- Candidates Continue Campaigning On Election Day
Candidates Continue Campaigning On Election Day
(KUTV) The Presidential race between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney appears to be one of the tightest in history – and that candidates haven’t wasted a second trying to rally last minute voters.
Polls released Monday show the race is anybody’s game. Monmouth University has the race tied with both President Obama and Mitt Romney with 48% of the vote.
The latest poll from Rasmussen reports Romney with 48% of the vote and Obama with 47 – which means the race may come down to voter turnout.
The President and Mitt Romney made their last appeal to voters before Election Day. During a stop in Columbus, Ohio Obama asked for 4 more yearse in the White House.
“The reason why we’re here is we’ve got more work to do,” said President Obama, “our work is not yet done.”
Romney told supporters in Sanford, Florida that it’s time for new leadership.
“You hoped that President Obama would live up to his promise to bring people together and to solve problems. He hasn't. I will,” said Romney.
Romney's running-mate Paul Ryan echoed that thought while campaigning in Reno, Nevada, saying, “We don't have to settle for this, we can do better than this. This may be the best Obama has to offer, but
this is not the best America can have.”
But, Vice President Joe Biden told the crowd in Sterling, Virginia that President Obama is the best choice.
“Presidential elections are ultimately about character, America. It’s the most important ingredient a President must possess to lead a great nation and lead the world. And President Obama has the
character of his convictions,” said Biden.
Voters in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire were the first to cast votes. The town has opened its polls at midnight on Election Day since 1968. But for the first time in history, the vote was tied, President
Obama and Romney received five votes each.
In Hart's Location, New Hampshire, President Obama beat out Governor Romney 23-to-9.
The two candidates will continue to reach out to American’s today. The President will do interviews throughout the day from Chicago while Romney will make appearances in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Boston.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- CNN Poll Shows Candidates In Dead Heat
CNN Poll Shows Candidates In Dead Heat
Washington (CNN) – It's all tied up, according to a new national poll released two days before the presidential election.
And the CNN/ORC International survey not only indicates a dead heat in the race for the White House, but also on almost every major indicator of President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney
that was tested in the poll.
Forty-nine percent of likely voters questioned say they support the president, with an equal amount saying they back the former Massachusetts governor.
The poll is the fourth national non-partisan, live operator survey released Sunday to indicate the battle for the presidency either a dead heat or virtually tied. A Politico/George Washington University
survey has it tied at 48%; an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll indicates Obama at 48% and Romney at 47%; and the latest ABC News/Washington Post tracking poll puts Obama at 49% and Romney at 48%.
A Pew Research Center survey also released Sunday indicates the president at 50% and the GOP challenger at 47%, which is within the survey's sampling error.
CNN's final poll before Election Day indicates a gender gap.
"Fifty-three percent of women saying they plan to vote for President Obama compared to only 44% of men. That works out to a nine-point gender gap, which would be the largest since 1996," says CNN Polling
Director Keating Holland. "On age, Obama is getting less support among younger voters than he did four years ago. But he manages a tie with Governor Romney among senior citizens - a group he lost to
Senator McCain by eight points."
According to the survey, Romney leads Obama 57%-40% among white voters. Obama tops Romney 56%-40% among voters making less than $50,000 per year, with Romney holding a 52%-47% edge among those making more
than $50,000 per year.
The poll also indicates geographical divides, with the president leading in the Northeast, Midwest, and urban areas, and Romney ahead in the South, West, and suburban and rural areas.
It's not just the horserace number that's dividing American voters.
The president's favorable rating stands at 52% in the poll, with Romney at 51%. Fifty-one percent say they agree with Obama on important issues and 50% say the same thing about Romney. Fifty-six percent
say that Obama has the personal qualities a president should have, with 55% feeling the same about the Republican nominee.
Does either party have an edge on enthusiasm?
According to the poll, the answer is no. Seventy-percent of registered voters who describe themselves as Democrats say they are extremely or very enthusiastic about voting, with an equal amount of self-
described Republicans saying the same thing. Forty-nine percent say they will vote for the GOP candidate for Congress in their district; 48% say they will choose the Democrat.
But there are a few advantages for each candidate. On the one hand, the number of Americans who think things are going well in the country has risen 10 points since August, to 46% - the highest number
since April, 2007.
But that doesn't mean Americans are feeling better about the economy - seven in ten say it is in poor shape, unchanged since September. And more people say that the economy will improve if Romney is
elected than feel that way about an Obama victory. And the economy remains the number-one issue on the minds of American voters, with 61% saying it's extremely important to their vote. The deficit is
second in importance at 55%, followed by health care at 51%, foreign policy at 47% and Medicare at 46%.
Obama's approval rating is also over the magic 50% mark, but just barely: 51% of all Americans approve of how he is handling his job as president, which doesn't give him a lot of breathing room.
While the president and Romney's favorable ratings are nearly identical, the Democratic Party is viewed more favorably than the GOP.
"That's something which might help Obama in an extremely close race," says Holland. "Obama also has inevitability on his side: 57% say he will win another term, compared to only 36% who think Romney will
win. And with only 4% saying that they might change their minds before Election Day, time is running out to make that closing argument."
Other findings from the poll: Only 12% of Obama supporters say they're casting their ballot as a vote against Romney. By comparison, 37% of Romney supporters say they're casting their ballot as a vote
against the president.
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 33 Senate seats are up for grabs on Tuesday. According to the poll, only 17% say they approve of how Congress is handling its job. Twenty-eight percent
say they approve of how GOP leaders in Congress are handling their jobs, with 37% saying the same thing about Democratic congressional leaders.
The CNN poll was conducted November 2-4 by ORC International, with 1,010 adult Americans, including 918 registered voters and 693 likely voters, questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error for
likely and registered voters is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
– CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
- Video Games Cashing In On Elections
Video Games Cashing In On Elections
(KUTV) Video game makers are cashing in on the election - with outrageous campaign themed games featuring Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
Leaping from state to state, firing shots along the way. The final battleground blitz has all the elements, of a great video game. The number of politically-themed games has tripled since 2004, according
the Entertainment Software Association.
In 2012, it's an opportunity to vent some political passion, and have some fun. Among the animated characters and exaggerated jabs, games like "Political Machine 2012" let players craft a stump speech and
maybe learn a thing or two about the issues.
"Race for the White House 2012" sends players through the same hurdles as the real candidates. And the games can also capture the attention of a key demographic. Like "Vote: The Game," from Epic Games,
which partnered with Rock the Vote, so after virtual political combat, players can register to vote in the real election.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
- Could Sandy Aftermath Affect Election Day?
Could Sandy Aftermath Affect Election Day?
By Heidi Hatch
(KUTV) When hurricane Sandy slammed into the east coast on Monday, it totally blew up the election and campaign schedule in the Northeast. In states like New Hampshire, many polling sites are flooded and
without power. That brings up the question: What happens if some states are not ready to vote next Tuesday? There is no short answer.
Super storm Sandy is unprecedented for many different reasons, but one thing is for sure. Never in our Nation’s history has an election day been moved. The only way it can happen, is if Congress meets and
moves it for every single state- and that we're told is not going to happen. This afternoon we sat down with Kirk Jowers, Director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah to get
answers. He said, a delay for a state "would be beyond unprecedented" he went on to say he thinks attorneys on both sides are looking at it very closely.
Sandy, as we know, has ripped apart cities and now stands to tear apart a nation already deeply divided on the political front. A change of days or delay for even one or two precincts, let alone states
could cause major issues. Jowers believes every state in the end will be capable of pulling off the election in large part. But he did say power outages could make it difficult since most of the nation
now votes on electronic machines that need constant power- not a generator. Jowers said, "If it is a close race, small problems become huge problems. If it is a blow-out then large problems are no
problems. That is the beauty and danger of our system." The real danger comes if one particular neighborhood favored by one side or the other is washed out by the storm can't get to the polls. Jowers
gives the example that if Obama voters are disadvantaged by this, the ripple would be some kind of legal challenge over whether the closing cost him the election and vice versa.
Sandy stands to alter the election before it even happens. President Obama, as Commander in Chief has as Jowers said, "had the national stage for three days to himself." Adding to Romney's worries is
that Republican Governor Chris Christie has been praising the President's efforts. This could sway voters who were not completely sold on their choice. Seeing the President in a time of crisis doing his
job could solidify a win. The timing couldn't have been worse for challenger Mitt Romney who was seeing constant momentum before the storm hit. He hit the campaign trail in Florida today and is carefully
treading the rough waters so as not to seem insensitive while not totally losing his message and momentum.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- CNN Poll Shows Tight Presidential Race
CNN Poll Shows Tight Presidential Race
(CNN) – With eight days to go until Election Day, a new survey indicates an extremely close race for Florida's 29 electoral votes.
According to a CNN/ORC International poll released Monday, 50% of likely voters in the Sunshine State say they are backing Republican nominee Mitt Romney, with 49% supporting President Barack Obama. The
former Massachusetts governor's one point margin is well within the survey's sampling error.
"The results are unchanged from a one-point margin for Romney in mid-October, except for each candidate gaining a percentage point and the number of truly undecided voters dwindling away to almost
nothing," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
The survey indicates that there is a slightly larger pool of persuadable voters, often called "uncommitted voters" in this election cycle.
"Roughly five percent of Florida's likely voters say they are truly undecided or have a preference but have not completely made up their minds. Those are the voters in whose hands rests the outcome in the
Sunshine State - and possibly the national outcome as well," adds Holland.
According to the poll, a large gender gap has re-opened in Florida, with 55% of men supporting Romney and 54% of women favoring Obama. Generational and income gaps appear as well, with Obama doing better
among younger and lower-income voters and Romney ahead among those 50 and older and among those making more than $50,000 per year.
President George W. Bush won Florida in his 2004 re-election, but Obama narrowly captured the state in his 2008 victory over Sen. John McCain. This cycle Florida has once again been getting tons of
attention during the general election, with the candidates making frequent visits to the Sunshine State. Romney held three rallies in the state on Saturday. The president was scheduled to headline a rally
Monday morning in Orlando, but instead returned to Washington, D.C. to monitor federal emergency preparations for Hurricane Sandy.
The Obama and Romney campaigns are also spending big bucks on get-out-the-vote efforts and to run television commercials in the state. The two presidential campaigns, the party committees, and the super
PACs and other independent groups supporting the candidates, have shelled out more than $130 million to run ads on broadcast TV in Florida since April 10, the unofficial start of the general election.
That's according to data provided to its clients by Campaign Media Analysis Group (CMAG), which tracks campaign advertising.
Political junkies will recall that Ralph Nader's minor-party candidacy in 2000 is widely credited with taking enough votes from Al Gore to allow George W. Bush to eventually claim the state. Could that
happen again this year?
It's tough to tell, but it is intriguing to note that when three minor party candidates are included in a separate horse race question, a 50%-49% margin for Romney becomes a 48%-48% tie, with Libertarian
Gary Johnson and Green party candidate Jill Stein claiming one percent apiece and Constitution Party candidate Virgil Goode coming in with less than one-half of one percent.
"Statistically, there is no difference between 50%-to-49% and 48%-to-48%, but it does illustrate the potential effect of the minor-party candidates in this extremely close race," adds Holland, who also
warns that "close elections are inherently unpredictable - and elections in which a single percentage point separates the two candidates are even tougher, if not impossible, to forecast."
The CNN poll was conducted by ORC International, from October 25-28 (entirely after the final presidential debate), with 1,010 adults, including 914 registered voters and 770 likely voters, questioned by
telephone. The survey's sampling error for likely voters is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
- Campaign Interrupted By East Coast Storms
Campaign Interrupted By East Coast Storms
(KUTV) This is the last full week of campaigning before Election Day – and Hurricane Sandy is washing out many of those plans.
Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney has rerouted himself to battleground states that are not in the storm’s path – and President Obama has cleared his calendar through Wednesday.
The President scrapped a morning campaign stop in Florida to get back to Washington as the weather deteriorated. He told campaign workers in Orlando he's counting on them to help get out the vote.
"I'm not going to be able to campaign as much over the next couple of days. Just to make sure, that as folks get his by this storm, everybody is doing what they are supposed to do,” said President Obama.
The President also canceled Tuesday stops in Colorado and Wisconsin. Sunday he met with the Federal Emergency Management Team.
“My message to the Governors, as well as the Mayors is, anything they need - we will be there,” the President said.
The storm is sure to impact early voting along the east coast... and four states that may help decide this election are in the path of the storm.
Hurricane Sandy also altered Governor Mitt Romney's plans. He cancelled events in Virginia Sunday and instead met up with running mate Paul Ryan in Ohio.
"Let's today when we get home, put in our prayers, the people who are on the east coast in the wake of this big storm that is coming. Let's not forget those fellow Americans of ours,” said Vice
Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan.
The Romney Campaign will be collecting supplies at campaign offices in the affected areas - and donating buses to help deliver those items.
Romney also addressed the Hurricane, saying "I know that right now some people around the country are a little nervous about a storm about to hit the coast, and our thoughts and prayers are with the
people who will find themselves in harm’s way."
Both campaigns are using Twitter and Facebook to urge supporters to donate to the Red Cross. Both campaigns also say they will stop sending fundraising requests to people living in the storm's path.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Candidates Encourage Early Voting
Candidates Encourage Early Voting
(KUTV) For the first time in U.S. History, a sitting President has chosen not to vote on Election Day.
President Obama cast his vote early Thursday morning as he encouraged others to do the same.
The call to vote early has been made nationwide – and here in Utah, voters are heeding the call.
In Salt Lake County alone, early voters are nearing 20,000 on day 3. The expectation is that 40 to 50% of the electorate will have cast their votes early this year.
By casting his ballot early – the President is endorsing a system that many say was the secret to his success in 2008 – and may be the key to his re-election.
During the 2008 Presidential Election, Democrats had volunteers working for months offering encouragement, instruction and transportation for early voting. However, this time, both sides are making a push
for early voting.
In addition to the 20,000 early ballots cast in Salt Lake County, 48,000 mail-in ballots have already arrived back at the Salt Lake County headquarters.
The idea of the nation coming together on a singular day to vote is now a thing of the past, and many have different reasons for early vote. All of the early voters say they are happy to have the
opportunity.
Nationwide polls show that most early voters already knew who they were voting for and say their minds are made up and there is no longer a reason to wait.
For traditionalists who prefer to vote on Election Day, lines are expected to be shorter. Sample ballots are available online. Early voting locations are open as early as 7:00 am until 11:00pm.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Romney, Obama On The Attack In Third Debate
Romney, Obama On The Attack In Third Debate
(KUTV) With 15 days until Election Days, President Obama and Mitt Romney are hitting the campaign trail following the third and final debate.
Monday night, they met in their last debate before the election – and President Obama saved his attacks for the end.
Viewers seemed to respond to President Obama’s attacks. A CBS News snap poll of the debate shows 53% of uncommitted voters believe President Obama won.
“You saw a strong and steady President lay out a clear vision and you had an unsteady Romney,” said Obama Campaign Manager Jim Messina.
Romney’s best score in the debate poll came on the issue of China.
“I want a great relationship with China. China can be our partner, but that doesn’t mean they can just roll all over us and steal our jobs on an unfair basis,” said Romney.
However, even on that issue, he only managed to tie President Obama 50 to 50%.
Perhaps the most memorable line of the night came when President Obama and Mitt Romney were debating cuts to the military.
“Our Navy is smaller now than at any time since 1917,” said Romney. “The Navy said they needed 313 ships to carry out their mission. We’re now at under 285.”
President Obama responded, saying “Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military’s changed.”
However, Republicans say the President was disrespectful.
“I found it extraordinary that they ridiculed the Navy, I imagine that’s a moment he would like back,” said Romney Campaign Strategist Stuart Stevens.
Far from wanting to take it back, Senator John Kerry, a Navy veteran, kept the them going.
“I think the President sank his battleship tonight,” said Kerry.
At one point, horses and bayonets was the most searched term on Google. President Obama and Mitt Romney will both head out on the campaign trail Tuesday.
The President will have rallies in Florida and Ohio while Romney will campaign with his running mate in Nevada and Colorado.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Obama and Romney Prepare For Final Debate
Obama and Romney Prepare For Final Debate
(KUTV) With just over two weeks until ballots are cast, Mitt Romney and President Obama will debate for the last time Monday night.
Monday’s debate will be the third and final time the two candidates take the stage together for a debate.
“These debates have mattered, perhaps more than ever,” said Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
The focus of the final debate is foreign policy – and there is no shortage of issues.
The debates moderator, CBS’ Bob Schieffer, is expected to spend plenty of time on issues involving Libya.
On Sunday, Republican Senator Marco Rubio suggested the Obama campaign tried to keep the foreign policy focus on the death of Osama Bin Laden, saying “Is that why for two weeks they told us that the Libyan
incident in Benghazi was a popular uprising and not a terrorist attack? Because it ran counter to their campaign narrative?”
Obama campaign officials say it’s not their candidate who is playing politics with Libya.
David Axelrod, a Senior Advisor for the Obama Campaign, accused Romney of sending political press releases out while flames were still burning in Benghazi on ‘Meet the Press.’
President Obama held a lead into the polls heading into the debates, but Mitt Romney’s performances have lifted his numbers to where there is now a dead heat in the latest polls.
“The President had created this false image of Mitt Romney in the minds of some voters that was completely knocked down in that first debate,” said Rubio.
The Obama campaign says this is exactly how they envisioned the race playing out.
“This is going to be a very close race and we’ve said that consistently,” said Axelrod. “We feel good about where we are.”
There are just 15 days left until Election Day and President Obama and challenger Mitt Romney are tied at 47% in a National NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll of likely voters released Sunday.
CBS and Channel 2 will be airing the President Debate tonight at 7:00pm.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Biden, Ryan Prepare For Thursday's Debate
Biden, Ryan Prepare For Thursday's Debate
(KUTV) Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Congressman Paul Ryan will share the stage tonight t Kentucky’s Centre College for their only debate.
Paul Ryan is in Kentucky getting ready for his face-to-face meeting with Vice President Joe Biden.
Leading up to the debate, Mitt Romney's running mate has been trying to raise expectations for the current Vice President.
"Joe Biden is one of the most experienced debaters we've ever had in modern politics. But the Achilles heel he has is President Obama’s record,” said Ryan.
The city of Danville has rolled out the welcome mat for the candidates, bringing a big spotlight to this small college town.
Vice President Joe Biden has been staying out of the public eye in recent days. He’s reportedly fueling up on animal crackers and Gatorade during debate prep in his home state of Delaware.
Congressman Chris VanHolen stood-in for Paul Ryan in Biden's mock debates.
Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm had the same job four years ago playing the part of Sarah Palin.
“The big challenge for someone like Joe Biden, who is so glib, and so good at listening to people… is delivering a message inside of a structured format,” said Granholm.
Biden will be trying to stop the Republican ticket's momentum coming out of the first Presidential debate.
A new CBS News poll from three key battleground states suggests Romney getting boost from his performance. In Wisconsin. President Obama's 6-point lead has been cut in half. In Virginia the President's lead shrunk to 5 points - and Romney now leads in Colorado.
The debate begins at 7pm and will go for 90 minutes without commercial interruption.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Romney To Address Foreign Policy Monday
Romney To Address Foreign Policy Monday
(KUTV) With one month until Election Day, Mitt Romney is gearing up for a major speech in Virginia. Meanwhile, President Obama is in California for a series of fundraising.
President Obama joked about his lackluster debate performance at a star-studded Los Angeles fundraiser Sunday night, where Katy Perry and Stevie Wonder performed.
“These guys perform flawlessy night after night,” he said. “I can’t always say the same.”
The president also accused his opponent of backing away from campaign promises. “Obviously the Governor knows a $5-trillion tax cut is not too popular,” said President Obama. “So, a few weeks before the election he is trying to pretend it doesn’t exist.”
Romney is in Virginia Monday for a rally and what is being called a ‘foreign policy address.’
Excerpts from the speech have already been released, showing that Romney wants a change of course in the Middle East – including tougher sanctions on Iran. Romney is expected to call on the U.S. to work with other nations to arm rebels in Syria with weapons that can defeat President Bashar Assad’s army.
At a rally in Florida on Sunday, Romney promised to be a strong international leader, if elected.
“I will take the care that it takes to rebuild our principles and restore the principles that made American so strong,” he said.
The Republican nominee also took a shot at the President’s debate performance, saying “days later we are hearing excuses – and next January, we’ll be watching him leave the White House for the last time.”
Romney and the President have two more debates scheduled. Later this week, Vice President Biden and Romney’s running-mate Paul Ryan will face off in a vice presidential debate.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Polls Show Romney As Winner Of First Debate
Polls Show Romney As Winner Of First Debate
(KUTV) President Obama and Mitt Romney came together last night for the first Presidential Debate – which started with a handshake and a romantic moment.
President Obama celebrated his 20th wedding anniversary the same night of the debate. Romney responded saying, “Congratulations to you Mr. President on your anniversary, I’m sure this is the most romantic place you can be, here with me.”
But, that was the last touching moment of the night.
"Virtually everything he's described as my plan is inaccurate. If the tax plan he described were a tax plan I was asked to support, I would say absolutely not. I'm not looking for a five trillion dollar tax cut,” said Romney.
President Obama responded, saying "for 18 months he's been running on this tax plan. And now, five weeks before the election, he's saying that his big, bold idea is, 'Nevermind.'"
The theme of the debate for President Obama appeared to be that Romney's plans lack specifics.
“Is the reason that Governor Romney is keeping all these plans to replace secret because they're too good?" said President Obama.
Mitt Romney spent most of the night on the attack.
"You've been president four years. You said you would cut the deficit in half, it's now four years later we still have trillion dollar deficits,” said Romney.
Mitt romney came into this debate trailing in the polls – but that could change after last night's performance.
"Anytime a challenger stands on stage with the President in the first debate they tend to get some bounce out of it. I expect that that could happen here,” said David Axelrod, Senior Advisor of the Obama Campaign.
The Romney campaign believes the Governor scored a knockout.
"I do believe that Governor Romney was the clear winner of this debate. If it was a boxing match, it would have been called,” said Romney Senior Advisor Eric Fehrnstrom
An instant CBS News poll of independent voters shows Romney was the overwhelming winner. 46% of the people surveyed say Romney won the debate.
The two men will square-off again October 16.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Body Language, What To Watch For During Presidential Debates
Body Language, What To Watch For During Presidential Debates
(KUTV) Time and time again in presidential debates, someone does something that costs them votes and ultimately the election.
2News’ Heidi Hatch spoke to a body language expert in Denver who says to hear what they're really saying you have to watch what they're doing.
September 26th, 1960 was the first ever televised presidential debate ushered in a new era where appearances mattered more than ever. John F. Kennedy debated Richard Nixon. Nixon was known to be a fierce debater, but on screen Kennedy looked calm, cool and collected. Nixon was sweaty under studio lights and looked uncomfortable. Nixon floundered in all four debates and went on to lose the election.
Body language expert Tracie Brown says that sweating can mean the debater is stressed or lying.
She’ll be watching both President Obama and Governor Romney on Wednesday to see if they can keep the sweat at bay.
Body language has made a difference in presidential debates year after year. For example, George H. Bush was caught glancing at his watch. “When you’re uncomfortable, when you want the interaction to end, you’re going to look at your watch to see how much time you have left,” Brown says.
And sighing may have cost Al Gore the election. “It’s a little bit of a resignation and flustered. Like let’s get out of here,” Brown explains.
Romney and Obama have both been practicing for weeks, but Brown says the body can’t lie.
She says watch first for the handshake before the debate begins. “I betcha that handshake on stage is going to be the firmest handshake in the history of the planet,” Brown says.
Then watch to see what their other hand does if it grips the others arm. “In this case it's going to be I’m trying to control you buddy,” Brown says.
If you want to see who is feeling confident in what they have to say look for them to turn from the cameras.
“When they’re facing each other they're being direct with what they want to say and almost going for the jugular,” Brown says.
Romney has been advised to push Obama off script to gain the upper hand.
Both have been rehearsing for days. Romney is in Denver, Obama has been practicing in Nevada and arrives in Colorado Wednesday.
The 2012 Presidential Debate will take place Wednesday. It begins at 7 p.m.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
- President Obama, Romney Prepare For First Presidential Debate
President Obama, Romney Prepare For First Presidential Debate
(KUTV) President Obama and Governor Romney have been attacking each other from afar for months, but Wednesday, everything changes when the two men meet face-to-face.
The debates get underway Wednesday in Denver at 7:00pm for a 90 minute debate, divided into six 15-minute segments – all on domestic policy.
Jim Lehrer of the PBS News Hour will host the debate. Lehrer has hosted more than a dozen debates and is well-versed on keeping the debates on track and fair for both sides.
“Our job is to try to create a simple, elegant format that lets the candidates focus on the substance which I believe makes for a successful debate for everybody – the candidates and the public,” said Janet Brown, Director of the Presidential Debates.
Denver was chosen as a debate site one year ago, but is now proving to be an important battle ground state, still up for grabs.
After Wednesday’s debate, the next two will be in New York and then Florida.
Early voting has already started in many states or is about to start – a potential game changer for either side.
KUTV will be airing the debates live on Channel 2 at 7:00pm and will be streaming live online.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Romney Changes Stance On Illegal Immigration
Romney Changes Stance On Illegal Immigration
(KUTV) With the two presidential candidates set to debate Wednesday, Mitt Romney has announced a new stance on illegal immigration.
More than 5,000 people packed the Air and Space Museum in Denver to hear Romney speak Monday.
Colorado is among the battleground states that have a large Hispanic population. And Romney now tells the Denver Post he will honor temporary work permits for young illegal immigrants granted by President Obama in an executive order in June.
It is the first time he has expressed support for the act. In Los Angeles, Romney recently said “Instead of playing immigration politics with these children, I will pursue permanent immigration reform.”
The President’s executive order is a shortened version of the ‘Dream Act’ legislation that grants citizenship to the same immigrants under certain conditions. Mitt Romney has opposed the bill in the past.
Most polls show President Obama with a very comfortable lead among Hispanic-American voters – and a new survey from the Pew Hispanic Center shows why that’s important. Nearly 24-million Hispanic-Americans will be eligible to vote this year – roughly 5-million more than in 2008.
Yet, Romney has not given up trying to win the group over. “Hispanics have been hit disproportionally hard,” he said in June.
The two men could have a chance to discuss immigration face-to-face during Wednesday’s debate.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Romney, Obama Prepare For First Presidential Debate
Romney, Obama Prepare For First Presidential Debate
(KUTV) A new Washington Post poll has President Obama with a 7-point lead over Mitt Romney among likely voters in swing states.
One of those states is Nevada – where President Obama is staying until Wednesday’s debate.
More than 11,000 people packed a high school in Las Vegas to listen to President Obama in Nevada. It was the President’s last scheduled appearance before the first Presidential debate on Wednesday.
Mitt Romney heads to Colorado Monday for last minute rehearsal. The candidate has been rehearsing since June. His running mate, Paul Ryan, say that the debate will not be a defining moment.
“I don’t think this one event will make or break the campaign,” said Ryan.
However, not everyone agrees. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie addressed the debates, saying “Thursday morning you’re all going to be scratching your heads saying, ‘Wow! We have a barn-burner now for the next 33 days’.”
Wednesday’s debate will focus on domestic issues including the economy – but currently, Romney is focused on foreign policy and has been slamming the President over his handling of events in the Middle East.
In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, Romney said the President has shown weakness in the Middle East. He said that President Obama had heightened the prospect of conflict and instability, saying that he “does not understand that an American policy that lacks resolve can provoke aggression and encourage disorder.”
White House aides say the President is looking forward to debating foreign policy with Mitt Romney.
“This President promised a few things in 2008,” said White House Senior Adviser David Plouffe, “He’d end the Iraq war, he did. He would take the fight to Al Qaeda and degrade them, he has.”
Romney is said to be planning a major foreign policy speed to deliver in the next few weeks.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Presidents Campaign For Latino Vote
Presidents Campaign For Latino Vote
(KUTV) Both presidential candidates campaigned in Florida Thursday looking for votes.
Florida is one of the key states with large Hispanic populations that will help decide the election.
President Obama talked to Latino voters on Univision. His campaign is spending twice as much as Romney’s on ads targeting Latino voters – and he holds a comfortable lead among Hispanics.
Romney is still trying to explain his comments about 47% of Americans who don’t pay federal income tax.
“My campaign is about the 100% of Americans,” said Romney. “And I’m concerned about them, I’m concerned about the fact that over the past 4 years life has become harder for Americans.”
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Obama, Ryan Try To Sway Voters At AARP Convention
Obama, Ryan Try To Sway Voters At AARP Convention
(KUTV) President Barack Obama is trying to sway older voters as he addressed the AARP Convention – Paul Ryan represented the Republicans.
Both campaigns also have their eye on key swing states – with Mitt Romney hammering a new line of attack against the President.
“It is my job as President to protect Medicare," said President Obama.
Mitt Romney’s running mate Paul Ryan is addressing the same conference in person. He’ll be bringing his mother, a Medicare recipient. She was with him in Florida last month - who he told older voters President Obama is not protecting Medicare.
"Here's what the president won't tell you about his Medicare plan, about Obamacare. The president raids $716-billion from the Medicare program to pay for the Obamacare program,” said Ryan.
Republican White House hopeful, Mitt Romney is looking for votes in Nevada today - and using a new line of attack against the President.
Thursday President Obama said addressed Latino voters, saying "you can't change Washington from the inside. You can only change it from the outside."
Just a few hours later Romney responded, saying, "The President today, threw in the white flag of surrender again. He says he can't change Washington from inside, he can only change it from outside. Well, we're going to give him that chance in November."
Mitt Romney plans to hit the President on the housing crisis at his rally in Las Vegas later Friday.
The latest fundraising numbers show President Obama's campaign has nearly twice as much as Mitt Romney's in the bank to spend.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Romney Paid 14.1% Tax Rate In 2011
Romney Paid 14.1% Tax Rate In 2011
(CBS News) Mitt Romney on Friday released his full 2011 tax returns, which show that he and his wife paid $1,935,708 that year on $13,696,951 of income - a 14.1 percent tax rate.
His campaign also released a notarized letter from the Romneys' tax preparer, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, stating that from 1990 through 2009, Romney paid an average annual effective federal tax rate of 20.2 percent.
In 2011, the couple donated 30 percent of their income - more than $4 million - to charity. They claimed a deduction for $2.25 million of those charitable contributions.
The returns were posted online Friday afternoon, shortly after Brad Malt, the trustee of the Romney's blind trust, announced in a blog post that they were forthcoming.
The Romney campaign also posted Paul Ryan and his wife's 2011 joint tax returns, which revealed an adjusted gross income of $323,416, a taxable income of $253,674, and a tax liability of $64,764. The Ryans' home mortgage interest deduction was $16,143 and their charitable deduction was $12,991.
Romney previously released his 2010 returns, which showed he paid a 13.9 rate that year on $21.7 million in income. He had also released an estimate of his 2011 returns. Romney, whose net worth is around $250 million, has paid a lower tax rate than many Americans who make less than he does because much of his income comes from capital gains. Such investment income is taxed at a lower rate than wages.
President Obama paid a 26 percent rate in 2010 and a rate of slightly more than 20 percent in 2011. The president has released 12 years of returns, matching the 12 years Romney's father, George Romney, released when he ran for president in 1968.
Democrats have called on Romney to release more than two years of his returns, and some have suggested he is refusing to do so because there were years in which he paid no income taxes in the past. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, citing an unnamed Bain Capital investor, has suggested Romney did not pay taxes for a decade.
This release is designed to rebut those claims: According to the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, the Romneys owed both state and federal income taxes in each year between 1990 and 2009.
Over the 20 year period, the letter stated, the lowest annual rate paid by the couple was 13.66 percent. The Romney's average effective state personal income tax rate was 8.36 percent, and they gave an average of 13.45 percent of their adjusted gross income to charity. Also according to the letter, the total federal income taxes owed, total state income taxes reported, and total donations deducted during the period represent 38.49 percent of the couple's total adjusted gross income for the period, according to the letter.
The campaign also posted letters from both Gov. Romney and Rep. Ryan's physicians, making public their current states of health.
Romney's physician wrote that the candidate's last visit, in August of this year, "revealed a healthy appearing, energetic, strong, physically fit male. He appears years younger than his age." According to the letter, his current medical issues include high cholesterol, and he has a family history of cardiac arrhythmias, heart attack, and prostate cancer. Ryan's physician described him as in "excellent" health, and notes a paternal history of early-onset coronary artery disease.
The president has attacked Romney over his refusal to release more returns and suggested he uses tax trickery and offshore accounts to reduce his effective rate. A recent Obama campaign ad featured a narrator saying, "Makes you wonder if some years he paid any taxes at all. We don't know because Romney has released just one full year of his tax returns."
Malt's blog post includes this paragraph: "The Romneys' generous charitable donations in 2011 would have significantly reduced their tax obligation for the year. The Romneys thus limited their deduction of charitable contributions to conform to the Governor's statement in August, based upon the January estimate of income, that he paid at least 13% in income taxes in each of the last 10 years."
In January, Romney said, "I pay all the taxes that are legally required and not a dollar more. I don't think you want someone as the candidate for president who pays more taxes than he owes."
Romney's campaign told CBS News: "He has been clear that no American need pay more than he or she owes under the law. At the same time, he was in the unique position of having made a commitment to the public that his tax rate would be above 13%. He directed his preparers to ensure that he is consistent with that statement."
- President Obama Addresses U.N. General Assembly
President Obama Addresses U.N. General Assembly
(KUTV) President Obama and republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney both made foreign policy speeches in New York Tuesday.
President Obama laid out his foreign policy priorities in front of the United Nations General assembly. He used the speech to again condemn the attack in Benghazi, Libya that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, and 3 other Americans.
“Today, we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our United Nations," said President Obama.
The President also said the United States will do whatever it takes to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
“America wants to resolve this issue through diplomacy,” he said, “and we believe that there is still time and space to do so. But that time is not unlimited.”
Republicans are criticizing the President for not holding meetings with any world leaders while he is here. The White House said the President speaks to heads of state on a regular basis.
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney delivered his own foreign policy address across town at the Clinton Global initiative,
“If there's one thing we've learned during this election season it's that a few words from Bill Clinton can do any man a lot of good,” said Mitt Romney.
Romney said he wants to change the U.S. foreign aid system , requiring countries that take development money to remove trade barriers, and allow U.S investment.
“We will couple aid with trade, and private investment to empower individuals, encourage innovators, and reward entrepreneurs,” Romney said.
Romney said his reforms could help bring stability to the Middle East and other developing countries.
President Obama is also addressing the Clinton Global Initiative Tuesday before both candidates turn their focus back to the race for the White House.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
- Obama, Romney Campaign In Swing State Of Ohio
Obama, Romney Campaign In Swing State Of Ohio
(KUTV) Mitt Romney and President Obama are campaigning in Ohio – one of the key swing states which will likely help decide the election.
Ohio is one of the key swing states in the election, and Wednesday both Romney and President Obama will be battling for attention there.
However, the latest CBS news poll of swing states shows Romney with some ground to make up. The poll, released Wednesday morning, has President Obama up ten points in the Buckeye State. He had a 6-point lead before the conventions.
The numbers are similar in Florida where the President now has a 9-point lead over Romney. And, in Pennsylvania, he has maintained a double-digit advantage for a couple of months.
But, it’s Ohio that has been the main focus of the campaigns for the President and his Republican rival – each making his 14th trip to the state. Both campaigns have spent more money in Ohio than in any other state.
President Obama and his allies have spent nearly $48-million on ads in the state since May first – and Romney is not far behind.
Romney has been trying to make the case he will do a better job with the economy. But, in all three states, the poll shows President Obama leading on that issue.
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
