Battlegrounds neck and neck in final days

CBS

Less than a week before Election Day and everything still looks awfully close. 

Our electoral vote estimate remains unchanged from last month; national polls are even and most battleground state polls are effectively even. But remember that on Election Day "close" could produce a back-and-forth trading of battleground state wins until someone edges over 270, or a series of razor-close wins that consistently tip for one candidate, producing a comfortable electoral win. Either scenario is possible for either candidate.

President Obama keeps his lead in Ohio, which is important. He has an edge in the early vote there but remember that most of the polls incorporate the early vote, having interviewed early voters, so what you see in the polls is where the state stands.

• Complete coverage: The Battlegrounds

Mitt Romney does have a path around Ohio, if needed, given his competitiveness in so many battlegrounds. But Obama needs states beyond Ohio, too, and there is no other battleground state he can solidly count on.

As an example, here's a way Romney could get around an Ohio loss. He would surely need Wisconsin and Colorado - so keep an eye there too.

We should note that we have seen polls released that show Minnesota, Michigan and Pennsylvania as tighter, which haven't been battlegrounds of late. First, remember there still isn't a lot of good polling in these places. Second, note that CBS News has long considered these states as likely, but not solidly, in the Democratic column and they still are.

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Obama, Romney back on the stump after dealing with Sandy

It's not entirely surprising though. The tightness we see in national polls means the votes have to come from somewhere; only about one-quarter of voters live in the swing states, so we'd expect other states to get tighter, too. But it is entirely possible that states like those could add suspense to election night if Mr. Obama only squeaks them out.

More broadly, this does speak to a larger story, much of which we already know. There's no question Romney has had a very successful final month, and the map is narrow. Mr. Obama won't get nearly as close in red states as he did in 2008. Even if he wins battlegrounds, he isn't going to do it by the same margins he did last time. (In fact, many of today's battlegrounds were comfortable wins for him last time) and Mr. Obama has no new states in play in we head into Election Day.

[dj_chi]

JOESAPPER says:obama acts against his owns words repeatly since 2010 , as obama has removed penalties for Countries that use Child Soldiers .

Yes Folks this is Fact , "obama signs waivers for sanctions against Child Soldiers".


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You'd rather we not get around a legal hurdle so we can train these countries to fight Al-Qaeda? I'm not for child soldiers, but Al-Qaeda is the larger evil here. Maybe the waivers can be rescinded after the training stops. Thought about that? Or is it better to let a trained terrorist organization take over those countries and see what *they* do to those kids?

Maybe they'll let you adopt one, but forget to let you know about the suicide vest they strapped on the rosy-cheeked lad.

[ctawnycnet]

The biggest problem is going to be Voter Fraud by the Democratic Machine. Today Romney made it clear that he would fight the DNC/ACORN/Project Hope machine that is allowing the 20 million illegals that Obama gave votes through his Executive Order (EO)but allowed by many state courts and both Houses of Congress (broke U.S. Constitution), the normal 2 to 3 million of dead Americans that vote each election including those that vote 4 to five times in a row (i.e., ACORN Voting Book, vote often), Obama's EO allowing millions felons to vote even though it is illegal but allowed by many state courts, the machines that are rigged to vote for Obama when voters vote for Romney (so far at least 3 states have caught it), and dead animals voting (multiple sources / FNC, 2010-2012). Americans can do their own research to see that all of this is true.

[Thinkbeforeyouwrite]

So, you are all set, aren't you, CT. Obama wins and you scream foul for the next 4 years, setting up more years of negativity and hate and namecalling and obstruction with no cooperation or compromise or working together to solve our nation's problems. But you will continue on with your conspiracy and fantasy scenarios because it makes you happy. You will be back to comment on all the Beck/Limbaugh diatribes with hope that the rest of us will believe you. Go ahead, you can call me names as that kind of stuff probably make you feel better.

[democracy8]

Obama did NOT give illegals the right to vote (or felons either, for that matter) and I have NO idea where you came up with that 2-3 million dead people nonsense. Your entire post is just about the most ignorant garbage I've ever seen on these boards and that's saying a LOT!

[stupa5]

See what the top GOP really thinks about Romney

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRJa2OaiwWw