NBC/Marist: Romney closes in on FL & VA but Ohio is an Obama blowout.

[Brittain33]

Romney has lost Ohio and the only reason to pretend otherwise is because if he's lost Ohio, he has conclusively lost the election and we have to sit around awkwardly for the next five weeks waiting for that day.

Right now we're seeing whether Obama wins narrowly like 2004 or sizably like 2008. That's all.

[Brittain33]

Not gonna shovel dirt on Romney in Ohio just yet...but if he's not at the most 4 down by say...Oct 17 then it's pretty much lost.

He shouldn't be pulling out or shifting resources from the state yet. Even if it is an 8 pt deficit.

Nope, he should continue to campaign in Ohio and hope for something currently unthinkable to give him an opening. He's got no other choice and no better way to spend his time.

[Brittain33]

The polls tell us right now that the race in Ohio isn't close. But that can change in 5 weeks.

It can. But historically, there's no precedent for doing so. In any case, I agree that there's no point in either Obama or Romney leaving the state, they have to keep up the work needed.