Obama beats McCain in three swing states: poll - Page 17 - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Janett_Reno · 10-21-2008, 11:58 PM

I agree chum, to much to defend even if he could take away PA, in which i don't think he can do that. If the reps see McCain losing the last week, they could take the remaining money and save some senate seats or try to.

purplefrog · 10-22-2008, 04:32 PM

And now for a different perspective.....likely voters vs. registered voters

AP presidential poll: Race tightens in final weeks
By LIZ SIDOTI – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The presidential race tightened after the final debate, with John McCain gaining among whites and people earning less than $50,000, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll that shows McCain and Barack Obama essentially running even among likely voters in the election homestretch.

The poll, which found Obama at 44 percent and McCain at 43 percent, supports what some Republicans and Democrats privately have said in recent days: that the race narrowed after the third debate as GOP-leaning voters drifted home to their party and McCain's "Joe the plumber" analogy struck a chord.

Three weeks ago, an AP-GfK survey found that Obama had surged to a seven-point lead over McCain, lifted by voters who thought the Democrat was better suited to lead the nation through its sudden economic crisis.

The contest is still volatile, and the split among voters is apparent less than two weeks before Election Day.

"I trust McCain more, and I do feel that he has more experience in government than Obama. I don't think Obama has been around long enough," said Angela Decker, 44, of La Porte, Ind.

But Karen Judd, 58, of Middleton, Wis., said, "Obama certainly has sufficient qualifications." She said any positive feelings about McCain evaporated with "the outright lying" in TV ads and his choice of running mate Sarah Palin, who "doesn't have the correct skills."

The new AP-GfK head-to-head result is a departure from some, but not all, recent national polls.

Obama and McCain were essentially tied among likely voters in the latest George Washington University Battleground Poll, conducted by Republican strategist Ed Goeas and Democratic pollster Celinda Lake. In other surveys focusing on likely voters, a Washington Post-ABC News poll showed Obama up by 9 percentage points, while a poll by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center had Obama leading by 14. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, among the broader category of people registered to vote, found Obama ahead by 10 points.

Polls are snapshots of highly fluid campaigns. In this case, there is a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points; that means Obama could be ahead by as many as 8 points or down by as many as 6. There are many reasons why polls differ, including methods of estimating likely voters and the wording of questions.

Charles Franklin, a University of Wisconsin political science professor and polling authority, said variation between polls occurs, in part, because pollsters interview random samples of people.

"If they all agree, somebody would be doing something terribly wrong," he said of polls. But he also said that surveys generally fall within a few points of each other, adding, "When you get much beyond that, there's something to explain."

The AP-GfK survey included interviews with a large sample of adults including 800 deemed likely to vote. Among all 1,101 adults interviewed, the survey showed Obama ahead 47 percent to 37 percent. He was up by five points among registered voters.
A significant number of the interviews were conducted by dialing a randomly selected sample of cell phone numbers, and thus this poll had a chance to reach voters who were excluded from some other polls.

It was taken over five days from Thursday through Monday, starting the night after the candidates' final debate and ending the day after former Secretary of State Colin Powell broke with the Republican Party to endorse Obama.

McCain's strong showing is partly attributable to his strong debate performance; Thursday was his best night of the survey. Obama's best night was Sunday, hours after the Powell announcement, and the full impact of that endorsement may not have been captured in any surveys yet. Future polling could show whether either of those was merely a support "bounce" or something more lasting.

During their final debate, a feisty McCain repeatedly forced Obama to defend his record, comments and associations. He also used the story of a voter whom the Democrat had met in Ohio, "Joe the plumber," to argue that Obama's tax plan would be bad for working class voters.

"I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody," Obama told the man with the last name of Wurzelbacher, who had asked Obama whether his plan to increase taxes on those earning more than $250,000 a year would impede his ability to buy the plumbing company where he works.

On Wednesday, McCain's campaign unveiled a new TV ad that features that Obama quote, and shows different people saying: "I'm Joe the plumber." A man asks: "Obama wants my sweat to pay for his trillion dollars in new spending?"

Since McCain has seized on that line of argument, he has picked up support among white married people and non-college educated whites, the poll shows, while widening his advantage among white men. Black voters still overwhelmingly support Obama.

The Republican also has improved his rating for handling the economy and the financial crisis. Nearly half of likely voters think their taxes will rise under an Obama administration compared with a third who say McCain would raise their taxes.

Since the last AP-GfK survey in late September, McCain also has:
_Posted big gains among likely voters earning under $50,000 a year; he now trails Obama by just 4 percentage points compared with 26 earlier.
_Surged among rural voters; he has an 18-point advantage, up from 4.
_Doubled his advantage among whites who haven't finished college and now leads by 20 points. McCain and Obama are running about even among white college graduates, no change from earlier.
_Made modest gains among whites of both genders, now leading by 22 points among white men and by 7 among white women.
_Improved slightly among whites who are married, now with a 24-point lead.
_Narrowed a gap among unmarried whites, though he still trails by 8 points.

McCain has cut into Obama's advantage on the questions of whom voters trust to handle the economy and the financial crisis. On both, the Democrat now leads by just 6 points, compared with 15 in the previous survey.

Obama still has a larger advantage on other economic measures, with 44 percent saying they think the economy will have improved a year from now if he is elected compared with 34 percent for McCain.

Intensity has increased among McCain's supporters. A month ago, Obama had more strong supporters than McCain did. Now, the number of excited supporters is about even.
Eight of 10 Democrats are supporting Obama, while nine in 10 Republicans are backing McCain. Independents are about evenly split.

Some 24 percent of likely voters were deemed still persuadable, meaning they were either undecided or said they might switch candidates. Those up-for-grabs voters came about equally from the three categories: undecideds, McCain supporters and Obama backers.
Said John Ormesher, 67, of Dandridge, Tenn.: "I've got respect for them but that's the extent of it. I don't have a whole lot of affinity toward either one of them. They're both part of the same political mess."

AP Director of Surveys Trevor Tompson, AP News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius and AP writer Alan Fram contributed to this report.

Kirobaito · 10-22-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplefrog

And now for a different perspective.....likely voters vs. registered voters

AP presidential poll: Race tightens in final weeks
By LIZ SIDOTI – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The presidential race tightened after the final debate, with John McCain gaining among whites and people earning less than $50,000, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll that shows McCain and Barack Obama essentially running even among likely voters in the election homestretch.

The poll, which found Obama at 44 percent and McCain at 43 percent, supports what some Republicans and Democrats privately have said in recent days: that the race narrowed after the third debate as GOP-leaning voters drifted home to their party and McCain's "Joe the plumber" analogy struck a chord.

Three weeks ago, an AP-GfK survey found that Obama had surged to a seven-point lead over McCain, lifted by voters who thought the Democrat was better suited to lead the nation through its sudden economic crisis.

The contest is still volatile, and the split among voters is apparent less than two weeks before Election Day.

"I trust McCain more, and I do feel that he has more experience in government than Obama. I don't think Obama has been around long enough," said Angela Decker, 44, of La Porte, Ind.

But Karen Judd, 58, of Middleton, Wis., said, "Obama certainly has sufficient qualifications." She said any positive feelings about McCain evaporated with "the outright lying" in TV ads and his choice of running mate Sarah Palin, who "doesn't have the correct skills."

The new AP-GfK head-to-head result is a departure from some, but not all, recent national polls.

Obama and McCain were essentially tied among likely voters in the latest George Washington University Battleground Poll, conducted by Republican strategist Ed Goeas and Democratic pollster Celinda Lake. In other surveys focusing on likely voters, a Washington Post-ABC News poll showed Obama up by 9 percentage points, while a poll by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center had Obama leading by 14. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, among the broader category of people registered to vote, found Obama ahead by 10 points.

Polls are snapshots of highly fluid campaigns. In this case, there is a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points; that means Obama could be ahead by as many as 8 points or down by as many as 6. There are many reasons why polls differ, including methods of estimating likely voters and the wording of questions.

Charles Franklin, a University of Wisconsin political science professor and polling authority, said variation between polls occurs, in part, because pollsters interview random samples of people.

"If they all agree, somebody would be doing something terribly wrong," he said of polls. But he also said that surveys generally fall within a few points of each other, adding, "When you get much beyond that, there's something to explain."

The AP-GfK survey included interviews with a large sample of adults including 800 deemed likely to vote. Among all 1,101 adults interviewed, the survey showed Obama ahead 47 percent to 37 percent. He was up by five points among registered voters.
A significant number of the interviews were conducted by dialing a randomly selected sample of cell phone numbers, and thus this poll had a chance to reach voters who were excluded from some other polls.

It was taken over five days from Thursday through Monday, starting the night after the candidates' final debate and ending the day after former Secretary of State Colin Powell broke with the Republican Party to endorse Obama.

McCain's strong showing is partly attributable to his strong debate performance; Thursday was his best night of the survey. Obama's best night was Sunday, hours after the Powell announcement, and the full impact of that endorsement may not have been captured in any surveys yet. Future polling could show whether either of those was merely a support "bounce" or something more lasting.

During their final debate, a feisty McCain repeatedly forced Obama to defend his record, comments and associations. He also used the story of a voter whom the Democrat had met in Ohio, "Joe the plumber," to argue that Obama's tax plan would be bad for working class voters.

"I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody," Obama told the man with the last name of Wurzelbacher, who had asked Obama whether his plan to increase taxes on those earning more than $250,000 a year would impede his ability to buy the plumbing company where he works.

On Wednesday, McCain's campaign unveiled a new TV ad that features that Obama quote, and shows different people saying: "I'm Joe the plumber." A man asks: "Obama wants my sweat to pay for his trillion dollars in new spending?"

Since McCain has seized on that line of argument, he has picked up support among white married people and non-college educated whites, the poll shows, while widening his advantage among white men. Black voters still overwhelmingly support Obama.

The Republican also has improved his rating for handling the economy and the financial crisis. Nearly half of likely voters think their taxes will rise under an Obama administration compared with a third who say McCain would raise their taxes.

Since the last AP-GfK survey in late September, McCain also has:
_Posted big gains among likely voters earning under $50,000 a year; he now trails Obama by just 4 percentage points compared with 26 earlier.
_Surged among rural voters; he has an 18-point advantage, up from 4.
_Doubled his advantage among whites who haven't finished college and now leads by 20 points. McCain and Obama are running about even among white college graduates, no change from earlier.
_Made modest gains among whites of both genders, now leading by 22 points among white men and by 7 among white women.
_Improved slightly among whites who are married, now with a 24-point lead.
_Narrowed a gap among unmarried whites, though he still trails by 8 points.

McCain has cut into Obama's advantage on the questions of whom voters trust to handle the economy and the financial crisis. On both, the Democrat now leads by just 6 points, compared with 15 in the previous survey.

Obama still has a larger advantage on other economic measures, with 44 percent saying they think the economy will have improved a year from now if he is elected compared with 34 percent for McCain.

Intensity has increased among McCain's supporters. A month ago, Obama had more strong supporters than McCain did. Now, the number of excited supporters is about even.
Eight of 10 Democrats are supporting Obama, while nine in 10 Republicans are backing McCain. Independents are about evenly split.

Some 24 percent of likely voters were deemed still persuadable, meaning they were either undecided or said they might switch candidates. Those up-for-grabs voters came about equally from the three categories: undecideds, McCain supporters and Obama backers.
Said John Ormesher, 67, of Dandridge, Tenn.: "I've got respect for them but that's the extent of it. I don't have a whole lot of affinity toward either one of them. They're both part of the same political mess."

AP Director of Surveys Trevor Tompson, AP News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius and AP writer Alan Fram contributed to this report.

In response, I offer up Nate Silver of 538's discussion on the topic of likely voter models, just put out today:

Quote:

Originally Posted by http://www.fivethirtyeight.com

Some Likely Voter Models are Suspect

There are eight current national polls that list separate sets of results for likely and registered voters. (In this case, for reasons that will be apparent momentarily, I am deliberately double-counting the two Gallup likely voter models). On average, Barack Obama leads by 9.8 points in the registered voter versions of these polls, but by 7.0 points in the likely voter versions -- nearly a 3-point difference:

Note, however, that the likely voter models appear to segregate themselves into two clusters. In one cluster, there is a rather large, 4-6 point difference between registered and likely voter results. In the other cluster, there is essentially no difference.

The first cluster coincides with Gallup's so-called "traditional" likely voter model, which considers both a voter's stated intention and his past voting behavior. The second cluster coincides with their "expanded" likely voter model, which considers solely the voter's stated intentions. Note the philosophical difference between the two: in the "traditional" model, a voter can tell you that he's registered, tell you that he's certain to vote, tell you that he's very engaged by the election, tell you that he knows where his polling place is, etc., and still be excluded from the model if he hasn't voted in the past. The pollster, in other words, is making a determination as to how the voter will behave. In the "expanded" model, the pollster lets the voter speak for himself.

Frankly, I find polls showing a 4-6 point gap between likely and registered voters to be utterly ridiculous. Why?

1. Among people who have already voted, Democrats lead overwhelmingly. Zogby pegs Barack Obama's advantage at 27 points among people who have already voted. The New York Times details how Democrats are overperforming, sometimes dramatically, in states where early voting is underway. (By the way, the New York Times' data on Florida is wrong, as it includes absentee ballot requests as well as early voters. According to an Open Left diarist, Democrats have a 24-point advantage among those who have actually voted early in Florida).

Pollsters ought to make certain that they're asking people whether they've already voted. Moreover, they ought to be putting these early voters through their likely voter models as a sanity check. That is, they should be testing to see whether a substantial number of people who have actually voted would in fact have been excluded by their likely voter screens. If the answer to this question is yes, they ought to be asking themselves whether their likely voter models have any basis in reality.

2. Enthusiasm is much higher among Democrats than among Republicans. The latest Diageo/Hotline numbers show that 72 percent of Democrats are enthusiastic about voting for their candidate, as opposed to 55 percent of Republicans.

3. Most likely voter models are unlikely to distinguish newly registered voters from what I would call lapsed registered voters. If someone is registered, and has been registered for a long while, but has not cast a ballot since they pulled the lever for Ross Perot in 1992, there is good reason to be skeptical about their intentions. On the other hand, voters who are newly registered have quite literally demonstrated their interest in the 2008 campaign; they are in fact quite likely to vote. Barack Obama's advantages are principally from among the newly-registered voter group.

4. There is an enormous discrepancy in the strength of the Republican and Democratic turnout operations. In past elections, such as 2004, this advantage favored the Republicans; in this one, it favors the Democrats. Barack Obama has somewhere between a 2:1 and a 4:1 advantage in field offices in most battleground states. He is relying almost exclusively on volunteers (the exception are a couple of cities like Philadelphia and Detroit, where Obama will most likely pay 'street money' to canvassers on Election Day). McCain, meanwhile, has already had to hire paid canvassers in Florida, and perhaps he will also in several other states.

5. Turnout among 'unlikely' voter blocks was substantially up during the Democratic primaries. Youth voters (18-29 year olds) increased their share of the Democratic electorate by 52 percent. Latino voters increased their share by 42 percent. Black voters increased their share by 8 percent.

I would like to issue a challenge to those pollsters like Franklin & Marshall and GfK which in spite of all the facts above, are showing a substantial shift toward the Republicans when they apply their likely voter models. E-mail me -- my contact information is at the top of the page -- and tell me why you think what you're doing is good science.

purplefrog · 10-22-2008, 05:20 PM

Sorry Kiro but random bloggers don't impress me. Especially when the two creators are openly Dem and rooting for Obama. They might have a point (I'm no pollster) but they might not.

Anyway, I just thought throwing a curve ball into the mix would be interesting. The fact is that most polls out there attempt to identify likely voters anyway.. this one by AP-GfK is probably anomalous. But then again reading all those other polls gets boring when they basically say the same thing.

Janett_Reno · 10-23-2008, 05:33 PM

http://www.politics1.com/

An internal strategy memo prepared by the House Republican Leadership projects a potential loss of 34 House seats this year. US News & World Report obtained a copy of the confidential document, which GOP insiders sardonically were calling a "death list." The memo rated 66 congressional races, grouping them into five categories ranging from "likely gone" to "hopeful takeover."

The "likely gone" list: Congressmen Don Young (R-AK), Tom Feeney (R-FL), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Jon Porter (R-NV), Robin Hayes (R-NC) and GOP open seats in AZ-1, IL-11, NY-13, NY-25 and VA-11. Nine GOP seats were rated as "leans Democrat." In the middle were 22 GOP seats rated as "true toss-up." Fifteen seats were in the "leans GOP" category, but qualified by a note that "if there's a wave, some could be in trouble." The "hopeful takeover" list: Congressmen Tim Mahoney (D-FL), Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) and Nick Lampson (D-TX). A 34-seat shift would give the Dems a 270-165 advantage in the next Congress. In related news -- which developed after this Republican memo was drafted -- the NRCC on Wednesday cancelled all TV ad buys it had placed in support of Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann (R-MN), according to the AP. The Religious Right incumbent was favored to win re-election over former State Transportation Commission Elwyn Tinklenberg (D) before she appeared Friday on MSNBC's Hardball show. During her appearance, Bachmann said that Barack Obama held "anti-American" views and said that many of her congressional colleagues needed to be "investigated" for "anti-America" views. The backlash was immediate, as Tinklenberg raised over $800,000 online since last Friday. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was among those who also openly criticized her harsh rhetoric. On Tuesday, DCCC announced it was suddenly pouring $1 million into the district in TV ads in support of Tinklenberg. Finally, seemingly acknowledging that Bachmann had fatally wounded herself, the NRCC pragmatically yanked her funding to focus on more winnable contests elsewhere. Speaking Wednesday in the district, the AP reported that Bachmann said "she wished she could take back the statement."

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Next i am reporting on some polls at Real Clear Politics. I am not sure about this Big 10 Battleground Poll and if they are legit but if they are, this would be very alarming for the gop. If these are true, you are looking at a blow out for Obama. I have also been reading and what i have been saying for months is just now comming to life and comming true. The neocons and republicans are starting to fight within the party. From do they want big gov politics or do they want small gov politics. Runaway spending and so on. More and more republicans are supporting Obama. Like i have mentioned in here for months, it isn't good trying to kick Hagel, John Warner, Colin Powell, Richard Lugar out of the party or any republican that opposes the neocons. Some have simply suggested things and not rule with an iron fist and by doing so, the neocons or radicals get upset with them and don't care about them.

The republicans are probably fed up with the neocons and maybe are blamming the cons for the election, house, senate and pres but how many republicans called them out or questioned the policies? Hagel, Lugar, Powell, Warner(retiring). Most was like Lizzy Dole and was a rubber stamp and McCain became a rubber stamp. So many can't just blame the cons because many reps rubber stamped the cons and did not take a stand. Not all but alot. Just now they see the damage i have been reporting on that was going to happen. I couldn't predict when the recession would hit and people start losing their houses because of debt, failed banks, stock market crashing but it was going to happen. I did know that it would be election time and right after when the rep party itself was going to have a turrmoil within itself. Now it looks like the republicans are going to stand up to the neocons but the direction reps move in, the leader of the rep party, i do not know comming out of this. I figure Newt will try to be one of them. Obama is right, you pay as you go and big time spenders, borrowers, letting wall street and most business run wild with no restrictions, turns out bad.

One last thing on this, a republican is suppose to be for less gov in business. Gov keep out of free trade and business. Guess who has put big gov into business? This adm has went from no restrictions on business, our water, air, etc to now gov run banks, gov in wall street, so my point is this, neocons vs republicans has split the party and now they must restructure and see what they stand for and get a base again and something they can come together on where they all believe in, a common ground. This bail out, both dems and reps went along and no i don't like it but i know after the fact it was probably the best thing to do to keep everything from crashing.

Again this is why Obama is right. You use your head and you think. Remember when he told Hillary, you do things right first. You don't vote for the Iraq war. You nip it in the bud before it starts. You pay as you go. You take responsibility and don't run wreckless. You don't pour your money and wealth to the middle east and China investing in them as you ship jobs away. The damage has been done people and now it takes someone with a brain to try to fix the mess we are in. It won't be no instant fix but i also don't believe in excuses. I call it like it is. So Obama doesn't come in with a free pass and use what some reps use as an excuse, well i did bad because they left it to me bad. Don't matter. Let's get it back on the right path and i feel Obama will do this and it won't be any excuses. Here we go with the polls and again i am not sure if these people are legit but it must be scarry within the rep party seeing these if these are legit.

Indiana Big10 Battleground McCain 41, Obama 51 Obama +10

Ohio Big10 Battleground Obama 53, McCain 41 Obama +12

Pennsylvania Big10 Battleground Obama 52, McCain 41 Obama +11

Michigan Big10 Battleground Obama 58, McCain 36 Obama +22

Minnesota Big10 Battleground Obama 57, McCain 38 Obama +19

Wisconsin Big10 Battleground Obama 53, McCain 40 Obama +13

Iowa Big10 Battleground Obama 52, McCain 39 Obama +13

Pennsylvania SurveyUSA Obama 53, McCain 41 Obama +12

Texas Rasmussen McCain 54, Obama 44 McCain +10

Pennsylvania Morning Call Obama 52, McCain 42 Obama +10

Pennsylvania Quinnipiac Obama 53, McCain 40 Obama +13

Ohio Quinnipiac Obama 52, McCain 38 Obama +14

Florida Quinnipiac Obama 49, McCain 44 Obama +5

Montana Montana State U. McCain 40, Obama 44 Obama +4

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If this race goes much longer and states like KY, TN, MS, ND, SD close down to very close and Obama starts winning big huge red states, this could be a collapse never seen before. MT, i mean how is Obama up in that state? How is states like ND and SD even close? Now it is talks of GA really closing within 2 to 4 points. This is deep red south. As the backlash comes then it effects house, senate and gov. Instead of a McCain & Palin saying what they would do, they tried the Rove/Bush tactics that sunk McCain, Kerry and Gore. Let's attack them and if it's lies, that is fair game, attack dogs, robo calls, scare the people, and it is a huge backlash with the American people seeing right thru this. The Rove tactics just died this election.

It could be within the gop party, they would like this election over tomorrow to be able to save some house and senate seats because it seems Obama and dems are moving down more in the south each day this election goes on. Knowing Mac will lose but try to save some seats for the rep party. Now me saying all this, it is hope for you if you are a republican because one poll shows this National IBD/TIPP Obama 45, McCain 44 Obama +1 but comparred to others, this one is hard to believe.

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Senate
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Georgia Senate Rasmussen Chambliss 47, Martin 45 Chambliss +2
Texas Senate Rasmussen Cornyn 55, Noriega 40 Cornyn +15
Kansas Senate SurveyUSA Roberts 57, Slattery 35 Roberts +22
Kentucky Senate Research 2000 McConnell 47, Lunsford 43 McConnell +4
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See if this was stop now, maybe Chambliss and McConnell are ok but what about a week or more?

Could Georgia Flip to the Democrats?

http://politicalwire.com/archives/20...democrats.html

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Arne Carlson, a former Republican governor in Minnesota, has endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

purplefrog · 10-23-2008, 05:46 PM

Janett- I question the Big 10 Battleground poll because if you look at the survey used it goes like this:

Question #8: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of Barack Obama

Question#9: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of George W. Bush

Question #10; Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of John McCain

By inserting the question regarding Bush in between Obama and McCain you really connect the two. I'm no pollster but this seems like unnecessary bias to me. Just my opinion....

Janett_Reno · 10-23-2008, 05:50 PM

Avalanche! Early voting at record pace

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14873.html

With 12 days to go until Nov. 4, Americans are casting early ballots at a record pace.

Whether encouraged by state officials to vote early and reduce the chaos and lines on Election Day, or pushed by campaigns to convert enthusiasm into tangible results, the shift to early balloting has made Election Day more of a final deadline than a one-day event.

In 2004, one out of every five Americans voted early, and if reports so far this year are any indication, an even larger proportion will wake up on Nov. 4 with their ballots already cast. More than 30 states — including most of the key swing states that will decide the race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain — allow their citizens to vote early, whether by mail or in person.

In Georgia, almost 800,000 votes have been cast so far — already more than the tally in 2004 with over a week to go. By Thursday morning in North Carolina, more than 750,000 people had voted since the polls opened a week ago.

Nevada, where more than half of all voters cast early ballots four years ago, kicked off voting last weekend and ramped up access to early polling sites in places such as supermarkets and libraries.

"We've expanded early voting this cycle and increased the number of locations and number of hours in anticipation of record turnout, trying to drive as many people as possible to the early voting locations," said Secretary of State Ross Miller, who prefers early voting and expects only 40 percent of the votes in his state to be cast on Election Day.

If previous elections are any indication, analysts said, the swell of early voting will only increase ahead of Nov. 4.

"If these numbers stay as they are right now, and we match patterns we've had in the past, we've yet to see the wave crest in early voting," said Michael McDonald, a professor at George Mason University and a consultant to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission who compiles data on early voting.

So far, it appears that the Obama campaign's drive to get people to the polls in October is paying off, at least according to data from several swing states that track voter demographics: More than 55 percent of early voters in Georgia were female, for instance, and more than 35 percent were African-American; in North Carolina, fewer than a third of those who voted early identified themselves as Republicans; and more than 60 percent of first-day early voters in Clark County, Nev., were Democrats.

"These numbers are really astounding — they defy all the patterns of early voting we've seen in this modern era," McDonald said. Based on past elections, he explained, "the early electorate tends to be more Republican in their character than the Election Day electorate."

If the trends are borne out to favor Obama, that would be a big change from 2004, when Republicans won the early vote in every state but Iowa, the one place where Democrats focused on locking it down. Even so, Bush made up the difference on Election Day and carried the state by just 10,000 votes.

McDonald said that what appears to be a heavy Democratic tilt in early voting this year doesn't necessarily mean a rout is on the way, but he said it could indicate a groundswell of enthusiasm that might carry over to Election Day. "These people are excited, they already know who they're going to vote for," he said.

The Obama campaign’s special emphasis on maximizing the early vote was illustrated this week in the critical battleground state of Florida, where more than one-third of the voters cast their ballots ahead of Election Day in 2004. Obama spent the beginning of the week stumping and hosting “Early Vote for Change” rallies as state officials opened the first early polling stations on Monday. In Miami-Dade County, lines formed outside voting locations even before they opened at 7 a.m. Almost 500,000 people voted in Florida by Thursday morning, according to data compiled by McDonald.

In Fairfax County, Va., a D.C. suburb where Obama hopes to run up the score to help him carry the state, more than 40,000 ballots have been cast by Wednesday night with more than a week to go, compared with 45,000 early ballots in the entire 2004 general election, McDonald said.

The rolling tide of ballots has dramatically changed campaign strategy, political analysts said. Field operations must run on high gear with weeks to go, and candidates must shell out more resources to win every news cycle as voters make up their minds and cast their ballots.

"Some state and local candidates complain that it makes it more difficult to put the political strategy in place because it makes the voting period longer," said Nevada’s Miller. "You have to do your media buy much earlier in anticipation."

Early voting also can blunt the impact of any dramatic last-minute event that could swing the election. In Colorado, for example, almost half of the state’s 2 million votes were cast early in 2004, while this year the number could break 60 percent, McDonald estimated; by 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, more than 450,000 mail-in and early ballots had been received, he said.

"If the McCain campaign has some sort of October surprise to release, now's the time," McDonald said Monday. "The number of early voters in Colorado is so great."

Perhaps the clearest sign of early voting's new prominence is the amount of litigation and legal posturing it has attracted.

In Indiana, Republicans challenged the opening of three satellite voting centers in Democrat-rich Lake County — a linchpin in Obama’s strategy to carry the state — citing fears of voting fraud. On Wednesday, the Indiana judge ruled to keep the centers open.

In Ohio, local Republicans — with the explicit approval of the McCain campaign — sued to allow observers at early voting locations after Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner said they weren't mandated.

And late last week, also in Ohio, a judge in Hamilton County appointed a special prosecutor to investigate charges of voter fraud after Democrats accused county prosecutor Joe Deters of a conflict of interest and voter intimidation, forcing him to recuse himself from a grand jury investigation. Deters had launched the grand jury probe and subpoenaed the registration records of about one-third of the Cincinnati-area voters who took advantage of a one-week window in early October that allowed them to vote and register at the same time.

Janett_Reno · 10-23-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplefrog

Janett- I question the Big 10 Battleground poll because if you look at the survey used it goes like this:

Question #8: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of Barack Obama

Question#9: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of George W. Bush

Question #10; Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of John McCain

By inserting the question regarding Bush in between Obama and McCain you really connect the two. I'm no pollster but this seems like unnecessary bias to me. Just my opinion....

You are probably right purplefrog. I was shocked seeing that Indiana poll by them. I do feel IN could go either way and be close but Obama in a blow out in a red state that hasn't votted blue in no telling how many years, i had a red flag up also.

The dems and reps inside polls they use must be really good. When we saw Mac pull out of Mi, Wi, Mn and many questioned him and a few days later we saw what Mac saw already. The dems and reps see things before we do. If this keeps caving in, i won't be surprised to see them take Macs money and sink it into some senate and house seats. Again could cause a big riff between Mac and gop sen and house. Obama isn't going to let up and the dems are starting to hit even harder now.

Hillary's PAC Donates $500,000 To House And Senate Candidates. It looks if the dems have a huge ground game and many are working good together. Let's see if it is enough time to do anything in MS senate, Chambliss in GA and McConnell in KY. I feel we will see a stepped up ground game on these three. I think Hillary even showed up for Franken also and spoke. They can't let up on Coleman and Lizzy and be sure they go. It is getting interesting each day goes by.

If Obama does win and i feel he is and my question is by how much and a blow out. I wonder how far the wave could go into the south. How far out west and could it even creep into places like MT, SD, ND?

It is actually to many polls.

purplefrog · 10-23-2008, 06:24 PM

I tend to like Zogby because his polls have been close to reality in the past two elections.

National Tracking poll shows Obama now has 12 pt lead nationally with a projected 273 electoral votes to McCain 174 and 91 toss ups (10/23 tracking poll).

Battleground States (polling on 10/21)
Indiana
McCain/Palin (MP): 52.8
Obama/Biden (OB): 42.3

New Mexico
MP: 46.1
OB: 45.5

Virginia
OB: 49.7
MP: 46.1

Ohio
MP: 49.3
OB: 46.5

Colorado
OB: 48.8
MP: 45.2

Missouri
OB: 48.3
MP: 48.0

North Carolina
OB: 49.6
MP: 46.5

New Hampshire
OB: 46.5
MP: 46.2

Nevada
MP: 51.5
OB: 44.0

Florida
OB: 48.8
MP: 45.2

Edit: Despite the races being within the margin of error on 10/21 Zogby was calling New Mexico and Virginia for Obama

Janett_Reno · 10-23-2008, 06:43 PM

With Zogby at this point, it would still be within reason for McCain. I know he needs a miracle in PA but doing good in other states where some polls show him and Palin down.

mcsluggo · 10-23-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janett_Reno

http://www.politics1.com/
-- the NRCC on Wednesday cancelled all TV ad buys it had placed in support of Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann (R-MN), according to the AP. The Religious Right incumbent was favored to win re-election over former State Transportation Commission Elwyn Tinklenberg (D) before she appeared Friday on MSNBC's Hardball show. During her appearance, Bachmann said that Barack Obama held "anti-American" views and said that many of her congressional colleagues needed to be "investigated" for "anti-America" views. The backlash was immediate, as Tinklenberg raised over $800,000 online since last Friday. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was among those who also openly criticized her harsh rhetoric. On Tuesday, DCCC announced it was suddenly pouring $1 million into the district in TV ads in support of Tinklenberg. Finally, seemingly acknowledging that Bachmann had fatally wounded herself, the NRCC pragmatically yanked her funding to focus on more winnable contests elsewhere. Speaking Wednesday in the district, the AP reported that Bachmann said "she wished she could take back the statement."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

....analysts unanimously stated that that they would've declared Bachmann's gaff a fatal wound to her candidacy, except for the extenuating fact that her opponent is named "Tinkleberg"...

Janett_Reno · 10-24-2008, 12:53 AM

DSCC pumps $7 million into the Senate race between Wicker and Musgrove

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27337487/

The way things are breaking now, i also see them pumping more into GA and going after Chambliss. I'm not sure they will pour it in KY but we will see. Either MS or GA would be big. 60, what the dems would like to have looked to be very hard and still is but if the country keeps breaking to the dems, we never know what could happen and it is still over a week for the dems to really go after more of these senate seats and test places that was very unlikely. It was thought the dems would lock up 56 or 57 and that was good but maybe 60 is not out of the question.

Kirobaito · 10-24-2008, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplefrog

I tend to like Zogby because his polls have been close to reality in the past two elections.

While this is true, he bases his polls on the party makeup of the last election. There wasn't really a lot of difference between '00 and '04 in that regard. The massive amounts of new voters this election, heavily in favor of Democrats, I think, makes Zogby's numbers much less reliable this time around.

purplefrog · 10-24-2008, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirobaito

While this is true, he bases his polls on the party makeup of the last election. There wasn't really a lot of difference between '00 and '04 in that regard. The massive amounts of new voters this election, heavily in favor of Democrats, I think, makes Zogby's numbers much less reliable this time around.

I agree. There are a lot of ???s in this years election. It may very well produce a new standard on several fronts.

Murphy3 · 10-24-2008, 11:57 AM

It may be time for Texas to secede from the so called U.S.

Janett_Reno · 10-24-2008, 01:01 PM

Republican former Mass. governor endorses Obama. Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, a Republican, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president on Friday, citing the senator's good judgment, "deep sense of calm" and "first-class political temperament."

Scott McClellan, President Bush's former press secretary, says he is backing Barack Obama for president.

Another Poll Shows Bachmann Narrowly Behind. Democratic candidate El Tinklenberg narrowly ahead of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), whose once-safe re-election bid has been seriously complicated by her McCarthyesque comments on Hardball. This is still very much a conservative district. Nearly 40% of respondents say Bachmann's comments make them less likely to vote for her, compared to only eight percent who say they're more supportive because of it.

MN-06 Oct 24 Univ. of MNTinklenberg (D) 45%, Bachmann (R) 43%

The Highest-Paid McCain Staffer: Palin's Makeup Artist!

The New York Times reports that Amy Strozzi, the traveling makeup artist for Sarah Palin, is in fact the top-paid staffer on the campaign. Strozzi was paid $22,800 during just the first two weeks of October, compared to only $12,500 for top foreign-policy adviser Randy Scheunemann.

GA-Pres Oct 24 InsiderAdvantageObama (D) 48%, McCain (R) 47%

GA-Pres Oct 24 Str. Vision (R)McCain (R) 51%, Obama (D) 45%

Georgia Strategic Vision (R) McCain 51, Obama 45 McCain +6

Georgia Senate Strategic Vision (R) Chambliss 46, Martin 44 Chambliss +2

Georgia Senate Insider Advantage Chambliss 44, Martin 42 Chambliss +2

purplefrog · 10-24-2008, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janett_Reno

The Highest-Paid McCain Staffer: Palin's Makeup Artist!

The New York Times reports that Amy Strozzi, the traveling makeup artist for Sarah Palin, is in fact the top-paid staffer on the campaign. Strozzi was paid $22,800 during just the first two weeks of October, compared to only $12,500 for top foreign-policy adviser Randy Scheunemann.

I really think it's classless how the New York Times and the Democrats keep bringing up Palin's clothes and appearance. How much did Obama's stadium appearance cost at the DNC? How much do those spiffy gold and silver coins with Obama's image on them cost? How much did it cost the Obama campaign to design, implement and then trash the Obama presidential seal? How much does Michelle Obama pay for her clothes... oh that's right they're millionaires so they can afford to pay for them without help. The MSM started this Obamamania during the primaries and it's just gotten worse. It's plain bad for America to have the majority of the mainstream media outlets become a pawn of the Obama empire. I've never spent much time watching O'Reilly and FoxNews but this election is driving me towards them just to get some balance.

Does Obama own the media???? As Sarah Palin would say, "You betcha".

Kirobaito · 10-24-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplefrog

I really think it's classless how the New York Times and the Democrats keep bringing up Palin's clothes and appearance. How much did Obama's stadium appearance cost at the DNC? How much do those spiffy gold and silver coins with Obama's image on them cost? How much did it cost the Obama campaign to design, implement and then trash the Obama presidential seal? How much does Michelle Obama pay for her clothes... oh that's right they're millionaires so they can afford to pay for them without help. The MSM started this Obamamania during the primaries and it's just gotten worse. It's plain bad for America to have the majority of the mainstream media outlets become a pawn of the Obama empire. I've never spent much time watching O'Reilly and FoxNews but this election is driving me towards them just to get some balance.

Does Obama own the media???? As Sarah Palin would say, "You betcha".

Actually, Michelle Obama has made sort of a big deal about how little she spends on her clothes. I remember there being a big deal, probably in June or July, about how a dress of hers only cost like... ok, I don't know how much a dress is supposed to cost, but the assumption at the time was that it wasn't a lot. They sold out almost immediately (possibly something she wore on The View).

I think the whole shopping thing (of which I don't really care about) comes as a result of two things: the McCain campaign pushing for this populist message that they're just regular Joe Sixpacks and Jill whatever-the-equivalent-was. Spending over $100k in two months on clothes in fancy New York stores seems to undercut that message. Secondly, I remember reading some things about it possibly violating campaign finance laws, specifically an element in McCain-Feingold that prohibited the use of campaign funds for clothes.

purplefrog · 10-24-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirobaito

Actually, Michelle Obama has made sort of a big deal about how little she spends on her clothes. I remember there being a big deal, probably in June or July, about how a dress of hers only cost like... ok, I don't know how much a dress is supposed to cost, but the assumption at the time was that it wasn't a lot. They sold out almost immediately (possibly something she wore on The View).

I think the whole shopping thing (of which I don't really care about) comes as a result of two things: the McCain campaign pushing for this populist message that they're just regular Joe Sixpacks and Jill whatever-the-equivalent-was. Spending over $100k in two months on clothes in fancy New York stores seems to undercut that message. Secondly, I remember reading some things about it possibly violating campaign finance laws, specifically an element in McCain-Feingold that prohibited the use of campaign funds for clothes.

And this isn't excess????? Gimme a break.

Janett_Reno · 10-24-2008, 04:30 PM

I think the article hits on how McCain had no ground game. Where is the republicans helping him? Why does a democrat in Joe Lieberman fight for him ever minute of the day and travel with him, while most republicans do not help him?

The article to me says, you pay the most money to a traveling make up artist. This is your top paid staffer in the campaign. This wasn't John McCain 10 years ago when he wasn't a puppet as he wouldn't have stood for this. He would have taken up for the nonsense. Now he can't as he joined the people that pulls puppet strings and they make his decisions. They gave him Palin and they chose most of the money going to her make up artist. To me, this isn't smart politics. The money should have went to people that would have marched the usa over for him and cmpaigned for him, knocking on doors, explaining how he is different than a neocon. It has got so bad with the people that run him, all they have left to do is robocalls, attack because he did not run a good ground game.

Look at all the republican campaign managers in the last 20 years or more talking about how terrible and embarrasing this is for them to watch this. McCain never had a chance because of his campaign managers and i do agree Bush, Chains and Rums hurt him bad but his campaign managers should have done what was best for him, kept him on message, spent money best suited to help him, not pick a vp just thinking they was going to get Hillary voters. In the end, if John McCain and at his age now and yes he has really aged and so has his mind but even at this age and if he had not listened and caved in to insiders trying to tell him how to speak, how to act, what to wear, what to say, who to pick, how to dole his campaign money out and making him flip and flop every few days, John McCain would have had alot better chance to win.

Fox news and many said do not pick Lieberman, we beg you. They give him differ stradegy every few days and they have not let him be himself. This was a big reason Gore got beat. He tried to be a professor and something he wasn't, trying to impress people with his smarts. He came off as someone that thought he was hung up on himself and the public would rather vote for someone that couldn't make a sentence rather than someone trying to be a put on. The voters don't like make believe. They like what is real. No matter if you thought w was smart, a drunk, stupid, he was genuwine. He was real and he didn't make any excuses at the time if he couldn't finish a sentence or if he answered things good.

W was himself, no matter if you liked him or not, he was likeable. Clinton was the same way. No matter how smart you are if you are not likeable to the public, you can't get elected. It didn't help with Tipper on stage giving him lip locks, blowing bubbles and her wanting to be a star like Palin. That hurt Gore also. One day i just bet you John McCain will speak the truth down the road and tell you where his campaign failed and why. He should have been himself and made his own decisions but saying this, it didn't just start now, when it all started was the night Rove and Bush attacked McCain in SC. Even before this he was having run ins with W and the very things they told on McCain and paid big money to swift boat him and ran him into the ground to where he was a nothing, he was very upset, hurt and was at a crossroads in his party. He was where Chuck Hagel is now.

He had a big decision in his political life. He could join the people that almost ruined him and the people he could not stand or he could bail to another party, he could be a maverick staying in his on party and fight for himself and his beliefs. We know what path he took. He destroyed his career from that point on but i understand why he thought he had to do what he did. If he wanted money and the power to be pres, he thought he had to join the elite even if he had to eat crow. Now he hired the same swift boat people to try to attack and lead him to victory where it put Bush in power.

McCain isn't good being a puppet and he is best being a Maverick. Obama has run a campaign that was close to flawless and he must have some brilliant people in his campaign. He was not even suppose to have any kind of chance against Hillary Clinton, none. Not only did he beat her, he beat her on policy, issues, inside campaigning, raising money, but was always a step ahead or two steps ahead at the finish line almost every time.

What has happened, maybe insiders, Hillary, McCain and others have taken Obama's campaign managers and inside his people as light weights but in the end this will go down as one of the best ground games and best campaign advisers ever within the Obama staff. Do not get me wrong, Obama is amazing himself and the only person i see staying on stage with him in a debate is Bill Clinton. Obama stays on message, he explains himself, and he won't run from taxes, abortion, or any issue and welcomes them all.

As far as media attacks and the things they go after. Media sells. Fox, Cnn, Msnbc, and they want those rattings high and people watching. So it is hard to control them or what they do but we have a choice what we watch and do not. As long as it is politics it is going to get down and dirty on both sides. Bringing up all kinds of things. It's not good or pretty but politics.

Janett_Reno · 10-24-2008, 05:12 PM

Here is more problems, when a ship is sinking, people must use their heads and work together. Here again the gop party is split. Do we stand on issues, policy or do we use fear on the people? Fear card has been run in the ground and people are not falling for it but many in the gop keep pouncing on the fear card. This is splitting the gop party within itself daily. Many are being mavericks and saying come on let's stop, put our heads together, work together and do the best for our party and the people, while some can't get away from the last 8 years or so of how alot of gop got things done.

They have made McCain play and use the fear card. Let the man be himself and stop trying to make him be something he isn't.

The fear factor.

CNN Reports on McCain Supporter Attack Hoax

Ashley Todd says a big black man that was 6'4" that carved a B on her face and he was making her vote for Obama. Now Fox News jumps all over this.

If Fox, if Mac doesn't turn back into the Maverick or if Newt or someone doesn't take ahold of their party now, they are destroying the gop day by day. This race is over if you want the truth. Obama is going to win but the question is by how much but what these things are doing to the gop party now, is how far down south and all over will it get into the gop house, senate, gov and even mayors. The house lady in MN came on and played the fear card other day on msnbc and she as way ahead of her dem opponent, she used fear over and over untill the very very CONSERVATIVE district she is in, thought she was a disgrace and her dem rival raising close to millon dollars fast, gop pulled plug on her and now she is on her own. Race tied now.

Do the gop want to kick Cornyn out, McConnell, L Graham and more? The dems have to say nothing as the gop is talking and losing votes daily with this fear tactic. Newt if you are out there, you are someone needs to try to save whats left.

This Ashley Todd story and Fox pushing isn't funny and it does not help the gop party doing this, it only digs deeper on kicking more gop out. As far as Palins dress money, yea it has went to far. Let it go. Dems let it go. Stay on message, taxes, economy, jobs health care, etc and don't follow the gop down there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IszjevYoS6A

Kirobaito · 10-24-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

It may be time for Texas to secede from the so called U.S.

To start the country "Real America?"

Janett_Reno · 10-24-2008, 05:25 PM

The news media, Fox is fighting hard for republicans. There news is based on politics. News is just a side order for them. MSNBC is a news channel that went to the democrats big time. In prime time, they are pushing Obama hard where Fox is pushing McCain. MSNBC has let this race and politics take over alot of their news and turned it into a direct rival of Fox. Those two are going toe to toe again each other.

Let's face it, most republicans will watch FOX that are into politics and most democrats will watch MSNBC that are into politics. Has it helped their ratting? I am not sure and maybe some in here can answer that. If Fox and MSNBC rattings are higher now.

Janett_Reno · 10-24-2008, 05:40 PM

Reagan Appointee and (Recent) McCain Adviser Charles Fried Supports Obama

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_p...rts-obama.aspx

Charles Fried, a professor at Harvard Law School, has long been one of the most important conservative thinkers in the United States. Under President Reagan, he served, with great distinction, as Solicitor General of the United States. Since then, he has been prominently associated with several Republican leaders and candidates, most recently John McCain, for whom he expressed his enthusiastic support in January.

This week, Fried announced that he has voted for Obama-Biden by absentee ballot. In his letter to Trevor Potter, the General Counsel to the McCain-Palin campaign, he asked that his name be removed from the several campaign-related committees on which he serves. In that letter, he said that chief among the reasons for his decision "is the choice of Sarah Palin at a time of deep national crisis."

Fried is exceptionally thoughtful and principled; his vote for Obama is especially noteworthy.

Fried writes to TNR: I admire Senator McCain and was glad to help in his campaign, and to be listed as doing so; but when I concluded that I must vote for Obama for the reason stated in my letter, I felt it wrong to appear to be recommending to others a vote that I was not prepared to cast myself. So it was more of an erasure than a public affirmation--although obviously my vote meant that I thought that Obama was preferable to McCain-Palin. I do not consider abstention a proper option.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More polls
------------

A new set of polls from Strategic Vision (R) has some good news for John McCain, with him taking back leads in Florida and Ohio, and holding on to his lead Georgia. But all his work in Pennsylvania has only managed to make a small dent in Obama's lead.

Florida: McCain 48%, Obama 46%, within the ±3% margin of error. Two weeks ago, Obama had a 52%-44% lead.

Georgia: McCain 51%, Obama 45%, with a ±3% margin of error. Two weeks ago, McCain was up 50%-43%.

Ohio: McCain 48%, Obama 45%, with a ±3% margin of error. Two weeks ago, Obama had a 48%-46% edge.

Pennsylvania: Obama 50%, McCain 43%, outside of the ±3% margin of error. This is better for McCain than the 54%-40% Obama lead from two weeks ago, but he still hasn't managed t drag Obama to below 50%.

Murphy3 · 10-24-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirobaito

To start the country "Real America?"

We've been a country before.. I don't see why we can't do it again. We don't need any pansies from Washington DC telling us what to do.

Janett_Reno · 10-25-2008, 02:00 PM

National Rasmussen Reports Obama 52, McCain 44 Obama +8
National Gallup (Traditional)* Obama 51, McCain 44 Obama +7
National Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Obama 51, McCain 42 Obama +9
National Hotline/FD Obama 50, McCain 43 Obama +7
National Gallup (Expanded)* Obama 51, McCain 43 Obama +8
Colorado Rocky Mtn News/CBS4 Obama 52, McCain 40 Obama +12
Pennsylvania Morning Call Obama 52, McCain 41 Obama +11
Ohio Ohio Newspaper Poll Obama 49, McCain 46 Obama +3

Senate
--------
New Hampshire Senate Rasmussen Shaheen 52, Sununu 46 Shaheen +6

McCain Camp Introduces "Bob The Boat Builder" -- CEO Of $67M Firm

Cindy the Beer Vendor?

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/...he_beer_1.html

Ever since John McCain discovered "Joe the Plumber," he has exalted "small business" owners -- inviting them to announce their professions on signs at rallies -- as the country's only virtuous economic movers.

But now McCain has begun to define the term upward, leaving no mogul or tycoon behind.

On Thursday in Sarasota, Governor Charlie Crist introduced J. Robert Long, the CEO of Marine Concepts as a "small businessman." The man McCain dubbed "Bob the Boat Builder" spent, as Crist noted, most of his career at Wellcraft Marine, which reported revenues of $67 million last year, according to Yahoo! Finance.

Tonight in Colorado, Senator Lindsey Graham, a close friend of the McCains, described Cindy as "a great small businesswoman." Her "small" business -- Hensley & Co., a family-owned Anheuser-Busch distributor that is the third largest among the 800 in the country -- had revenues of nearly $200 million last year, according to Yahoo.

--------------------------------------------------

I'm impressed with these names Mac comes up with. I think even if he doesn't become president, he could do some stand up comedy. John the Jokester.

------------------------------------------------------

McCain Vs Obama Dance Off With Suprise Guess

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/1..._n_137751.html

White support for Obama at historic high

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14921.html

Bush votes for McCain

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/...008-10-24.html

Janett_Reno · 10-25-2008, 10:08 PM

This has been comming and watch out for a fireworks show after this election in the gop party. Your guess is good as mine as who will take over the gop party and try to get them all back on track again.

Republican fears of historic Obama landslide unleash civil war for the future of the party

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...the-party.html

Aides to George W.Bush, former Reagan White House staff and friends of John McCain have all told The Sunday Telegraph that they not only expect to lose on November 4, but also believe that Mr Obama is poised to win a crushing mandate.

They believe he will be powerful enough to remake the American political landscape with even more ease than Ronald Reagan did in 1980.

The prospect of an electoral rout has unleashed a bitter bout of recriminations both within the McCain campaign and the wider conservative movement, over who is to blame and what should be done to salvage the party's future.

Mr McCain is now facing calls for him to sacrifice his own dwindling White House hopes and focus on saving vulnerable Republican Senate seats which are up for grabs on the same day.

Their fear is that Democrat candidates riding on Mr Obama's popularity may win the nine extra seats they need in the Senate to give them unfettered power in Congress.

If the Democrat majority in the Senate is big enough - at least 60 seats to 40 - the Republicans will be unable to block legislation by use of a traditional filibuster - talking until legislation runs out of time. No president has had the support of such a majority since Jimmy Carter won the 1976 election. President Reagan achieved his political transformation partly through the power of his personality.

David Frum, a former Bush speechwriter, told The Sunday Telegraph that Republicans should now concentrate all their fire on "the need for balanced government".

"It's hard to see a turnaround in the White House race," he said. "This could look like an ideological as well as a party victory if we're not careful. It could be 1980 in reverse.

"With this huge new role for federal government in the economy, the possibility for mischief making is very, very great. One man should not have a monopoly of political and financial power. That's very dangerous."

In North Carolina, where Senator Elizabeth Dole seems set to loose, Republicans are running adverts that appear to take an Obama victory for granted, warning that the Democrat will have a "blank cheque" if her rival Kay Hagen wins. "These liberals want complete control of government in a time of crisis," the narrator says. "All branches of Government. No checks and balances."

Democrats lead in eight of the 12 competitive Senate races and need just nine gains to reach their target of 60. Even Mitch McConnell, the leader of Senate Republicans, is at risk in Kentucky, normally a rock solid red state.

A private memo on the likely result of the congressional elections, leaked to Politico, has the Republicans losing 37 seats.

Ed Rollins, who masterminded Ronald Reagan's second victory in 1984, said the election is already over and predicted: "This is going to turn into a landslide."

A former White House official who still advises President Bush told The Sunday Telegraph: "McCain hasn't won independents, nor has he inspired the base. It's the worst of all worlds. He is dragging everyone else down with him. He needs to deploy people and money to salvage what we can in Congress."

The prospect of defeat has unleashed what insiders describe as an "every man for himself" culture within the McCain campaign, with aides in a "circular firing squad" as blame is assigned.

More profoundly, it sparked the first salvoes in a Republican civil war with echoes of Tory infighting during their years in the political wilderness.

One wing believes the party has to emulate David Cameron, by adapting the issues to fight on and the positions they hold, while the other believes that a back to basics approach will reconnect with heartland voters and ensure success. Modernisers fear that would leave Republicans marginalised, like the Tories were during the Iain Duncan Smith years, condemning them to opposition for a decade.

Mr Frum argues that just as America is changing, so the Republican Party must adapt its economic message and find more to say about healthcare and the environment if it is to survive.

He said: "I don't know that there's a lot of realism in the Republican Party. We have an economic message that is largely irrelevant to most people.

"Cutting personal tax rates is not the answer to everything. The Bush years were largely prosperous but while national income was up the numbers for most individuals were not. Republicans find that a hard fact to process."

Other Republicans have jumped ship completely. Ken Adelman, a Pentagon adviser on the Iraq war, Matthew Dowd, who was Mr Bush's chief re-election strategist, and Scott McClellan, Mr Bush's former press secretary, have all endorsed Mr Obama.

But the real bile has been saved for those conservatives who have balked at the selection of Sarah Palin.

In addition to Mr Frum, who thinks her not ready to be president, Peggy Noonan, Ronald Reagan's greatest speechwriter and a columnist with the Wall Street Journal, condemned Mr McCain's running mate as a "symptom and expression of a new vulgarisation of American politics." Conservative columnist David Brooks called her a "fatal cancer to the Republican Party".

The backlash that ensued last week revealed the fault lines of the coming civil war.

Rush Limbaugh, the doyen of right wing talk radio hosts, denounced Noonan, Brooks and Frum. Neconservative writer Charles Krauthammer condemned "the rush of wet-fingered conservatives leaping to Barack Obama", while fellow columnist Tony Blankley said that instead of collaborating in heralding Mr Obama's arrival they should be fighting "in a struggle to the political death for the soul of the country".

During the primaries the Democratic Party was bitterly divided between Barack Obama's "latte liberals" and Hillary Clinton's heartland supporters, but now the same cultural division threatens to tear the Republican Party apart.

Jim Nuzzo, a White House aide to the first President Bush, dismissed Mrs Palin's critics as "cocktail party conservatives" who "give aid and comfort to the enemy".

He told The Sunday Telegraph: "There's going to be a bloodbath. A lot of people are going to be excommunicated. David Brooks and David Frum and Peggy Noonan are dead people in the Republican Party. The litmus test will be: where did you stand on Palin?"

Mr Frum thinks that Mrs Palin's brand of cultural conservatism appeals only to a dwindling number of voters.

He said: "She emerges from this election as the probable frontrunner for the 2012 nomination. Her supporters vastly outnumber her critics. But it will be extremely difficult for her to win the presidency."

Mr Nuzzo, who believes this election is not a re-run of the 1980 Reagan revolution but of 1976, when an ageing Gerald Ford lost a close contest and then ceded the leadership of the Republican Party to Mr Reagan.

He said: "Win or lose, there is a ready made conservative candidate waiting in the wings. Sarah Palin is not the new Iain Duncan Smith, she is the new Ronald Reagan." On the accuracy of that judgment, perhaps, rests the future of the Republican Party.

Janett_Reno · 10-26-2008, 08:24 PM

http://www.republicansforobama.org/?q=consider

Why Obama

Republicans For Obama

Fellow Republicans,

When deciding which candidate is best to now lead our nation, we ask that you consider supporting Senator Barack Obama. The U.S. faces serious challenges that are not being addressed by our political leaders. Elected officials of both sides have found it easier to appease their parties’ fringes to win elections, and media companies choose to shock, amuse and divide us. In the meantime, the problems we face as a nation grow as they are passed on to future generations.

We need a leader who can lay the foundations of another American Century—someone who can get past our partisan and ideological divisions, as we strengthen our standing in the world and tackle the challenges we face at home. We need a leader who understands our differences, but who also knows the importance of finding common ground. While we continue to debate and address many issues on which we all have strong opinions—abortion, gay rights, the relationship between church and state, to name a few—we need a leader who can command the support needed to break our government’s paralysis and meet the growing challenges we face as a nation.

Senator Obama is the one candidate who can unite the American majority that wants to move forward and improve the long-term economic well-being and independence of our nation.

Issues A Unified America Can and Must Address:
National Debt
The federal debt matters. We cannot saddle future taxpayers with having to service the debt we create with our irresponsible fiscal policies. Cutting the deficit will additionally decrease interest rates and increase private investment.

Trade Deficit
Every year, the difference between what the United States imports from other countries and what it exports grows, and is likely to reach $1 trillion a year by 2010. The U.S.’s trade imbalance with China alone grew from just $10 billion annually in 1990 to well over $200 billion a year by 2006. Despite this increasing and extreme deficit, recent American administrations have been unable or unwilling to force China to revalue its currency and take other measures to strengthen our exports overseas.

Energy Independence
As the world’s energy needs grow, it is critical that the United States be able to provide for its own energy requirements. By doing so we can deflate the power of dictators who are propped up by high oil prices, more effectively insulate ourselves from the world’s most volatile regions, and stimulate economic growth at home. Even without tapping into Alaska’s oil reserves or drilling offshore, we can dramatically reduce our dependence on foreign oil—we have not even begun to realize the possibilities of Iowa corn, South Dakota wind or Montana coal. Even a growing number of environmentalists support increased nuclear power production.

Global Warming
Even those who still believe that global warming is a natural occurrence should agree that rising sea levels and other geological changes will be expensive to adapt to and probably impossible to undo. If we are able to reverse this dangerous trend, we must. No other nation has the economic and political power to take the lead on this issue.

Social Security
If current trends continue, total Social Security income will begin to fall short of total outgo in 2019. In the words of Alan Greenspan, the U.S. will face "abrupt and painful" choices if our leaders do not move quickly to trim the Social Security and Medicare benefits the baby boom generation has been promised. The Social Security system needs to be reformed to bring it into the 21st century and beyond with the new financial knowledge and tools available to Americans. We need a reliable, sustainable retirement plan that combines mandatory retirement savings with flexibility, choice, and security

Healthcare Reform
Our healthcare system is reaching a crisis. Rising healthcare costs are crippling business and putting millions of Americans, especially children and the elderly, at great risk. American families risk having a lifetime of savings wiped out from a single hospitalization or illness. Drug companies are reaping record profits as they promote new uses of old drugs. Small hospitals and doctors are closing their doors as malpractice insurance costs increase. We must reform healthcare to make it accessible and affordable for all Americans, while maintaining the competitiveness and innovation that has made our system the envy of the world.

Included in a general reform of our healthcare system must come an overhaul of our Medicare/Medicaid system. With these programs facing insolvency within the next decade, we must re-engineer a system that is fiscally self-sustaining and does not pass today’s health problems onto future generations.

Tax Reform
Our tax code is inefficient and full of loopholes. A simplified code could aid economic growth and provide for a fairer tax system, especially for small businesses and the working poor.

Immigration Reform
Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants enter our country each year and will continue to enter unless much more is done. Thousands of employers hire these illegal workers, often times to the detriment of American workers, and often times exploit the illegal immigrants themselves. Despite extensive talk by both Republicans and Democrats to solve this and many other problems we face, nothing has been done.

Foreign Policy
As we continue to adapt our military to meet 21st century challenges, we should also work to increase our soft power throughout the world. We cannot continue to utilize only our military strength. Our foreign policy should put an emphasis on coalition building and in working with international institutions when it serves the national interest.

Janett_Reno · 10-26-2008, 08:45 PM

Watch after this election and what i am telling you now what is going to happen. It is going to be a huge battle in the gop party with very bad words flying at each other. It is not going to be compassionate conservatism leveled at each other within the republican party. It is going to be the blame game. It will come down to the radical neocons vs the republicans. You know what is bad, where does John McCain fit in? He use to be a republican and it makes him grit his teeth to have joined up with the cons. Palin fits the attack dog neocon agenda better but it is said by Kathleen Parker(republican) that many within the neocon party and some in the white house do not like her. Ask Peggy Noonan about her also.

It is a huge growing list of republicans dropping out and say they can't support or vote for McCain and some won't vote but most say they will vote for Obama. It is a huge split in the party and the neocons won't be able to kick tis many republicans to the curb. They will try to take back their party from the cons and it is going to be one heck of a battle but where does a guy like McCain ever fit in again? He wants to be on both sides and skate along as a yes man now and the cons say no, with us are not and now the republicans are saying with us and our way or not?

Palin should get a show on Fox News with Huckabee and i bet she does. Keep watching this last week as republicans keep fighting with republicans and see if they can make it untill after the election before they all have their big pow wow. It is going to be some big house cleaning within the gop but again who will run the gop. Rove is out and i doubt they let Bush, McCain, have much say so either. It will be interesting to see how deep in the senate and house it will go this election and after the election, who will emerge as the leader of the gop.

chumdawg · 10-26-2008, 09:02 PM

Ask yourself if you would rather Sarah Palin talk poliics or watch Campbell Brown talk politics.

Sarah Palin is not good looking enough to have her own TV show.

u2sarajevo · 10-26-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Ask yourself if you would rather Sarah Palin talk poliics or watch Campbell Brown talk politics.

Sarah Palin is not good looking enough to have her own TV show.

Ellen Degeneres (or whatever her last name is) and Rosie O'Donnell have their own show. So obviously looks has nothing to do with it.

Janett_Reno · 10-26-2008, 10:30 PM

Some are saying Sarah Palin wants to run and should be front runner in 2012 and i agree she would be easy for the democrats to beat but i don't want them to know that and would hope they would pick her. On some of the talk shows it was mentioned she is really liked by 30 or 40% and it was about that many that couldn't stand her and mainly in gop party. Then it was mentioned if you had 20% of the people of a following, you can get you a O'Reilly or Huckabee show. MSNBC is doing same thing with Madow, Matthews and the other guy.

It was mentioned Fox would really like her. Remember on that channel you do not have to appeal to everyone just a percent to get some good rattings. Same on MSNBC.

Janett_Reno · 10-27-2008, 11:24 AM

Former GOP senator, vet backs Obama

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14963.html

Former Sen. Larry Pressler (R-S.D.), who was the first Vietnam veteran to serve in the United States Senate, is the latest Republican to back Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign, Politico learned Sunday.

Pressler, who said that in addition to casting an absentee ballot for Obama he'd donated $500 to the Illinois senator's campaign, cited the Democrat's response to the financial crisis as the primary reason for his decision.

"I just got the feeling that Obama will be able to handle this financial crisis better, and I like his financial team of [former Treasury Secretary Robert] Rubin and [former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul] Volcker better," he said. By contrast, John McCain's "handling of the financial crisis made me feel nervous."

The former senator added that he hoped the next president would help place restraints on executive pay, and said: "I don't think [McCain] will take action in that area, or he's as likely to."

Pressler, who said that he had never voted for a Democrat for president before, added, "I feel really badly. I just hate to go against someone I served with in the Senate. I voted and I got it mailed and I dropped it in the mailbox, and it tore at me to do that."

Currently an adjunct professor at Baruch College in New York, Pressler served in the Senate from 1979 through 1997, and prior to that spent two terms in the House of Representatives.

During the 104th Congress, from 1995 to 1997, Pressler chaired the Senate Commerce Committee. When Pressler was defeated for reelection in 1996, McCain took over his chairmanship.

After leaving office, Pressler formed a legal and lobbying firm, The Pressler Group, and in 2002 unsuccessfully sought election to South Dakota's sole seat in the House of Representatives.

He joins a growing list of Republicans who have thrown their support to Obama in recent days. Last Sunday former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Obama on NBC's "Meet the Press." On Thursday Obama picked up the support of former Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson, who was joined on Friday by former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld.

Like some of Obama's other Republican supporters, Pressler said he had concerns about his party's fiscal policy, particularly the war in Iraq, that went beyond the presidential campaign.

"We have to be a moderate party. We can't be for all these foreign military adventures. We have to stop spending so much money. My God, the deficit is so high!" he said. "The Republican Party I knew in the 1970s is just all gone."

Despite his support for Obama, however, Pressler emphasized that he intended to stay in the GOP and described himself as a "moderate conservative."

"I'm not leaving the Republican Party. We're going to reform it," he said, but added: "In the general election, if you have disagreements, you should not vote the party line."

Janett_Reno · 10-27-2008, 11:28 AM

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1031176.html

A new poll released by the Gallup organization on Thursday shows Jewish voters favor Barack Obama over John McCain by more than 3 to 1, with 74% saying they will vote for Obama over 22% for McCain.

The poll, which has interviewed over 650 Jewish registered voters each month since June, shows American Jews growing increasingly comfortable with Obama since July, when the Illinois Senator tied up the Democratic Party nomination. The poll shows support for McCain among Jews stood at a high of 34% in June, before beginning its downward turn in July after Obama's nomination.

The highest level of support for Obama according to the poll is among Jews over the age of 55, 74% of which have said they're voting for Obama over 67% of Jews 18 to 34. The Gallup organization says the disparity could be based on a greater inclination among Jews 18 to 34 to call themselves Conservative, but says a similar inclination isn't apparent among Jews aged 35 to 54, 68% of which polled by Gallup have said they're voting Obama.
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The poll's findings show that in spite of a certain measure of trepidation among some Jewish voters towards Obama early in his campaign, he is set to receive the same percentage of the Jewish vote (74%) as John Kerry in 2004, and only slightly less than the 80% of the Jewish vote that Al Gore received in 2000 when he had a Jewish running mate in Joe Lieberman.

Earlier in October, a poll commissioned by researchers at New York University revealed that American Jews favor Obama over McCain by a 67 - 33 percent margin.

The survey, which sampled the opinions of over 3,000 respondents - half of them being Jewish - also found that Jews as an ethnic group will support Obama by almost 30 percent more than other white, non-Hispanic voters.

The poll sought to gauge the importance Jewish voters attach to Israel as a consideration in whom they would vote for, with some surprising results. Of all the Jews surveyed who said that Israel is of "high" importance, 63 percent said they would vote for Obama. In contrast, only 42 percent of Jews who said Israel has "very high" importance said they planned to vote for Obama.

Not surprisingly, the Jewish vote swings heavily in McCain's favor among the Orthodox. According to the survey, the Arizona senator can count on support from 75 percent of Orthodox Jewish voters.

Underdog · 10-27-2008, 11:29 AM

One day Obama is a "secret Muslim," the next day Jews are voting for him - one of these claims must be a lie...

Janett_Reno · 10-27-2008, 12:13 PM

Reuters/Zogby: Obama Leads in Key Red States

John Zogby: "McCain might be able to survive the loss of Nevada, but probably not any of the others."

Virginia: Obama 52%, McCain 45%

Ohio: Obama 50%, McCain 45%

Nevada: Obama 48%, McCain 44%

Missouri: Obama 48%, McCain 46%

North Carolina: Obama 49%, McCain 46%

Florida: Obama 47%, McCain 47%

Indiana: McCain 50%, Obama 44%

West Virginia: McCain 50%, Obama 40%

A new Mason-Dixon poll in Georgia finds Sen. John McCain leading Sen. Barack Obama by six points, 49% to 43%.

A new Herald-Leader/WKYT Kentucky Poll shows Sen. John McCain running way ahead of Sen. Barack Obama, 55% to 39%.

Taking the Whole Party Down

Former Bush speechwriter David Frum: "There are many ways to lose a presidential election. John McCain is losing in a way that threatens to take the entire Republican Party down with him... I could pile up the poll numbers here, but frankly... it's too depressing. You have to go back to the Watergate era to see numbers quite so horrible for the GOP."

Bachmann Behind in MN-6

A new Minnesota Public Radio/Humphrey Institute poll shows Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) losing ground in her re-election bid and is now two points behind challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg (D), 43% to 45%.

Likely voters are widely aware of Bachmann's controversial comments that Sen. Barack Obama "may have anti-American views," strongly disagree with them, and are politically punishing her as a result.

Despite polls, McCain says race will be tight

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/...008-10-26.html

President
------------

Arizona Rasmussen McCain 51, Obama 46 McCain +5

Virginia SurveyUSA Obama 52, McCain 43 Obama +9

Virginia VCU Obama 51, McCain 40 Obama +11

Mississippi Press Register McCain 46, Obama 33 McCain +13

MSNBC: Obama Crosses 270 Electoral Vote Threshold

After moving the battlegrounds of Colorado and Virginia from Toss-up to Lean Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee now has crossed the 270 Electoral Vote threshold in NBC's electoral map. One week before the election, Obama leads McCain 286-163, up from his 264-163 advantage a week ago. As we pointed out on Friday, the significance of moving Colorado and Virginia into Obama's column is this: If Obama wins those two states, plus Nevada, he can still get to 270 -- even if he loses Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Mahoney a no-show for debate.

A sell-out crowd at the Forum Club in West Palm Beach did not get what they came for this afternoon. A scheduled debate between Florida congressman Tim Mahoney (D) and his Republican challenger Tom Rooney did not take place as scheduled because Mahoney did not show up. He objected to the presence of TV cameras. Mahoney, who has admitted to having multiple affairs and may have paid off one of his mistresses, said the cameras would create a “circus” atmosphere. Rooney attended today had the entire event to himself, responding to questions posed by the moderator.

Update ABC reports that Mahoney demanded his mistress "attend fundraisers and 'tease c-ck' to bring in more donations from the male members of the public." He also reportedly demanded that she "engage in sexual conduct with another woman for his enjoyment."

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Michelle Bachmann went bad negative and she was way ahead and now she could lose. John Murtha, democrat did the same thing and also his seat could be in jeopardy. Then lastly, we have another romeo in Mahoney as he looks to be kicked to the curb.

Janett_Reno · 10-27-2008, 12:49 PM

One reason the republicans are going to lose is they never ran on policy. They tried the fear scare tactic again and the public woke up. The same thing dude has tried doing but atleast dude has tried running his party on policy some in here along with the fear scare tactic. His middle name, him being half black, and again the muslim thing was suppose to be a huge scare tactic.

If this won't work on the Jewish people, then it won't work on the majority either. Michelle Bachmann was way up and she pulled a "dude" and now she is on the verge of getting kicked out in a very conservative district. John Murtha said some things and now he is at risk. The facts are, Obama is a christian, the facts are Obama has risen above black people telling him he wasn't black enough and to step down and not run in places in IL because he may not have the same background and he couldn't understand the struggles of people where he was running. He didn't back out of the race and many black people had their doubt about him and not only did he win, he did a great job and people were amazed by him.

He was told by whites, you aren't white enough to run for certain positions where a black had not been elected but in his college where democrats and republicans did not get along that good, it was one man the republicans liked on the democratic side and his name was Obama. In college, he was friends with many republicans and was elected to something no one thought it was capable.

The man has been told all his life, he isn't black enough or he isn't white enough and trying to scare the people wasn't nothing ew to him, he beat the republicans and the ones that pushed fear and scare with standing up, beat them on policy and beat them on issues of taxes, foreign policy, economics while some in the gop are still trying to push fear and scare. That is over, beat the man on where he stands and what he stands for. Does the gop stand for anything? Let's hear it and that is what you beat people on. The truth is, Obama is a christian and the truth is he had a black father from Africa and he had a white mother from Kansas and his grand mother and grand daddy help raise him, in which he was very close to them and they was very close to him. He has over came the odds and look where he is.

The scare and fear tactic didn't stop him and he has risen above all that. What you mention is why the gop party will have a knock down drag out after the election. Some of the radical side of the party like dude, want's to keep on with negative, attack, scare, fear and over half of the gop party says we want to change and stop the nonsense. We want our party back from the neocons. How it turns out, i do not know. If i was guessing, i would think they will kick most of the neocons out but again i am not sure how it will turn out.

Obama is winning because he is real. White people, black people, latino and others want real. Why is jewish people backing Obama, he is real. He is of christian faith. He tells his views, where he stands and how he will govern. You can win on scare and fear alone, you have to have substance and exlain where you stand and how you will govern.

McCain shouldn't have been railroaded and told he was going to be a puppet and him do what they tell him to do. He should have been the man he was most of his life and not changed when he did. He should have stood up for himself after what Bush did to him and the Bush people. He caved in and then W was his daddy and the people that run W. That was the end of McCain. The democrats did a good job tieing Mac with this adm and W but again he couldn't get away from that because he joined them. Now McCain is trying to distance himself from this adm when he is a part of it and this in the end killed him in this election. Plus the fact he ran into a whirlwind of Obama.

Janett_Reno · 10-27-2008, 12:59 PM

You can't win on scare and fear alone, you have to have substance and exlain where you stand and how you will govern.

The republicans couldn't do this. This is why the party will have a big blow out among each other after the election. See all the republicans going to vote for Obama. They are not leaving the gop party. These people stood up for themself. That is why the gop will change because if they didn't, they wouldn't have a base to stand on. They are split now on beliefs, how to govern, foreign policy, economics. Many of them are not going to be pushed around now and told who to vote for and always run on fear and scare.

What this has also done is hurt Jebs run for president for along time.

DirkFTW · 10-27-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

We've been a country before.. I don't see why we can't do it again. We don't need any pansies from Washington DC telling us what to do.

GuerillaBlack · 10-27-2008, 05:43 PM

Obama: 375
McCain: 157
Ties: 6

http://electoral-vote.com/