From “Obama vs. Romney: How they plan to win,” Glenn Thrush and Jonathan Martin, Politico:
It’s momentum vs. the map.
With a little more than two weeks left until judgment day, Barack Obama’s campaign is embracing a fundamentally defensive strategy centered on winning Ohio at all costs — while unleashing a new barrage of blistering attacks against Mitt Romney aimed at mobilizing a less-than-fired-up Democratic base.
A surging Romney is suddenly playing offense all over the map, and the upward movement since the Denver debate gives him the luxury of striking what his advisers — and more than a few Democrats — think is a more positive, presidential, “Morning in America” tone.
In contrast to the grind-it-out Obama strategy, Romneyland’s working theory is that the momentum shift since Denver is a late-breaking, decisive wave that gives them the chance to not just win but win big.
But if Obama is currently on the ugly end of Big Mo, Romney finds himself hobbled by previous mistakes, namely a failure to develop competitive ground operations — or even a baseline of competitive advertising — in potential battlegrounds such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, which are becoming more competitive.
Both campaigns are confident they can win. But their theory-of-the-case victory strategies couldn’t be more different. A buoyant Team Romney sees itself driving into Obama territory on a tailwind of enthusiasm. Team Obama is relying on a three-state solution — winning Ohio, Wisconsin and Nevada puts him over the top — and more “Hit Mitt” messaging geared at driving Democrats to the polls, a hybrid of hope and the hammer.
Obama’s people think he will pull it out. Romney’s aides see the possibility of a romp.
“We’re going to win,” said one of the former Massachusetts governor’s closest advisers. “Seriously, 305 electoral votes.”
A top Obama strategist counters: “We’ve regained our footing since Denver. … We’ve always been focused on a pretty narrow band of territory. We’ve always had the map on our side. So, ultimately, this comes down to Ohio plus two or three states. We’re going to win.” Emphasis added.
Embattled Farmers 
I still wonder how much hype is happening. It’s in ALL the interests — the media, the pollsters, and the consultants — for this to appear a dead heat.
I’m still not convinced it is.
I think O really hurt himself in the first debate. Mitt came across as more likeable than he has in the past. It was very much a performance, but a good one.
People don’t realize how bad the economy was when O took office, how close we came to a depression, and they don’t understand why things aren’t better now. They are thinking in terms of recessions in their lifetimes. How many voters remember life in the 1930’s? They also don’t understand that recovery from a financial crisis is slower than from a garden-variety recession.
Americans are an impatient people, I can understand they’re wanting to give the other guy a chance, especially when they have a superficial knowledge of him and the current crazy GOP.
Those are all very good points.