Pennsylvania poll: Obama 50, Romney 45

[trailmonkee]

Source: Politico

The Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll offers a reality check to Republicans hoping to make a run at the Keystone State, showing Mitt Romney close to the president there but still trailing by the kind of margin that's difficult and expensive to overcome this late:

The race is largely unchanged from a week ago when Romney had narrowed Obama's once-comfortable lead in Pennsylvania to just four points, a shift credited to the Republican winning the pair's first debate.

But after their second showdown, one that displayed a more energized Obama, the president is up 50 percent to 45 percent over Romney, the poll's results show. ...

While Romney is within striking distance in Pennsylvania, it remains unlikely his campaign will decide to invest any real effort to win its 20 electoral votes. Paul Ryan campaigned in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning, but it was a brief stopover on the way to the state the campaigns really want, and many say need, to win: Ohio.

The poll also shows Democratic Sen. Bob Casey back to an 8-point lead over Republican challenger Tom Smith, though still well short of the 50-percent mark with 45 percent support. If Romney doesn't fight harder in Pennsylvania, comes up short in the Electoral College and Pennsylvania ends up as a 5-point (or less) margin on Election Day, there will likely be some recriminations for the choice to stay out, but the thinking among any number of Republicans is that Pennsylvania's a big, expensive risk for a GOP presidential candidate to take -- and given where the rest of the 2012 map stands, probably unnecessary. In a world where Romney's winning Pennsylvania, there's a very good chance he's winning Ohio too.

Read more: http://www.politico.com//blogs/burns-haberman/2012/10/pennsylvania-poll-obama-romney-139160.html

[onehandle]

1. Romney/Ryan is very popular with empty lots and lonely street corners in the Philly 'burbs.

Obama/Biden signs are in people's actual front yards.

Rmoney is toast in PA.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

2. K&R

Things are looking up!

[Zoeisright]

3. Let's hope that that margin is difficult to cheat on too.

[calimary]

5. That is THE key! It can't be close enough to steal.

Because if it is, believe me, it's completely naive to think they won't try to fuck with the figures and suddenly, mysteriously, pull out some magic win.

We CANNOT afford to let it be close enough that they can steal it. That's almost guaranteed electoral death. Let's not have ANY illusions about these vile people we're up against. Amoral, unethical, win-at-all-costs. And unfortunately in the "costs" department they've got more than enough money to play with and with which to rig any game in town.

If I were president, I'd be looking into who's the biggest political enemy, money-wise, and nationalizing whatever industries they own. I tell ya - we have to start thinking more deviously. These assholes are highly skilled at doing exactly that. And look how far it's gotten them, and how much ground they've gained over the past 30 years! WHY AREN'T WE LIKE THAT?????? They spend huge amounts of money and energy and time - trying to think up ways to cut our side off at the knees. WHY AREN'T WE DOING THAT?????????????? Seems to me if they are all about rigging the game, the only way to fight back is to figure out how to UN-RIG the game, or rig it the opposite way so WE win (as in, pushing the pendulum back in the opposite direction to equalize things. Seems to me that sometimes there are things that simply have to be forced for the sake of true fairness and equality. See? I am truly as Machiavellian as the next guy). There is no fighting fair with these people.

Fighting fair only works when both sides do it. When only one side does it, that side too often gets rolled.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Rmoney will not win PA

and hopefully people remember the governor's race in 2014. Time to clean house!

[cheezmaka]

6. Lookin' good for the POTUS!

However, I'm still gonna work and not rest until he gets 270 and beyond...

[Bucky]

7. That's uncomfortably close.

I don't like that. I liked PA more when Obama was 9 points up. I mean, what the hell, Keystoners?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. Yet Real Clear Politics calls PA a toss up state.

I think not.