WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama hits Milwaukee next Saturday for a grass-roots rally -- in a state where he was not supposed to be spending any campaign time -- or money.

Things have changed.

Wisconsin is now a battleground.

Obama's 14-point Wisconsin win in 2008 doesn't guarantee a 2012 victory.

Obama needs to squeeze every vote out of the Democratic city and county of Milwaukee -- in order to wipe out gains from new Mitt Romney-friendly Badger turf.

Romney's selection last month of a son of Janesville to be his vice presidential pick -- U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan -- pushed Wisconsin to the short list of states determining who wins the White House in November.

While national campaign attention the past few days has been on turmoil in the Middle East, with events injecting foreign policy into a contest mainly focused on jobs and the economy, operatives from both teams really just want to know what, if any, is the impact on the small group of undecided voters who populate battleground states.

The Romney and Obama campaigns have this in common: They don't pay much attention to national polls, except to discern certain trends or themes or show them to wavering mega-donors. The polls that matter are the battleground state surveys.

The campaigns are sending Obama, Romney, Ryan, Vice President Joe Biden and their spouses only to the battlegrounds, except for fund-raising detours -- such as first lady Michelle Obama's Sept. 27 fund-raiser in Chicago.

The campaigns are spending money, and the other most valuable asset they have, the candidates' time, in the battlegrounds. Wisconsin and its 10 electoral votes is the added starter, joining Ohio, with 18; Colorado, 9; Florida, 29; Nevada, 6; New Hampshire, 4; Virginia, 13; Pennsylvania, 20, and North Carolina, 15, as the main battlegrounds. Michigan, with 16 electoral votes, is a second-tier battleground.

Obama won each of these states in 2008 when he defeated GOP nominee Sen. John McCain with 365 electoral votes to McCain's 173. Obama has more paths than Romney to secure the 270 electoral votes needed to win. Obama can "afford" to lose a few of the battlegrounds he won in 2008.

Last week marked Wisconsin's move into full battleground status with candidate visits and television buys. NBC reported that the Obama campaign purchased $668,000 in TV time, compared with $370,000 bought by the Romney team.

That amount is dwarfed by SuperPACs and other groups buying Wisconsin television time. Overall, Romney forces have -- so far -- outspent Obama backers by about double.

Craig Gilbert of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the pro-Obama SuperPAC Priorities USA, the group Mayor Rahm Emanuel is fund-raising for, bought more than $3 million in time for ads that have not yet run. Romney groups have vastly outspent Obama's allies in Wisconsin so far, Gilbert reports, with American for Prosperity at $3.3 million; Restore our Future at $2.8 million; Concerned Women for America at $1.1 million, and $370,000 from Republican National Committee, whose chairman, Reince Priebus, is from Wisconsin.

To complement the ad wars, Ryan stumped in Green Bay and Oak Creek while Vice President Joe Biden hit Eau Claire, all in advance of Obama's Sept. 17 visit to headline a fund-raiser. It will be his first trip to Wisconsin since February.

Now not all battlegrounds are equal. The most intense skirmishes are over Virginia, Ohio and Florida -- states President George W. Bush won in 2004 over Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) -- on the road toward 270 electoral votes. Most analysts say Romney needs two of these states to win -- while Obama needs only one to be re-elected.

A few days ago, Romney pollster Neil Newhouse, in a memo about post-convention polls, said any edge Obama might have was merely a "sugar high."

A new poll by NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist puts Obama in the lead in Florida, Virginia and Ohio. The poll was taken Sept. 9-11 of 1,000 likely voters in each state, with about 30 percent reached on a cellphone. The margin of error was 3.1 percentage points, which means Obama's lead might be very fragile.

† In Florida, Obama is at 49 percent to Romney's 44 percent.

† In Ohio, Obama is at 50 percent to Romney's 43 percent.

† In Virginia, Obama is at 49 percent to Romney's 44 percent.

A striking finding of the poll is how many voters have already made a choice. Just 5 percent were undecided in Florida and Ohio, 6 percent in Virginia. All the ads and campaigning -- and the hundreds of millions of dollars being spent in this race for the White House -- are for them.

The Republican National Committee--with some glee--is using the Chicago Teachers' Union strike to drive a wedge between President Barack Obama and his former chief of staff, Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Republicans are outspoken in taking Emanuel's side--against the unions.

On Wednesday morning, the RNC produced a round-up of national stories about the strike with the headline,
"THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' STRIKE IS PUTTING OBAMA BETWEEN HIS FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF RAHM EMANUEL AND THE UNION WHICH ENDORSED HIM."

The reports,--from Bloomberg, Politico, Reuters, Associated Press--and a transcript of a White House briefing--all take notice of Obama's neutrality--and how, as Reuters puts it, the strike puts Obama in a "bind."

Click below for RNC release and story excerpts...

President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed Iran and other issues in a hour-long phone call on Tuesday night, the White House announced--along with a statement that Netanyahu, contrary to news reports, never asked for a meeting with the president.

The White House briefed on the call between the two leaders as tensions with Iran are growing--talk of an Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iran nuclear facilities is escalating--and stories about Obama snubbing Netanyahu--now denied--present a political problem to a president who is wooing the Jewish vote.

In a statement issued Tuesday evening, the White House said, "President Obama spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu for an hour tonight as a part of their ongoing consultations. The two leaders discussed the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program, and our close cooperation on Iran and other security issues.

"President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed that they are united in their determination to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and agreed to continue their close consultations going forward. Contrary to reports in the press, there was never a request for Prime Minister Netanyahu to meet with President Obama in Washington, nor was a request for a meeting ever denied."

The White House was reacting to stories asserting that the White House turned down a Netanyahu request to meet with Obama while he was in the U.S. to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said earlier Tuesday when asked about a meeting issued a statement about why a meeting in New York could not take place--the two men would not be at the U.N. on the same day. There is a plan for Netanyahu to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Vietor said, "The President arrives in New York for the UN on Monday, September 24th and departs on Tuesday, September 25th. The Prime Minister doesn't arrive in New York until later in the week. They're simply not in the city at the same time. But the President and PM are in frequent contact and the PM will meet with other senior officials, including Secretary Clinton, during his visit."

Though there are tensions between the two leaders, they have met every time Netanyahu has been to the U.S. --except one time; on another occasion Netanyahu was in the U.S. when Obama was on an international trip.

President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney--in post conventions polling--are still running a close race. RealClearPolitics.com has the latest polling round-ups.

The new Washington Post poll is HERE.

The Chicago Public Schools teachers' strike created openings for Mitt Romney and his GOP allies to exploit Monday, taunting President Barack Obama's neutrality after Romney blasted the union.

Add to that using the strike as an excuse for Republicans to pressure Mayor Rahm Emanuel to stop raising SuperPAC money for Obama's re-election. More on that below.

The irony, of course, is that all of a sudden Romney is interested in Chicago; until Monday, throughout this election cycle Republicans have been associating Obama with sleazy Chicago ward politics.

To that point, Obama campaign press secretary Ben LaBolt said in a tweet, "Chuckles across Chicago as Romney tries to reinvent himself as the city's biggest cheerleader after attacking it for the past year."

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said at the Monday briefing President Barack Obama is "aware" of the Chicago Teachers' strike--but has "no opinion" other than his "concern" for students and a "hope" both sides come together to settle it "quickly."

This is a contrast to Mitt Romney--who on Monday--came out strongly against the Chicago Teachers Union.

Obama has a difficult situation here: he does not want to undermine Mayor Rahm Emanuel, his former White House chief of staff-- who last week took on major fund-raising responsibilities for the main Obama Super Pac; he does not want to seem lock-step with a public employee union and give ammunition to Romney while at the same time he does not want to alienate organized labor--one of the strongest most loyal base Democratic groups.

Read my Romney/Chicago teachers' strike post HERE.

Republican National Committee press secretary Kirsten Kurkowski said in a statement, "the president isn't taking a position on the Chicago teachers union strike. Is it because he's said he is "committed to" the teachers union and doesn't want to go against his newest fundraiser Rahm Emanuel?" She also recalled, "the Chicago Teachers Union endorsed Obama for president in 2007. Awkward."

RNC chairman Reince Priebus said in a tweet, "Obama has said he is "committed to" the teachers unions. Today's he's been silent on the strike that is hurting his home state students."

UPDATE

The Chicago strike came up twice in the briefing. Here are the full exchanges...

Q Thanks, Jay. A couple of topics, please. I'm wondering what the President's reaction is to the teacher strike in Chicago, assuming he's had a chance to follow that story, and whether he has any reaction to both the strike and how his former Chief of Staff is handling it.

MR. CARNEY: Well, I'm sure he's aware of it -- I know he's aware of it, but I haven't spoken with him about it, so I can't speak for his reaction. I can tell you that as a -- more broadly, that our principal concern is for the students, and his principal concern is for the students and families who are affected by the situation. And we hope that both sides are able to come together to settle this quickly and in the best interest of Chicago's students. But beyond that, I haven't got a specific reaction from the President.

Q Governor Romney weighed in on it and said that the President has chosen a fight -- chosen a side of the fight, that being the unions and the teachers. Any reaction to that?

MR. CARNEY: Well, the President, as I think you just heard from me, has not expressed any opinion or made any assessment about this particular incident. I can tell you that this President has pursued an education policy that has been a notable success, and a notable bipartisan success, under the President's and Secretary Duncan's leadership. And he'll continue to do that because he believes, as he says frequently, that investing in education now pays enormous economic dividends later. It is integral to our economic future, and that's why he's made it such an important part of his domestic policy agenda.

And with regard to teachers in particular, you know that he has on the table, and has had on the table since a year ago virtually today, a comprehensive proposal called the American Jobs Act which includes within it a section that would, if implemented by Congress, if Republicans would stop blocking it, put 100,000 teachers on the job and into our classrooms helping educate our children. The President is focused very much on this issue. He certainly doesn't agree with those who think that adding more teachers is not or should not be a priority.

*********************** *********************

Q One -- considering Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, his history with Chicago -- obviously the President is from there -- should we expect them to have sort of some public -- to weigh in publicly on what's going on?

MR. CARNEY: I think it's our view that the sides in this dispute in Chicago can and should work it out. I don't --

Q Is there a point where you might step in?

MR. CARNEY: Well, I don't want to speculate on that. I haven't had that discussion with either Secretary Duncan or the President. I think that we believe that both sides ought to -- and we hope they do -- resolve this in a way that recognizes that it is the interest of Chicago's children that must be preeminent as they work it out. But I don't have any predictions for where it's going to go. We just simply hope that it gets resolved.

Q Is it fair to characterize the White House as sort of neutral in this dispute?

MR. CARNEY: Well, we certainly haven't expressed an opinion on how it should be resolved. We're urging the sides to resolve it.

Q This has been -- there are some reports that there were some Chicagoans that have brought this to the President's attention, this coming showdown before. Can you talk --

MR. CARNEY: Not that I'm aware of. I mean, I'm not with him every moment of the day, but I -- not in my presence, but I don't know.

Republicans are using the Chicago teachers' strike to pressure Mayor Rahm Emanuel to quit his new role as a fund-raiser for the Obama-sanctioned Super Pac raising money for his re-election bid.

Meanwhile, GOP Presidential nominee Mitt Romney--hours before arriving in Lake Forest for a $3 million fund-raiser Monday night--said the Chicago Teachers Union was turning its backs on public school students. My post on Romney and the Chicago strike is HERE.

Emanuel resigned as an Obama campaign co-chair to instead fund-raise for Priorities Action USA, the main Obama Super Pac. The Washington Post last week disclosed the move.

On Monday, as Chicago public school teachers hit the picket line for the first time in 25 years, the Illinois Republican Party used the occasion to call for Emanuel to quit the Super Pac in a statement headlined, "Emanuel Should Focus on Chicago, Step Down from Obama Super PAC."

The Republican National Committee also linked the strike to Emanuel's Super Pac role and President Barack Obama. RNC press secretary Kirsten Kukowski said in an e-mail, "All - Governor Romney says the Chicago teachers union is turning its back on families relying on public schools. What does Obama think about the Chicago Public Schools strike? Does he approve of his former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel raising money for his Super PAC with the strike and crime rate problems in Chicago? Does he stand by his stated "commitment to them"?

ILLINOIS GOP STATEMENT: "Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today urged Mayor Rahm Emanuel to publicly suspend his work organizing and raising money for a pro-Obama Super PAC in order to focus on resolving the Chicago teachers strike.

"Last week, the Washington Post reported that Emanuel "was quitting his honorary position with the president's campaign to devote his time to helping raise big-dollar contributions for a pro-Obama super PAC called Priorities USA Action." The mayor has not provided any update on his involvement with Priorities USA Action since the Chicago teachers strike began this morning.

"Chicago families deserve the mayor's complete attention this week," Brady said. "Mayor Emanuel should put aside his Obama Super PAC fundraising work and put Chicago issues first."

###

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Monday urged Chicago Teachers Union chief Karen Lewis and Mayor Rahm Emanuel--two "strong-willed individuals" to "get back to the table" until they have a deal to end the strike that sent public school teachers to the picket lines on Monday.

"The basic message is get back to the table. Sit at that table and stay there till it's done. Get these kids back in school tomorrow. That ought to be the message," Durbin said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

Asked by host Joe Scarborough "But isn't there a better way to do it than this," Durbin said, "Well, we've avoided this for 25 years, and that's a good thing. And what happened was basically Mayor Daley, if you'll remember way back when, said, give me the schools. I'm sick and tired of the Illinois General Assembly playing, you know, badminton with the Chicago Public Schools. Give them to me; give me the responsibility. I'll take it. And that was a good move.

At this point, though, there're two pretty strong-willed individuals, Karen Lewis, the head of the teachers union, and a fellow named Rahm Emanuel."

On CBS "Early Show" on Monday Durbin also discussed the strike and urged Lewis and Emanuel to negotiate more.

"It's really devastating when you think about the impact on families, particularly on the children. And I understand what the mayor is trying to do. He's trying to say to Karen Lewis with the teachers' union, roll up our sleeves. Let's sit down and get it done. And that's exactly what needs to occur."

GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Monday--hours before landing at O'Hare for a $3 million Lake Forest fund-raiser--said he was "disappointed" the Chicago Teachers Union decided to strike--and used the strike to bash teachers' unions, President Barack Obama and Vice President Biden.

UPDATE

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said at the Monday briefing President Barack Obama is "aware" of the Chicago Teachers' strike--but has "no opinion" other than his "concern" for students and a "hope" both sides come together to settle it "quickly."

This is a contrast to Mitt Romney--who on Monday--came out strongly against the Chicago Teachers Union.

Obama has a difficult situation here: he does not want to undermine Mayor Rahm Emanuel, his former White House chief of staff-- who last week took on major fund-raising responsibilities for the main Obama Super Pac; he does not want to seem lock-step with a public employee union and give ammunition to Romney while at the same time he does not want to alienate organized labor--one of the strongest most loyal base Democratic groups.

Click HERE to read all the Carney remarks about the Chicago public school strike at the briefing...

END UPDATE

Chicago's public school teachers hit the picket lines on Monday as Mayor Rahm Emanuel is scrambling for a fix. In the meantime, Romney--who been slamming teachers' unions as an impediment to improving public schools-- waded into a local controversy with national implications.

Said Romney in a statement, "I am disappointed by the decision of the Chicago Teachers Union to turn its back on not only a city negotiating in good faith but also the hundreds of thousands of children relying on the city's public schools to provide them a safe place to receive a strong education. Teachers unions have too often made plain that their interests conflict with those of our children, and today we are seeing one of the clearest examples yet. President Obama has chosen his side in this fight, sending his Vice President last year to assure the nation's largest teachers union that 'you should have no doubt about my affection for you and the President's commitment to you.' I choose to side with the parents and students depending on public schools to give them the skills to succeed, and my plan for education reform will do exactly that."

GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney headlines a campaign rally in Mansfield, Ohio on Monday afternoon and then flies to O'Hare and travels to Lake Forest for a $3 million dollar fund-raiser at the Waud residence. (See copy of invitation above) As for press coverage, the Romney campaign does not allow a pool reporter into fund-raisers in private homes. Most of the Romney traveling press corps will not go with him to Lake Forest, instead staying at a hotel near the airport. A smaller, "protective" pool that accompanies Romney will be somewhere "offsite."

Because of the Chicago teachers strike, I'm told Mayor Rahm Emanuel will NOT be hosting a noon fund-raising lunch Monday to benefit a Super Pac raising money to elect Illinois House Democratic hopefuls.

The House Majority PAC event--at the Chicago Cut Steakhouse, 300 N. LaSalle--is to raise money for

Cheri Bustos
Bill Foster
David Gill
Brad Schneider
Tammy Duckworth
William Enyart