Jim Messina, President Obama’s campaign manager, said that he is much more concerned with swing state polls than national polls in the final weeks before the election while speaking to reporters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Saturday, according to a White House pool report. Messina was optimistic about the election based on polling out of key battleground states.
“In all the battleground states, we continue to see all our pathways there,” Messina said. “We’re either tied or in the lead in every battleground state 45 days out. I think you will see a tightening in the national polls going forward. What I care way more about [is] Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, Wisconsin, etc. In those states, I feel our pathways to victory are there. There are two different campaigns, one in the battlegrounds and one everywhere else. That’s why the national polls aren’t relevant to this campaign.”
Messina also said that the election to recall Republican Gov. Scot Walker in Wisconsin earlier this year has given Republicans a stronger ground game then for years ago in the state.
“This is one where … because of the recall election, they test drove their car whereas in other states they haven’t,” Messina said. “It would make sense they’re strong here, as are we. They are stronger than McCain was in ’08, no question, on the ground.” Messina added that Democrats are nevertheless stronger in Wisconsin than the Romney campaign.
President Obama is in Wisconsin for two fundraisers and a campaign rally Saturday.
