Romney team says it's not ceding Michigan

The map of battleground states that could decide the election has been seemingly shrinking as Election Day nears, but the Republican Party says it's not writing off Mitt Romney's Democrat-leaning birthplace of Michigan.

The latest indication that conservatives are trying to put the state in play came from the pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future. The group announced today that it's launching a new $18.1 million ad campaign in nine battleground states, plus Michigan. In Michigan specifically, the group is spending $1.6 million.

While the super PAC by law cannot coordinate with the Romney campaign, its investment shows the Republican's backers see an opening in Michigan, where Romney was born and raised. However, Michigan hasn't voted for a Republican since 1988, and Democrats say its 16 electoral votes will once again go to President Obama.

On a conference call with reporters today, the Obama campaign said it is confident its leading nationally and in battleground states in the final weeks of the campaign. As evidence of that, Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said that the Romney campaign is pulling resources from states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, which should be harder for Romney to win than key states like Ohio or Virginia.

Romney has indeed in recent weeks spent his time campaigning in more crucial battlegrounds, but his running mate Paul Ryan has campaigned in Michigan this month, and Romney's wife Ann has visited the state in recent weeks as well. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback campaigned for Romney in Michigan today.

"Michigan is anyone's to win," Romney spokesman Sean Fitzpatrick told CBSNews.com. "Recent polls have the candidates right around the margin of error and the Obama team is simply trying to distract voters from their ever shrinking electoral map. Governor and Mrs. Romney grew up in Michigan, and we will continue to aggressively campaign in their home state."

While the campaign has paid some visits to Michigan, its financial investments tell another story: The Romney campaign has spent no money on ads in Michigan since May 1, nor has the Obama campaign. Restore Our Future has been the big spender in the state, investing more than $5.8 million there since May.

About a month ago, polls showed Mr. Obama with a double-digit lead in Michigan. While the president does still have a lead there, polls have tightened. The most recent Detroit Free Press poll showed Mr. Obama with a six-point lead.

Matt Frendewey, a spokesman for the Michigan Republican Party, said the Restore Our Future investments complement the party's robust on-the-ground efforts. "The race here is close, and we have a strong ground game that can help close the deal," he said.

"There's no way the president can win reelection without Michigan," Frendewey added, and "it's closer than a lot of folks on the Democratic side expected."

Democrats have hammered Romney in states like Michigan for his opposition to the government bailout of the auto industry, but Frendewey said those arguments can backfire. "It's somewhat insulting when they hear the president or the vice president say they saved the auto industry when many of them know someone still out of work, or who's lost benefits or paying more for health care," he said.

Michigan is still dealing with an unemployment rate which, at 9.3 percent, is above the national average of 7.8 percent.

[thebob-bob]

Massachusetts won't vote for Mittens even though Romney claims he did a good job. The Salt Lake City papers are endorsing Obama even though Romney claims that he saved the SLC Olympics. Michigan won't vote for Mittens even though his Dad was the Governor and Mittens claims to be a "son of Michigan".

It seems that everyone who really knows Mittens says, "No Thanks!"

[Ablative_Absolute]

After all these many months, we STILL DO NOT KNOW WHO ROMNEY IS, except for the fact he consistently changes his position depending upon who is audience is at any given time and place. The only thing certain is that Romney will replace Medicare with a worthless voucher system. And he will replace our guaranteed Social Security with a very risky 401k plan where future seniors may be forced to gamble their savings in a risky high stakes game.

We all know by now that Romney will say "whatever it takes" to "whoever" is listening at the time, simply to get elected. He is a true "shape-shifter." He doesn't really "flip-flop"...he simply "LIES." For all of Romney's fortunes (many of which are hidden overseas) he cannot buy this election.

Obama 2012

[Forty-Four]

Romney, your statement of "...the middle-east needs American leadership..." is what made my initial opinion of you. There are so many things wrong with that statement right there.

I was also just informed today by one of my instructors (very knowledgable one at that) that Mr. Romney is in favor of cutting Pell grants. Apparently he also said things like "instead of borrowing from the government, students should borrow from their parents."

Well there are several things wrong with that as well. For instance, my parents (my father acutally) are still paying off student loans for my father's schooling (grad of 2005). That, combined with the normal bills and bare essentials we need means that they (like others) would not be able to afford to lend me money to go to school, let alone my brother or sister (when she graduates HS). Your parents may have lots of cash Mr Romney, but mine do not. I can barely afford to take the minimum amount of credits to be considered a "full time student" and am only allowed to work 26 hours a week (or the government will cut back on my loans by considering me a part time student)...and all of that is after my loans with no parental assistance.

You Mr. Romney, do not have my vote.

[Forty-Four]

...forgot to add, I (as many on here may already know) am from Michigan.

[amskeptic]

Romney is a shape-shifter. The criticisms of Obama's Presidency can be laid squarely at the feet of the feckless obstructionist Republican opposition in Congress. Obama has shown beyond a doubt thaty he actually cares what happens to the middle class. The "failed policies" line parroted by the Republicans are more failed execution of the legislative branch, the beholden to corporate donors legislative branch . . .

[Clofitas1]

A new photo of Mitt and his plastic wife just published

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i170/clofitas/Rawmoneyplastic_zpsffd2a169.jpg

[33maxwell]

Vote Vote Vote..

I already voted for the President and it felt great to have it said and done.

No matter what candidate you support, get out and participate in the great American Democracy.

Don't let folks like me or the Governor, get two votes, because you decided to not cast one vote.

[ocman_nguyen]

Good job.
I hope you voted for the 45th President of the United States.

[Forty-Four]

OCMAN,

Technically, Obama is the 52nd President of the United States. Although, the first 7 presidents were President of the United States in Congress Assembled, and not President of the United States of America.

I predict that the 45th President of the Unites States of America will come in 2016.

[Shibbol]

Mitt, you ceded Michigan a long time ago...specifically when you told the automakers to fly a kite.

[Ablative_Absolute]

Romney should LEAVE MICHIGAN because we all heard him say, "LET DETROIT GO BANKRUPT!" But now Romney wants us to believe he "really didn't mean that?" Similarly, we recently heard him say those repugnant and dismissive comments about "The 47 Percent." Oh, but of course, he "really didn't mean that" either.

We all know by now that Romney will say "whatever it takes" to "whoever" is listening at the time, simply to get elected. He is "consistent" at changing his position over and over again. He doesn't really "flip-flop"...he simply "LIES." For all of Romney's fortunes (many of which are hidden overseas) he cannot buy integrity.

Obama 2012

[fairba]

First off, as one commenter said of Romney, "we all heard him say, 'Let Detroit go Bankrupt.'" FACT: Romney never said that. It is misquoting a title, written by someone else, about an Op Ed article Romney wrote. Now, Obama's campaign has repeated this distortion about Mitt Romney so much that at the last debate he didn't know the TRUTH.

Ouch!

The trust factor is shrinking with Obama and their campaign knows it.

Second, have you read Mitt Romney's Op Ed article? Do you know what he actually said? Did you know when he wrote it, many economists agreed with him?

The government managed the GM automotive bankruptsy asserting itself into the private sector... and while GM is "alive" it likely would be even stronger under a President Romney!

Background: Mitt's father, George Romney, had a successful career in turning around the American Motors Corporation into a profitable car company. He served as a popular Governor of Michigan for many years.

If I had to bet on Mitt Romney's record of economics verses Obama's, well...you get the point.

Third point, integrity goes both ways. We will never see the whole narrative to Romney's 47% clip, because, well, it isn't available...hmm. Character assassination, not policy differences, implemented and instigated from day one against Romney from the Obama campaign is truth telling about integrity too.

Romney, in fact, does care about people. He cares about America, and in fact, all Americans. Today, I am not so sure the same is true about Obama.

[ocman_04]

Romney should stay in Michigan.
More and more voters have realized staying the course with Obama is a
disater.
//nguyench3.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/stay-the-course-with-obama/

[Shibbol]

Consumer confidence five year high....housing market healing...unemployment below 8%...economy growing way faster than Europe...economic experts economy growing "slow but steady"........Romney's view: Chrysler shipping Jeep plant to China (lie) economic growth "discouraging" (to him)...plans "real change" (wait till January for any specifics).....this is why Colin Powell endorsed the President, and not because he's a black man.