Battleground Pa. Campaigns Take Personal Approach

Presidential TV ads are scarce for Decision 2012 fall campaign kickoff

The fall Decision 2012 presidential campaigns are now in full swing, but in Pennsylvania, you may have noticed you're not seeing many presidential campaign ads for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney or President Barack Obama on TV

State campaign workers say there's no question that Pennsylvania is a key battleground state, even though some outside supporters are spending more right now in other states.

On Monday a super PAC funded to help reelect Pres. Obama stopped advertising in Pa., according to PoliticsPA.com. More than a week ago there were reports that Republican PAC’s suspended advertising in the state.

Obama and Romney volunteers are taking a more personal approach by manning offices across the state to connect with voters, knocking on doors and making phone calls to encourage more support.

"As far as being a battleground state I think our volunteers are proving that we're probably one of the top battleground states, certainly with the infrastructure that the governor has put in here and the staff that he's put in here is nothing like we've ever seen here in Pennsylvania before,” said Romney for President Pennsylvania State Director John Gibson.

Democrats also believe Pennsylvania is in play for the Nov. 6 general election, with a focus on the Philadelphia suburban counties.

"It really comes down to the suburbs, to the four counties, in particular Montgomery County where the President is going to need to convince and then turn the voters out. And I think like in 2008, the President will win the suburbs," said Josh Shapiro, Democratic Montgomery County Commissioners Chairman.

The Romney campaign's weekend "Super Saturday" volunteer effort in the Philadelphia area was one of the most successful in the nation. Both campaigns are counting on that kind of local effort to inform voters and get out the vote in November.

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