Obama team: Turnout machine will win for us

Regardless of what the polls say, President Obama's re-election aides say they will prevail because of what politicians call "the ground game."

That is, turning out the voters.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said the polls may well tighten, and turnout operations are "eventually going to matter."

Messina said Obama has more field offices than Republican opponent Mitt Romney in such key states as Ohio and Colorado.

The Romney campaign is "going to turn their vote out," Messina said. "And I think they're going to do a better job than (John) McCain did turning their vote out (in 2008). But I think we have the ability to both persuade the undecideds, because of our huge footprint and our experience, and turn out our vote."

Messina also claimed an advantage in voter enthusiasm -- though that can be disputed.

"Enthusiasm matters," Messina told The Huffington Post. "And our people are more enthusiastic than their people. ... Does (a volunteer) go out and make two more phone calls at the end of the day? Does he call his cousin he doesn't like and say, 'Hey, you've got to vote for Obama?' Does he do all those little things to get us there?

"And I think that's why we're going to be OK," Messina said.

A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, however, gives Republicans an advantage in enthusiasm.

Writes Susan Page of USA TODAY:

"Republicans have opened a big enthusiasm gap: 64% say they are more enthusiastic than usual about voting, compared with 48% of Democrats. In general, though, the results show an electorate that is less excited and less engaged than in recent presidential elections.

"Democrats are less enthusiastic about voting than in 2008, although Republicans are a bit more enthusiastic. Fewer Democrats and Republicans say they have given a lot of thought to the election than they did in the falls of 2008 and 2004."