Obama looks like he’s starting to play defense. He has two visits to Wisconsin planned, and two to Iowa, both states where he has all but safe leads. He’s going to be in Madison with Bruce Springsteen on Monday. Ohio is the big prize, of course, and both will make multiple visits there. Obama thinks he can win Colorado - he was in Boulder last night and will be in Aurora on Sunday. Romney and Ryan are visiting the state as well, in Colorado Springs and Greeley, the conservative parts. Romney has two visits planned to New Hampshire. It’s only four EV’s, but it’s clear that his campaign is going to need everything he can get.
Interestingly, neither have plans to visit Florida, and Virginia is not in Obama’s plans. I’m not sure if Obama has conceded those states. It does seem that the Midwest is where he’s planted his flag, though, with some attention paid to Colorado as well.
Obama has to play defense, probably, because his internal polls show it close in those states and he can’t afford to lose them.
The fact of the matter is, sadly, a lot of the “blue” states are actually a very light shade of blue, whereas all of the red states are deep, ruby red (except for possibly North Carolina).
I don’t think Obama’s conceded Virginia, I just don’t think he thinks he *needs *it to win. Plus, for all intents and purposes, recent polls show him up there with very little campaigning having been done there on his part recently (as far as I know). Would it be nice? Would it put things over the top? Sure and sure. But there are other paths for him that don’t involve him being on the east coast. Ohio, Colorado, Iowa. Nevada’s pretty in the bag for Obama. Not sure why he’s visiting Wisconsin other than for insurance purposes, or maybe they’ve got some worrisome internals.
It is interesting strategy. Romney has to have VA and FL, and can’t afford to waste time there. If Obama wins either he’s won.
So, assuming VA and FL to Romney, getting WI + OH is a win for Obama. Alternatively, Obama can lose one of those (but not both) and still win by taking CO + IA + NH.
I think both campaigns have realized that it’s only a race if the state polls are all off by about 2 points, allowing Romney to get either OH or WI. Alternatively, Team Obama has seen some scary internals.
Obama has been reliably up in all those states except FL and NC, and all the recent polling is moving away from Romney. In fact, they are essentially even in FL at this point.
Obama has shown a strategy of actively meeting any offensive efforts (heh heh) by Romney.