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Obama Capitalizing on Early Voters

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    Real Clear Politics Political Reporter Erin McPike and Roll Call Political Reporter David Drucker on the impact of early and absentee voters on the el...

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To why -- early voting doesn't leave the Romney campaigned on a minute for a moment suspect.

To roll calls David proper environment type of real clear politics parent I was startled by those numbers but it.

It does behoove the Romney campaign does it not.

To get those -- out and fast doesn't.

It does and if you look at what started in Iowa this week.

The Obama campaign says that more than a 100000.

Early ballots that have been requested -- from Democrats whereas less than 40000 are from Republicans so yes.

The Obama campaign will hit them again and again to try to get them to vote early.

Now I don't know what the record date it is on early voting and I guess Terence when it depends on who votes and all that but we do know.

That it generally is reflective of the moment they're voting and if you by the fact.

And these polls that they tend to favor the president.

If you're Mitt Romney you don't have a moment -- -- Iraq.

Well no you don't obviously when you're behind you need to make a move and you need to make it quick.

Hmmm I would note that early voters and voters who vote absentee tend to be them the hard partisans and and the mostly -- partisans people who.

-- vote won't change whether they vote today or whether they vote on November 6.

I'd also note that as strong as the president's early voting program is and it is very strong he helped sort of invent the wheel.

The Romney campaign also has a strong early voting and absentee program they track it very thoroughly.

And I expect him to be competitive if he loses the election it won't be because he did not have an early voting program.

The one key thing is whether he can get enough ads on the air fast enough to compete.

With the Obama -- -- which has been on the air and strong for much longer period.

I noticed one thing here when I was at the respective conventions as I saw a lot of Obama ads and -- retrospect today were running six to one.

Over Romney -- just the sheer number of them.

The other might or might not have been Winston did that but you could argue that they did sees an early initiative.

In the president's favor other you know slobs on the Romney campaign certainly added that -- I don't dismiss that.

But I'm wondering if you're Romney and you're sitting on a lot of cash where there -- You you don't hedge your bets whether you flood those swing states we think you might have a shot with a lot of advertise.

What you read about that and look the Obama campaign has -- in -- -- and mobilization mode for a while now.

The run campaign is still in persuasion territory they're still trying to convince middle class voters that he has a plan whereas.

I I would -- in Ohio this week and I covered both the president and Mitt Romney.

And President Obama is already saying start -- I write it -- farther ahead of the Romney campaign there.

Trying to seize the moment they're trying to -- mom and -- David -- -- point.

Maybe.

It's a good idea if that is the case to give Mitt Romney not to have voters in general seize the moment -- grind it.

To get your base out but what is the strategy aren't spending now when so many people vote early I understand 1980 fewer then.

One at a thirty had done so by this juncture now we're talking one at a three likely to at a three -- So what is the strategy.

Well I think for both campaigns the strategy is to try and sort of make your closing argument or hit voters the heaviest.

As early voting and absentee voting begins and I think that's what both sides are doing I think the Obama campaign is probably a little stronger here because they've done it before.

But I think that from my reporting both sides are actually doing it and they're pushing an extremely hard and they're tracking it.

And so I don't think this is something that one side is doing and the other side is not I think for the undecideds and the persuade a bulls that are out there those are the ones you're going to keep getting.

What I would tell you is that over the last two weeks the Romney campaign has been slowly ramping up its gross ratings points in terms of television advertising.

I might have done it sooner than them I don't know for sure whether they just weren't able to but come.

The next few days they're probably gonna unleash the flood gates and I think that there are planned for better or worse.

Was to be able to do so right as we hit October and then go full bore all the way through November 6 again it may not be.

The best plan -- the plan that they seem to have chosen.

And what you're right -- we won't know whose plan was more effective until Election Day but but both of you thank you very very much.

Meanwhile.