The Old Pennsylvania Gambit

++The country has paid dearly for the failure of Republicans not to think strategically. But sometimes This can be an advantage in national elections. "The Pennsylvania gambit" refers to the McCain's campaign in 2008 insisting they had a shot at the state even though every poll showed Obama's lead was insurmountable. So they publicly abandoned Michigan, demoralizing Michigan Republicans as well as McCain's running mate Sarah Palin, who vowed to campaign among the union members with her husband Todd. Now after the Wisconsin recall, we have Reince Preibus and the Romney campaign vowing to pour resources and campaign in Wisconsin instead of Michigan. The national GOP now believes Wisconsin is a swing state.


++The exit polls from Wisconsin show Obama has a 54-42 edge over Romney. Remember the students did not vote, partly because of new voter restrictions. But of the Obama voters who did vote for Walker, the chances of Romney getting their vote is slim to none. 10% of the Wisconsin voters were opposed to the recall and voted for Walker. That was an insurmountable percentage for Barrett to overcome. But consider another answer, the vast majority of voters said that Romney's ties to Trump and his work at Bain made them less likely to vote for him. So have at it ,boys, Romney could tour the state with the Koch Brothers. 


++Now about that Swing State of Pennsylvania, Franklin Marshall's poll shows Obama leading 48 to 36. Some swing state.


++PPP shows Obama leads in Romney in Florida 50 to 46--that's conditional whether any voters will be left on the rolls after Governor Scott's purge.


++PPP did another national poll which shows Obama 50 to Romney's 42. Pew has Obama up by 7, an improvement of a month ago and CNN has Obama 49 to 46 with an approval rating of 52%. Strangely, all these polls were conducted after the horrible jobs report and do not indicate any softening of Obama's support.


++Much concern has been expressed about Obama cutting back on ads in swing states. The campaign is saving they are keeping their powder dry because they expect a flood of Superpac money going after them in early fall.