Simple question - why did Mitt not go straight to Ohio post Debate 3? Thoughts / Questions below...
Hey all I am an avid reader but very rarely post. First, to this community a thank you- the insights and passion that flow from the Kos-community is second to none. To all of you who create the content that keeps me thinking - a thousand bows and thanks.
Okay onto my question which I am sure has been discussed here but i simply cannot find it - hence this post. With two weeks to go I simply cannot believe that Romney did not go to Ohio - after the last debate. Also, as best I can tell I only see him going there once in the next several days yet he is also schedule to go to PA. While I recognize that schedules are fluid - the fact that he does not have an intensive on the ground Candidate presence in Ohio (meaning the candidate - not the Romney campaign) suggests to me that his internals are not great and he does not believe he can ultimately win Ohio.
So the question is what is really going on? Yes a lot of the states are close but you have to watch where the candidate is physically going at this point. While schedules might change (and indeed are hard to find out beyond a few days in advance) it strikes me as intensely telling that Romney did not sprint to Ohio post the debate. It seems like a sign of a deep lack of confidence in the Romney camp re their ability to win Ohio - though of course they cannot and will not say that.
It also strikes me as odd that he is scheduling a stop in PA - a day that he could spend in Ohio and should spend in Ohio if he really thinks he can close the state. Yes PA has narrowed like all states but Romney has no shot in PA (see Nate Silver) so a PA trip can only be for pure optics - to create a false narrative of momentum. And that means that "narrative" (however false) is more important to them than precious hours they could be in Ohio which also means to me that they know they have lost Ohio. Of course they keep contesting it to keep us tied down and working there but it is lost to the GOP.
So my question to this community is what if any intelligence do you all see in the candidates forward looking schedules. My sense is that while we have a tight national race and lots to do in the battlegrounds we are ahead and Romney is in fact in deep trouble. He is working hard to create the optics of momentum which the press is regrettably more than willing to swallow - but it "ain't" so. In short would love to hear others' thoughts re what the candidates physical location is telling us.
For what its worth my belief is that we win all swing states Except NH. Yes FLA and NC are tough roads but I think we can pull them out (Note NC is very tough and while I think we pull it out I also think it is telling that Obama is not going there - at least i don't see him going there but I would LOVE to see it). Re other states CO, IA, WI, NV, VA and OH etc....I feel we flat out win thanks to great work by Team Blue, superior GOTV, superior candidate, the news out there on the economy is markedly better and the simple fact that Romney in addition to being a charlatan - is deeply unlikable.
Last, last comment - the physical side of campaigning. Yes one can do a lot with 'chemcials" but the next two weeks are hard, hard weeks physically. Frankly, I do not think Romney has the physical stamina to do a good job of covering all the ground he needs to cover. Yes he seems to be rather fit for his age but he is not an athlete while Obama is (hoops etc) - and that will matter. Its about energy and GOTV and if Romney can't meet the physical load - he certainly cant project energy he does not have into his own supporters. If you need an elevator for your car a full two week physical sprint is simply beyond you.