Capitol View: November 5, 2012 Archive

Parties work to get out the vote

Posted at 3:13 PM on November 5, 2012 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2012, Campaign 2012: Presidential Race

Both political parties are spending the final day before Election Day encouraging their supporters to get to the polls.

Republicans held a rally this afternoon with Mitt Romney's son, Josh Romney, at an office in Plymouth. Romney told several hundred supporters that he's confident his father can carry Minnesota.

"We feel good about it here in Minnesota," Romney said. "We're feeling real good about the way things look."

Supporters cheered as Romney spoke. They also chanted "One more day!" referring to their hopes that President Obama is defeated on Election Day.

The Twin Cities suburbs received more national GOP attention from Reince Priebus. The National Republican Committee chair rallied the party faithful in Burnsville Monday. Priebus said the tide was turning in Romney's favor.

"I've been telling people all day, we wouldn't be in Minnesota today unless great things were happening for Mitt Romney," Priebus said.

Republicans have worked to portray Minnesota as a swing state in recent weeks, arguing that the polls are tightening. Thousands of supporters attended a rally for Vice Presidential hopeful Paul Ryan at the Minneapolis airport on Sunday.

But Jeff Blodgett, who manages President Obama's Minnesota campaign, says the Romney campaign had virtually no presence in the state before two weeks ago.

"They can say that they're contesting this state," Blodgett said. "But frankly they haven't actually spent the time coming into the state and talking to voters. Paul Ryan has seen the inside of one of our hangars and one of our restaurants. "

Blodgett says he's impressed with the level of organizing the Obama campaign has done in Minnesota over the past year. As he spoke, several dozen people were busy counting campaign literature to give out and make phone calls on behalf of Obama's campaign.

A Republican presidential candidate has not won Minnesota since 1972

With additional reporting from Brett Neely.