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How is Ohio shaping up for Romney?

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    Bill Hemmer interviews Sen. Portman in the Buckeye State

  • Duration 4:51
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2012 Elections

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Back here live in Cincinnati Ohio you know you look at this part of the country and you think about the vote in past presidential races.

And how critical -- important -- vote has been in this part of the country.

It is truly stunning when you look at the history.

Back out live here now in Cincinnati with the city behind us here you know.

Not live in -- New York Martha we rarely see a political -- but the people here in Ohio art it's an absolute blizzard.

Of TV spots both day and night one gentleman told me it's called hate TV the ads sometimes can be so negative I've worn out the mute button.

On my own television.

It's a razor tight race though and both sides now are claiming that they have the edge.

I talk with -- Ohio senator Rob Portman a Republican leading surrogate for the Romney team.

About how he believes things are shaping up for governor Romney eight days away.

Good morning still -- -- -- see you don't know I think it.

On Sunday you said we're about dead even -- Ohio that would mean governor Romney's trail.

Is that the case in this state today no I think I think it's I think it's -- -- right now and I think the -- on our side.

We've seen the polling is that before the debates we were down about five to ten points.

We've had a steady movement are way ever since so the poll that came out on Sunday there was reference and -- the race to be -- and to -- Tied at 4949 that same poll only a few weeks ago showed -- five points down so the energy and enthusiasm -- on our side.

Our folks are working harder than ever are grassroots effort is unbelievable unprecedented.

But also movements in our direction which always like at this point -- him a lot of people look at the election here in 2004 with President Bush beating Senator Kerry by 1181000.

Votes.

Is that still the model for the state do you have to match.

The bush numbers of 2004 -- -- well it'll be a little different dynamic this year I think.

I'm hoping it's not that close this time but I think it will be -- you know narrow victory.

But I think this time around.

Governor Romney has the opportunity to get a lot of support from folks the support of prop -- -- -- last time who live -- some of the big cities like Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus.

Who thought you know want to give this guy -- chance well they've given the chance and it hasn't worked.

And they've seen the results of that and we've seen unemployment go up we've also seen here Ohio poverty rates go up we've seen food stamps go up we've seen.

You know the kinds of things that indicate that we're not headed in the right direction so.

What they're seeing is -- -- he's got a plan.

To change things to turn things around.

Big changes are needed right now in Washington that people think is broken.

And you've got President Obama who's got a glossy new brochure but when you look inside of -- it's you know it's more of the same but when you think about what the Obama team did in 2008.

I -- do you have to.

Do you have to go well beyond the numbers -- 2004.

Well look -- because when you talk about these voters who voted for the president four years ago when they've been disillusioned -- Perhaps are not supporting him now can you point to examples are concrete evidence where.

Do you -- supporters of 2008 have left him.

I can and it's Steve early voting numbers they're coming in it looks like we -- over performing and all the early voting.

And the Democrats are underperforming as compared to 2008.

And what we expected early voting to go more for the Democrats because that's what happened in 2008.

Democrats like to vote early Republican -- like to vote on Election Day.

But despite that we've been able to increase our numbers significantly in their numbers are down.

So I think there's evidence that there's less enthusiasm on their side and that some of these Obama supporters last time.

Have looked at the economy look at what's happened.

Looked at last four years and said they wanted to some -- that's -- you were in Hamilton County city of Cincinnati southwestern part of the state traditionally.

A reliably Republican part the state.

It wasn't that way in 2008.

Is this the part of the state where you need to over perform to win.

Or is it somewhere else -- -- -- southwest Ohio is an area where you need to do well as a Republican.

And again I've been a lot of victory centers around this part of Ohio where I'm from where you're from.

And the enthusiasm is unbelievable or haven't people show up and make phone calls to a nerve involved in politics before we -- three times more phone calls in 2008.

We knocked on 21 times more doors than 2008 so.

I see the enthusiasm here I think we'll get to turn out here in -- -- -- how to be good for -- frankly -- is the other -- is having a tough time getting that kind of -- they had 2008.

Senator thank you.

For your time that thank you bill Rob Portman here since it.

And right after that interview Martha he jumped in his car made a beeline up the central Ohio the media -- -- were Ryan.

And Mitt Romney it is hard to believe -- eight days ago.

Eight days away Tuesday a week early voting well underway here Martha back to -- -- -- to -- anything now -- thank you --

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