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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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I sense desperation with the Ditto Heads....Their tone is much more strident,racist but the more I think about it,its been that way since Obama won the WH.
Keep it Simple! Here are the past four years of Obama's accomplishments:
1. Refusing to come to the aid of our Ambassador and Associate Americans.
2. Complete display of ignorance or willful refusal to accept any responsibility for the deaths of four Americans.
3. Commander in Chief with not a clue as to what happened in Benghazi while the murderers hide in place sight and ridicule our country and its impotency. That is, if you want believe Obama's revolving and evolving explanations.
4. Record deficits to the tune of over one trillion per year.
5. Record number of unemployed Americans.
6. Record number of food stamp recipients.
7. Record number of welfare recipients.
8. Record amounts of spending on welfare.
9. Lower and lower numbers of work force participants.
10. A failing administration in regards to foreign policy - Al-Qaida is now in Libya, Mali, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. In 2009, basically in 2-3 countries, now in approximately thirty countries.
11. Poverty at the highest level since the sixties.
12. Reduced wages - only the 5th time in the past thirty-three years.
13. Record number of citizens on disability due to no unemployment benefits.
14. Adding three dollars of debt for every dollar added to the economy.
15. Two credit Agency downgrades.
16. First President to ever complete a term without one single budget being approved.
17. First President to have experienced actual "evolution" while in office.
18. Increased gas prices to nearly double what they were when elected.
19. Added 11,327 pages of new business regulations in less than a full term.
20. Three consecutive years of GDP lower than the previous year.
This is certainly a "Record Breaking President" and that is just for starters.
Why wouldn't everyone endorse the above?
Well voting for Romney is voting for the Koch brothers who are loaded with oil refineries. There you go, blame the koch brothers.
and Don, I think the rest of your comments are just KKK propaganda.
Mr. Romney and the Koch brothers produce jobs in America, and Obama's policies takes them away.
The more I learn about Romney, the more ashamed I am to call myself a Mormon!
Old Dude you are FOS. Mommy is calling for you Johnny.
I suppose that Harry Reid is a GOOD MORMON and Romney is a BAD MORMON Right?
Guaranty that history will be made on Nov 6 ...... you'll have the 1st two-term black president !! Not a bad idea indeed !!!
Oh, I hope so taib! I certainly hope so!
Reading many of these posts I am reminded of my Liberal Arts Education days in a Jesuit University while I majored in English with intentions of becoming a Unionized Teacher, reading Theatre of the Absurd plays about being stuck in rooms without doors and waiting for people who never come. Or watching Disney's version of Wonderland that scared me with its madness as a child. I read in posts that work will set me free, that we have always been at war with Eastasia, that slavery is freedom and that Romney is the agent of change while Obama is selling Chrysler to China while encouraging his Muslim brothers to kill American diplomats in Libya. Is that the-bigger-the-lie-the-more-people-will-believe-it thing still in play? That might explain Romney/Ryan being supported by nearly half (according to polls) of the American voters.
The bottom line is do we really want a president who is afraid to even do an interview with friends at Fox news. His handlers are afraid of his foot ending up in his mouth. He is unqualified to be President. He has changed his positions so many times that no matter what he says on an issue, it conflicts with something he has said in the last 12 months.
One thing for sure tho is I will be damn happy when the election is over no matter who wins.
Actually Guy I don't want a President who would stoop as low as to even think about appearing on Fox "news."
Is Obama Racist, I sure don't like to think so,But I had to do a school report and found out that Mr. Obama went to a Racist Church for over 14 years, If not I thought why would he sit there week after week every Sunday listening to a Racist preacher for 14 years?
Another KKK propaganda!
Ditto Head,Better do a little more research on a number of comments you posted.You remind me of Joe McCarthy.
Obama's 4 year record as POTUS-
194,000 net jobs
14.7 million added to food stamp program
And you libs want 4 more years of this? Are you kidding?!
Save America- Romney/Ryan!
Seriously? Obama has recovered all the jobs +194,000 since he took office. That's a good thing. Now all he has to do is recover all the jobs lost under the Bush administration before Obama took office.
Romney lied about jeep in jeep country,turn out the lights,the fat lady is warming up.Whats that ,he doesn't have a fat lady in his binders.He'd like to use a fat man instead, but he already sang.
Leftissoright,,,you idiot...you didn't read Obamas' book did you? I did and you idiot liberals should have...he is further left than any of you lefties....I mean it is a real eyeopener to read his book.....and as far as the little racist crap from the left goes....remember Robert Byrd...your democrats should be ashamed of what they did to the blacks....I guess if you're a republican and you expect people to work for a living..you're a racist.
mcbeef - than go on their website - every anti-Obama statement that have been on these post, are on their website. That tells me something. and yes - I know who Robert Byrd is and in the end he realized that his way of thinking was wrong. And the rest of your comment makes no sense.
Ironic,Bush speaking in the Cayman Islands this past week ..Total press black out.
US cannot afford 4 more years of Obama. Anybody is better than him.
32 consecutive months of job growth. 5.2 million jobs created.
Not any good paying Middle Class jobs. Most lower paying minimum wage, part time jobs. If you think that is good job growth with the amount of stimulus money we threw at shovel ready jobs you may be an idiot.
If there hadn't been a stimulus we would have been MUCH worse off. All experts agree.
So far each job created by the stimulus money cost us tax payers about $278,000 each. That's what you call success?
Romney saved Massachusettes just ask them how thier voting,2 to 1 for Obama,They know Mitt better than anyone
Romney is loosing Ma by 20 points..That should tell you something about his governess as governor.
Massachusetts is one of the most Liberal with one of the most Democrat controlled legislature of our states. Romney worked across the isle there and turned a deficit into a surplus while balancing a budget there.
Their school system ranked first in the country under his reign and unemployment was around 3% there.
When he left office as governor the budget was still balanced and he left them with a surplus and a rainy day emergency fund.
If you go back and look at the ten years before and after the Romney tenure as governor there his is the only bright spot.
If you really want to look at facts Romney was successful there, but if your a dumb-ass you'll only see what the media wants you to see.
YO Charlie,lets not over play the democrat card in good ole Mass,didn't they just elect Scott Brown to the senate just two years ago,doesn't sound like a true democratic state to me.If Mitt had done such wonderful things the people of Massachusettes would have no problem backing him.
Only because he was to vote against Obama-Care which is very unpopular there.
No, they are seriously Liberal and vote accordingly, don't kid yourself.
Charles - Romney balanced the budget because he increased fees. Instead of paying $25 to renew your driver's license, it now cost $75. I have friends in MA - they are not voting for the "Imperial Governor" known as Mitt Romney.
Good leaders must make tough decisions. My point exactly, they are too liberal to help themselves. I have friends in MA. that are
Romney did not run for a second term because ther was no chance in being re-elected.Thats why Mass is so heavy against him now,he was never a hero there
Like I said the only bright spot in the ten years surrounding Romney's time there was his. Just because the Liberal state of Massachusetts will vote for Obama doesn't make it a smart choice.
California is bankrupt they too will vote for Obama.
Romney is getting killed there but Scott Brown is in a dead heat trying to protect his seat.Why not so liberal when it comes to Brown but totally liberal when it comes to Romney.Your story is not holding water
Doesn't seem like there are many on this thread who remain undecided in this election. It seems to me if you are still undecided at this point your not paying attention.
If America is dumbed down enough to give Obama four more years then those people deserve the fate they will have handed themselves.
If you are truly undecided still,you should vote for Romney because so is he.
Ditto Head,Almost all economic indicators are up...The CPI is the highest it's been in months.So what's the beef..We all agree the economy crashed under,I forgot,who's administration?
Bill - The democrat controlled House and Senate where BTW Obama and Biden were obstructionist Senators.
4 more for 44
go BRONCO BAMA
get back in your welfare line
I think it's over. Romney should have waited until 2016 and let one of the extremists run this year; get beat badly; and devoted the next four years to rebuilding a more centrist Republican Party.
Now Christy will do it. Now, it will be Christy vs. Clinton in 2016.
As evidenced by Forest Woman12's post and others...panic is setting in.
stone6
Christy a centrist? Wasn't it just last week,or so,that Liberals were calling Cristy a TEABAGGER NAZI??
Not me. Christy did the right thing - both as the Governor of NJ, in 2012, and as a prospective nominee of the Republican Party for the Presidency in 2016.
Clinton and Biden in the primaries.
That will be fun to watch.
Another reason Mitt must lose. From the mouth of Grover Norquist, he explains that the Republicans don't want a thinker or a leader in the White House, but merely someone who can hold a pen and sign what he is told to sign (effectively making Norquist the President, with no accountability.) Just google it. Youtube it. This nut cant find a hat that fits anymore.
Mitt has never publicly refuted this statement by his boss Norquist.
When you consider that a corporate thug, compulsive liar like Romney actually came close to winning the presidency, you can't help but conclude that the republicans could have won the election easily. Romney isn't to blame for losing the election righties, YOU are. You would not even let Romney run on his healthcare plan because you insisted on demonizing it. You forced Romney to be an extremist in order to win the nomination. But never mind Romney, he may have lost anyway. If you had nominated Jon Huntsman, a reasonable conservative who is capable of compromise, the presidency would be yours. Huntsman would have nailed the swing voters and mopped the floor with Obama. Not only is Huntsman reasonable, he is even something more rare for a republican...he's INTELLIGENT! but oh no, why Huntsman did the unthinkable, he actually worked for the devil himself, Barack Obama. Jon made no apology for it and why should he have; serving your country by representing it in a foreign country when you are asked to is admirable, even more so when you work for the other side. Your insane, baseless hatred of Obama made Huntsman unthinkable and, ironically, handed Obama a second term. Try to wrap your feeble minds around that for awhile...
I am white, and would have been very happy to vote for Herman Cain. He is the rebuplican canidate that the DNC singled out before the primary season had really gotten started. I would vote for this man because he made it in business on his own hard work. When I saw the left-bias media go after him, it became quite clear that the DNC was scared of this man, why? because if the POTUS had to run against him there where no cards for the DNC to throw down, it would be a political race built of of performance vs non performance, economic experiance vs no economic, or failed econnomic policy. Although the old Jim Crow Democrats may no longer be out in the open,it seems that the DNC will use class and race to suit their own means.
They paint themselves as the little guys party, but look at the millions they spend against Mia Love canidate from Utah, and Allen West from FL.
Mia love is a very intelligent, well spoken, shows her common sense when she speaks.
Allen West, Former Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army. One I would follow into battle, has leadership experiance.
I saw the Civil Rights marches when I was young, I saw the dogs and fire hoses being turned on protesting Blacks.
Why does the DNC work so hard against canidates that not only have carried the ball from their predicessors, they ran with it, proving that skin color should not be the determinating factor for success, or being in a position of leadership, to serve this great country?
One more question with all the sacrifice during the 40's, 50's, 60's and '70's why is the "N" word not extinct in this great country of ours?
Herman Cain Voice? I believe you may be the only person out there who takes Herman Cain seriously as a presidential candidate, INCLUDING Herman Cain himself!
GOV. MITT ROMNEY
..........LIAR..........
..........LIAR..........
.........PANTS........
...........ON...........
..........FIRE..........
its a shame the media is so @!$%#in far left. if romney loses its because the liberal ass media didnt give him a fair break. Once obama destroys whats left of America what are you liberal asses gonna complain about then ? obama and his welfare people and scum bag unions will cause the demise of America
I see people putting romney down because he's rich. Its a crime to be rich. Well if its a crime for Romney to be rich then what about Obama. He was raised by his maternal Grandmother. She was very rich. She was able to by a very large estate in Hawaii. She sent her grandson to the best schools that she could afford. Obama inhereted all her wealth. This guy has a bigger silver spoon than Romney. But he will tell you that he is poor. He put his house up for sale here in Chicago for 1.2 Million. Poor little Obama. Where does he hide his billions
What I am posting is something the DNC and Union Boss types
do not want you to see.
I am very angry about this. I was not in favor of the Auto
Bail out. Anyone with one once of common sense could come up with a better way
to have saved the autoworkers jobs, and helped the industry. But that is an
entirely different discussion.
This Administration was in charge of the Bail Out, as it was
called, It was actually a takeover of a civilian owned corporation by the Federal
Government. At the time GM owned many smaller Companies. One of these companies, Delphi
is now part of a Congressional Investigation because the Department of Justice
has not pursued an investigation, (anyone who is not a member of the DNC or a
Union Boss type is not surprised over this)(anyone who is a DNC Member or a
Union Boss Type is angered that this has come to light and will claim it false)
When the Federal
Government took control of GM, the Federal Government insured that the unionized
workers pensions were saved. Under the labor contracts with Delphi, the workers’
pension contribution for each worker was made by Delphi into their accounts at
no cost to the unionized employee(was not deducted from their check to place
into the fund).
The Non-Unionized
workers at Delphi ( Office Support Staff, Custodial Staff, Middle
Managers)(People with incomes ranging from upper-lower class to lower middle
class) had their pension funds deducted from their pay into their pension
funds. Although this money came out of their checks prior to taxes, it still affected
their bottom line take home pay every check. These people where told after the
Bail-out/Take-over, that they no longer had any pensions at all.
No explanation has ever been given to these people, to where
the money went.
The DNC and the Unions claim to be for the little guy, and
sling mud at the contender claiming he is not being for the little guy, and
moving jobs overseas. Well before you go into the voting booth, I would like
you to think about the workers at Delphi who had their retirement and dreams
stolen from them with no explanation, and no promise of it being returned, and
who was at the helm at the time that allowed this to happen.
Now as a preemptive strike to people, who will claim this
false, please take the following into consideration
underway to address this issue
issued this week to Administration Officials involved with the Bail Out.
working in the Auto parts industry.
Anderson, In. Anderson, was at that time
a big GM plant town. My Grandfather retired from Guide Lamp, My uncle retired
from Delco, My Great-Uncle retired from Allison, My Second Cousin retired from
Allison. All these are or were GM companies. I do have knowledge of GM, it is
in my blood so to speak.
my income is under 45,000 a year before taxes and deductions for insurance, and
employee paid benefits. I am not a fat cat, or paid blogger, these thoughts are
my own based on industry knowledge and observation.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I hope it
will be taken seriously, and taken into consideration before you vote.
If you are a union worker I would like you to know, I do
believe that Americans can out produce, with quality any other countries
workers. I would like you to have a look at your union. Is it possible that
your union dues and your union pension funds are being spent on things other
than what they were intended for? Maybe if you and others in your union vote
for an independent audit, you might find that things are not as your union
representatives at the top claim.
I for one believe that Union Workers would be better served
if their elected Union Officials were more concerned with protecting the worker
through looking out for their long term employment opportunities instead of
trying to get in bed with the DNC. If you think that I am attacking unions I am
not, I am attacking the fact that Unions and politics should not be mixed
together due to the chances of corruption on either side exists and bring into
question the integrity of either.
Thank you for taking the time to read this
post. I hope it will be taken seriously, and taken into consideration before
you vote
Uncertainty!?!?!?!? There is ZERO uncertainty. President Obama wins his second term. Uncertainty!?!?!?! only in how many EC votes he receives. Probably 303, but 271 is sufficient.
Uncertainty!?!?!?! Absolutely not!!! This country is as racist as it has ever been! Ugly, ugly bigoted racists this country has exposed!!!! May God have mercy on your souls!!!!!
Benghazi Gate (President lies, 4 dead Americans, you tube internet video protest, Obama goes off campaigning, missing in action commander-in-chief, denied security for our Ambassador, maybe I should have attended those intelligence briefings). Please Lord no more 4 p.m. calls for this administration. Hurricane Sandy President Obama has everything under control, tries to look presidential (save face) by returning to the White House Situation Room and Jersey Shore for a photo opportunity. Meanwhile the situation on the ground grows critical (wolf packs, no gas, food, misery) while Obama goes off campaigning again. I mean what I say Vice President Joe Biden, "the middle class has been buried for the past four years" (yep he's right). Fast and Furious (Guns to Mexicans, dead Mexicans and border agents), al Qaeda resurging around the world, terrorism (failed foreign policy, leading from the rear), fiscal cliff, high unemployment (7.9%, promised 5.2%, 23-million unemployed/underemployed), little economic growth , 16-trillion dollar national debt (promised to cut in half), high gas prices, higher taxes, war on coal, war on women, war on catholic church, free birth control. Solyndra bankruptcy, no shovel ready jobs (not as shovel ready as I thought), free Obama phones, GM bailout (rescued with tax payers dollars), promised transparency, class warfare, the great divider, European Socialism, less freedom, vote for revenge, and Obamacare. Gee, do I need to continue or can I stop. Obama has proven himself to be a worse President than peanut Jimmy Carter (at least we had Billy Beer to help ease the pain then). We can't afford another four years of Obama.