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

These guys are in denial. That makes me happy they won't know what him them on Nov 4.

Jim, Mesa, AZ (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:53 PM)

The entire McCain Campaign needs a lesson in credibility. Each day of the campaign will continue to be a disaster if they continue to deny reality. Whether it's the comments above, the candidate's interviews on the morning shows today or the Des Moines register yesterday, none of these guys appear to be operating in the same world as the rest of us. The spin doesn't sell when it's not even close to reality.

Joe Tessmer, Duluth, GA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:53 PM)

The McCain campaign is a sketch comedy troupe.

V M, New York (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:53 PM)

What Kool-Aid are they drinking - and where can an Ohio voter like me find some ???

I live in a rural county in southeastern Ohio - that's Appalachia for those who don't know - and Obama signs outnumber McCain signs 2 to 1.

And the only reason that there aren't even more Obama signs here is that they're on backorder !!!

Mark, Ohio (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:55 PM)

Yeah, right.
You got him on run,John.

OutWest, Canyon Country, CA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:56 PM)

I have no problem with McCain aspiring to win. Heck, every football team wants to WIN the superbowl, right? I do, however, have a problem with him using these underhanded, backdoor tactics to achieve that win. McCain/Palin/Campaign cannot speak without mentioning Obama's name and what they are doing...true or false.

Maybe McCain should spend more time speaking about the issues and focusing on his Vice-President pick... but that's just me.

Mrs. Jones, Chicago, Illinois (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:57 PM)

This is just crazy talk! Obama is on the defensive? Then how is he winning in so many swing states?

Again McCain is just spinning the news anyway he can in order to hide his fear of losing.

http://lastofourkind.blogspot.com

LoOK (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:58 PM)

ROTFLMAO they're kidding right?

P. Adams Scottsdale, AZ (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:58 PM)

Does McCain really think he's got the eletorate tied up, he is behaving rather arrogant in such thoughts. Sounds like he is on the Defense and unless Palin "knocks it out of ballpark" I think the momemtum is in favor of Obama. People just have to rememeber that Obama has shown the ability to lead , has stayed as much above the fray as any candidate can and has a plan that doesn't change with the ratings or daily events. People also have to remember to VOTE or all our good thoughts mean nothing.

Suz, Western NY Obam/Biden 08

Suzanne, victor NY (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:58 PM)

Too bad Obama has a pretty good grasp on ALL of the states he mentioned, and will probably win at LEAST one of the typically Republican states.

Obama has a lead in VA, and all of the other states, while still "toss up" states have been trending heavily towards Obama, as have CO, NV, NM, NH, MN, WI, and PA.

Nice try though, McCain. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't consider mindless and unfounded political spin on the public to be considered a "maverick" move.

Mike, Taunton, MA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:59 PM)

Just wait until the new registered voters numbers show up. I have high hopes that we will win by a large number (god willing).
Obama/Biden 08

Go Obama (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:59 PM)

Nice try, McCain camp. You will lose FL, VA, OH, CO, NV, NM, NH, MN, WI, and PA. (It'll be close in NC and IN too!)

You are quickly becoming irrelevant... it won't be long until you pull out from WI, MN, and NM...followed soon thereafter by PA, and you will watch your candidacy go down in flames as FL goes blue!

Obama/Biden '08!

Jeff, Seattle, WA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:00 PM)

They are KIDDING right.. what map are they looking at?? This is a sad camp grasping at straws..I don't think McCain holds a lead in any state at this point..does he?

Rhan NY (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:00 PM)

What a loser McCain is!! No words... no words at all! They are trying to just make it seem as its not so bad for them... but it is! I hope McCain loses BIG time!

Obama 08!

John Tucker, New York, NY (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:00 PM)

If 'ifs' and 'buts' were candy and nuts - we'd all have a great Christmas.

Obama is crushing McCain in CO, NM, NH, MN, WI, and PA. And apparently he's leading in OH, FL, NC, and VA.

So I guess I'd want to be on defense!

Pete (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:00 PM)

Bwah Hah haaaaaa......McSame's camp is soooooo funny. These guys are going to loose in style. McCain should bring this brand of humor to the laugh factory he would SLAY them in there.

Star Search (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:01 PM)

Hey, that's right, they say the opposite of whatever is true. How could I forget? McCain: everything I say is 100% true; the polls aren't accurate; american is on my side with palin's experience; obama is on defense; palin is an expert on energy; etc. When they lose will they say they won and attempt to occupy the whitehouse? Sort of like the fat cats at the end of Trading Places: "turn those machines back on!"

Scott M, Tucson AZ (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:03 PM)

Obama would HAVE to be on defense. He's anything BUT a quarterback. Maybe a tight end.

Charro (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:03 PM)

I mean this in all sincerity. Senator McCain, you are sounding very desperate. Senator Obama is hardly on the defense but rather on the attack; the offense. The more you deny the glaring obvious, the more absurd your campaign sounds. I hope that you don't win, but I also hoped that you would retain your dignity throughout the campaign. With the tactics you are currently employing, you will go down in the poltical records books as a disgrace.

Bailey Quarters, Twin Cities, MN (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:04 PM)

In the last two weeks Obama has surged in Fl, NC, VA, and OH such that he has a slight lead but the internals are showing that he is expanding his base, while McCain is clearly perceived as the riskier choice and his ground game is performing poorly.

Insearchoftruth (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:04 PM)

They're delusional, seriously delusional. Put a fork in them, they're done!!

OBAMA/BIDEN '08 !!!

Stella, Tucson (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:04 PM)

Can you say DELUSIONAL?

"Paranoia, the destroyer..."

PAMama4Obama (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:05 PM)

Spin spin spin! I sort of feel bad for the McCain campaign staffers. I mean, how are you supposed to get a guy elected who is wasting his time arguing with a liberal editorial board in an unwinnable state this close to election day?

How can you try and play up his judgement when his VP pick has been making fourth graders seem extremely articulate lately?

This is such a desperate attempt to spin their recent slide in the polls. The source might as well have said "All Obama has to do is win any one of the following states: FL, MO, NC, VA, IN, and OH."

Obama is ahead in quite a few of these states already and in my opinion is probably underpolling. I mean, how many 18-25 year olds do you know who has a land-line? I know I don't. These phone-conducted polls are dramatically undersampling this demographic which will likely head to the polls in record numbers in November.

Obama/Biden 08

McTesty Time (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:06 PM)

So all McCain needs is a quick touchdown, a recovered onside kick, another quick score, another onside kick recovered and a field goal. All with no time outs left.

Uh-huh.

David, St. Louis, MO (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:06 PM)

JESUS !!
That campaign CAN'T TELL THE TRUTH !!

Pulling back from Michigan ISN'T comparable to pulling back from Wyoming

John McCain, Goin' down slow'

Sarah Palin, Trying to FAKE IT in the debates !

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:08 PM)

Great job, Gen. Custer! You've positioned us so we can attack in any direction we like!

Joe Don (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:09 PM)

Obama is on the defense? Wow, it seems the McCain camp has lost all sense of reality. The truth is something that now seems foreign to them, and they treat the people of this country like they are idiots. Obama leads in every single national poll by a decent margin. The polls also indicate that in almost every single state mentioned, Obama is leading in the polls, sometimes by a decent margin.

McCain needs nothing short of a miracle at this point. They need to swing quite a few blue leaning states, while at the same time holding on to some red states that are very close. McCain has a lot of ground to catch up. I just don't see how they can be in all these places at once, without some form of miracle.

Stan (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:10 PM)

All I can say is WOW!

paul, cali (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:10 PM)

It's amazing that a campaign and candidate would so blatantly lie. This isn't spin anymore and rather an insult to the American people. But then.....there will always be those that will drink kool Aid without question. The last eight years proved that.

Iris Campbell (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:11 PM)

Haaaaaahaaahahahahahahahhahahaah!

Obama / Biden 08 (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:12 PM)

Mccain should fire his whole campaign staff. They are just failing him. He can do better by himself, I hope so( if he takes his time in thinking department). He need to retire and let his campaign manager go to Nepal. This election is overrrrrrR.
Good Bye
PS: Keep deregulation going

Peter Kahn (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:13 PM)

ROTFLMAO ~ no words!!!

Danielle ~ Tucson, AZ (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:13 PM)

"caution you are about to enter the McCain/Palin SPIN ZONE"

They are clearly scared.... and should be !
Obama / Biden 08/12

Democrats in Idaho.... YES Idaho (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:13 PM)

wow,

That means they have 163 safe and have to win 97 from 6 swing states (FL, MO, NC, VA, IN and OH ). some of which they are trailing behind. Then they still need 10 more from CO, NV, NM, NH, MN WI and PA, you can take MN, WI and PA out, too far Obama, they will need another 2 states to go over ten. And if Obama takes any from the six above it done

Rhaj Musa (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:15 PM)

i simply love new math, Obama is ahead and unless his campaign implodes like McCains seems to be doing he will win this election. People can see through all the BS that mcCain and his henchmen continue to spew. he's too old and I might ad condesending and feeling entitled and his VP choice is to Barbie! Together they equal more misery for the U.S. That's why they pulled out of MI.

Sue F Idaho Falls, Id (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:15 PM)

Lying on offense, lying on defense- the McCain camp is going down in flames. The truth is, they are freaking out about FL, OH, and VA. If Obama wins any one of these in addition to the Kerry states + IA + NM, it's goodnight, Gracie.

(I'm sure Senator McCain remembers that reference.)

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:16 PM)

>>>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."
==========
I just love the smell of GOP desparation in the morning.

Obama/Biden '08!

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:17 PM)

The reason Obama is a head in or close in the polls is because he is what our country needs
The problem at hand is that Instead of thinking things through and working out smart careful solutions McCain's answer is heavy-handed and rash… he uses a "hatchet" instead of a "scalpel"

1. the economy crisis… suspend EVERYTHING and head to Washington…
2. Solution for the economy: a “spending freeze” …freeze EVERYTHING…
3. Earmarks… get rid of ALL of them….
4. Foreign policy… DON'T TALK TO ANYONE, “with us or against us”

McCain's solutions are rough, over the top, not thought through, and rash… if something doesn't work don't fix it, throw it out… don't try to figure out a solution that works for the people of America… just dump the whole thing….

It isn't that McCain may or may not have identified true issues and concerns, it is that his solutions are hasty impulsive reckless and unwise.
It takes nuance and finesse to get this country back on track… Obama has the judgement and the temperament to think things through carefully and come to solid useful and helpful decisions... a scalpel not a hatchet…

GLT, Santa Barbara, CA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:17 PM)

I would have preferred Harold Ford to the Obama Trauma. At least he's done something vote wise and never tried to deceive mush-minded liberals. We know who he is and what he's about.

And let's put a female Fox anchor in charge of the debate. At least it would be "fair and balanced." Ouch!

Full Moon (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:18 PM)

Wow. Does the McCain camp even pay attention to public sentiment? I was watching the video with the Des Moines Editorial Board and he was telling them how America agrees with him overwhelmingly on the issues, and especially on Palin's experience and credentials. He is either a flat out liar, or delusional. Either way, its not presidential.

Donn E., Boise, Idaho (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:18 PM)

Yeah right!! Dream on GOP coz' that's about all you can do right now! CNN already has Obama at 293-190 with still 6 battlegrounds left (NV,CO,MO,IN,NC,NH). Now,that sure doesn't look like an easier map for GOP even if you ask my 10 yr old daughter.

Again, Welcome to your NEW office Pres. Obama, the Oval office. :)

Independent from TX (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:18 PM)

Fuzzy math, GOP style.

Jeff D., Atlanta, GA (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:19 PM)

RCP has Obama up to 353 electoral votes with its allocation of toss ups between the two candidates. Things can and do change, but right now it looks like the change is flowing toward Obama. Palin is now proving to be a liability for McCain and makes concerns about his age even more significant. His temperment seems to becoming an issue, as shown with his interview in Des Moines and his debate behavior.

EJ, Weterloo, Iowa (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:19 PM)

Honey puhleeze! McCain is like a wounded bear backed in a corner. He'll lash out in every direction because he has no clue what to do. I imagine his next strategy will be to use the "N" word without actually saying it. McCain is an old man with transient dementia and a temper to boot!

Elvis Aaron Hemphill, Greensboro, NC (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:19 PM)

Yeah...Obama is on the defense and "denial" is a river in Egypt.

Cathy Milton, VT (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:20 PM)

Why doesn't anyone comment that Obama will win New Mexico and Colorado, both red states in prior elections. By doing so, Obama only has to win one of the main swing states to win, while at best all McCain can do is tie. Obama has given the Democratic Party the lead when it comes to hispanic voters, who are the most IMPORTANT VOTING BLOCK IN THIS ELECTION AND FOR EVERY ELECTION IN THE FUTURE. It's not WHITE AMERICA you racist fuck Chuck Todd. Go stuff your fat ass at another McCain function you ginger and let real political experts like myself write for your crappy blog!

Rick (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:20 PM)

And the moonmen will be landing to ensure that the Republicans win in those states. Until then, the Obama political "machine", or organization, is already in place in most of the states identified by McCain....and, we have those recent polling numbers...my, that coolade the Republicans are drinking is pretty stout!

Bob Ramstead, Toledo (a very small town..smaller than Wasilla), Oregon (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:20 PM)

Oh yeah. Obama's on defense. This is exactly like how Germany pulled out of the African theater right before they won World War II.

People! John McCain thinks you're stupid!

asdf (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:22 PM)

Hmmm...when I play with the maps I find that Obama has about five different paths to victory. I only find one or two long-shot paths for McCain. I think the country will go to bed on the evening of November 4th knowing who our next president will be, and I believe Obama will have a very good night.

LA in Denver (Sent Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:22 PM)

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