Electoral College Edge?

07 August 2008 |permalink | email article

Striving for 270 votes to be elected President on Nov. 4 Barack Obama has expanded his lead over John McCain in NBC’s latest electoral map.

He has 217 votes in his column versus 189 for McCain, building on his 210-189 edge last month. There are 132 votes in the toss-up category. All the changes are moving in Obama’s direction while he over-performs in the Illinois “region.”

1) Iowa moves from toss-up Obama to Lean Obama; 2) New Jersey moves from Lean Obama to Likely Obama; 3) Oregon moves from Lean Obama to Likely Obama.

The RealClearPolitics electoral count scores it differently:

Obama 238, with 141 Solid and 97 leaning

McCain 163, with 91 Solid and 72 Leaning

Toss Up 137

Quotes of the Day

“What Obama is buying is his belief that he can expand the electoral map. What McCain is buying is credibility.” – John Geer, a Vanderbilt University professor who studies political advertising.

“Hilarious.” – McCain’s reaction to the Paris Hilton video mocking him.

“It’s hard to imagine America responding to ‘small ball’ (ads) when we have all these problems.” – John Weaver, McCain’s 2000 campaign manager in Newsweek.

“(He) is engaging in a festival of juvenilia.” – Columnist Maureen Doud on McCain’s vow not to take the low road, having been mugged by W. and Rove in South Carolina in 2000.

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