McCain camp: Obama is on defense

Posted: Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:24 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: States

From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
To explain its decision to pull back from Michigan, a source close to the McCain campaign emails First Read, "We played in Michigan to spread the field on Obama. As you know, Obama has already abandoned a number of states from his 50-state strategy."

The official continues, "If we win FL, MO, NC, VA, IN and OH -- all states Republicans have won for decades -- that puts us at 260 electoral votes. We need to find 10 electoral votes from CO, NV, NM, NH, MN, WI, and PA. Frankly, we have an easier map than Obama. He’s on the defense."

But that's MUCH easier said that done. Recent polls show McCain to be either trailing or essentially tied in all of these states.

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Comments

Another ridiculous response!

CH, Dallas, tx (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:29 PM)

Oh, yes, Senator, you are exactly right. So why not just sit back and wait for all of that to fall in place. We know that you are tired and Sarah can't remember where she is supposed to go next. So just take it easy.

p.s. We'll see you at the Obama inauguration in January!

Marni in Michigan (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:30 PM)

Oh please, McCain that sounds so demented.

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

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:31 PM)

Wake up old man, you picked a looser as your vp and pa just plain doesn't want you, my own republican parents are voting for Obama as you are a looser with no solutions!!! Just give up and go home. We just keep registering in pa so count that as another one you can pack up and leave.

Pa Voter (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:31 PM)

Yeah. Right. Lovely.

Why don't you just go ahead and bite me, Senator McCain.

Obama '08

Jay, Bozeman MT (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:32 PM)

"If we win FL, MO, NC, VA, IN and OH -- all states Republicans have won for decades "

i would not count all of those states in the GOP column just yet- recent poll numbers from FL have Obama leading there...

hold your horses, McCain... (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:32 PM)

Looks like the McCain campaign is engaged in some of that "revisionist history" conservatives always rail against.

http://enough2008.blogspot.com/2008/10/vp-debate-will-pit-attaboy-joe-against.html

Levi, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:33 PM)

Let them believe THAT. Let them tell their grassroots THAT.

It's a total ecplipse of reality ... I would not want to wake them up !

OBAMA'08

Frank MO (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:35 PM)

I know McThuselah doesn't use the Internets or the e-mail, and Palincomparison reads all the magazines, but does their entire campaign get its facts from 10 day old newspapers?

It's really just sad, like that kid who still believes his good ol' dog is living on a farm somewhere.

Man Size Safe, Portland, Texas (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:36 PM)

I'm spinning, I'm spinning, help I'm getting dizzy, ooomph I'm gonna hurl!

Yep, they sure suckered Obama into spending his resources winning Michigan.

Who's Sane (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:37 PM)

Bwahahaha.

Yeah, Obama is on the defense. He's currently defending his 330 EV votes and is heading for 375.

Tom, Northern VA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:37 PM)

If it makes them sleep better at night they can keep telling themselves that.

Jim utica, ny (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:37 PM)

There are no US tanks at the gates of Baghdad!

Rob, Indianapolis (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:37 PM)

That is nice spin. I've said all along that all McCain has to do is hold the red states (minus Iowa and New Mexico) and he wins. It's Obama that must flip states blue.

A few weeks ago, it looked like his only chance was Colorado and Nevada. Now that Florida and Virginia are in play, there are more options. Through in a chance for upsets in Ohio, North Carolina, and Indiana and there are several ways Obama can win.

Jenny, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:37 PM)

Bwahahahahahaha! Thanks, McSame spokesperson, that's the best laugh I've had all day.

This is like saying, if only we can hold onto every state Bush won (or stole) in 2004, plus deny Obama all of the Kerry states, AND deny him the new battleground states like Colorado, New Mexico, and Virginia, we will win for sure.

That's a lot of ifs to be spinning to the press. As things stand now, Obama has much more margin for error than McSame does. And Obama is the candidate running the more disciplined and professional campaign.

Philimus, Cleveland, Ohio (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:38 PM)

Why does the McCain camp continue to spin on their failure to win Michigan. I think the McCain official is stating what the Obama campaign is doing in FL, MO,NC,VA, IN, OH, CO, NV, NH, MI, WI, MN and PA, it appears to me that the McCain campaign is on the Defense on this one. I don't understand why the McCain campaing continue to think the American people are stupid and can not see through the lies and deception.

Steve Douglass (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:38 PM)

"If we win these six different battleground states, we only need to win one of two more battleground states!"

Just A Guy, Cincy, OH (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:38 PM)

try again McCain. McCain is now campaigning in states republicans were not putting effort to win such as OH, FL, VA, NC, IN,CO, NV, MO etc. I don't know how this equates to Obama being defensive. Obama changed the electoral map and has more options to reach 270 then McCain.

voter (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:39 PM)

This is such SPIN
My god
Palin doesnt need to answer questions as well???
PLEASE

Nj (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:39 PM)

Obama is on the defense?? Is this "source" serious? If anyone is on the defense, that would definitely be McCain. They're only removing the negative ads in Michigan, because they've witnessed the recent polls that show Obama ahead by a good percentage. This just shows how threatened McCain, and his team are. They aren't running the brilliant campaign that Obama is running, and their strategy is far from brilliant. The Obama campaign on the other hand, does indeed have a brilliant strategy.

I wouldn't count on winning all of the states mentioned above by this source, if I were them. Things have changed drastically since Bush has taken office, and Obama has a very good shot at winning the traditional red states.

To the Republicans: Don't count on it!

Californian for Obama (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:39 PM)

This strategy and the quote about Obama being on defense make no sense, except if you consider its from the McCain campaign, which has made little sense to date.

Jon (DC) (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:39 PM)

"If we win FL, MO, NC, VA, IN and OH"???? And if grandma had cojones, she'd be called grandpa.

Mike Slama, Miami, FL (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:40 PM)

And if I could see Russia from my house, I could be Vice President.

Do they even remotely believe any of this stuff?

Steve, Portland, OR (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:40 PM)

Wow! That's the most transparent spin of a retreat I have every encountered!

Eric, Cleveland, Ohio (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:40 PM)

WOW!

Now THAT is some strong Kool-Aid the McCain camp has!!

WTF? (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:41 PM)

Yeah right. How does one type the sound of someone throwing up?

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:41 PM)

"We were just... uh... hanging out with Michigan to... uh, make Obama jealous. Boy, he fell for that one. Sucker! Now we're going to go spend some more time with Indiana.... INDIANA! Please don't leave us for him! Pleeeease!"

Pitiful, really. McCain, please don't come to Wisconsin anymore. We don't want you anymore than they did on the other side of Lake Michigan.

AC, Milwaukee (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:41 PM)

When in doubt, Spin, Spin, Spin. I expect no less from Palin tonight too, she'll be foaming at the mouth again as with Katie Couric who showed Palin for the dim wit she is. McCain has been looking as if he's on some sort of steroid or cocaine or something that agitates him even more than usual or maybe it's just that the real McCain has come home to roost. I've been hearing about this anger problem he has, that's probably what I'm seeing. Whatever it is McCain is testy and out of sorts, it could be that he misses his big Palin crowds.

LJ (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:42 PM)

That's just silly!

But good spin on their part!

Chuck in Seattle (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:43 PM)

Yeah, that's about right.... usually, when i'm on the defensive - I DISH OUT THE CASH TO BUY AN ENTIRE TV CHANNEL ON DISH NETWORK FOR A MONTH!!!

Obama on the defensive?

GIMME A BREAK!

BD in WI

BD in WI (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:43 PM)

Spread the field? You must be joking. They want us to believe that one? "We are going to compete in Michigan.... PSYCHE!..." Oh, wow - you really confused Obama there. Really pulled one, John. What a tactician. Sounds like more "Fonzie-like" language from The McSame Crowd.... can't even utter the words "I was wr-wr-wr-wr...." WRONG?

I want to try some of what they are drinking. Talk about mind-altering....

JFK JR, Seattle WA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:44 PM)

what they hell are they saying, As you know, Obama has already abandoned a number of states from his 50-state strategy." john, the fact is that you have given up on states that are usually red, indiana is a prime example of the fact you have given up on states, virgina, NC, and you have to be sweating big time because in FL, barack is up by 3 or 4 there!! give me a break on this crap!!!

jeff D Evanston IL. (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:44 PM)

I am not sure where they are getting their information from. I have looked at a lot of polls and they have Obama ahead in some of those so called "red" states. People are finally getting it . Vote for McCain get four more years of the same.Vote for Obama and get the change this country truly deserves.

Obama/Biden 08!!

Cathy, Asheville, NC (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:44 PM)

Do McCain and Obama really thinks they can handle this crewed up world?

Yeng Lao, Marysville, CA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:45 PM)

Yeah, I think McCain should stick with that strategy. Obama's campaign obviously will have their heads spinning when they find out how they got tricked into campaigning in MI. Why you wascally wabbit.

VP to nowhere (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:45 PM)

I think McCain is running out of money, supporters, and frankly he is looking pretty bad.

Emily Watson, San Diego, CA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:46 PM)

what the hell are they talking about? They are losing in each of those states based on the last polls. Even the Conservative ones. What a joke.

Matt, NJ (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:46 PM)

Let see:

McCain halted his campaign and the 1st debate to help out with the Wall Street Bail-Out. That failed.

He called for the VP debate the be postponed. That failed.

He lost the 1st debate. Another failure.

He's pulling out of Michigan. Failure.

He's fallen further and further behind in the most polls. Another failure.

All he's got left is Gov. Palin?!?!?!?!?!?

John McCain: One failure after another. And the Presidential campaign still has another 4 weeks to go.

How many more failures does he have left in him?

Tom Kaye (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:47 PM)

Hey, “I’m 100% Honest” John McCain”…….Has anybody in your camp looked at a recent poll or the current standings of the Electoral map? Lies or ignorance, I don’t find either explanation inspiring. Spin, spin, spin…………………………

Obama/Biden 08

Shannon, Olympia, WA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:47 PM)

Nice of the McCain campaign to think so highly of us voters in Michigan this election season.

John, MI (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:47 PM)

Nice try........except that Ohio,Florida and Virginia are now all very much in play. Best educated guesses place McCain 30+ electorial votes behind Obama doesn't have to play defense with those kind of numbers

Joe F Las Vegas (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:48 PM)

Obama needs two of the following four to seal the deal -- FL, MO, OH, VA. She shouldn't have trouble winning MN and PA.

Obama/Biden '08

Democratic CPA, Rochester Hills, Michigan (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:49 PM)

How dumb is this assertion?
This is no spin no more...its ridiculous

msnz911, New York (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:49 PM)

Obama's 50 state strategy spread the field on McSame, not the other way around. That's why McSame is pulling out of Michigan. McSame needs a better spin team because these arguments they use are transparent and piss-poor. You don't pull out of Michigan because the other guy is on defense. You pull out because your numbers are slipping. In McSame's case, they're not just slipping in Michigan--it's nationwide.

McSame now has to defend traditionally GOP states. What kind of offense is that?

S. Williams (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:49 PM)

I think this statement, right here proves just how desperate the republicans are. Obama's on the defense, yet he is up in every poll and now leading in pretty much every swing state. That sure sounds like Obama is on the defensive.

ERIC, MN (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:49 PM)

Obama is on DEFENSE? Keep spinning McSame - you're making us all dizzy (with glee!).

OBAMA/BIDEN '08/'12

KP (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:49 PM)

Huh!? Obama pulled out of Wyoming and Montana..hardly battleground states

Joe Reed, Miami, FL (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:50 PM)

This is very funny. Sen.McCain has an easier path to the 270 electorates!!! I am amused by this. On the other hand, if this is how his campaign acts, no wonder they are in so much trouble.

Becky, CA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:51 PM)

That's laughable. FL, VA & OH are all Obama, and NC may yet be. NV, CO, NM, NH, MN, WI & PA are all Obama as well.

It's going to be a landslide folks.

Matt, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:52 PM)

What color is the sky in the McCain camp world? MN. is not going to be helpful to McCain.

As to Palin? If she debates the way she interviewed, same words again and again, we all the know the McCain camp will say she won.

What scares me? Palin will really believe it!

sotiredofignorance (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:52 PM)

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