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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Democratic near panic in Washington as Mitt Romney bandwagon rolls -- Contrast in mood with happy Republicans is very evident as race closes

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Democratic near panic in Washington as Mitt Romney bandwagon rolls -- Contrast in mood with happy Republicans is very evident as race closes

Posted on Friday, October 26, 2012 at 08:01 AM

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Mitt Romney Republican candidate looking happy

Washington D.C: The contrast in confidence between Democratic and Republican supporters here in Washington is striking.

Our newspaper Irish Voice hosted our annual Legal 100 event here last night at the residence of the Irish Ambassador Michael Collins, and the talk among the well connected from both sides who showed up was all about the election.

There were many movers and shakers among the large crowd and the mood shift was evident.

Democrats frankly were grim. “It comes down to Ohio?” said a former prominent politician. “It did for Kerry in 2004 and he lost it right there and we could lose it too.”

“We have to hold Ohio,” said another stalwart and major fundraiser. “We have no hope other than doing that -- It looks like the ground game is the only way we can hold it.”

The main hope of the Democratic side seemed to be in that massive turn out the vote effort. “It’s not the economy stupid,” said one political leader, “it’s the turnout stupid.”

A Democratic foot soldier from Pennsylvania talked about the massive effort underway there. “We will add two points to the polls,” he predicted.

Read more news from the US Election 2012 here

Several referred to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s race in Nevada a few years back when polls showed him five behind, yet, because of his massive organization, he won the day.

Democrats frankly are reeling at how hard and how fast Obama appears to have fallen. The ABC /Washington Post poll on Thursday shows him three behind, a similar margin to several other polls.

At the end of September he seemed to be cruising to victory with polls showing him well ahead, now he enters the final week and a half gasping for his political life.

Republicans in Washington have a pep in their step. “We’re ahead in the national polls, no doubt about it and the state polls will adjust,” said one big campaign donor many years on the scene.

Obama wrote off Romney far too soon said another. This is a fifty-fifty election he said, it was always going to come down to that.

Obama’s attitude in the first debate clearly cost him dear they say. He was just not prepped enough thinking he would easily deal with Romney.

One person discussed a recent lunch with Bill Clinton saying there was no great wisdom there either, only a sense of deep frustration that Romney’s reposition had seemingly won over a large slice of the undecided.

Right now in Washington the GOP are confident, even cocky. The next ten days will tell whether that is justified or a celebration too soon.

Read more news from the US Election 2012 here

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jetsnoone | Oct 27, 2012, 10:40 AM EDT

Americans were under attack for 6 hours and Obama watched them die.... US Marines would have rushed to their aid, if given the order, or US helicopters could have responded....innocent by-standers?! Innocent by-standers would have run for the hills --- right thing to do was rescue these foLks --- but OBAMA DID NOT WANT TO!! Result: 2 dead Seals after an long battle....A tremendous scandal on Obama's part but liberal media scum will not call him on it.

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Smyrnian | Oct 27, 2012, 10:32 AM EDT

Paul - It's a hard question because the Clinton's are very polarizing but then again, those who disliked the Clintons are often saying they would rather have them back instead of the current administration. Tough call.

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paulpaulpaul | Oct 27, 2012, 09:49 AM EDT

I`m curious as to whether Bill Clinton`s support, insofar as it`s been apparent to date, has been more helpful to Romney or Obama.

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Murph46 | Oct 27, 2012, 09:33 AM EDT

Your truth Big Daddy,as far as me being dim ,I'll match IQ's ,intellect ,and achievements anytime for any amount.Put up or shut up!

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Murph46 | Oct 27, 2012, 08:49 AM EDT

Big Daddy -that is YOUR truth about the media,and you don't know shite from shinola based on your interpertation.The Libyan attack and subsequent murder of 4 Americans are my proof.You tell the Father of the dead Navy SEAL he is wrong!

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BippyBellito | Oct 27, 2012, 06:44 AM EDT

Win or Lose the Democrats now know their Obama and Biden are Pussies. Cowards of the Lowest Order. The Most UnManly of Men.

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warlocks | Oct 27, 2012, 02:33 AM EDT

O'Bama should hang his head in shame for not supporting our Americans in Libya they asked for help and Washington turned a deaf ear to them .any one who votes and keeps O.Bama as President is not a True American

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allentown | Oct 27, 2012, 12:09 AM EDT

Libya

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ColleenMcVeety | Oct 27, 2012, 12:00 AM EDT

"stmungo | Oct 26, 2012, 09:31 PM EDT Romney leads Obama in the white male vote. This proves the US is still largely a racist country" That is the most racist remark I have even read on a post. YOU should be ashamed. You are what is wrong in this wonderful country...GO AWAY!

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borefield | Oct 26, 2012, 10:23 PM EDT

Stmungo, get over "the race excuse" it's non existent. You can't rely on that excuse forever and George Bush is happily ranching in Texas. LynnH, perhaps you haven't seen the latest Obama commercial, the one demeaning young women. It's a real insult and disgrace that the Leader of our country would stoop so low for a few votes.

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stmungo | Oct 26, 2012, 09:31 PM EDT

Romney leads Obama in the white male vote. This proves the US is still largely a racist country!

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Smyrnian | Oct 26, 2012, 09:30 PM EDT

BigDaddy - I am not stupid. No insults please; just a different opinion.

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LynnH | Oct 26, 2012, 07:55 PM EDT

This election has brought out the worse in people. Never in my life have I experienced down right hatefulness toward not only are President but for our fellow man who may not be as fortunate as others. TRUTH! which I am finding more and more republicans having a problem with. I think the republican party is no longer a party but a mental condition. The senseless prattle over a definition of rape? PLZ its a crime! This type of thinking is very pathological at best! THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T THROW OBAMA UNDER THE BUS, THEY THREW AMERICA UNDER THE BUS BY STATING OUR MAJOR PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE OBAMA IS A ONE TIME PRESIDENT! AT ALL COST AT THE SACRIFICES OF OUR SERVICE MEN, JOBS, HEALTH CARE, ECONOMY? SERIOUSLY? SHAME ON ALL OF U! I use to vote republican a few times when I had respect for the party and their candidate, now not so much!

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BigDaddy | Oct 26, 2012, 07:54 PM EDT

What happened to my reply to Smyrnian? All I did was expose his stupidity.

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BigDaddy | Oct 26, 2012, 07:44 PM EDT

Ah, Smyrnian, that's the best you can do? A litany of conspiracy theories that somehow relate to what I said? You cannot dismiss reality by resorting to the old "you-believe-in-conspiracy-theories shite that the right wing tries to employ so frequently. Conspiracies exist. Every day in America, the government arrests someone and charges them with conspiracy. Or is it only the working class that conspires to break the law in your world? Is that what they told you to say when someone tells the truth? The rich in America would never conspire to break the law. OK, Pinocchio, be a good little puppet and run along while the adults converse about the real world.

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