15,000 rally for Mitt Romney in Land o Lakes, Florida, October 27

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10/27/12, “Mitt Romney campaigns in Land o Lakes, Florida,” photo by Charles Dharapak of the AP, via Twitter/twitpic



10/27/12, “MASSIVE Crowd in Land O’ Lakes, Florida. 15,000+ fill football stadium,” TwitPic. via Battleground Watch blog



10/27/12, Mitt Romney greets supporters in Land o Lakes, Fla., AP, via LA Times

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Obama to the Des Moines Register, ““I want your endorsement. You’ll feel better when you give it,” he concluded in his phone conversation with them.”

10/27/12, “Des Moines Register endorses Romney, ending Democratic streak,“ LA Times, Seema Mehta

“Four years ago, the Iowa caucuses launched Obama’s presidential bid, and he handily won the state in the general election. The Register endorsed him, impressed with his background, his calls for Americans to come together and his positions on  the economic crises that unfolded in the final months of the campaign.

This time around, the paper offers a sober assessment of his tenure, and his potential.

“The president’s best efforts to resuscitate the stumbling economy have fallen short. Nothing indicates it would change with a second term in the White House,” the paper wrote.
It’s unclear how much newspaper endorsements matter to voters, given that many gravitate toward media outlets that align with their political views. But the endorsement is notable because of the Register’s long history of supporting Democrats – the last Republican they endorsed was President Nixon in 1972.

And it may offer a window into the mood of heartland voters in a state that is a crucial battleground. Romney has been trying to court past Obama supporters there by focusing on the nation’s debt, a theme that resonates among many in a frugal state that has the lowest per capita credit card debt in  the nation.

Obama gave a nod to the newspaper’s importance when, after speaking with the editorial board, he had a separate conversation two weeks later with the paper’s editor and publisher.
“I want your endorsement. You’ll feel better when you give it,” he (Obama) concluded in his phone conversation with them.

Romney tweeted his appreciation for the paper’s endorsement. “We need Iowa to help get America back on track. I am honored to have the @DMRegister’s endorsement,” he wrote.

The news of the endorsement broke Saturday while Romney was speaking to 15,000 supporters at a rally on a high school football field here, capping a three-event day stumping in Florida.

“America’s going to win,” Romney said. “We’re going to make the change in November that will bring the real change that we need.””

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