Romney, Obama campaigns buy MN ads (but Wisconsin may be real target)

The Romney and Obama campaigns are making their first ad buys on Minnesota television stations. That may reflect the tightening of the race here. Or, as some pundits suspect, the ads may be aimed at viewers in the battleground state of Wisconsin. Independent groups have been running ads on behalf of the candidates, but the new ones are the first purchased by the campaigns themselves.

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Updated:: Mar 8, 2018
Original:: Oct 28, 2012

The Obama and Romney campaigns are both purchasing ads on Minnesota television stations to run during the final week before Election Day. The ad buy could be related to the latest poll showing the race nearly even in Minnesota. Or they may be aimed more at viewers in the western part of Wisconsin, which is perceived as a battleground state.

But do the new numbers put Minnesota on that list of swing states that will decide the election? Opinions vary. The website Powerline declares Minnesota in play. The New York Times' FiveThirtyEight blog says Gopher land is not really a swing state, although it is moonlighting as one. Karl Rove tells Fox News Minnesota is one of three states that are being turned into battlegrounds by Romney momentum.

The candidates and their running mates, meanwhile, are wearing a path to the Badger State this week.