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| Ohio Republicans rally for Romney in droves as swing state moves into reach | Ohio Republicans rally for Romney in droves as swing state moves into reach |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Newly energised Republicans are turning out in droves for Mitt Romney in the state that could decide the election, Ohio, as previously confident Democratic activists have begun to display signs of nervousness. | Newly energised Republicans are turning out in droves for Mitt Romney in the state that could decide the election, Ohio, as previously confident Democratic activists have begun to display signs of nervousness. |
| At a rally at Cuyahoga Falls on Tuesday night, Romney attracted one of the biggest turnouts of his campaign so far, an estimated 12,000, with thousands more stuck outside, unable to get through security in time. | At a rally at Cuyahoga Falls on Tuesday night, Romney attracted one of the biggest turnouts of his campaign so far, an estimated 12,000, with thousands more stuck outside, unable to get through security in time. |
| The response of the crowds so far is a long way from 'Romneymania' but there are strong signs of growing Republican confidence as a result of last week's debate and the narrowing of the polls. The crowd, responding to Obama supporters' chants at rallies of "four more years", shouted: "four more weeks". | The response of the crowds so far is a long way from 'Romneymania' but there are strong signs of growing Republican confidence as a result of last week's debate and the narrowing of the polls. The crowd, responding to Obama supporters' chants at rallies of "four more years", shouted: "four more weeks". |
| Republicans in the crowd attributed the rejuvenation of his campaign to Obama's poor debate performance and his subsequent polling slide. Such is the importance of Ohio that Romney is spending four out of the next five days campaigning in the crucial state. | Republicans in the crowd attributed the rejuvenation of his campaign to Obama's poor debate performance and his subsequent polling slide. Such is the importance of Ohio that Romney is spending four out of the next five days campaigning in the crucial state. |
| With fewer than four weeks left until election day, Obama has recognised the urgency of the situation, curtailing fundraising events and concentrating on debate preparation and rallies in swing states such as Ohio. | With fewer than four weeks left until election day, Obama has recognised the urgency of the situation, curtailing fundraising events and concentrating on debate preparation and rallies in swing states such as Ohio. |
| In a radio interview Obama urged his supporters to stay focused even though he admitted he lost his first debate because he said he "was just too polite." | In a radio interview Obama urged his supporters to stay focused even though he admitted he lost his first debate because he said he "was just too polite." |
| Obama said the race was bound to be close after Americans have "just gone through four really tough years." | Obama said the race was bound to be close after Americans have "just gone through four really tough years." |
| "Governor Romney kept on making mistakes month after month so it made it look artificially like this was, might end up being a cakewalk," Obama said. "But we understood internally that it never would be." | "Governor Romney kept on making mistakes month after month so it made it look artificially like this was, might end up being a cakewalk," Obama said. "But we understood internally that it never would be." |
| The president predicted, "By next week, I think a lot of the hand-wringing will be complete because we're going to go ahead and win this thing." | The president predicted, "By next week, I think a lot of the hand-wringing will be complete because we're going to go ahead and win this thing." |
| Polls have shown Obama's previous leads have evaporated and he and Romney are now tied nationally at 47%. Obama's lead in Ohio, where he had been enjoying leads of up to eight points, has been cut to about four points, according to the latest CNN/Orc poll. | Polls have shown Obama's previous leads have evaporated and he and Romney are now tied nationally at 47%. Obama's lead in Ohio, where he had been enjoying leads of up to eight points, has been cut to about four points, according to the latest CNN/Orc poll. |
| Democratic activists on the ground in Ohio say the state will be decided by who gets the vote out on the day, anticipating that Republican turnout will be high, as it is traditionally. One organiser, preparing for a big door-to-door campaign effort this weekend, admitted that the numbers of volunteers for Obama is down this year on 2008. "I think the elections are riding on these debates. If Obama does well, we will bring it home," he said. | Democratic activists on the ground in Ohio say the state will be decided by who gets the vote out on the day, anticipating that Republican turnout will be high, as it is traditionally. One organiser, preparing for a big door-to-door campaign effort this weekend, admitted that the numbers of volunteers for Obama is down this year on 2008. "I think the elections are riding on these debates. If Obama does well, we will bring it home," he said. |
| He was not sure why the number of volunteers is down, whether there was just not the same sense of excitement as in 2008 or if it was the result of disillusionment. He is hoping it is because Democrats thought the election was already won in Ohio, and that the tightening of the polls will see a big volunteer turnout this weekend. | He was not sure why the number of volunteers is down, whether there was just not the same sense of excitement as in 2008 or if it was the result of disillusionment. He is hoping it is because Democrats thought the election was already won in Ohio, and that the tightening of the polls will see a big volunteer turnout this weekend. |
| Ohio is one of the eight swing states but no Republican has won the White House without taking it. Without winning the state, it will be difficult for Romney to accumulate the number of votes he needs. | Ohio is one of the eight swing states but no Republican has won the White House without taking it. Without winning the state, it will be difficult for Romney to accumulate the number of votes he needs. |
| A large turn-out of Democratic supporters is needed in working-class cities in the north of Ohio to counterbalance Republican support in the largely rural areas to the south. | A large turn-out of Democratic supporters is needed in working-class cities in the north of Ohio to counterbalance Republican support in the largely rural areas to the south. |
| Democrats, as well as being worried about Obama, are also concerned about the fate of Democratic senator Sherrod Brown, who is up for re-election. | Democrats, as well as being worried about Obama, are also concerned about the fate of Democratic senator Sherrod Brown, who is up for re-election. |
| Although he is the favourite to win, it is proving to be a closer race than Democrats expected and Republicans have spent $20m to oust him, more than any other Senate race. | Although he is the favourite to win, it is proving to be a closer race than Democrats expected and Republicans have spent $20m to oust him, more than any other Senate race. |
| The Ohio govenor, John Kasich, in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, attributed the Republican resurgence to Romney's debate performance. "There isn't any question that he has breathed new life and new energy into the Republican party," Kasich said. "We're seeing that there is greater intensity among Republicans and a great willingness to get out and vote and participate than we're seeing with Democrats." | The Ohio govenor, John Kasich, in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, attributed the Republican resurgence to Romney's debate performance. "There isn't any question that he has breathed new life and new energy into the Republican party," Kasich said. "We're seeing that there is greater intensity among Republicans and a great willingness to get out and vote and participate than we're seeing with Democrats." |
| Romney, campaigning in Ohio with New Jersey governor Chris Christie and senator Rob Portman – who plays the part of Obama during debate preparation – appears more confident at the podium after months in which he often attracted meagre crowds of a few hundred. | Romney, campaigning in Ohio with New Jersey governor Chris Christie and senator Rob Portman – who plays the part of Obama during debate preparation – appears more confident at the podium after months in which he often attracted meagre crowds of a few hundred. |
| At the Cuyahoga Falls rally, Kate Paul, 25, a teacher from Canton, said: "I think a lot of people are still curious about the candidate. Some people are still curious about the candidates. Some people are still figuring it out. The majority are not. | At the Cuyahoga Falls rally, Kate Paul, 25, a teacher from Canton, said: "I think a lot of people are still curious about the candidate. Some people are still curious about the candidates. Some people are still figuring it out. The majority are not. |
| "I was not sure about Romney at first but the debate sealed the deal." | "I was not sure about Romney at first but the debate sealed the deal." |
| Some of the crowd expressed confidence that the tightening of the polls would turn out to be more than a short-lived bounce. | Some of the crowd expressed confidence that the tightening of the polls would turn out to be more than a short-lived bounce. |
| Karla Shott, 61, from Akron, said: "I think the polls are more than a bounce. A lot of people's eyes were opened during the debate." Asked about Romney's chances in Ohio, Shott said: "I feel better than I did before last Wednesday." | Karla Shott, 61, from Akron, said: "I think the polls are more than a bounce. A lot of people's eyes were opened during the debate." Asked about Romney's chances in Ohio, Shott said: "I feel better than I did before last Wednesday." |
| The impact of the debate was evident when Romney referred to it in his speech, securing the biggest cheer of the evening. | The impact of the debate was evident when Romney referred to it in his speech, securing the biggest cheer of the evening. |
| Another Romney supporter, Michael Battaglia, 71, from Cuyahoga Falls, said the election could turn into a landslide. Battaglia, who converts retro cars from petrol so they can run on both petrol and natural gas, said: "Supposedly the [Romney] campaign had scratched Ohio but they have seen a grassroots resurgence. The polls in Michigan are tightening too." | Another Romney supporter, Michael Battaglia, 71, from Cuyahoga Falls, said the election could turn into a landslide. Battaglia, who converts retro cars from petrol so they can run on both petrol and natural gas, said: "Supposedly the [Romney] campaign had scratched Ohio but they have seen a grassroots resurgence. The polls in Michigan are tightening too." |
| He added: "A lot of people are scared of being called racist. I think Obama is a poor leader and I think there are a lot of African Americans who could run the country better." | He added: "A lot of people are scared of being called racist. I think Obama is a poor leader and I think there are a lot of African Americans who could run the country better." |
| Cara Moorhead, 26, a paralegal from Cuyahoga Falls, who supported Romney in 2008, said she had come to the rally "to witness history, to see the next US president". | Cara Moorhead, 26, a paralegal from Cuyahoga Falls, who supported Romney in 2008, said she had come to the rally "to witness history, to see the next US president". |
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