe Biden and Ryan — each have a long list of stops ahead of them during the remainder of Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Their efforts are met by hoards of Democratic and Republican surrogates, who fanned out across the country as part of a frenzied effort in hopes of adding a few more swing states to their candidate's column on Tuesday.
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Here's what the non partisan Congressional Research Service has to say about cutting taxes to increase income. (Summary below)
Throughout the late-1940s and 1950s, the top marginal tax rate was typically above 90%; today it is 35%. Additionally, the top capital gains tax rate was 25% in the 1950s and 1960s, 35% in the 1970s; today it is 15%. The real GDP growth rate averaged 4.2% and real per capita GDP increased annually by 2.4% in the 1950s. In the 2000s, the average real GDP growth rate was 1.7% and real per capita GDP increased annually by less than 1%.
There is not conclusive evidence, however, to substantiate a clear relationship between the 65-year steady reduction in the top tax rates and economic growth. Analysis of such data suggests the reduction in the top tax rates have had little association with saving, investment, or productivity growth. However, the top tax rate reductions appear to be associated with the increasing concentration of income at the top of the income distribution.
The share of income accruing to the top 0.1% of U.S. families increased from 4.2% in 1945 to 12.3% by 2007 before falling to 9.2% due to the 2007-2009 recession. The evidence does not suggest necessarily a relationship between tax policy with regard to the top tax rates and the size of the economic pie, but there may be a relationship to how the economic pie is sliced.
Since Romney's whole platform is refuted by these findings, Senator Mitch McConnell (R) blocked the release of the Report. It surfaced again in the Nov 1 2012 New York Times.
Maobama won't be so upbeat after Tuesday.
keep dreaming stainboy......
for the first time in four years, i'm proud to be an american , i voted for romney.
haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
@stayinformednow
Well that's the difference between you and me, I'm always proud to be an American no mater who the president is.
Which one?
The last Spring ultra-conservative the Republicans hated
Or the this fall OBAMA clone that Chris Christie is voting for?
Or the "It's not my job to worry about those people" Waffling Willie that can't be bothered with 47% of the people he want's to Govern?
Really? You voted for a liar and tax cheat. Also that person has shown udder disdain for you unless you are part of the 1%, or someone that can give $20,000 for a plate fund raiser or your vote and ;now that you just gave that away he has no use for you and NOW wouldn't give you the time of day if you asked him for it.
That is someone to be really PROUD.
From the looks of your typing skills you are part of the problem with America. You do not have any skills.
how would you convince the 47% of the people who believe the govt should take care of them to be responsible and learn how to stand on their OWN 2 feet...??????????
that's a BIG problem in america as you can tell too many helpless, lazy, people who have given up on their lives!!!!!!!!
and, noone's talking about the one's who are truly entitled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the more you ENABLE people by giving them everything the more HELPLESS and DEMANDING they become...!!!!!!!
america has rewarded bad behavior so much, why should they even try to change their lives for the better-it's too comfortable to try anything else to get out of the pit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Romney has been intelligent enough to run away from that line. Apparently you aren't.
Wow, you bought into the reich-wing propaganda hook, line, and sinker, didntya? So you're calling all the people who were harmed by republican policies and W. Bush's idiocy "bad"? You're saying they have "bad behavior" when in fact they are the victims of BAD republican policy? You have been carefully trained to blame the victims, not the policies that harmed them. Doesn't say much about your intelligence level.....
It's all but over. There is no chance in hell Romney can catch up and the polls are showing it now. Rasmussen now shows Obama with a 2 point lead over Romney. WSJ/Marist polls show Obama ahead by 5 points. Nate Silver gives Obama an 83% chance of winning. Come Monday it'll be worse for Romney because all the pollsters will want to be on the winning side and they all ready know Obama is winning. Go Obama!
yep....GO MITT !!!!! and take Lyin Ryan with ya !!!!!! Rumor has it, with Mitts fake food drive skills and Pauly's PHONY dish washing...they are going to open a pretend restaurant...it's kind of an "all you can't eat" place...
KMM1976 Another false statement I just look at Rasmussens web site for Saturday Romney leads by 1 If crowd numbers are and indication of anything its certainly going Romneys way 30,000 in Ohio last night 2800 yesterday for Obama. Its trending toward a substantial victory for Romney
Way to go Obama. We do not need these conservative Tea Baggers in the White House. Mitt is totally lost and has no clue what the Middle Class endures. He speaK about repealing Obama Care and Roe vs Wade. Where has he been? The US Supreme Court has spoken. They are both laws. In the case of Obama Care, the Chief Justice casted the deciding vote and wrote the opinion that Obama Care is legal. Now Mitt is going to try in repeal it. Has anyone told Mitt that hte Chief Justice who jumped over pary lines and decided with Obama Care is an appointed to Bush, This tells me Mitt doesn't believe in the constitution when he's determined to fight againt the Supreme Court.
You seem uninformed. As President, Romney doesn't have to repeal a Supreme Court decision. All he has to do is cancel ObamaCare through Congress. ObamaCare is a financially unviable handout scheme that will be the single-largest drain on our incomes. It is really really dumb. It's the same thing as welfare.
Dumill, you don't even have a clue on what the middle class endures. When Obama took office Gas was 1.84 a gal now its over 3.00 per gal in somplaces 4.00 a gal unemployment was 7.6 when he took office today four years later 7.9, debt has increased to 16 trillion dollars as Obama has spent more than all the previous Presidents combined/ Food prices our up 23 million people are out of work or under employed. Obama over reaching regulations have hurt the coal industry he has fought any drilling for oil on federal lands to support higher and higher prices. He a community activist by trade with a gift to gab long on rhetoric but short on substanse/
If you knew a Presidents job he is Comander and cheif . The President can suggest legislation but its congress that approves and makes bills not the President he can only suggest
In the case of Obamacare your right the chief justice ruled in favor of it because its a tax and the Democrat controlled congress ramrodded it through with no bi partisan support and Obama quickly signed it into law. Congress is the only entity that can vote for tax increases.
The Chief justice only supported it because Obamas lawyer insisted it was a tax and the only way to get rid of it is to repeal the desision the same way. It did not have bi partisan support. Obama denioed publicly it was a tax because people hate tax increases. If its not repealed in 2014 when its fully implemented you will be taxed for it nout of pocket
It has nothing to do with the consttusion stop being so stupid dmill
if you really want to help them...????????? they need to change the way they THINK and get off their butts and work for what they get like the rest of us do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you reap what you sow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and, they haven't sowed a damn thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You're a nut case...go back to your Faux News and preach your rightwing holier than thou BS there!
As the American legend Clint Eastwood said:
“Obama is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on American people..”
nope, not even close. that would be the phoney Iraq WMD's and the war that followed.
As Americans said about the legendary Clint Eastwood:
"Wtf happened to him?! How sad!"
Even if one chooses to ignore everything else, Romney’s patently deceitful and slippery campaign tactics as well as his performance as a Massachusetts governor provide, by themselves, adequate grounds to rule him out. Although he had the records of his administration as governor purged so the press and the electorate would be seriously hindered in assessing his performance, he was still unable to erase the fact that during his term Massachusetts had the second largest labor force decline in the nation, it ended up 47th among states in job growth, it lost 14% of its manufacturing jobs, and Massachusetts residents got stuck with the highest debt of any state in the nation. The truth of the matter is that this one-term governor was not only fearful of a reelection defeat, he abandoned Massachusetts after it delivered the sole reason he ran, a self-serving addition to his resume for another run at the White House, further evidence—no matter your political leanings—that this guy is nothing more than a pandering embarrassment and walking artifact (how many times has he blurted out painfully antiquated notions as if hopelessly mired in some 1950s time warp?) whose efforts, vision, and pronouncements are consistently irrelevant, obsolete—and when put into practice—totally ineffective.
There wouldn't have been an economic collapse if there were no bad mortgages.... Who put bad mortgages on the books to be sold as AAA credit instruments? That goes back to Clinton and FNMA/GNMA and CRA...greatly enhanced by Frank and Dodd.
As for the battered reputation of the US, look at what is going on with the Arab Spring...you think that is a success or has it been a total failure? Forget about Libya-Syria problems, this foreign policy has failed. Just for fun, check out what Poland has said about our foreign policy....and what Germany has said...you need to widen your horizons beyond MSN or ABC.
The health care system was taking care of everybody including the poor at a cost of about $9000 per year on EM visits and treatments...a person in poverty only had to walk into EM and if he needed a new heart, he got it....now we are spending twice $9000 and are getting less and less....maybe what we have now is a broken healthcare plan that increases medicare costs, penalizes via IRS, adds 9000 IRS agents without one doctor?
The job market crash is a result of the financial meltdown and then the ineptness of the stimulus package as a stimulus.
Both candidates should stay upbeat as any other beat is down. Obama is on the up beat and Romney is on the down beat. Romney's down beat is the Congressional House whom have been derelict in their fiduciary function for the nation. The American public knows that Romney did NOT create wealth, he only Extracted Existing wealth, there is a HUGE difference. Romney did not create jobs, he eliminated jobs to make companies lean and generated money for extraction. Revenge voting is a valid point as the TEA-Libertarian-Evangelical-Republican party have fought president Obama since his first day after trouncing McCain. Romney refer to "re-distribution of wealth" when it's really the equalization of opportunity to acquire wealth.
But there has been actual re-distribution of wealth, trillions of dollars stolen from the middle class and sucked into the treasure chests of Romney and his pirate brethren.
cant afford no more! im from that town in Alabama where that utility crew is from and thats and out right lie!!!!!!
Obama sure is intent on sucking up to win votes. I hate being pandered to in that way. I can't stand fakes.
And yet you are going to vote for the biggest snake oil slickster snake oil salesmen in history.
LIBERAL PLAYBOOK - 1.- Ignore Facts.. 2.- Blame Bush .. 3.- Scream "RACIST & RUN"
LIKE COWARDS! VOTE MR. ROMNEY
Which RomMany do you want me to vote for?
"it's not my job to worry about those people" yep it's not your job Mitt; and it never is going to be your job!
Conservative play book 1.ignore facts 2.ignore facts 3.ignore facts 4.racism? whats racism? 5.Bush... who's bush iv never hear of him
Waren,
You forgot,
6. Eeek, gays!
7. Eeek, Mexicans!
8. Eeek, Women!
9. Eeek, Muslims!
10. Poor? @!$%# 'em.
just like the crybaby's thought the recall of walker was going to work .the repubilicans were just sitting back waiting to vote and that's what there doing now. by by nobama in 2012. VOTE ROMNEY
Just LIVE on MSNBCPMS”news”:
“Our plan for next 4 years is clear and superior!” stated president Obama during break from golf
“The 48 million Americans on food stamps is a shame – and in next four years we need to INCREASE participation in food stamp program to 125 million Americans!”
“Comrades – Forward!” OBOZO-Biden 2012 & ½
hee hee the teabaggers are FREAKING !!!! Whine all ya want baggers its OBAMA in a LANDSLIDE !!!!!!!
FELLOW AMERICANS:
THE CHANGE IS NOW OR BE A SLAVE OF OBAMA's rule. Looked at yourself, how much is your savings now. Look at the unemployment rate as of today, 7.9%, we rose from previous month...We're going backwards despite the huge debt of 6 trillion debt...GOOGLE IT. Don't be blind. Obama's plan IS NOT WORKING. Waste our time, money and future....Don't be masochist of having this loop of chaos with obama. Even if Obama is paying for his campaign, you can still make the change for the COUNTRY FUTURES, FOR YOUR KIDS BY VOTING FOR ROMNEY
We won't be a slave of Obama, but rather of China, because that's who Obama's policies will be selling us to. Forget the IRS, we'll be paying taxes to China.
Obama is downsizing our military while China is aggressively ramping theirs up.
China owns the majority of American debt, enough to now force us into insolvency, due to our debt load of $16 trillion which is no longer possible to climb above. In essence, China is check-mating us: financially and militarily. Bye America, hello Hong Kong.
Fief:If you really truly believe what you wrote. Just get your bags packed for another country, because President Obama is your president come election day. Maybe you can get a job in China with one of them American Companies that Bain sent their. I wish you the best on your trip.
President Obama--2012
Obama lied and 4 brave men died. What a disgrace to the office of the Presidency
Bush lied and 3000+ died on 9/11 and more died in 2 wars!
Rams,
Please provide a link proving Obama lied.
Some Interesting Facts about Romney:
--He was an unpaid bishop and state president of his church for ten years.
--He was an unpaid President of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for three years.
--He took no salary and was the unpaid Governor of Massachusetts for four years.
--He gave his entire inheritance from his father to charity.
--He was an unpaid volunteer campaign worker for his dad's gubernatorial campaign 1 year.
--He was an unpaid intern in his dad's governor's office for eight years.Bain Capital, starting with one small office supply store in Massachusetts , turned it into Staples; now over 2,000 stores employing 90,000 people.
--Bain Capital also worked to perform the same kinds of business miracles again and again, with companies like Domino's, Sealy, Brookstone, Weather Channel, Burger King, Warner Music Group, Dollarama, Home Depot Supply and many others.
Mitt Romney is one of the wealthiest self-made men in our country but has given more back to its citizens in terms of money, service and time than most men.
--In 2011 Mitt Romney gave over $4 million to charity, almost 19% of his income.... Just for comparison purposes, Obama gave 1% and Joe Biden gave $300 or .0013%.In 2002, he was elected Governor of the State of Massachusetts where he eliminated a 1.5 billion deficit.
--Romney paid 15% on $20 mil. Translates to: he paid more in one year in taxes than you and your entire family will pay in your lifetime. Most of us are in the 15% tax bracket , yet create no jobs, take no risk, and pay nothing compared to how much businesses pay in taxes.
Great, let's see if some mainstream Christian church wants to make him a saint.
Btw, you have no idea how much Robme did or didn't pay in taxes because he never shared his real tax returns.
Intesting fact's about the candidates.
Former President Bill Clinton is campaigning is heart out over many states to get President Obama re-elected.
Gerorge Jr., who RomMany doesn't want anywhere near his campaign is the keynote speaker in the Caymen Islands this weekend at an event for the 1% on how to beat the United States Government out of Billions in taxes with off shore accounts.
The rich cost our Government more in taxes and favorable policies than all welfare EVER will.
The real truth of Romney is that not even the state he was former governor of is voting for him, he is losing it by 63%. That speaks volumes.
Nice post but lets face it, they don't want to hear anything that paints him out to be the good decent American he is.
All they want to hear about is how he is successful. You know, that word in the English language that has become synonymous with greed and devil worshipping. People like me who have gone through hell opening their own small business's, scrimped and saved without taking a damn dime of Nobama's handouts truly know who would be a better leader for this country and it's recovery. It's those who think people like us owe them a living regardless of paying the highest tax rates in the country that fight and argue a pointless battle in the end. I'll happily goes offshore to keep these ppl from taking one more damn penny of my money to pay for the mistake they made by not keeping their damn legs shut.
"You didn't do that yourself."??? Bite me... I sure as hell did and I'll be damned if I'm gonna sit back quietly and let you take it away from me.
Oh and before I get vilified for being one of those 1%.... not even close so don't go there.
Lesigh,
I think Romney's probably a good person. Most people are. But I really don't give a @!$%# about what he's done with his church, since it has NO bearing on our public policy.
i'm all for making the people who live off the govt (and, noone's talking about the elderly,vets,handicapped and the like...) to have to give back to the taxpayers by doing community service and have them drug tested just like people have to for their jobs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you would see the numbers drop in half, i guarantee it...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the american taxpayers are being screwed by their govt, by it's people, by the illegals and they are STUPID for allowing it over and over again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! no wonder, it keeps getting worse-why should they put any EFFORT into their lives-they would be a FOOL when they get it for FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pitiful america!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! helpless and hopeless has become the american way for so many!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I approve of tying financial handouts to drug-testing.
Yep, because it worked out great for Florida. It ended up costing taxpayers more than it saved, and did nothing to curb the number of applicants. Failure.
sanda flock had a rally for nobama in reno and only 10 people showed up. nobama going down on nov 6th,and when you leave take all your illegal alien butt kissers with you. SO WE CAN SAVE SOME TAX DOLLARS. VOTE ROMNEY
ram or probe or whatever the hell your name is....you are really gonna love the next four years under O....he is gonna send in the orkin army and rid us of all you teabuggers.......
I want a new president
well thats easy....MOVE !!!
I wonder if he placed any bets when he was in vegas?
I'm guessing he is a better gambler than Mitt...Who the hell spots the other guy 47% in a race to 50.1%.........
the reason people are so hung up on romney is because he gives more to charity in one year, than they would ever see if they lived 500 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
he EARNED it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you reap what you sow, and the truth is most americans dont sow crap and wouldn't give a dollar to charity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
me,me,me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! take the focus off yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it just so happens he is required to by the church.........but ya ,,,,uh hu.....
The "charity" you're referring to is known as the Church of the Latter Day Saints, or better known as "Mormons." Romney "gave" to that church, who in return, funds things like anti-gay marriage drives and so on... Oh, and they also gave a bunch of money back to the Robme campaign. So much for your "charity."
But HOW did he earn it? By Fu(king his fellow Americans out of jobs shipped to China, political favors and tax breaks; that's how!
Obama gave 1% to charity.
Romney gave 15% to charity.
Obama prefers to give away YOUR money, not his own.
You have no idea how much Robme gave to "charity." He never released his tax returns.
You know I never really felt too strongly about Mitt Romney one way or the other, until I got to know him a little better. Can't stand the sight of him now.
Yes Romney did release his tax returns could we see Obamas as to how much money he has in tax defered retirement accounts and how much is invested in China. He said he did just nort as much
Romney never released his returns. He released a "summary." Not the same thing. Not the REAL thing.
Rams,
You contradict yourself. You praise Romney for giving to charity, and then disparage those who collect it.
REPLY to: survived-from-Sandy
Obama is a president for lazy people. He takes money from richer people to feed poorer people. That is not a correct way to do it. The right way is to create more business and make lazy people work rather than feeding them.
You must be kidding me right? Lazy people? If I remember right it's the Middle class that keeps this country running! Middle Class workers and your so called Lower Class workers are actually the glue and foundation of this nation! You better look in the mirror first!
Anthony for President !!!
That is VERY true, the Middle Class and Lower Class workers ARE the Glue and Foundation of this Nation.
Unfortunately, Obama is quickly making them the Middle Class and Lower Class Unemployed! So the glue is being watered down so much the Country is falling apart!!!
UNINSTALLING OBAMA..... ████████████████▒ 99.9% complete
3 more 4 44
CowboyObama is for abortion anything for votes
gee bil thet is a gud cumbak.........
CowboyObama, yee haw!! Sounds like an SNL skit. Bill, you definitely sound like you are part of the 47%. The lower part.
Bill,
Yes he is. Your point?