Romney, Obama buy TV ads in Minnesota

This article originally appeared on RealClearPolitics.

In a move that will spark speculation about Mitt Romney mounting a late challenge in states that had appeared out of reach, President Obama's campaign has purchased television advertisements in Minnesota, according to an Obama source.

The source described the ad buy in the Minneapolis market as "very small" and added that it is targeted primarily at voters in the neighboring swing state of Wisconsin. Minneapolis television reaches Wisconsinites who live in the northwestern part of the state, according to the source.

But the decision to invest in Minnesota will stir talk that the president is now playing defense in a place that had long been considered a lock for him.

The Associated Press reported earlier on Friday that the Romney camp was placing its own TV ads in Minnesota -- a move that also may be directed at Wisconsin voters but nonetheless suggests unexpected strength for the Republican.

Romney's campaign announced Thursday that it and its affiliated committees had approximately $169 million on hand to spend over the last 10 days of the race.

The Obama campaign has previously aired advertisements on cable TV in Minneapolis and on the radio in Duluth, also in order to reach the Wisconsin electorate.

Romney has not led in a single Minnesota poll all year and trails Obama by 7.3 percentage points in the latest RealClearPolitics Average of Minnesota polls.

Neither Obama nor Romney has visited the state recently, but Vice President Biden's wife, Jill Biden, campaigned in Minneapolis and Duluth earlier this month.

In Wisconsin, Obama leads Romney in the RCP Average by 2.3 points.

[sharkboy234]

If obama can pull ohio nevada and iowa out of toss ups state will be blue again and taking MN in toss ups now obAma will be safe until he wins elizabeth will take a us senate seat obaMA will be comeback of a century
if romney dont take MN OBAMA IS THE WINNER OBAMA GAINING GROUND ON OHIO.NEVADA,IOWA AND MN FOR OBAMA MI,PA, AND WI ARE IN TOSS UPS SET TO GO OBAMA

[mikesfilms]

Watch out for the "BULLCHITTER."
LIE, Obamacare will bankrupt the nation. (AP 10/22/12) Kaiser Family Foundation: six out of 10 recipients will pay higher premiums under Romneycare, $200/mo more for Florida Medicare. Seniors, don't get SHAFTED.
LIE "I'll create 12 million jobs:" It now stands exposed as a complete fraud by Glenn Kessler, the Washington Post fact-checker, who pinned upon it his highest prize of four "Pinocchios" for Romney.
LIE, I'll work for everybody. "liberal" governor to Rightie in the primaries to Centrist as candidate to Rightie reborn to Centrist in the debates to Moderate few days before election to whoknowswhat.
LIE, "We're worse off than 4 yrs ago. " Economic growth, 2009: 4.6% negative. 2012: 2.3%. Autos, Banks, Housing, others recovering.
LIE, unemployment Obama's fault. We won't reach Full Employment till Europe, 1st trade partner, recovers. Unemployment 2009: 10%. 2012: 7.8%.
LIE, I'll balance the Budget increasing Defense by $2 trillion, lowering the Rich Tax by $500/yr. He'll explode the Debt and turn us into another Greece.
LIE, Obama failure on energy. (AP 10/24/12): US soon to overtake Saudi Arabia as 1st world oil producer.
LIE, Behind close doors: 47% pay no taxes and live off the Govt. Seniors, Retired, Elderly on assisted care, unemployed, students, low-wage earners including the Military, are you a leach? He doesn't expect your vote since he plans to SHAFT you.
LIE, nothing sinister about my tax reports and offshore accounts. Read "Mitt Romney's Bailout Bonanza" by Greg Palast investigator of corporate fraud and racketeering and journalist. His 2009 tax report can reveal how he made out from the auto bailout sending autopart factories and jobs to China.

[nearl451]

I'm sorry. I missed the part about what you admire about Romney, again.....?

That's right. No President could have recoved us from the 2008 recession in one term. Bill Clinton is right.

[RollotheNorman]

No, what it suggest is Moneybags can't buy any more air time else where because there is none for sale, so he's finding what he can in MN. Both campaigns have got about all the available air time bought in major markets in real swing states.