Washington (dpa) - President Barack Obama was headed Saturday to
the key state of Ohio to make his case for reelection, as he seeks to
hold onto leads in important swing states three days before US voters
go to the polls.
Obama will visit Ohio every day until the election - a sign of
just how crucial the Midwestern state is. No candidate has won the
White House without the state since 1960.
A poll released Saturday shows Obama with a six-point lead over
Republican challenger Mitt Romney in Ohio. The poll by NBC News, the
Wall Street Journal and Marist gives Obama 51 per cent support to
Romney's 46 per cent in the state.
The same poll shows the race in a dead heat in another key state,
Florida, where the contest remains within the margin of error with
Obama at 49 per cent and Romney at 47 per cent. Nationwide, the men
remain essentially tied.
Ahead of Tuesday's election, both candidates are hitting the swing
states that determine the electoral outcome under the US system,
which awards the presidency based on the winner in each state rather
than on the overall nationwide popular vote.
Romney began in New Hampshire, telling supporters: "The question
of this election comes down to this: Do you want more of the same or
do you want real change? President Obama promised change, but he
could not deliver it. I promise change, and I have a record of
achieving it."
Romney's campaign remains confident, even making a play for states
such as Pennsylvania, once considered reliably within the Democrats'
column. Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan was to hold a rally in
the state capital Harrisburg on Saturday and the campaign had
invested in a last minute television ad buy there.
The Obama campaign maintained the move was a sign of desperation
and showed Romney was not confident at achieving victory in other
crucial states.
