October 25th, 2012

CNN to Deploy Reporters to Battleground States Ahead of Nov. 6

Two Dozen Correspondents Dispatched Across OH, CO, VA, FL, IA, WI, NV, NH in Final 8 Days before Election Day

With less than two weeks before Election Day, CNN announces plans for the network’s top reporters to deploy to eight battleground states and the campaign trail for in-depth, all-platform political coverage in the final eight days leading to the election. CNN, the only cable news network that has not chosen sides during this presidential election, will double down on its commitment to provide unbiased and on-the-ground coverage with the launch of “The Final Battlegrounds,” beginning Monday, October 29.

“CNN is deploying its vast resources and top-notch reporters into the states that the campaigns are targeting as the election nears,” said Mark Whitaker, executive vice president and managing editor of CNN Worldwide. “Our in-depth reporting and analysis will keep voters informed of the up-to-the-minute developments that will determine the outcome of this extraordinarily close presidential race.”

CNN’s robust team of correspondents will track campaign ad dollars, monitor voting patterns and irregularities, and analyze the economic, demographic, regional and cultural factors in the states that will feature heavily into the outcome of the election. Additionally, CNN/ORC International will release exclusive state-by-state polling daily. These special reports will air across CNN/U.S. during dayside and prime time programming, including on Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Erin Burnett OutFront, Anderson Cooper 360° and Piers Morgan Tonight. Coverage will also appear online at CNNPolitics.com and on mobile platforms, in addition to airing on CNN en Español and CNN International.

Reporters will be deployed to the following locations for “The Final Battlegrounds” coverage ahead of Election Day:
•    Various battleground states – John King, Peter Hamby
•    Ohio – Martin Savidge, Don Lemon
•    Virginia – Gary Tuchman, Athena Jones, Kate Bolduan
•    Florida – John Zarella, Drew Griffin
•    Iowa – Poppy Harlow, Chris Welch
•    Wisconsin – Ted Rowlands
•    Colorado – Kyung Lah, Ed Lavandera
•    Nevada – Miguel Marquez
•    New Hampshire – David Mattingly, Brian Todd
•    Romney Campaign – Jim Acosta, Joe Johns, Rachel Streitfeld
•    Obama Campaign – Jessica Yellin, Dan Lothian, Brianna Keilar
•    Romney Campaign/ Rep. Ryan – Shawna Shepherd
•    Obama Campaign/ VP Biden – Shannon Travis
•    Election Express tour with stops in FL, NC, VA, OH – Ali Velshi, John Avlon, Gustavo Valdes

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.