Romney Kicks Off Whirlwind Tour of Battleground States in Iowa - East Idaho News
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Romney Kicks Off Whirlwind Tour of Battleground States in Iowa

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Getty P 011012 RomneyClapping?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1352108780045Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(DES MOINES, Iowa) — Mitt Romney made his final stop in the battleground state of Iowa on Sunday, on a day that took him to Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania before midnight.

He had visited Iowa even before announcing his candidacy last June, and this was his 21st campaign event in Iowa this year alone.  Romney made his final argument for voters to come to the polls for him, stressing the importance of the state on Election Day.

“This is much more than our moment.  It’s America’s moment of renewal and purpose and optimism,” he said.  “We’ve journeyed far and wide in this great campaign for America’s future, and now we’re almost home.  One final push will get us there.  We’ve known many long days and short nights, and now we’re close.”

“The door to a brighter future is there, open, waiting for us.  I need your vote, I need your work, I need your help.  Walk with me.  We’ll walk together.  Let’s begin anew.  I need Iowa — I need Iowa so we can win the White House and take back America, keep it strong, make sure we always remain the hope of the earth.  I’m counting on you.  Will you get the job done?” Romney shouted.

Romney’s voice sounded hoarse at times and he flubbed one of his most frequently used lines, saying that employment, rather than unemployment, had risen under President Obama.

But appearing more energized toward the end of his speech, Romney began to rally the crowd of more than 4,000, many of whom banged noise makers and waved American flags.

“This is a campaign about America and about the future we’re going to leave our children,” he said.  “We thank you, we ask you to stay with it.  All the way.  All the way to our victory on Tuesday night!”

Romney has made seven stops in Iowa alone since the Republican National Convention in August.  The latest Des Moines Register poll showed Obama ahead in the state, 47-42 percent.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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