First thoughts: A tie ballgame

Posted: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 9:21 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** A tie ballgame: Major news organizations released three new national polls yesterday, and they all signaled the same thing: After the party conventions and VP picks, this presidential race is pretty much tied. The Washington Post/ABC poll had Obama up one point among registered voters (47%-46%). A CBS survey had McCain ahead by two (46%-44%). And CNN had the race deadlocked at 48%-48%. Tonight, our NBC/WSJ poll -- generally considered the gold standard of national surveys -- comes out at 6:30 pm ET on Nightly News and MSNBC.com. Will it show a similar result? The bad news for Team Obama is that this tied race is occurring in a pro-Democrat political environment, and skittish Democrats -- who haven’t won the White House since 1996 -- are going to wring their hands over any piece of bad news, which is never good for morale. The good news for them: In 2004, John Kerry found himself behind after the GOP convention by a significant margin, and he had to use three strong debate performances just to pull within striking distance. It doesn’t look like that will be the case for Obama and the Democrats this year.

VIDEO: NBC Political Director Chuck Todd takes a look at the new national polls that show Obama and McCain nearly tied and discusses the Illinois senator's fundraising efforts.

*** What to watch for: The next thing to look for in polling is to see where in the battleground numbers shifted the most. Has Palin put the Republicans back in the game in the agricultural Midwest? Will these soft GOP states like Indiana, North Carolina, Missouri, and Montana start tilting back to the GOP? What about the soft toss-ups like Florida or Michigan? Will they match the national number or tilt slightly GOP (in Florida's case) and slightly Dem (in Michigan's case?). Of course, the quality of publicly available state polls is not good, which will make judging the battleground even more difficult. Still, to truly know what's in play and not, keep an eye on the candidate schedules.

VIDEO: NBC News investigative correspondent Lisa Myers looks at Palin's record in her home state.

*** Vetting Palin: Yesterday, nearly every news organization debunked the Palin claim that she told Congress “thanks but no thanks for that Bridge to Nowhere” -- a project McCain has railed against constantly on the campaign trail. (Not only did Palin support that bridge during her gubernatorial bid in 2006, but Congress essentially pulled the plug on it before Palin did, and she diverted the money for it to other projects.) Now comes a Washington Post investigative piece reporting that Palin billed state taxpayers “for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a ‘per diem’ allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.” The article also notes that husband Todd “has billed the state for expenses and a daily allowance for trips he makes on official business for his wife.” The danger of these back-to-back stories: Palin could get painted as just another politician. Where have we heard this before? Opponents of Obama -- both now and in the primary -- tried to paint him as just another politician. But like Obama, Palin doesn't look like a typical politician, and that could help deflect some of these charges against her. Then again, with just two months to go, many voters still don’t know Palin, and that could make these stories (combined with the Troopergate investigation) a bit more problematic since every new piece of information gets amplified.

*** Mo’ money, mo’ problems? Today’s New York Times has an interesting story about the pressure the Obama campaign is feeling on the money front. The campaign has a BIG budget, and suddenly they realize they need every dollar possible. We likely won’t know how much the Obama camp raised in August until next Saturday (September 20), but the article has a spokesman saying that it was it’s best month; if true, the haul will be more than $55-$56 million. But the pressure is definitely on. Campaign manager David Plouffe told the Times: “We’re confident that we will meet our financial goals, but it’s hard work. We have a long way to go in the next six weeks." Anyone thinking that Obama is having second thoughts about skipping the federal money and drying up indie groups? As everyone learns over time when it comes to campaign finance issues, the public never cares what a candidate does regarding his campaign money as long as it's legal. Because one decides to do something that they claim is more ethical, they rarely get rewarded politically. If anything, they sometimes get penalized.

VIDEO: TODAY's Matt Lauer talks to NBC's Tom Brokaw about how the presidential election is shaping up now that post-convention polls are showing a very tight race.

*** School’s in session: Today, Obama gives a speech on education and launches a new TV ad on the subject that mentions McCain -- but NOT Palin. This is an attempt to change the subject onto a terrain where Obama can claim he's not spewing typical Dem talking points, as well as launch an ad where he's targeting McCain and McCain alone. The ad goes: “John McCain voted to cut education funding. Against accountability standards. He even proposed abolishing the Department of Education. And John McCain’s economic plan gives two hundred billion more to special interests while taking money away from public schools.” Has the Obama campaign concluded that the less they talk about Palin, the less others may talk about her?

*** The Price is Right? Speaking of targeting older white women, we’ve learned from an ad-tracking source that the McCain camp is buying network TV ads -- about $400,000 worth so far -- targeted to morning shows, game shows, and soap operas. There may be no more important group of voters than older white women, and buying daytime network TV might actually be a cheaper and more efficient way to reach these folks, say, in southern Ohio, than it is trying to buy the right syndicated show at the right time in the Cincy TV market. Plus, this is a good way for the McCain camp to see if they can get movement in some other states like Oregon or Washington, where if they had more time, Palin's candidacy might actually help just a tad.

*** Down the ballot: By the way, seven states vote today! There are interesting congressional primaries in New Hampshire and (especially) New York, as well as in Minnesota, where Al Franken today officially becomes the Dem nominee for US Senate.

*** On the trail: McCain and Palin already began their day with a rally in Lebanon, OH and later head to a rally in Lancaster, PA. Obama holds a town hall on education in Lebanon, VA. And Biden is in Missouri, stumping in Columbia and St. Louis.

Countdown to the first presidential debate: 17 days
Countdown to the vice presidential debate: 23 days
Countdown to the second presidential debate 28 days
Countdown to the third presidential debate: 36 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 56 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 133 days

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Comments

I despise the MSM. When Obama was ahead by a point or two, the MSM called the lead "insignificant" and "slim." Now that McCain is supposedly ahead by that amount, his lead is heralded by the MSM and called troublesome for Obama. RME.

Also, does anyone see the contradiction in the NYT article? If an Obama spokesperson is saying Obama realized one of his best fundraising months in August, why the bruhaha about pressure on his fund-raising team? Why not an article about how--despite the pressure--Obama may clock his best fundraising month? But nooooooooooo.

Hasn't the MSM done enough to try to diminish Obama? I'd rather you guys continue to write your McCain talking points than give us this dizzying swill suggesting Obama's downfall. RME.

Cindy Lou, TX (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:06 AM)

Or is this Palin story going to go the way of the 'book banning' story that was proven false?

Face it, Dems, you picked a loser. The world is too dangerous for 'ivory tower obama'.

Look at his comments on the first international crisis to occur during his candidacy: Russia invades Georgia, Obama first tries to handle it like a conflict between sixth graders-you're both wrong, now sit and talk it out; next, he suggests that the U.N. Security council condemn it, (neatly forgetting that Russia has a VETO on the security council); and then, tries to blame it on the Iraq invasion, seemingly ignorant of the fact that Russia was using KOSAVO as the example of their right to 'protect' breakaway provinces.

He's also trying to sell something like the American 'Promise". Supposedly, he taught Constitutional law-where, in that document, does he find a 'promise'. We have certain inalienable rights, but no 'promises'. What we desire, what we have, we have to EARN, something he should know, given his background. Unfortunately, like most liberals, he believes that his superiority is what got him ahead, and that the rest of us are dependant on the largesse of those better than ourselves.

Barack should read Hayak's "The Road to Serfdom"; so should all of his supporters. You might learn something.

READ a BOOK, Monmouth County, NJ (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:06 AM)

Don't worry, Palin will have the questions given before she shows up and the Roves will have the answers for her before the interview so Charlie don't have to come on as condensending or whipped by a beauty queen.

Jes S.C. (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:08 AM)

I do disagree with Obama on one thing--Americans are just that stupid. We just have to look at the man elected twice in the White House now for proof! And, the Republicans are now selling us the crypt keeper from Arizona and the Alaskan hillbilly family. We all better start praying now.

Steve NJ (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:08 AM)

Why would MM continue to incompletely describe Paliin as being an evangelical? Out here in heartland America - we don't criticize that. It just means someone who is comfortable speaking about their faith. (As an example, the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America is a very old protestant mainstream sect.)

But what DOES set us on edge is a PENTACOSTAL church membership that wants to run a government. Unlike the evangelical movement, the pentacostals believe in such things as speaking in tongues (as happened 2000 years ago at pentacost) with a far, far more radical set of cultural beliefs.

Palin tried to fire a librarian for not banning books from a public library. Dimes to donuts we're talking about Harry Potter - has anybody checked??

Palin opposes abortion - but how often does MM point out that includes a D&C procedure when a 14 year old girl is viciously raped, or when a minor child is subjected to incest?

If you are in an election the MM is now describing as another "culture war" you would think MM would do a far better job of using words that ACCURATELY describe this self-proclaimed rock star. Instead of acting like her abortion stance or other cultural stances are common throughout rural areas somehow. In swing states like Missouri, rural Ohio and rural Virginia - church going folks know the difference between evangelicals and fundamentalist pentacostals - it it NOT a distinction without a difference and MM's giddyness that "the race is now close, what fun" has become a substitute for "who stands for what, and who believes what" - a big election about small things (she is a mother, so was mine) is where MM has taken us the last 5 days - through shallow and incomplete word use that blurs who Palin is.

Wake up Chuck. And take Chris to a pentacostal tent show so he gets a taste of what's in store for all. If that sounds denigrating - it is only b/c I'm your neighbor and I've seen you guys up close for years. Wake up America - this is Buchanon without his civil sensibilities. Wake Up.

Jeff Emerson, Wichita, Kansas (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:09 AM)

Einstein's definition of insanity has to do with doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. The Republicans have been in power completely for the last 6 of 8 years and for the last 2 have filibustered and variously blocked any substantive changes in energy policy, health care, foreign policy, climate change, environment and tax/economic policies. To somehow think that McCain, voting with Bush for over 90% of the time and the rest of the time busily explaining how he is SO independent (when he wasn't switching positions depending on which way the political hot air was blowing), is insanity. To believe that Palin is anti-lobbyist when she hired a lobbyist to snark as much money as possible however possible for her small town, is insanity. To believe that a party which sends thousands of Americans to die on foreign soil based on a web of lies are the Right to Life party is insanity. Frankly, to believe ANYTHING these people say is insanity and reflects a pathological inability to face reality.

As a former hockey mom myself (and soccer, and karate, and baseball and basketball)believe me, that's not always a very fair and truthful group. Often, they're not actually very nice...I'm being polite here...unless, of course, the calls are in their favor....then they just DRIP with nice. Whatever, that's not a qualification. As much as people are hesitant to say it, being a veteran and a POW is not a qualification for president.

What IS a qualification for president--a leader-- is intelligence, ability to manage (witness the largest and best-run, most disciplined campaign in history...it has a larger budget than Wasilla's and a larger involvement than the entire Alaska state population), rational and balanced judgment (as opposed to blatant sucking-up to a radical right-wing "lobby")and clarity of thought. (to those annoying individuals who keep talking about Obama's "uhs" and pauses as if that were contrasted to McCain's stellar speaking abilities and mental processes.....you don't recognize a functioning brain working through various possibilities because it has been too long since your party has actually produced anyone who thought beyond the "talking points" and spoke their own minds!)

So, to my way of thinking, voting for McPalin is insanity. I pray (yes, an Obama supporter who prays, try as you might to claim God as your own, that's yet another lie) this country has had enough of a shock in the past 8 years to have been jolted out of the insanity. I pray and I hope.

ZDeG, Vancouver, Washington (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:09 AM)

The polls do not speak for the hard working Americans. Again, McCain-Palin is more of the same and will not win. No one in their right mind will elect the McCain-Palin for another 4 years of Bush politics when this country is already in the dirt. When Palin-McCain is finished with this country we will be below the poverty line. These people are infidels. McCain-Palin can't even stick to the issues with honesty to take care of the American people. Seriously, how can you go to another country making war when this country is falling apart!! Really!!!! Palin has already demonstrated that she can't even tell the truth and trust to hide behind religion. She got 23 million for Alaska by backing one thing and turned against it after she got the money for such a small amount of people living in Alaska. We don't need a president nor vice president like that when it comes to the American people. This is about the people not Palin- McCain's vicious-empty self-gratification attacks. This is not about a white & black issue with Obama he is concerned about all people rich and poor. Who is Palin-McCain for? Themselves as always just like Republicans!!! Obama has my vote and others who are working hard to get people registered to vote for Obama!! Palin-McCain you are not wanted for President and Vice President of this country. Too many times have the Republicans run this nation into the ground!!! We want the real change and that is Barak Obama!! By the way Palin you think just being a woman is winning votes listen to this... Hillary Clinton focused on issues not empty jokes and lies. Palin's record shows that she will vote for something and as soon as she has her vote and gets the money for it she disdains what she was supporting. Palin don't be an air head because you will go down in history as- "An Air Head" by not addressing the current issues of the American people and actually doing something about it, but wait you can't do that because you are a Republican and Republicans don't care about the people, simply self-gratification!!!

Ms. Realist, Jackson, Mississippi (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:09 AM)

Although Palin's words side with McCain in the oil company windfall tax dispute, her actions side with Obama. Her major legislative accomplishment has been to revamp Alaska's windfall-profits tax in order to increase the state's take.

Alaska calls it a "clear and equitable share" tax. The state assumes that extracting oil from the tundra costs about $25 per bbl. and takes as much as 75% of the difference between that and the sale price.

Read this TIME article! http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1839724-2,00.html

Jessy (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:10 AM)

These polls are not worth my time. They would be more meaningful if we used a popular vote method of electing our president. Let's start focusing on what matters, the electoral map. I don't agree with this approach, never have. It's the reality of the situation.

Michael Huppman (Folsom, PA) (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:13 AM)

Palin may not be your typical politician, but she IS your typical corrupt, hypocritical, self-righteous Repiglican. She's no change from the norm, much as she'd like us to believe her lies that she is.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:16 AM)

In this time of crisis in American history, what matters most? If we are back to 1940 and suddenly confronted by the looming Second World War, what would have mattered? A white woman who believes that war was a God's will (and don't kno how opposed Jesus was to conflcits?) matters more because she is white. Whiteness matters above all else, even if America's future is at stake. We don't care what the outside world thinks, even if that means the collapse of our great nation's global clout.
If that is not the case, then what really matter to voters? The issues of our time or the sexualizing of American politics and popular culture? Small-town values trumping everything great about America and the world it leads and influences?

Alex, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:17 AM)

Please women, understand what I and many other women fought for in the 60's. I'm a 64 (65 in December) year old woman and am extremely upset that women may be getting ready to give back all of the progress we made through hard struggle and yes, community organizing, by falling for Palin's policies and worse lies! Let's deal with the issues:

1) Right to choice (does not mean pro-abortion) does mean we control our own bodies, not the government. Palin is for a Constitutional amendment making abortion illegal with prison terms even in cases of rape and incest.

2) Palin opposes the ERA and Equal Pay for Equal Work.

3) Palin is opposed to stem cell research which would help to cure many of our diseases.

4) Palin is for teaching creationism in the schools and thinks Evolution is a lie.

5) Palin is for censoring libraries and when the librarian refused to "burn/ban the books" she fired her.

6) Palin think that Global Warming is not man-made (so drill, drill, drill!)

7) Palin thinks that it's "God's Will" that the Alaska Pipeline e built.

8) Palin lied when she says she stopped the "Bridge to Nowhere" when in fact she supported it until Washington laughed at funding it.

9) Let's talk about drilling. Forget the fact that when we focus on drilling we worsen climate change and enciourage more use of fossil fuels. If we drill, drill, drill, all that oil from American companies goes on the international market to the highest bidder. Typically, China and India will bid higher, get the oil, leave us in the same situation and prices will still go higher!

10) There recently was an organization built called "Women Against Palin" where over 13,000 women wrote letters slamming the idea that Palin should be supported. They had so many responses that they could'nt print them all. Women are waking up and will provide an October surprise!

Lastly, are we better off than we were 8 years ago? Of course not. So to Palin/McCain I say ENOUGH!

Bev, Los Angeles (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:18 AM)

It's hardly a tie ball game?

When you include the Bradley effect (+6 McCain) minus the cell phone culture (-3 McCain), you have a President McCain in November.

The Truth (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:20 AM)

'...Palin billed state taxpayers “for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a ‘per diem’ allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.”...'

COME ON !!
WHERE ARE THE DEMOCRATIC 527's ???
This should be on TV 24/7 !!

Moveon ? Labor unions ?

WHERE ARE YOU ??

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:21 AM)

draw down of 8000 troops huh... That's what Obama and the democrats said. Bring home our troops. How could Americans be so stupid to even think of the Republicans running the white house.

Bush is responsible for the deaths of 4000+ soldeiers for a war that was built on lies and oil. John McCain is trying to keep us there everyone. 10 billion dollars a month and we are having trouble with our economy and Iraqis have 79 million in the bank.

When will we wake up. Stop being stupid America.!!!!! Vote Obama/Biden or the USA as we know it is over.

No more Fearmongering McBush please

Kelli, VA (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:21 AM)

Many of you are missing the point. She shouldn't have exaggerated her ebay claim, but she DID get rid of the jet that cost taxpayers money. She should shut up about the bridge to nowhere, but she DID oppose it in the end (it's not like Obama hasn't changed positions on things). And for those of you outraged that Hillary supporters would support a ticket just because there's a woman on it, why is it acceptable to assume that 95% of the black vote will go to Obama?

Independent Voter (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:21 AM)

I am glad to hear that Obama is focusing on education.

The republican policies, esp focusing so much time and money on high-stakes testing, have been devestating -- we could have focused on educating our children rather than teaching them how to fill in bubbles, and could have developed the skills of a new generation of good teachers.

America has lost its leadership position in the world in terms of producing the best scientists and most advanced technology. (Not a great time for people like Palin to be talking about teaching religion during science classes.)

Since we in Texas suffered the Bush influence yrs before the rest of the country, we are ahead of the curve in seeing how badly the republican approach destroys schools.

Public education is the lifeblood of our democracy, and the reason our 20th century was so great, when other countries did not have mandatory and free public education.

Thank you, Obama, for clearly seeing what is wrong right now and charting the course to a better future for our schools. (I had the opportunity to hear about his educational policies at a town hall here during the primaries.)

Amy, TX (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:22 AM)

How many people were polled, what were the questions, how were they asked, was this a phone poll, or stop someone on the street?
These questions are important to understanding the polls, can we get that information first read.
Wal-mart moms, hockey moms, soccer moms, the demographics are getting weirder and weirder, what next moose hunting moms, chicken eating moms, moms without children, bus taking moms vs SUV moms, Bille Jean King moms vs Billie Joe Bob moms.
You guys make me laugh and then I see what this non-information is about and I cry for our country.

John Alexander,PA (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:22 AM)

To CA Voter,
This election is not about if Obama "gets it" because if you look at his POLICIES you can see that he does. What you should be saying is if WE the voters are GETTING IT and from the looks of it.... We might be seeing another Bush term.

LAS, IL (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:22 AM)

John Alexander,PA (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:25 AM)

Can somebody/anybody provide a rationale explanation for the 20-point swing amongst white women in the past week according to the ABC/Wash Post poll? Everyone always likes to say that "we vote on issues." Swinging that dramatically from one side to the other was based on issues? Or was it based on identity politics? If the latter, women everywhere should be ashamed that they've been played so cynically and easily by an old white guy and the team who brought you Bush and Cheney. Wow.
Amazed American (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 9:26 AM)

It's us Hillocrats . Plain and simple !

HillDem4McCain (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:26 AM)

Bloggers:

It amazes me how much the Obama supporters cannot handle things when Obama starts going downhill (a tad).

So what do you all do, just like with Hillary, pick on Sarah. Well that tactic will not work. Check Factcheck.org and you will see that half the stuff you are badmouthing Sarah for is either factual untrue or have been recanted.

So why don't you stop with the accusations and look to Obama's past dealings and flip-flops on issues. Why even his own supporters went on line at his site to protest his changing his position on wiretapping. Now its OKAY???

So take the rafter out of your own guys eye before you try to take the straw out of McCain's gal.

McCain/Palin '08--Hillary '12

Laura, Boston (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:28 AM)

Palin is an Oppurtunist! That is it.

Adam, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:29 AM)

Palin is a fraud. Read the full story on her travel expenses. Clearly, seeking reimbursement for living in her own home is dishonest, if not fraudulent. The best one was seeking per diem expenses for staying home on Thanksgiving to attend a basketball tournament. That doesn't pass the smell test.

She brags about selling the state plane on ebay. It would have been cheaper to keep the plane given her frequent travel with full family in tow. Isn't reassuring to know that she travels coach when she has the munchkins with her.

Jim , Rockville MD (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:30 AM)

The polls forget one very important segment of our population - the modern,technologically informed people who use caell phones! That's right - no poll has included the millions of cell-phone users. One other things is very important; the people who use cell-phones are more informed and MOSTLY Obama backers. Statistics in this area show that Obama/Biden are way ahead, but the Republicans don't want to acknowledge that, or let anyone know the truth.

Jason Largo (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:30 AM)

The media is simply hyping this up. There is no way a Republican would win this year's election. Not after Bush. Not after all the bo-boos McCain has done and still doing, not after selecting this VP.

I have a theory that the Republicans have thrown in the towel on this one and will prepare to take back the WH in 2012. Hoping an Obama administration would fail. It'll be so much easier for them to simply throw stones and make sure things don't work out for the Democratic President. The Repubs are 'smart' this way. They know and have accepted the fact (except for the few naive) that they cannot win an election right after Bush. Not when his memory is fresh.

Maybe just maybe, the next President won't deliver (it'll take minimum 2 terms to clean up this mess) as fast as the people would hope for. It'll be a sure way for the Repubs to get back in power. After all, people have short term memory.

The Dems would win this no matter who is in the ticket.

MSNBC please post this.

Joyce, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:31 AM)

Not all voters are political "junkies" and many of them base their decision solely on what they see on TV. And right now, they have been seeing Gov Sarah Palin drawing adoring crowds. Any negative stories about her would have to be BIGGIES or lots of people simply won't take notice.

Issues like the economy, Iraq and Iran, etc??? They don't care about them--Sarah Palin "looks like one of us, like one of our neighbors."

She hasn't given any substantive interviews--she doesn't have to. The press reports on every move she makes, they keep her name before the voters, so why give interviews--why answer questions?

John McCain doesn't address the issues; he just introduces his "celebrity" running mate and he doesn't have to.

This is what the average voter sees every day, so in their minds, Sarah Palin must be something special to warrant all that media attention.

A cynic once said we get the government we deserve. I hope that doesn't prove to be true.

Dorothy, Illinois (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:32 AM)

So, MSNBC thinks the NBC/WSJ poll is the gold standard. I guess you probably think you have the fairest, most accurate, most unbiased reporters and commentators too. Puhleeze.

Dazed and Confused in DC (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:33 AM)

Has anyone talked about Palin's record on environment? http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/377955_palinenvir07.html?source=mypi
In reality, the more we find fault, the more she draws sympathy.
I still don't understand why anyone would choose a running mate that has an unresolved cloud over her like Troopergate.
I'm about truth, integrity and "real" change. I'll stick with Obama/Biden.

KC, Seattle, WA (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:43 AM)

I don't know what to say, I am starting to think. This going to be another four years of even hardship for the middle class. Is so sad that the McCain camp said is not about the issues but personality. Well Americans, get ready to live with it. The most sad part is people believed all Palin is saying. She called herself a christian and the lies that comes out of her is not christ like in anyway. Well, when you to be the second incommand in of the United State or I should say First in command because McCain is not running the show here. God don't really matter but you know what? God can't be mocked. people are not focusing on the things that matters and that's what the republicans wants and we will all pay the price. Now is all about Palin not even mcCain. People wake up because American are be mislead again.

Lisa, Dallas (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:46 AM)

Every few years the American people fall for a charade. Yes, Sarah Palin is engaging, but what surprises me is that banning books, calling America’s army the army of God, and lying have become so attractive. No one cares, evidently, that the most salient points, from her point of view, about her biography, consist of lies and half truths. They don't mind that her sharpest barbs are also lies and half-truths. When you take into account her secession tendencies it is a plethora of contradictions between what we see and what we get. Now some embrace her gun totin’ which is quite appropriate for the shotgun wedding the right is celebrating, in spite of the fact, that it is quite possible that no such event would have occurred if they were not in the public eye. In other words, necessity is the mother of convention. She possesses a pleasant appearance and a somewhat wicked tongue. Now her backers are acting as if these are the very things we need to stand up our moral superiority. Suddenly, we have found the whole package, a soft liar with a great persona. Finally, some think, an American woman has become the entity we always hoped for, George Bush or, even worse, Dick Cheney, in drag.

Stephen Bleeds (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:48 AM)

Chuck Todd, I read where NBC booted Chris & Keith because the GOP thought they were too tough on them. That explains why Mika has not discussed 1 single issue facing this country all week. That explains why Mika asked permission from Pat Buchanan if she could bring up Palin's church. Pat said NO and Mika abliged.

The Press has Constitutional rights because our founding father's wanted to HOLD POLITICIANS ACCOUNTABLE for their voting record, private live & public life.

MSNBC is more concerned with "getting" the interview than they are with the PEOPLE's right to know.

Pathetic ... pathetic ... I hope you are all smiling all the way to the bank.

Betsy Cook, Paducah, Kentucky (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:48 AM)

Saw an investigative report on the Bridge. In the beginning, the "bridge" was going to be some kind of link of Ketchikan, which she did support. It was not proposed as the high-dollar monstrosity that it turned into. When Palin got in office and saw what the public hadn't seen re the plan, she nixed it then. With more info, she made nixed it.

I've read here many times when people justified Obama's "flipflops" because he now had more info and that was okay. So, with more info on a plan that veered from the original, why is not ok that Palin changed her mind and said "no" to the bridge?

real change? vote out all incumbents (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:49 AM)

Yesterday was the Feast day of the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of Christ. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the two Senators running for the highest position in the land and the most powerful position in the world were to "see the light" and stop supporting the choice of women to kill their small children in the womb. Joe Biden, especially should know better because he is a Roman Cathlic and the teaching of the church are that abortion is killing in violation of the Fifth Commandant of Our Lord.

Pray that they say Happy Birthday to Our Lady with a change in their position and save the 4000+ babies that are killed every working day in the United States

Padre, Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:51 AM)

Palin is just like Bush/Cheney. She thinks that once you are the top dog, you can do whatever you want: fire people who disagree with you without cause, ban books you don't like, steal money from taxpayers and give it to political buddies, and tell outright lies and expect to not be questioned.

McCain is just like Bush/Cheney. He doesn't just vote the same way, he is impulsive to a fault. George W. Bush got us into the Iraq War without considering the options or making any plans or even an exit strategy. McCain has demonstrated that he is just like Bush in not vetting Palin, and now he is left without an exit strategy for her.

Kai Price, Monson, MA (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:51 AM)

FR:

Would you look into something I read about Obama's day's as a community organizer. I am an Obama supporter and this report worries me. It is reported he had dealings during that time with a group called
ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). It seems that they have done a lot of things that I don't approve of.

In fact last week, Milwaukee's top election official announced plans to seek criminal investigations of 37 ACORN employees accused of offering gifts to sign up voters (including prepaid gas cards and restaurant cards) or falsifying driver's license numbers, Social Security numbers or other information on voter registration cards.

Last month, a New Mexico TV station reported on the child rapists, drug offenders and forgery convicts on ACORN's payroll. In July, Pennsylvania investigators asked the public for help in locating a fugitive named Luis R. Torres-Serrano, who is accused "of submitting more than 100 fraudulent voter registration forms he collected on behalf of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now to county election officials." Also in July, a massive, nearly $1 million embezzlement scheme by top ACORN officials was exposed.
ACORN's political arm endorsed Obama in February and has ramped up efforts to register voters across the country. In the meantime, completely ignored by the mainstream commentariat and clean-election crusaders, the Obama campaign admitted failing to report $800,000 in campaign payments to ACORN. They were disguised as payments to a front group called "Citizen Services, Inc." for "advance work."

Please please FR, I want this to be reported on so I can make the best decision. I don't want Obama to win because he has played like a typical politian; rather, I want him to win because he is honest in all avenues.

Linda, Salem MA

Linda, Salem MA (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:51 AM)

To the Media: If for some reason this election goes to the Republicans, we the people have you to blame.

Why hype up this character called Palin - who the heck is she? Why should she be allowed to affect my future and everyone else in this country? Stop selling her for the sake of sensational story. She has nothing to offer but that - controversy to divert attention to the REAL pressing issues.

If I were in your shoes, I would press to expose her, her views and aid the country into seeing the light and not get blinded by the Repubs. You folks have an obiligation to your Country!

Sure, I'd be very surprise if this gets posted.

Dan, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:53 AM)

The latest polls find good news for both candidates, with McCain taking big lead in Ohio, surging in Washington while Obama ties in Florida, Virginia: http://campaigndiaries.com/2008/09/08/more-polls-dead-heats

Dan, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:53 AM)

worth noting that the tracking polls now have McCain's lead shrinking, which means the Monday night numbers are falling off from the Friday numbers. In other words, his bounce has yet to fully recede. This makes it a bit arbitrary to assess the race right this second, as opposed to a week ago when Obama's bounce was peaking.

Next Monday would be a better gauge.

g (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:55 AM)

To: Not a Fan of Abortion: You should be ASHAMED of yourself! What you're spouting is an out-and-out LIE!

Obama supporters: Have you EVER heard of the site...FactCheck.Org? I didn't think so. You don't want to know the truth about anything -- you just want to spout your hate.

Illinois (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:56 AM)

I don't want religious fundamentalists in the MiddleEast, who believe that God wants them to make war on the world, to ever get their hands on nuclear weapons. Neither do I want religious fundamentalists here in the USA, who believe that God wants them to make war on the world, to ever get their hands on nuclear weapons. The wide majority of Americans does not believe that we are living in the Last Generation, nor do they want a political leader, driven mad with religion, who will try to bring this about. Governor Palin cannot be allowed to win this election.

Kai Price, Monson, MA (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:56 AM)

It seems to me that the people of America don't even care about McCain/Palin's blatant lies, and neither do McCain/Palin themselves! Perhaps they are even lying on purpose, to have Obama waste time arguing who is the real agent for change, when people have already made up their minds. The Obama campaign needs to get off the change topic, as it is a beaten dead horse. If people haven't gotten it by now, they never will. They need to bring the focus back on the issues, and take a page from Bill Clinton, "it's the economy, stupid"

frankie d, union, nj (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:57 AM)

Palin is a liar, under investigation and nothing more then another right wing zealot, GOD wants me to put in that pipeline, GOD wants the IRAQ WAR, the speech she gave to her church in JUNE!, says so many things outloud about her that you will never get from the MSM becuause, they are all so afraid of being called sexist. That's what the GOPERS do to anyone who attempts to question the Moose Queens records or statements. Fine, let the zealots vote for McSame and her, they still think Sadam was behind 9-11 for crying out loud. Anything that's in the kool aid, they will drink. They aren't thinkers people, they are sheep, they simply follow whatever the church, minister, preacher, or GOP troll tells them. Why do you think our country is going down the toilet. These two have their hands on the handle and if they get into office your going to hear one big flush, that will be whatever is left of our country being finished off. My posts do not get posted anymore, guess you cannot comment on the GOP anymore either.

Sue F, Idaho Falls (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:58 AM)

He's also trying to sell something like the American 'Promise". Supposedly, he taught Constitutional law-where, in that document, does he find a 'promise'. We have certain inalienable rights, but no 'promises'. What we desire, what we have, we have to EARN, something he should know, given his background. Unfortunately, like most liberals, he believes that his superiority is what got him ahead, and that the rest of us are dependant on the largesse of those better than ourselves.

Barack should read Hayak's "The Road to Serfdom"; so should all of his supporters. You might learn something.
READ a BOOK, Monmouth County, NJ (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:06 AM)
8888888888888

Well said, Read a Book. I don't find that "promise" in our founding documents either. It scares me that Obama wants to move us to a socialist society, where basically everybody is on the dole. In such a system, where is the incentive to do better? Just like Obama trying to justify to O'Reilly that raising taxes on the higher incomes was justificable. In the end, O'Reilly told BHO that for him he would stop investing because he would be penalized for risking his money. If he makes a profit, then the cap gains tax takes it away. Without investments, there isn't capital available to businesses. And, with Obama taxing small business, will dry up jobs. Small business accounts for 70% of all new growth. It makes me all very afraid. If people expect business to support them but business can't make a profit, where will we be? I, for one, prefer to avoid the toilet swim.

real change? vote all out incumbents. (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:59 AM)

Will the msm please look into her hiring and firings as well as how she didn't vet the Safety commissioner who was a sexual assaulter, AND that she made victims pay for their own rape kits to save money for Wasilla?
Please look into these stories!

LB, Virginia (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 10:59 AM)

Take a snapshot of the status of the race today, and I guarantee it'll be a different picture by next month. There is a lot of initial response and excitement for Palin, but we still don't really know much about her politics. The media has been over-covering her personal life , and have been holding back scrutiny of her politics out of fear. I expect things to swing in Obama's favor, since he is running a campaign based more on integrity and honesty. Funny, you'd expect a campaign that touts being the political leaders of Christian conservatives to uphold honesty. Not the best example of leadership…

Martin, AL (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 11:00 AM)

LB, Virginia...what FR is saying that Obama is not as far behind McCain as Kerry was behind Bush in 2004. So Obama doesn't need to work as hard at the debates compared to Kerry. In other words...we are in good shape. I am not worried about the national polls. Look at the state polls and Obama is performing positively in those polls...even after the convention. Obama hit 50 in the polls last week after the convention and now we are experiencing the same highs from McCain. I think people should wait until next week after the dust settles and once these stories about Gov. Palin continue to surface and Americans see both sides...we will all be better off.

Fee, Philadelphia (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 11:02 AM)

READ a BOOK: She DID ask the librarian how she would feel about banning ojectionable books, several times, in front of witnesses. Then she fired the librarian, or tried to until citizens, like us, intervened. So it isn't a non story! It's her judgment that scares us to death! Onward Christian soldier stuff, sorry that's not my America!

LB, VIrginia (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 11:03 AM)

The media has been tricked into not being to hard on Palin for fear of "sexism." If she is tough enough to be a heartbeat away from the president, she should be tough enough to take the tough questions. Why are the media not calling out the McCain/Palin campaign out on all of their lies? The Republicans attack and smear and think if they just say it enough times it will be true. I'm shocked that with the last 8 years being a disaster that so many people are willing to support a ticket that is 90% in line with the Bush/Cheney administration! And finally as a white married woman I find it so offensive that people assume that I would vote for the McCain ticket just because I share the same anatomy with Gov. Palin. If you supported Hillary than you can't in good conscience support a ticket that has almost polar opposite views that Hillary and Obama. If you care about the economy, healthcare, environment, equal rights and a woman's right to choose the choice is clear-OBAMA/BIDEN!!

Kate, Short Hills, NJ (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 11:03 AM)

If McCain wins i'm moving to Europe. Not one more year of tyranny will i stand.

Jay Newsome (Sent Tuesday, September 09, 2008 11:03 AM)

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