Romney, Ryan join push for Pennsylvania

If there was any doubt about whether Mitt Romney is making a serious effort to compete in Pennsylvania, it was erased with the news that both Romney and running mate Paul Ryan will campaign in the keystone state over the weekend.

The Romney campaign and several conservative groups began major TV ad campaigns in Pennsylvania this week. Some Democrats mocked the effort, saying it was a feint to build a sense of momentum and make the Obama campaign devote resources to defending a state where it leads in most polls.

But it’s a old adage in campaigns that the most precious resource is the candidate’s time, and the GOP is investing some of Mitt’s in an effort to capture Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes. Romney will attend a rally in Yardley, Bucks County Sunday. Ryan will be in the Harrisburg area Saturday.

And just for good measure, even more conservative groups are weighing in with ad campaigns in Pennsylvania. Politico reports that the American Future Fund, another group with ties to the conservative Koch brothers is making a $1.67 million ad buy in Pennsylvania. They’re running the ad above, clearly aimed at cutting into Obama’s lead among women voters.

And PoliticsPa reports that the Republican Jewish Coaltion is putting $300,000 into the Philadelphia media market.

Recent indepndent polls have showed Romney trailing Obama by four to seven points.

And as the the poltical combat escalates, so does the trash talk. It was widely reported yesterday that Obama adviser David Axelrod said that if Romney won Pennsylvania, he’d shave his mustache.

Today the state Republican committee sent a razor and shaving cream with Romney/Ryan logs to the Obama Harrisburg headquarters “to help David Axelrod keep his promise.”

The Obama campaign has announced a series of appearances by Jill Biden at events in the Philadelphia area Friday and Saturday.