McCain Needs Inside Straight

31 October 2008 |permalink | email article

HALLOWEEN finds the 2008 presidential campaign near the finish line without an October Surprise.

In terms of the national discourse going into the final weekend as Daylight Saving Time ends Barack Obama has a clear advantage over a struggling John McCain.

Obama’s 30-minute ad seen by almost 34 million, a rally with Bill Clinton in Florida, appearances on The Daily Show, NBC Nightly News and MSNBC—including red-state rallies in Florida, Virginia and Missouri, suggest a decided edge.

Clinton’s soaring endorsement was critical while McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin and his bizarre initial reaction to the economic crisis has only reconfirmed doubts about his judgment and abandonment of the critical center and independents. 

McCain, lacking such visibility, held rallies in Ohio yesterday with his embarrassing prop, Joe the Plumber, and brings in unpopular California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today hoping to carry the must-win Buckeye State.

There’s tiny evidence polls are tightening in rural and suburban areas of Missouri and North Carolina but McCain faces long odds in snatching victory from defeat. Obama leads in all national polls and is ahead in some battleground red states which a Democratic nominee has not won in years.

McCain hopes for a surge of undecided voters on Election Day. But in the last eight presidential elections, voters who made up their minds during the past week of the campaign never went for either ticket by large margins of 3-2 or 2-1, which could tip the scales.

Andy Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, said, “There is likely no hidden life raft in the undecided vote for John McCain.” 
Quotes of the Day

“Barack Obama has pulled ahead in enough states to win the 270 electoral votes he needs to gain the White House – with enough votes to spare.” Associated Press.

“Tuesday’s probable repudiation of the Republican Party will punish characteristics displayed in the campaign’s closing days.” George Will.

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