A political analyst and former Republican leader says it's not out of the question that Mitt Romney could win the state of Pennsylvania.
The Keystone State is a major prize on the electoral map. In 2008, Barack Obama won it by more than ten points, and in 2004 John Kerry took Pennsylvania by two and a half points. But RealClearPolitics has the state in the toss-up column, even though Obama is leading by an average of nearly five points in polling done there. Pennsylvania could be a huge game-changer if Mitt Romney can snatch its 20 electoral votes from the Democrats.
Tom Pauken, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, served on President Ronald Reagan's team. He thinks Romney has a shot at winning Pennsylvania.
"It's not that liberal a state once you get outside the Philadelphia area and some of the suburbs," he remarks. "Clearly we've got a Republican governor there. Rick Santorum had been elected there as a U.S. senator who's a strong conservative. It is generally a pro-life state."
And Pauken says Pennsylvania is also a strong energy-producing state.
"The anti-energy policies of the Obama administration aren't helpful to job creation in that state," he tells OneNewsNow. "So there are a lot of factors working in the Republicans' favor."
He says unfortunately Romney has a connection problem.
"Mitt Romney is not the kind of candidate who resonates with those blue-collar Democrats and Independents who went with Ronald Reagan," he indicates.
Pauken does not think there is much enthusiasm for either candidate in Pennsylvania.