Romney pressures Obama by expanding electoral map

◼ Romney expands the map - Conn Carroll/Washington Examiner @conncarroll

Battleground state presidential polls suggest a very close finish, but look at nearby states on the map, and national polling, and it becomes clear that late-deciding Americans are breaking hard for Romney.

In poll after poll of formerly safe blue states, the Republican is closing ground on Obama, far outpacing Republican totals from 2008...

◼ ...Obama campaign strategy has accordingly concentrated on holding states he carried in 2008, rather than seek new electoral ground. - Michael Barone/Washington Examiner @michaelbarone

Obama's strategists conceded Indiana early on and North Carolina more recently. Now, Florida, Virginia and Colorado seem headed to Romney, and Germano-Scandinavian America is up for grabs. Minnesota and Pennsylvania suddenly have come into play.

Team Obama gambled on reassembling his 2008 coalition despite the Republicans' strong showing in 2010. Maybe a losing bet.

◼ Romney team sees Ohio numbers moving their way - Byron York/Washington Examiner