NH towns cast first ballots - IT'S A TIE

DIXVILLE NOTCH, NH -In the tiny town of Dixville Notch New Hampshire, the presidential vote ended in a historical first.

In a tradition that started more than 40 years ago. The town of ten registered voters all cast their ballots right after midnight on election day, and the results are tallied immediately.

This year, President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney each received five votes from Dixville Notch.

The tie is a historical first for the midnight vote.

And in another tiny New Hampshire town -- Hart's Location -- the President picked up a win.

The earliest voters can go to the polls in other communities is 6 a.m., with the last polls closing at 8 p.m.

Via: WCAX.com

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Obama campaign now buying ads in … Detroit

Via Mark Halperin and Jim Geraghty, who points out that Detroit’s TV market doesn’t reach Ohio. This is all about defending Michigan, which would have seemed crazy a month ago but now, in a world where The One is under 50 percent in Oregon, makes lots of sense. This is, after all, a state capable of electing a Republican governor (by a landslide) and a Republican legislature, and there’s a native son at the top of the GOP ticket. The last poll of Michigan — taken one week ago — showed a dead heat. I wonder what those Hopenchange internal numbers are showing right now. From Halperin:

An Obama aide tells me this on the Michigan ad buy:

“Restore Our Future went up with a $2 million buy in Michigan. We’re matching states where they go up. We’re not going to let them make a play anywhere.”

Both sides have enough money for these end-game ad forays. The real issues remain candidate time/visits, the psy-ops involved here, and the belief of some Republicans that a combination of Minnesota, Michigan, and Pennsylvania could surprise on Election Day.

My only question: How likely is it that any of those three states comes through for Romney if Ohio doesn’t? And if Ohio comes through, why do we need any of those states? Seems like maybe the Romney Super PAC’s ad buy is less about stealing Michigan to capture the presidency even if Ohio falls through than it is (a) forcing Obama to divert money to a formerly “safe” state, and (b) increasing the odds of a big red wave if there’s a final small tilt towards Romney nationally (or regionally) over the next seven days. In that case, he wouldn’t “need” Michigan to win but it’d be lovely to have it as proof of a mandate to govern, and that’ll come in handy in twisting Democratic arms during those fiscal cliff/deficit reduction negotiations.

Elsewhere in “painting the map red” news: Romney just went up with his first ad in Pennsylvania, a state that ABC moved from “safe Democratic” to “lean Democratic” just yesterday — along with Minnesota. In the northwest, Team Mitt may be eyeing not only Oregon but even Washington state(!) as having turned more purplish than anticipated. And here’s a new ad from Citizens United that’s going up in Wisconsin and New Hampshire — a.k.a. Romney’s Plan B — but it’s not aimed at drumming up GOP turnout. In fact, it’s airing not on Fox News but on CNN and MSNBC. When you watch, you’ll understand why.

Via: Hot Air
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Gallup: Obama's Job Approval Drops 7 Points in 3 Days

President Barack Obama in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Oct. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

(CNSNews.com) - In the most precipitous decline it has seen in more than a year, President Barack Obama's job approval rating has dropped 7 points in three days,according to Gallup.

In the three-day period ending on Oct. 23, says Gallup, 53 percent said they approved of the job Obama was doing and 42 percent said they did not.

On Oct. 24, that dropped to 51 percent who said they approved and 44 percent who said they do not.

On Oct. 25, it dropped again to 48 percent who said they approved and 47 percent who said they do not.

On Oct. 26, it dropped yet again to 46 percent who said they approved and 49 percent who said they did not.

In May 2011, Obama's approval dropped 7 points in four days, sliding from 53 percent on May 24 to 46 percent on May 28.

Via: CNS News

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THE BIG FAIL: Obama Claims To Have Made College More Affordable, ButStudent Loan Debt Continues To Burden Grads Under His Watch

ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT, THE AVERAGE STUDENT LOAN DEBT FOR THE CLASS OF 2011 HAS INCREASED YET AGAIN TO $26,600

Two-Thirds Of Graduates From The Class Of 2011 Have Student Loan Debt, With An Average Of $26,600, An Increase Of Five Percent From Last Year. “We estimate that two-thirds (66%) of college seniors who graduated in 2011 had student loan debt, with an average of $26,600 for those with loans. The five percent increase in average debt at the national level is similar to the average annual increase over the past few years. (“Student Debt And The Class Of 2011,” The Institute For College & Success, 10/12)

• “It’s The Latest Snapshot Of The Growing Burden Of Student Debt And It’s Another Discouraging One.” It’s the latest snapshot of the growing burden of student debt and it’s another discouraging one: Two-thirds of the national college class of 2011 finished school with loan debt, and those who borrowed walked off the graduation stage owing on average $26,600 – up about 5 percent from the class before.” (Justin Pope, “Average Debt Up Again For New College Grads,” The Associated Press, 10/18/12)

“Ohio Students Who Borrowed For College And Earned A Bachelor’s Degree In 2011 Graduated With An Average Of $28,683 In Student-Loan Debt.” “Ohio students who borrowed for college and earned a bachelor’s degree in 2011 graduated with an average of $28,683 in student-loan debt, which ranked seventh highest in the nation for the second year in a row, a new report finds.” (Encarnacion Pyle, “College Debt Of New Ohio Graduates Rises 3.5%,” Columbus Dispatch, 10/18/12)

• That’s “8 Percent Higher Than The National Average Of $26,600 And A 3.5 Percent Increase Over What Ohio Students Who Graduated In 2010 Owed.”“That’s nearly 8 percent higher than the national average of $26,600 and a 3.5 percent increase over what Ohio students who graduated in 2010 owed on average, according to the report by the Project on Student Debt.” (Encarnacion Pyle, “College Debt Of New Ohio Graduates Rises 3.5%,” Columbus Dispatch, 10/18/12)

• “And Like The Previous Year, 68 Percent Of The State’s 2011 Graduates Left School With At Least Some Student-Loan Debt.” (Encarnacion Pyle, “College Debt Of New Ohio Graduates Rises 3.5%,” Columbus Dispatch, 10/18/12)

New Hampshire Has The Highest Student Loan Debt, With An Average Of More Than $32,000 Per Student, While Pennsylvania Is Second With An Average Of $30,000 Per Student. CNBC’s SCOTT COHN: “Much of the debt is concentrated here in the northeast. Connecticut is the fifth highest debt totaling nearly $28,000. Rhode Island is fourth at just over $28,000 per graduate. Number three is Minnesota with more than 70% of the graduates there in debt, averaging just under $29,000 and Pennsylvania average student debt is just under $30,000, and the most indebted state is New Hampshire, with more than $32,000 in average student debt. Three-quarters of the graduates in New Hampshire have student loans.” (CNBC, 10/18/12)

Via: GOP.com

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Poll: Romney’s Likeability Numbers Skyrocket In Wake Of Debate…

Mitt Romney is finally getting his Sally Field moment: They like him. At least more than they used to.

President Barack Obama clings to a 1 percentage-point national lead in a head-to-head matchup with the GOP nominee, but the first presidential debate has significantly improved Romney’s personal image.

A new POLITICO/George Washington University Battleground Poll of likely voters puts Obama ahead of Romney 49 percent to 48 percent, a statistical tie and the same as the week before. Across the 10 states identified by POLITICO as competitive, Romney leads 50 percent to 48 percent.

Even as the head-to-head number held stubbornly steady for the past month, Romney improved his likability numbers. A slim majority, 51 percent, now views Romney favorably as a person, while 44 percent views him unfavorably.

The former Massachusetts governor had been underwater on this measure. In mid-September, 49 percent of respondents viewed him unfavorably. Going into the first presidential debate in Denver on Oct. 3, the electorate was evenly split 47 percent to 47 percent on what to make of Romney

.

On the generic congressional ballot, Democrats continue to hold a 2 percentage-point edge, 46 percent to 44 percent, over Republicans.

POLITICO considers the 10 competitive battlegrounds to be Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

VIa: Politico

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White House Begs Defense Contractors Not To Issue Layoff Notices

The Obama administration issued new guidance intended for defense contractors Friday afternoon, reiterating the administration’s position that the companies should not be issuing layoff notices over sequestration.

The Labor Department issued guidance in July saying it would be “inappropriate” for contractors to issue notices of potential layoffs tied to sequestration cuts. But a few contractors, most notably Lockheed Martin, said they still were considering whether to issue the notices — which would be sent out just days before the November election.

But the Friday guidance from the Office of Management and Budget raised the stakes in the dispute, telling contractors that they would be compensated for legal costs if layoffs occur due to contract cancellations under sequestration — but only if the contractors follow the Labor guidance.

The guidance said that if plant closings or mass layoffs occur under sequestration, then “employee compensation costs for [Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification] WARN act liability as determined by a court” would be paid for covered by the contracting federal agency.

Senate Republicans, who accused the White House of trying to hide job losses after the first guidance, said Friday that the new OMB statement “puts politics ahead of American workers.”

“The Obama Administration is cynically trying to skirt the WARN Act to keep the American people in the dark about this looming national security and fiscal crisis,” Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) said in a statement. “The president should insist that companies act in accordance with the clearly stated law and move forward with the layoff notices.

Via: The Hill

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Debbie Wasserman Shultz Is Rolling In It

Wasserman Schultz’s Luxury Cars and Growing Net Worth Raise Questions

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has famously stated that she is a “middle class American,” and it was this very claim that prompted many of her critics to openly question whether or not it was a realistic assessment of her personal income and assets.  Wasserman Schultz’ Republican congressional opponent Karen Harrington has called on her to release her personal tax income tax returns in response to her repeated calls for Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney to do the same.

Subsequent reviews of Wasserman Schultz’ congressional financial disclosures revealed a not widely known fact that she owns a second home in New Hampshire and is also not required to disclose her husband’s salary, which could very easily put her family among the top 1% of income earners in the country.  In addition, the Shark Tank recently reported that the Congresswoman splurged on a one-week luxury cruise ship vacation that cost tens of thousands of dollars- hardly an expenditure that ‘middle-class’ Americans can avail themselves of.  (Source -N.H Home/Cruise Ship)

According to those financial disclosure forms, Mr. and Mrs. Schultz of Weston, Florida have seen their assets almost  double since she was elected to the U.S. Congress in 2005.  When comparing Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz’s 2005 disclosure form with her 2011 form, the only other salary she drew besides her congressional salary was $26,320 she received from the Democrat National Committee (see images below).

2011 Financial Disclosure (Salary)

 2005 Financial Disclosure (Salary)

Via: Shark-Tank

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DESPITE MEDIA HYPE, NO BOUNCE FOR OBAMA IN SWING STATES

Politico’s “Unnamed Sources” say Ohio is lost for Mitt Romney. Like hell it is. They say Obama got a serious bounce from the DNC. Like hell he did.

Whatever bounce Obama got was in the blue states. In the swing states, it’s still way too close to call. Today’s Rasmussen poll results show that in the eleven swing states, including Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin, which total 145 electoral votes, it’s Obama 46% and Romney 45%. In 2008, Obama won these states 53% to 46%.

So how does the MSM try to spin the evidence so Obama looks like he’s unbeatable? Let’s look at Ohio, for example. Politico reported (using uncredited sources, of course), that Ohio is lost for Romney:

“Two officials intimately involved in the GOP campaign said Ohio leans clearly in Obama’s favor now.”

I didn’t know Axelrod and Plouffe were working for Romney, but hey, they’ll go where the money is.

But, as usual, Politico was relying on Obama-leaning polls to support their narrative; yesterday the PPP poll (which is always weighted toward Obama because of PPP’s affiliation with the SEIU) showed Obama up by five in Ohio.  Hmmm. According to the Gravis marketing poll taken last Tuesday, Romney was up three in Ohio. Who’s telling the truth?

Consider these:

Example #1.  On August 14, the PPP poll showed Obama up three in Ohio, while the same day Rasmussen Reports showed Romney and Obama tied.

Example #2: Last Monday PPP showed Obama tied with Romney in North Carolina, while the Elon University/Charlotte Observer poll, a local state poll, showed Romney up by four.

But Politico won’t be denied their mission to say whatever they can to disillusion Romney’s base, and they make no bones about using uncredited sources; as Politico reporter Jonathan Martin said last month when Politico quoted unnamed sources in a story about Republicans unhappy about the selection of Paul Ryan (what?????):

We were candid about the sourcing on that, as you mentioned, Howie, and basically say to our readers, ‘Look, folks don’t want to put their names [on] the charges. If you don’t want to read Politico, that’s fine.’

Every race in the swing states is close right now, and the unconscionable skewing of the polls by the MSM shouldn’t discourage Republicans. The MSM has lied before, they are lying now, and they will lie in the future. The Obama campaign has thrown everything but the kitchen sink at Romney, they have the power of incumbency, and Romney simply is not going away. And all of this is before Romney has even attacked Obama in ads and the debates.

Hey, Dems, this show ain’t even close to over; we’re just getting warmed up.

Via: Breitbart

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Parents Angry Over School Closures for Obama Visit

PORTSMOUTH — Backlash erupted Tuesday afternoon after the Portsmouth School Department announced it would cancel school Friday due to logistical challenges tied to President Barack Obama's campaign visit.

The Herald received multiple calls from angry parents after Superintendent Ed McDonough sent an e-mail to families announcing the closure.

"I just think it's unbelievable," said parent Kathy Logan. "All of a sudden, the president is coming to Portsmouth and everything has to shut down. I don't think it's right."

Logan said she was at Little Harbour School on Tuesday morning for a "teddy bear picnic" welcoming kindergarten students to the school. The first day for kindergarten is today, and Logan said it was unfair for her son's education to be disrupted so soon.

She said school officials at Little Harbour did not mention the closure and she did not find out until she checked her e-mail when she got home.

She also had made doctor appointments and other plans for Friday, which had to be rescheduled due to the sudden school closure. Logan is a stay-at-home mother, but parents with jobs outside the home are suddenly having to make arrangements for child care Friday.

One commentator on www.seacoastonline.com suggested the president "pay for the sitter" for those inconvenienced by the closure.

Logan said she is an independent voter and her complaints were not driven by politics. She simply thinks her son should be in school, she said.

"I actually blame the campaign. I don't think the School Department had much of a choice," she said. "I love being in New Hampshire. I love the fact that the politicians come through the state. I think we're so lucky, but I just don't think you shut down your whole school system."

McDonough said he had received calls and e-mails from residents complaining about the decision and asking him to reconsider, and that he was acutely aware of the inconvenience the closure caused.

"It's clearly short notice, and folks are terribly inconvenienced," he said. "I certainly am aware of the impact it presents to families. At the end of the day, we tried to use a measured approach, but for logistical reasons with our bus company, (keeping schools open) wouldn't work."

Via: Seacoastonline.com

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Poll: Romney Up In Swing States

Swing State Statistics

Mitt Romney has posted gains in the 12 swing states that will be critical in determining the outcome of the 2012 election, according to a Purple Insights poll released Wednesday.

The new poll shows Romney with small leads in three of the biggest swing states on the map  — Florida, Ohio and Virginia. Those three states have a total of 60 electoral votes.

The poll was taken after Romney picked Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) as his running mate. 

“Taken as a whole, these data indicate a small bump in the immediate aftermath of the [Paul] Ryan [vice presidential] announcement,” the report from Purple Insights said. “Nonetheless it is also the first sign of positive momentum for the Romney campaign that we’ve seen in the Purple Poll in the last few months.”

Obama won Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin in his 2008 bid for the White House, and will need to win about half of these in 2012 to secure reelection.



Via: The Hill

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