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Obama hits the campaign trail in Wisconsin for final run to election day Obama hits the campaign trail in Wisconsin for final run to election day
(8 days later)
Barack Obama reached out to undecided voters with a plea for national unity in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy as he embarked Thursday on a punishing sprint across America ahead of election day.Barack Obama reached out to undecided voters with a plea for national unity in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy as he embarked Thursday on a punishing sprint across America ahead of election day.
After suspending his campaign for four days because of Sandy, Obama sought to make up the lost time, flying to Wisconsin for the start of 17 stops in the eight swing states through to Monday.After suspending his campaign for four days because of Sandy, Obama sought to make up the lost time, flying to Wisconsin for the start of 17 stops in the eight swing states through to Monday.
On the first campaign stop, in Green Bay, he portrayed the response to the storm as an example of how Americans could put aside their political differences to come together in time of crisis.On the first campaign stop, in Green Bay, he portrayed the response to the storm as an example of how Americans could put aside their political differences to come together in time of crisis.
It was a message designed to appeal to independent voters who like the idea of bipartisanship, which has been largely missing in Washington for the last four years.It was a message designed to appeal to independent voters who like the idea of bipartisanship, which has been largely missing in Washington for the last four years.
Obama faces potentially bad news Friday when the last set of unemployment figures are released. After dropping to 7.8% last month, any rise could dominate the final days of the campaign, tilting what remains of the tiny group of undecided voters towards Mitt Romney.Obama faces potentially bad news Friday when the last set of unemployment figures are released. After dropping to 7.8% last month, any rise could dominate the final days of the campaign, tilting what remains of the tiny group of undecided voters towards Mitt Romney.
Romney, who resumed campaigning day earlier, made the economy and unemployment a big part of his final pitch. "If the president were to be re-elected, we're going to see high levels of unemployment continue," he said.Romney, who resumed campaigning day earlier, made the economy and unemployment a big part of his final pitch. "If the president were to be re-elected, we're going to see high levels of unemployment continue," he said.
An Obama spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, asked about the figures yesterday, said: "Regardless what they are, the president is going to feel there's more we need to do to help people get back to work."An Obama spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, asked about the figures yesterday, said: "Regardless what they are, the president is going to feel there's more we need to do to help people get back to work."
The Obama team is hoping that any poor unemployment figures will be more than compensated for by the plaudits Obama has won this week for his handling of Sandy.The Obama team is hoping that any poor unemployment figures will be more than compensated for by the plaudits Obama has won this week for his handling of Sandy.
The president, looking more confident and with more vigour than he has throughout most of the campaign, told a small crowd gathered near the steps of Air Force One at an airport in Green Bay that America had been inspired by what it had witnessed this week.The president, looking more confident and with more vigour than he has throughout most of the campaign, told a small crowd gathered near the steps of Air Force One at an airport in Green Bay that America had been inspired by what it had witnessed this week.
"All the petty differences that consume us in normal times all seem to melt away. There are no Democrats or Republicans during a storm, there are just fellow Americans," the president said."All the petty differences that consume us in normal times all seem to melt away. There are no Democrats or Republicans during a storm, there are just fellow Americans," the president said.
The line is a reprise of the plea for bipartisan cooperation that saw him rise to national prominence after a speech to the Democratic convention in 2004 and that he used repeatedly in the 2008 campaign.The line is a reprise of the plea for bipartisan cooperation that saw him rise to national prominence after a speech to the Democratic convention in 2004 and that he used repeatedly in the 2008 campaign.
"Leaders of different parties working to fix what's broken. neighbours helping neighbours cope with tragedy; communities rallying to rebuild; a spirit that says, in the end, we're all in this together -– that we rise or fall as one nation, as one people.""Leaders of different parties working to fix what's broken. neighbours helping neighbours cope with tragedy; communities rallying to rebuild; a spirit that says, in the end, we're all in this together -– that we rise or fall as one nation, as one people."
Both the Obama and Romney campaigns claim they are winning. National polls show the two tied but of 11 polls published yesterday/Thurs in the eight swing states that will decide the election Obama is ahead in eight, Romney in two and the other a dead heat.Both the Obama and Romney campaigns claim they are winning. National polls show the two tied but of 11 polls published yesterday/Thurs in the eight swing states that will decide the election Obama is ahead in eight, Romney in two and the other a dead heat.
The election could hinge on Ohio, a volatile and unpredictable state in which Obama holds a small lead, up two points in the Real Clear Politics average of polls.The election could hinge on Ohio, a volatile and unpredictable state in which Obama holds a small lead, up two points in the Real Clear Politics average of polls.
The Republican challenger enjoyed a surge in support after his success against Obama in the first of the presidential debates on October 3, regularly attracting crowds of 10,000 or more, but in the aftermath of Sandy these have dropped away. The crowd at his first event in Virginia yesterday attracted fewer than 3,000.The Republican challenger enjoyed a surge in support after his success against Obama in the first of the presidential debates on October 3, regularly attracting crowds of 10,000 or more, but in the aftermath of Sandy these have dropped away. The crowd at his first event in Virginia yesterday attracted fewer than 3,000.
Some Republicans are rehearsing excuses if they lose, such as blaming Sandy.Some Republicans are rehearsing excuses if they lose, such as blaming Sandy.
The former Republican governor of Mississippi, Haley Barbour, emailed Politico to say: "One thing is obvious – for a period of three days or more, nobody on the news media was reporting anything about the economy or job, spending, deficits or debts. And that's the Obama campaign's dream."The former Republican governor of Mississippi, Haley Barbour, emailed Politico to say: "One thing is obvious – for a period of three days or more, nobody on the news media was reporting anything about the economy or job, spending, deficits or debts. And that's the Obama campaign's dream."
In Green Bay, Obama shifted quickly from talking about Sandy to making his closing argument, a reprise of the stump speech he had been giving before Sandy.In Green Bay, Obama shifted quickly from talking about Sandy to making his closing argument, a reprise of the stump speech he had been giving before Sandy.
He described Romney as "using all his talents as a salesman" in trying to sell the same policies of George W Bush that had created the economic mess and that he would rubberstamp Tea Party policies.He described Romney as "using all his talents as a salesman" in trying to sell the same policies of George W Bush that had created the economic mess and that he would rubberstamp Tea Party policies.
Obama's bipartisanship message is aimed not just at independents but Congress, hoping that a victory for him might persuade Republicans who control the House to cooperate in working out a deal in the face of an impending economic crisis.Obama's bipartisanship message is aimed not just at independents but Congress, hoping that a victory for him might persuade Republicans who control the House to cooperate in working out a deal in the face of an impending economic crisis.
Although the White House is careful to avoid any accusations of complacency, work is underway on post-election priorities. The White House spokesman, Jay Carney, briefing reporters, refused to discuss specifics beyond saying that the administration is always working on budget issues. The big problem looming is a face-off with Congress over tackling the 'fiscal cliff', major spending cuts to reduce the burgeoning deficit.Although the White House is careful to avoid any accusations of complacency, work is underway on post-election priorities. The White House spokesman, Jay Carney, briefing reporters, refused to discuss specifics beyond saying that the administration is always working on budget issues. The big problem looming is a face-off with Congress over tackling the 'fiscal cliff', major spending cuts to reduce the burgeoning deficit.
"The president has said and believes that after the election we will be able to come together in a bipartisan way to resolve these issues and to deal with our deficit and debt challenge with a balanced proposal that reflects an overwhelming consensus among experts and the American people about how we should get this done. And he looks forward to tackling those issues after the election," Carney said."The president has said and believes that after the election we will be able to come together in a bipartisan way to resolve these issues and to deal with our deficit and debt challenge with a balanced proposal that reflects an overwhelming consensus among experts and the American people about how we should get this done. And he looks forward to tackling those issues after the election," Carney said.
Romney, in his first speech of the day in Virginia, stuck too to his stump speech, reprising an anecdotes about Boy Scouts, the song America the Beautiful and lines from a fictional football team in the show Friday Night Lights in which there was a rallying cry on the way out of the locker room: "clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose". Romney is persisting with the latter in spite of complaints from the show's writer.Romney, in his first speech of the day in Virginia, stuck too to his stump speech, reprising an anecdotes about Boy Scouts, the song America the Beautiful and lines from a fictional football team in the show Friday Night Lights in which there was a rallying cry on the way out of the locker room: "clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose". Romney is persisting with the latter in spite of complaints from the show's writer.
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