Politics & Government

Giuliani, Voight Stump for Romney in Bethlehem

The former New York mayor and Hollywood star fire up volunteers at Bethlehem GOP Victory Center. Romney surrogates say Pennsylvania is still in play.

 

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani headed an all-star cast of Republican surrogates who came to the party’s Victory Center at the Westgate Mall in Bethlehem to make a last-minute pitch for Mitt Romney Monday night.

Giuliani and his co-stars, actor Jon Voight, former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich and former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, were there to thank and fire up volunteers and – to sell the idea that Pennsylvania is still in play in the presidential race.

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 “It will be quite a surprise and a kick in the you-know-what if Pennsylvania votes for Mitt Romney,” Guiliani said to a round of laughter and applause.

Every major poll in the state – except for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/Susquehanna Polling & Research poll, which scores the race a tie – has President Obama leading Romney by at least 3 points in their most recent surveys.

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The former mayor, who guided the Big Apple in the aftermath of its darkest day, rapped the president on the economy, on foreign policy – specifically the recent Benghazi controversy - and the Hurricane Sandy response in New York.

With occasional chants of “one more day,” about 250 supporters turned out for the mini-rally in the former Art & Drafting Connection store in the mall that has served as a volunteer hub for local Republicans since the summer.

“Believe me. We see the polls. We’re going to win Pennsylvania,” said Ehrlich, a former governor who leads Romney’s Maryland campaign. “The Romney campaign isn’t just discovering Pennsylvania.”

Romney has made a last-minute push in the Keystone State, visiting Bucks County on Sunday, while running mate Paul Ryan visited Harrisburg on Saturday. The Obama campaign has countered with former

The GOP challenger also came back to the Pennsylvania airwaves with commercials last week.

Coleman, who lost his senate seat to Al Franken by 312 votes in 2009, was there to drive home the importance of getting out every single vote. “Believe me, your vote counts,” he said.

Hollywood star Voight warmed up the crowd by trying to capture the mood of the moment, saying, “We’re all nervous. It’s like one stomach.”

He went on to paint Tuesday’s presidential choice in the starkest of terms.

If Obama is re-elected, “we will see America broken like never before,” Voight said. “We must save the country.”


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