Pennsylvania Race Is Close, But Still Tilts to Obama

Is Pennsylvania still a swing state? Both the Democratic and Republican parties think so. They’re once again sinking resources into advertising and get-out-the-vote operations in an effort to capture the Keystone State’s 20 Electoral College votes. “This will be the closest election we’ve seen in decades,” says former Gov. Tom Ridge, a Republican. Yes, the state has voted for Democrats five elections in a row, both a number of factors—the economy, the new voter I.D. laws, even the fracking controversy—could change all that. (Maybe that’s why the conservative Americans for Majority Action just opened a campaign office in Chester County, saying its mission is to “fire Obama.”) Or maybe not: Bloomberg reports polls consistently give President Obama a lead over Republican rival Mitt Romney. [Bloomberg]