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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



McCain 'pulling back' from MI

Posted: Thursday, October 02, 2008 4:49 PM by Carrie Dann

From NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Carrie Dann
Politico's Jonathan Martin was the first out of the gate to report that the McCain campaign is expected to withdraw staff and television ads from battleground state Michigan, where the Arizona senator has lagged in recent polls by as much as double digits.

Campaign workers will be relocated to more competitive battlegrounds like Wisconsin as well as Ohio and Florida, two states that went for Bush in the past two elections

Although the shift is being characterized as a "pullout," sources in the state confirm to NBC News that radio ads were launched in the state today, and they characterize the move as more of a "pull back."
 
A spokesman for the Michigan Republican Party also told NBC that the state party received a phone call from the RNC informing them of the decision at noon today. 

McCain was scheduled to hold a campaign event next week in Plymouth, Michigan.  City manager Paul Sincock was contacted by the campaign to tentatively schedule the event on Tuesday; he was informed yesterday morning that it would be cancelled and "possibly" rescheduled.

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Cnn is reporting tha tthe Mccain camp is saying Palin's strategy tonight is to attack Biden using her childish quips. If this is so and its does take place and Biden states enough is enoguh and gives it right back to her I don't want to hear any females grumbling that Biden is picking on her or being condescending. If Palin starts it Biden should be allowed to nail her to the wall.  
Dominos, anyone?
(no, I don't mean the pizza....)
Old McBush is in a panic and the debate hasn't even started.
Why doesn’t McCain just pull out of the race, save millions of $$$ and our sanity.

Aside from a severe lack of knowledge on pertinent issues, after reviewing the Couric interviews I find that nothing bothers me more than the fact that Sarah Palin (just like John McCain) delivers “deception” with far too much ease and that such similarities to the Bush/Cheney legacy are both striking and indelible. I suspect that no kind of Kabuki Theater performance by her tonight could ever retrieve John McCain’s already sinking ship. McCain’s demeanor over the entire course of the campaign has been anything but Presidential. With desperation on display, McCain will stop at absolutely nothing - even discrediting a highly renowned political journalist with an impeccable record for his own personal gain. FACT: The higher Obama climbs in the polls, the lower McCain’s ethics will sink - and it shows over and over and over again. Senator McCain's increasingly erratic behavior and hostile temperament is deeply, deeply disturbing at best.

Obama/Biden 08: True and HONEST change!
Mark this day as the beginning of the end.

McCain is lagging behind in almost every “battleground state.”

Times they are certainly a changing.

http://lastofourkind.blogspot.com
The Drip has turned into a Hemmorhage!


BYE, BYE MCCAIN!


That's because their blatant ignorance, and negativity is starting to bite them in the arse. It's good to know that the Republicans realize that their childish antics aren't going to work this time around. Since McCain is now lagging so badly in the polls, they might as well discontinue use of the false, negative ads.
Good McCain, if you must go, be the first to admit for the good of the country-- I rather lose an election by putting my country first. One state is down; and 49 to go. For once in your miserable, life you can admit defeat!

Do it for the good of the country.


McCain/Palin= more of the same
With Mccain/Palin, The Worst Is Yet To Come.
No how!
No McCain/Palin!
Nobody but Obama/Biden


This is why Obama has been spending money in areas he is not to expected to win (Indiana, etc.). It forces McCain't to reploy assets to areas he thought were safe from areas where he hoped to make unexpected gains.

And he said Obama didn't know the difference between strategy and tactics.
This is what you call kicking McCain's ***!!  Run along now republicans, someone, somewhere, wants your attention.  McCain's been getting really testy lately, what's up with that, sensitive, even.  No more self-titled "maverick" or "sheriff", no more now, those titles are gone.  I always thought of Tom Cruise as Maverick anyway, he's easier on the eyes.
I think that there is no candidate in this election who has credibility with respect to the economy.  I mean, nobody can tell me that there weren't warning signs that the economy was going to get to this point before now.  And, I hate to break it to you all, but Bush is not the one we should be blaming.  It's our congressmen and women!  They're the ones who shape policy...they're the ones who should have taken action.  Republicans were in charge up until 2006...and the Democrats have had almost two whole years in power, and they have done NOTHING!  So, if you ask me, the American people do not have anyone they can trust on the issue of the economy.  

Now, I believe I read a post by someone named "Miss" on one of the previous blogs.  Miss apparently believes that the only possible reason that someone may not vote for Obama is because of his skin color.  Well, Miss, what I have to say to you is that the race issue is getting very old very fast.  I do not trust Obama not because he is black, but because he has had very little experience in leadership positions, and I don't really feel that he's stepped up to the plate during the time that he's been in the Senate at all.  What has he accomplished, exactly?  The answer, if we're all really honest with ourselves, is nothing.  You guys are voting for him because he can deliver a pretty speech.  And for some reason, all his negative attributes (yes, he does have them) are ignored, and he gets a pass on everything.  It baffles me, and it worries me that so many people are Obama worshippers...it isn't natural to believe that a human being is without flaws.  It's scary.
Palin supposedly has a bandage on her hand from a so-called fall while jogging. Let's watch tonight to see if the bandage is there and if so perhaps a means of getting sympathy (as with Cindy McCain's wrist wrap a month or so ago), or perhaps even as someone has suggested a small transmitter under the bandgae. Let's all keep an eye open.  
I really believe that the debate standards are so low for Palin that she will surprise Biden and actually win the debate on tonight which will excite the Republican base again aka convention and the McCain campaign will receive a bounce from the Debate. The focus will return on Palin the superstar. I think McCain has to shift resources to those battleground states especially flordia, north carolina and indiana because McCain was expected to win those states that went for Bush in '04 hands down, now McCain is force to spend more money than expected just to make an effort to hold on to those states.
The Obama tsunami is picking up momentum!  It just can't chrest too early!  Michigan has been swept over and next it will be Ohio!  Then accross and through Pennsylvania to Virginia, down to North Carolina and INTO Florida!  What is McCain using to stop THE "O" Tsunami?  Sarah!  I can't wait for tonight and then November 4!
1 down 49 to go.  McSame blinked eh Sarah?
The press always has to put a negative spin on Senator McCain.

He is not pulling out of Michigan, he is returning to Washington to help pull Democrats and Republicans together to resolve the financial crisis.

Opps, I forgot that was the excuse last week.

He is returning to Washington to spearhead the capture of Bin Laden to finish the job Bill Clinton botched.. opps I forgot that was 8 years ago.

He is moving his campaign headquarters to Alaska..
Michigan down, Ohio and Florida next.  United we succeed, divided we fail!

Obama/Biden '08
McCain, you'll be no more welcome here in Wisconsin than you were in Michigan.  The tide has turned and we're seeing scores of former Republicans out canvassing and campaigning for Obama.  Funny, how as soon as they become informed, they decide not JUST to vote for Obama, but to volunteer for him.
my favorite phrase on McCain's recent behavior is Ready FIRE aim! Funny, true and scary!
CUT AND RUN !!!!!!
Okay lets not get to happy we have the debate tonite and the month of October alot can happen, people have to also remember to tell people to vote and make sure they are voting

History 101:  Remember Dewey v Truman

VOTE VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN

suz, western NY
Good bye old man don't let the door hit ya on the way out. Nobody belives your hype and lies here in Michigan any more, we are all out of work and out of patience with the GOP. Landslide Obama!!!!!
He was already lagging in MI and since primary voters were unable to vote for Obama because they violated DNC rules by pushing the primary forward to Janaury, MI votes haver been fired up about him ever since then.He could win by a blowout up there.

McCain should have known that picking Palin would cost him Michigan,Romney would have secured MI for him.
If Gov. Palin wants to be a pitbull in the big leagues with the big boys, then this garbage about treating her like a lady is again pure garbage.

If she can dish it, she has to take it, what a double standard!
pulling back ?

they are cutting and running !
>>>Although the shift is being characterized as a "pullout," sources in the state confirm to NBC News that radio ads were launched in the state today, and they characterize the move as more of a "pull back."
==========
Merely semantics.  The bottom line is they've given up on the state.  The McCain/Palin machine is starting to crack and the reason is quite simple.  They've gambled that the average American voter is stupid and decided to focus on personality instead of the issues.  They underestimated American intelligence and lost.  If I were in McCain's shoes, I'd immediately FIRE Rick Davis and the rest of Karl Rove's crew from his staff and start running an honorable campaign again.  At least then he can salvage his chances for 2012.

Oh, and he should dump Palin as well.

Obama/Biden '08!
I just pray to God McCain win this damn election or aleast someone takes out obama. McCain wasn't my first choice but he far better the Obama
What?  No "victory", but a "surrender"?
Why stop at Michigan? The McCain campaign is an embarrassment.
What the freak hapen to "Country First"? I guess it's 49 stats first now huh? Even if Barack did mean 57 states at least he has us all covered..... I know that was a dumb statement right McCain'ts Well so is this garbage you guy keeps trying to feed us. Listen you give up MI you might as well give up the entire region up there. You think small town America doesn't talk? All those unions. Auto and Sheel go together like wolverine and joe sixpack. you frickin done. And you can't drop Pl'ain now. You're stuck with her...but we're not stuck with you Johnny.


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