The Republican presidential candidate is making a final-week bid to defeat President Barack Obama in territory long considered safe for Democrats. No Republican presidential candidate has carried the state in nearly a quarter century. Recent polls suggest the race there is close.

 

Republican officials with knowledge of the plan report that Romney's campaign will begin running ads statewide as soon as Wednesday. The buy includes the expensive Philadelphia broadcast market, where Romney's campaign was reluctant to invest earlier in the month. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss campaign strategy.

 

Election Day is one week away.

 

Romney is working to expand the political battlefield to help widen his path to the 270 electoral votes needed for victory.