(video by Lynn Sweet)

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.--Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)--who plays President Barack Obama in Mitt Romney's debate prep--hit the media center in advance of the second presidential debate at Hofstra U on Tuesday--and when I caught up with him he was talking about Romney's gains in Ohio, a crucial battleground state.

Portman attributed Romney's besting of Obama in their first debate in Denver to his growing support to the point that Ohio is now is a "dead heat." The Romney in Denver was "the real Mitt Romney" who people got to see "unfiltered."

As I note in my Tuesday column about Ohio, no Republican has won the White House with the Buckeye State.