President Barack Obama is keeping his calendar for the final weekend of the election wide open so he can fly to a battleground state or two with little notice if a Democrat is in need.
Obama has stepped up his political activity in recent weeks, holding big rallies in Wisconsin, where Sen. Russ Feingold is locked in a competitive race, Pennsylvania, where Democrats are trying to keep a Senate seat in their domain and Ohio, where both the Senate seat and governor's mansion are leaning toward the Republicans.
He's headed to Los Angeles this week to help Sen. Barbara Boxer and there will likely be more to come. (Listen to a radio ad Obama recorded for Boxer here.)
White House aides believe there has been tightening on the ground in key races -- including Pennsylvania -- thanks in part to Obama making the case for the party on the stump. They think Democrats were dispirited all year but that now the base is becoming more engaged as the election nears.
A Democrat close to the White House said Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 are being held on the president's schedule for campaign travel, with the possibility Obama could do several rallies to help get-out-the-vote.
The source said those decisions would be made closer to Election Day, but that Pennsylvania certainly would be at the top of the list for another trip since it's so close. A rally in West Virginia, where Gov. Joe Manchin has actively taken on the Obama administration's agenda in his Senate race, is a lot less likely.
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/10/obama-keeping-schedule-open-to.html
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