November 4, 2012
Obama focuses on turnout, Romney on Pennsylvania
Page 2 of 2
The Associated Press
President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One before his departure from Andrews Air Force Base, Sunday. Just two days from the finish, Obama's campaign is mobilizing a massive get-out-the-vote effort aimed at carrying the Democrat to victory, as Republican Mitt Romney makes a late play for votes in Democratic-leaning Pennsylvania.
Advertiser

The president's rallies are aimed at boosting Democratic enthusiasm and motivating as many supporters as possible to cast their votes, either in the final hours of early voting or on Tuesday, Election Day. Persuading undecided voters, now just a tiny sliver of the electorate in battleground states, has become a secondary priority.

Obama and former President Bill Clinton drew 24,000 people to an outdoor rally in Bristow, Va., on a cold Saturday night.

Clinton, his voice hoarse after a week of campaigning, said he had "given my voice in the service of my president." But that didn't stop him from launching into a 30-minute defense of Obama and his economic policies.

He also slammed Romney for his shifting positions, saying "He could be the chief contortionist for Cirque de Soleil."

Obama, who spoke second, embraced Clinton as he walked on stage. The president said at this stage of the campaign, he was largely "a prop" and the race was in the voters' hands.

"The power is not with us anymore," he said. "It's all up to you."

Obama's campaign said it had registered 1.8 million voters in key battleground states, nearly double the number of voters they registered in 2008. Campaign officials said volunteers had made 125 million personal phone calls or door knocks with voters.

Romney has also attracted large crowds in the final weekend of campaigning. His rally in Ohio on Friday drew more than 20,000 people.

"When I look at being on the road for three days with Gov. Romney and the crowds, when I look at the undecideds, I believe that Gov. Romney will not only win on Tuesday, I believe he could win decisively," Romney adviser Ed Gillespie said on ABC's "This Week."

The Republican nominee has been using teleprompters to deliver his final campaign speeches. He's claiming the mantle of change - and highlighting what he says was a bipartisan record as governor of Massachusetts.

In addition to Pennsylvania, Romney will campaign Sunday in Iowa, Ohio and Virginia.

Recommended Stories

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Popular Videos
The Gazette now offers Facebook Comments on its stories. You must be logged into your Facebook account to add comments. If you do not want your comment to post to your personal page, uncheck the box below the comment. Comments deemed offensive by the moderators will be removed, and commenters who persist may be banned from commenting on the site.
Advertisement - Your ad here
Get Daily Headlines by E-Mail
Sign up for the latest news delivered to your inbox each morning.
Advertisement - Your ad here
News Videos
Advertisement - Your ad here
Advertisement - Your ad here