Each of them hop-scotched through high-stakes battlegrounds – Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Florida and Iowa -- that could be pivotal in what polls suggest is a close contest. "I've got a lot of fight left in me," the president said Saturday as he visited four states. For his part, the Republican tried appealing to economic disappointment and discontent about other policies among voters. "I promise change, and I have a record of achieving it," he says on the campaign trail.

Something bigger than politics overtook the campaigns early last week as a deadly storm named Sandy pounded East Coast states. Campaigning halted, though President Obama remained highly visible with televised remarks about the disaster and visits to devastated shoreline areas. He got timely praise from the Republican governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, and the politically independent mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg. "Obama has temporarily been a bipartisan figure this week. He has been the comforter-in-chief and that helps," prominent Republican strategist Karl Rove acknowledges.

Mitt Romney says: "This is the most partisan president in history. He hasn't been able to deliver on the promises he made." – Nov. 4 campaign events

President Obama says: "We have made real progress. . . . We know what change looks like, and what the governor's offering ain't it." -- Ohio, Nov. 2

N.Y. official says: “Come hell or high water -- we had both -- we’re voting on Tuesday." -- William Biamonte, Nassau County Board of Elections