First thoughts: McCain's map blues

Posted: Monday, October 27, 2008 9:27 AM by Carrie Dann
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carrie Dann
*** Obama crosses 270: After moving the battlegrounds of Colorado and Virginia from Toss-up to Lean Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee now has crossed the 270 Electoral Vote threshold in NBC’s electoral map. One week before the election, Obama leads McCain 286-163, up from his 264-163 advantage a week ago. As we pointed out on Friday, the significance of moving Colorado and Virginia into Obama’s column is this: If Obama wins those two states, plus Nevada, he can still get to 270 -- even if he loses Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In addition to the Colorado and Virginia changes, we have moved McCain’s home state of Arizona from Likely McCain to Lean McCain, a tip to the reality that Arizona, without McCain on the ticket, would have been a contested battleground. A new poll conducted by a Democratic group found McCain with just a four-point lead over Obama in the state, 48%-44%. This comes on the heels of private polls we have seen that show the presidential contest to be tight in Arizona. In addition, McCain's collapse in Hispanic support is contributing to this downturn here as well. Of course, it’s worth pointing out that our map reflects how things stand right now. Yet, with eight days remaining, McCain is running out of time to change the dynamics of the race.

Video: NBC Political Director Chuck Todd offers his first read on a new set of polls from the battleground map and discusses the importance Colorado and Virginia have come to play as they shift from 'toss-up' to 'Obama'.

Likely Obama: CA, CT, DE, DC, HI, IL, ME, MD, MA, NY, OR, RI, VT, WA (175 electoral votes)
Lean Obama: CO, IA, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NM, PA, VA, WI (111 votes)
Toss-up: FL, IN, MO, NV, NC, OH (89 votes)
Lean McCain: AZ, GA, MT, NE 02, ND, SD, WV (40 votes)
Likely McCain: AL, AK, AR, ID, KS, KY, LA, MS, NE (the rest of the state), OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, WY (123 votes)

*** Obama’s closer: In a speech from Canton, OH that his campaign is billing as his closing argument, Obama today will contend that his candidacy represents a change from President Bush’s economic policies and philosophy -- which he says McCain will follow. “When it comes to the economy, when it comes to the central issue of this election, the plain truth is that John McCain has stood with this President every step of the way,” he will say, according to excerpts of the speech. What’s more, Obama will call for changing the tone in Washington. (But haven't we heard this before? Both Bush 43 and Clinton 42 promised this.) “[T]he change we need isn’t just about new programs and policies. It’s about a new politics -- a politics that calls on our better angels instead of encouraging our worst instincts; one that reminds us of the obligations we have to ourselves and one another.” What's interesting here is his avoidance of mentioning the potential for unchecked Dem political power in Congress. Also, he's trying to turn the "readiness" tables on McCain by painting him as "risky" because of his shared philosophy with Bush. By the way, as for the unchecked power, did Hillary Clinton and Al Franken accidentally do the GOP a favor with the TV ad she's running for him that touts 60 Senate seats and the potential for Franken to be No. 60?

*** McCain Meets the Press: As Obama today attempts to paint McCain as an extension of Bush’s economic policies, the Arizona senator didn’t help himself much on this front when he said this on NBC’s Meet the Press: “So do [Bush and I] share a common philosophy of the Republican Party? Of course.” McCain then added, “But I've, I've stood up against my party, not just President Bush, but others; and I've got the scars to prove it, including taking up, with Ted Kennedy, immigration reform, knowing full well that that was going to hurt my chances in the primaries. So I could go down a long list of issues with you.” One of those issues that McCain didn’t mention in the interview was his votes against the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts. In fact, those votes could have been McCain’s rebuttal to Obama’s charge that the Arizona senator is in lockstep with Bush on economic matters.

Video: John McCain lays out his plans to turn the economy around including cuts in spending and taxes, investment incentives, and stock market reform.

Ponder this what-if: What if McCain, after clinching the GOP nomination in March, had moved to the center on economic policy, saying that now -- with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as a rising national debt -- wasn’t the time to extend Bush’s tax cuts for the well-off? Or what if he picked some other economic policy to distance himself from Bush? There will be a lot of Wednesday-morning quarterbacking next week, if he loses, about how McCain spent the first four months of his general election campaign.

*** Palin as Jason Bourne? The big political intrigue over the weekend was the Politico story noting that Palin had “gone rogue” -- ignoring the McCain campaign’s advice, as well as seeming to break with McCain on a few issues (like raising Jeremiah Wright and the campaign’s decision to give up on Michigan). And then a McCain adviser said this to CNN: "She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone. She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else. Also, she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom." Wow. Of course, tension between the running mate -- who is looking out for his/her political future -- and the principal’s campaign is nothing new. (See Edwards, John.) But what is new is how this has become public consumption before Election Day. (We didn’t really know about the Kerry-Edwards tension until after the campaign?) No doubt Palin is looking out for her political future after this campaign. The question is whether this tension ends up damaging her for 2012…

*** Still talking about the clothes? Yesterday, the McCain-Palin campaign pushed back harder on the $150,000 shopping-spree story than it did when the news first broke. Also, Palin devoted the first couple minutes of her speech in Florida to the clothes story, mentioning (among other things) that she wears a $35 wedding ring. A few questions here: What took so long? Could it be the campaign couldn't get the full story out of the RNC until this weekend? How bad is the relationship between the RNC and the McCain campaign? By the way, there still isn't a good accounting for these purchases. Will a post-election audit of the RNC's finances turn up shenanigans? How this story is still going strong this weekend is just a PR debacle... By the way, as CNN reported, Palin mentioning her clothes yesterday wasn’t in the prepared remarks the campaign had for her yesterday.

*** Poll Watch: One reason why observers were baffled by the McCain-Palin team's time-intensive visits to the Hawkeye State this weekend (including the ironically-named Waterloo, where Meet the Press met up with McCain yesterday) ... A new Mason-Dixon poll shows Obama up 11 points in the state (51%-40%). The numbers came out alongside new polls in Georgia, where McCain is holding on to a six-point lead (49%-43%) and Missouri, where he holds a single-point advantage (46%-45%) in a state that could keep us up late next Tuesday. Also, a new Washington Post poll shows Obama leading McCain by eight points in Virginia, 52%-44%.

*** Downballot watch: Just how bad is it going to be for House Republicans? The Los Angeles Times notes a bunch of House GOPers in the Golden State who were once untargeted are now nervous. And late last week, we noticed the NRCC sent out attack press releases in three races that just shocked us --WY At-Large, IL-6, and IN-3. Trust us, if you are worried about Dick Cheney's old House seat as well as one once held by Henry Hyde, things are not going well. The chatter about a 35-seat loss for the GOP doesn't appear to be "chicken little" type rhetoric anymore. As one top Dem strategist told First Read last week, this election cycle -- more so than in 2006 -- will see quite a few Democrats elected that the DCCC basically ignored.

*** Fun fact of the day: An unfamiliar sight will greet Texas voters this year. There’s no Bush on the ballot. The last time there wasn't a Bush on the Texas ballot -- or in Texas office -- was 1976. And if you exclude ’71 to ’77, there has been a Bush on the Texas ballot or in office since ’64. Why does this matter? The Republican win in Texas will be its smallest victory since 1988, and is one of the reasons why most folks do not believe McCain can win the popular vote because he won't rack up the margins in this big state like Republicans in the past have.

*** On the trail: McCain begins his day in Ohio, holding an economic meeting in Cleveland and then a rally in Dayton before attending another rally in Pottsville, PA. Obama gives his closing-argument speech in Canton, OH and later campaigns in Pittsburgh, PA. Biden stumps in North Carolina (Greenville and Greensboro) and then in Florida (Port Richey). And Palin spends her day in Virginia, hitting Leesburg, Fredericksburg, and Salem.

Countdown to Election Day 2008: 8 days
Countdown to Electoral Vote Count: 73 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 85 days

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Comments

Who is bested suited to lead in these difficult times? The two candidates have had to deal with both a major presidential level decision and a global crisis in the past couple months. On the critical matter of selecting the backup who would step into the presidency in an emergency, John McCain picked an unschooled mediocrity for clearly political purposes. John’s buddy Joe Lieberman said on Friday: “Thank God she's not going to have to be president from day one. McCain's going to be alive and well.” I feel better already.

We just witnessed about as good a side by side crisis test as you could ask for. Both candidates had to respond to the global financial meltdown, which John’s campaign manager Rick Davis called potentially “the worst financial crisis in our nation's history.” It was John McCain who was late to recognize what was happening and then couldn’t figure out how to respond. He made a dramatic show of suspending his campaign because he knew he needed to seize the initiative politically, but then didn’t seem to have any coherent position once he took charge. It doesn’t inspire confidence when you say you’re going to do something and then back down within days.

John’s horrendous POW experience did nothing to prepare him for the job of president. A captive soldier must cope with a situation in which he or she has no control and can decide nothing. A president of the United States must do nothing but make good decisions over and over again. Barack Obama has demonstrated the calm consistency, intelligence, and good judgment we so desperately need in a leader for these troubled times. He has been tested repeatedly in this marathon campaign and he has risen to meet every challenge.

jaycee, Ventura, CA (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:34 AM)

I thought I would never remember what it is to be like a child before Christmas. That is how I feel now while awaiting the election next Tuesday. If my county early voting station wasn’t so far out of my way, I would early vote today. Obama’s huge rallies these past 2 weekends are awe inspiring. I am sure his 30 minute ‘visit to my house’ on Wednesday will put the final candle on the celebration cake for me.

You made us believe in hope last January, and you have reaffirmed it again in your closing arguments. Hope triumphs fear this election.

Chuck, NY (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:35 AM)

Palin had “gone rogue” -- ignoring the McCain campaign’s advice, as well as seeming to break with McCain on a few issues (like raising Jeremiah Wright and the campaign’s decision to give up on Michigan).
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A campaign in disarray. Infighting.

Bad news for ANY campaign -- much less a presidential one. Wasn't this the real sign that the Clinton campaign was going down earlier this year? Lots of finger-pointing, etc?

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:37 AM)

I don't know what's going to be more emotional for me: voting for Senator Barack Obama next Tuesday or the announcement later Tuesday evening that he has won the election.

All I do know for certainty is that I can't wait.

Cheers everybody.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:38 AM)

I am so laughing that Chuck Todd has finally pushed Obama over the magic 270 electoral vote total on his electoral map. With a week to go that's a wonderful sign that Obama will score a much bigger victory than "NeoNazi" Bush did 4 years ago.

It was 4 years ago that the repugnant ones were bragging about having control of the White House and Congress for a generation. It only took 2 years to lose Congress and now 4 years later they will lose the White House. Now it will be the Democrats that will have total control of Washington so that they can undo all the damage of the past 8 years.

We can now throw back that saying from 4 years ago when we lost the White House "Get Over It"! Now for some progressive 21st Century style government by Obama, Biden, Pelosi and Reid!

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:38 AM)

"One of those issues that McCain didn’t mention in the interview was his votes against the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

LOL yeah that was back when McCain was still a "socialist". It's such a joke that when McCain opposed those tax breaks, he was taking a principled stance. But when Obama opposes those same tax cuts, he's a "socialist". But while we're on the subject...

PLEASE look at the candidates tax plans.

http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2008/06/12/GR2008061200193.gif

Notice how they BOTH have a graduated tax break. With Obama's plan, the less you earn, the bigger your break. With McCain's plan, the MORE you earn, the bigger your break. With Obama's plan, tax breaks for the middle class are payed for by letting the Bush tax cuts expire on the wealthiest 3%. With McCain's tax plan, tax breaks for the upper 3% are payed for by only giving a VERY SMALL tax break to the middle class. Technicallyt, they BOTH "redistribute" wealth, because NIETHER plan is a FLAT tax! The difference is, Obama is trying to give the middle class some relief, while McCain wants to distribute that wealth to people who already have it!

Ms Jenny (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:39 AM)

>>>After moving the battlegrounds of Colorado and Virginia from Toss-up to Lean Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee now has crossed the 270 Electoral Vote threshold in NBC’s electoral map.
==========
People, PLEASE DO NOT GET COMPLACENT! THESE ARE ONLY PROJECTIONS! THE ONLY POLL THAT REALLY COUNTS IS THE ONE TAKEN ON NOVEMBER 4TH! PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE ASAP!

From another post...
>>>...McCain attacking Bush for his economic policies was like “Robin getting mad at Batman.”
==========
Does anyone remember the Batman episode where Robin is hypnotized by Catwoman and turns against Batman? Reading this reminds me of that episode.

Maybe John McCain was suddenly "hypnotized" by Sarah Palin and the extreme right-wing.

Obama/Biden '08!
http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:39 AM)

The reality is to vote for McCain IS A HUGE RISK!!

When you vote McCain, you get Palin. This person should never be our V.P., no less President.

Vote for a steady, mature, intelligent leader who will bring us to a better future. Senator Obama has VISION and hope for our future.

GET OUT THE VOTE, AMERICA ----stand in long lines in the rain, bring your snacks and lawn chairs and GET THE JOB DONE !!!!

OBAMA/BIDEN '08

Obama Is Best For America (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:40 AM)

Here's some news that should keep you up nights, as well as make you really THINK about what you are voting for:

On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that house Democrats have been holding hearings about seizing our 401k's, and rolling them into the Social Security system. The plan, as now constructed, would mandate that ALL of these funds be turned over to SS in fiscal year '09; they would be invested in government bonds which yield no higher than 3%; if the 'contributor' died before collecting these funds, 50% of the INITIAL contribution could be WILLED to a beneficiary; naturally, the 401k tax deduction would be eliminated.

My question is, why is this the best kept secret of the campaign?

no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:42 AM)

Chickens with their heads off run all over the place before they keel over. That's the McKeating Five and moose momma campaign....a soon to be dead chicken.

On the other hand Sen. Obama is running on message in a composed, steady campaign. His ads are on target. This navy vet is for Obama and urges any vet still thinking of voting for the republican to check out the Rolling Stone article The Make Believe Maverick.

subgruvet, ok (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:42 AM)

EARLY VOTING IN FLORIDA IS "VERY" HEAVY. IT'S NOW ONLY 85 DAYS UNTIL OBAMA/BIDEN TAKE OFFICE. CHANGE IS COMMING WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS DEFINITLY OVER.

Z (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:42 AM)

There's no doubt that "Sinner" Sarah has been out for herself and 2012. What a clueless fool she is if she thinks she has a future here in the lower 48. If she becomes the head of the repugnant one's party then they will keep on losing as she has become the most reviled national candidate in history. She will never unite the repugnant one's party, all she'll do is attract the evangelical christian lunatic fringe while alienating the moderates.

McNasty was pathetic on Meet the Press yesterday. Just more whining about everything. This is no country for angry old men!

I see that his tyrant pal "Warmonger" Bush is trying to help out McNasty by bombing Syria trying to create a false international security problem. It's not going to work! It's the Economy Stupid!

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:44 AM)

I am just so very proud of Senator Obama for remaining true to himself and his vision for America for the past two years.

Despite constant calls for him to change who he is and attack and pander, he has continued to stick to his message of hope and encouraging us all to disagree without being disagreeable.

It is this steadiness of purpose that leads me to believe that Senator Obama can bring this same focus and organization to the problems America is now facing.

Yes he can.

Obama/Biden '08/'12

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:44 AM)

The question is whether this tension ends up damaging her [Palin] for 2012…
_____________________________________

I find it amusing to believe that Sarah Palin will be anything but a "you betcha" radio talk show host in 2012. Unless she's willing to do the work to gain some policy expertise, that winning smile isn't going to get her far beyond Juneau. Huckabee speaks more convincingly to the evangelical base and Romney has a better charm to expertise ratio. Perhaps she'll be asked to be a veep candidate again? Oops. Probably not. Even the Republicans are capable of learning *that* lesson.
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http://ilfamilypolitics.blogspot.com

Midwest Mom (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:46 AM)

I would LOVE to see McCain lose his own state of Arizona next Tuesday. Wouldn't that be the final slap in the face to one of the most dishonest, slimy campaigns I can remember in a long, long time? I can't even stand looking at either him or Palin anymore on TV and turn the channel whenever they're on (much like I do when Bush is on. I can't wait for this to be over and we can begin to mve forward with President-Elect Obama. Obama/Biden '08/'12

Diane from Illinois (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:48 AM)

It's about time MSNBC changed their political map to show Obama has the numbers to win it all. Even now, their numbers are lower than many other polls. I encourage people to go to Pollster.com for a complete update. Intrade is a facinating website as people are spending their own money on who they believe will win. Intrade has Indiana a light blue, with Obama getting 375 EVs. Might be a bit high, maybe not.

Glad to see Palin talking about her clothes. This story (of all things) had legs that lasted for a week. When you are talking about pantsuits and blasting your opponent, you don't have much to offer.

There will be a lot of finger pointing. But McCain took some really bad advise by selecting Sarah. She wasn't vetted and advisors had to have push her on John. So John is responsible for agreeing and the advisors are filling out their resume, blaming Sarah or someone. I personally know John McCain and I know in about 2 months he will be hating himself. He made exactly the same mistake in North Carolina 8 years ago...and didn't learn his lesson.

Obama will likely get in the 350 EV neighborhood. That's pretty much a landslide.

Ron Indiana (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:48 AM)

Downballot -- Watch Illinois' 15th District for relative newcomer Steve Cox(D) to challenge Tim Johnson (R). Cox has Washington experience, although he's new to political campaigning. His 'yard sign' presence is visible, and Johnson has not been campaigning heavily in the district, especially on the East side. Johnson voted 'no' on the bailout, too... it may come back to bite him.

Midwest Mom (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:49 AM)

Last I checked Dems were leading the House, how are they doing?

orlando, florida (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:50 AM)

Show's how unorganized that Republican Party is. They are really screwed up! Open your eyes everyone!

Essie (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:50 AM)

Funny how the media is trying to create a sense of dread at "unchecked" Democratic power.

Looking at the results of unchecked Republican power, there really isn't much left to lose.

America's foreign policy and economy are in shambles, and I don't see how a bunch of self serving politicians constantly fighting and trying to save their own behinds at our expense is a good thing.

America won't be voting for unchecked Democratic power. America will be voting for the return of competence and common sense to Washington DC, thus freeing Sarah Palin to consingment shop to her heart's content.

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:52 AM)

<<"There will be a lot of Wednesday-morning quarterbacking next week, if he loses, about how McCain spent the first four months of his general election campaign.">>

Funny..."Operation Chaos" (the protracted battle between Obama and Clinton in the primaries) was supposed to give McCain a landslide victory.

Even funnier...the term "Operation Chaos" can now be applied accurately to the McCain campaign.

Erik, Mechanicsburg, PA (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:52 AM)

GO OBAMA/BIDEN '08/'12

A RABID REPUBLICAN VIETNAM-ERA VETERAN FAT OLD PREDJUDICED WHITE GUY NOW FOR OBAMA/BIDEN

RD, ALEXANDRIA, VA (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:54 AM)

Unless he wins (and even then, it's a stretch), the name of the town, Waterloo, isn't ironic, it's coincedentally somewhat appropriate.

laurel kasson (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:54 AM)

Did anyone see "Meet the Press" on Sunday..Poor Tom Brokaw putting up with that arrogant a$$...
McCain needed a straight jacket and a padded cell..Please change your Med's John..those macho pills your on now make your attidude multiplied times stupid look BAD..and forgetful..
George Schultz Whoppie I remembered!!!

BJ, CA (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:55 AM)

By the time the people of Alaska digest all of facts uncovered about their governor, she won't be able to get elected Moose catcher. She should be a footnote by 2012.

Harold Mitnick (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:55 AM)

this will get buried but your early story on "first read" had palin say her favorite clotheing store was "out of the closet" we have one here too and it serves mostly the gay comunitiy thats why the store has nice clothes. I wonder if she knows that

mike ca (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:56 AM)

palin running in 2012 as rethugnutz leader that just ensures dem victories in 2012, I sincerly hope repubs can get some decent honest American loving folks to run in the future.

thats a fact jack (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:56 AM)

Do we as American's want Integrity restored to the Oval office? If so, there's only one choice for President.

Barack Obama for President !

These next several days are gonna be topsy-turvy for all political junkies.

We have Cowboy George attacking inside Syria! Why? My thought is that attacking Iran at this point would only show the complete Ignorance of Cowboy George. So he( along with dead-eye Dick Cheney) instead goes after Iran's partner in International terrorism in the Hopes of stirring up sympathy for McCain.

American's understand the missles targeted at sites inside Pakistan, but to pull such a stunt 8 days from electing a New President, is complete Ignorance. Why now was it so imperative to attack this site in Syria?
Was Bin Laden lurking on the Syrian border of Iraq? I doubt it, but Cowboy George & the GOP are Desparate for anything these days.

Delusional Thinking By Commonsense American's Is Over !

Rick,Ky (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:57 AM)

If you look at Palin's career, she had done everything she could to advance her Political rise. Now that she has tasted the National scene and is sure her ticket is going down, I would not be surprised if she jumps off the ship and promotes herself more prominently this week to help set the groundwork for her Palin/Witchdoctor 2012 campaign.

The McCain campaign is finished.

Say it ain't so average Joe (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:57 AM)

Your coverage is a useless tribute to a dead mainstream media in print, radio, TV, and the internet! RIP

George Vollmann, Sioux Falls, SD (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 9:58 AM)

Why no mention of the Joe Biden interview with Barbara West? Isn't that blog worthy?

Catherine Charlottesville, Virginia (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:00 AM)

I would like to know why haven't the press persue Palins health record? This is important if Mcain can't continue god forbid.Also why haven't the press persude Mcains conection to Iran-Contra scandel and his accosiation to G. Gorden Litty and his meeting with the dictator of Chile that murderd all those people? I would also like to know is Mcain going to react to Iran nukes like he did the stock market crash? In the real world plumers are luky they make 40,000 a year Mr Mcain needs to walk a mile in a average Joes shoes.

Dennis Umphrey Pottsville PA (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:01 AM)

LOVIN the updated map today guys, but when do ya think you'll be turning Ohio to a lovely light shade of blue?

RCP Average - Obama +6.0

Reuters/Zogby - Obama +5
Politico/InAdv - Obama +10
Ohio Newspaper Poll - Obama +3
Big10 Battleground - Obama +12
CNN/Time - Obama +4
FOX News/Rasmussen - McCain +2
Quinnipiac - Obama +14
Suffolk - Obama +9
NBC/Mason-Dixon - McCain +1

Come on Chuck, you know ya want to!

Rob Harris, Buckeye, AZ (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:01 AM)

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carrie Dann
*** Obama crosses 270:
***************

Realclearpolitics has had Obama/Biden at 308 for a week.

donna (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:01 AM)

"*** Obama crosses 270: After moving the battlegrounds of Colorado and Virginia from Toss-up to Lean Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee now has crossed the 270 Electoral Vote threshold in NBC’s electoral map. "

Gee, and all this time I thought the electoral vote was decided on election day, by the voters in each state.
Imagine my surprise when I found out this morning that msnbc's FIRST READ is who awards electoral votes and they have decided to give Barrack Obama 270 of them!
Your coverage STINKS. You are BIASED and UNFAIR. You aren't journalists or political analysts you are OBAMA-LACKEYS and you're trying to create history by pushing for him to win the Presidency.
You've been doing this since last year, and everyone can see it.
Is this the kind of journalism we can expect if he takes the oval office? I hope not. I would hope that "Pravda" and "TASS" died along with the soviet union....but maybe if you try hard enough you can revive them here.
MSNBC and FIRST READ's coverage of this election SUCKS. Neither would know the truth if it jumped up and bit them on their asses.

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:01 AM)

American voters, am very distured and worried about an article I just read about the republicans trying to suppress thousands upon thousands of votes in Colorado. This is going on all across our great
country.
Isn't it sad that in the United States of America
we have a party that is so intent upon winning,
they will stoop to any level to win?
We cannot allow these unscrupulous people to
get into office or steal this election from the
American voters.

katiec Pekin, IL (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:02 AM)

My biggest concern with all this good polling news for Obama is the voting issue...registered voters illegally getting purged from voting lists with no time to fix the problem, and voting machine glitches and rigging. I will not feel comfortable until after election day. I don't think anyone should count their chickens until then. And one more thing....

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE

Pat Huntington NY [VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!] (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:02 AM)

As usual, informative, info for a political junkie like myself. Your First Read column is a must for people who really want to find out what's going on.
You don't hear much from Karl Rove these days. Maybe he's crawled into the Cheney bunker to avoid jail time.

Speaking of Cheyney, he seems to have also disappeared
from the light of day. It's okay, though. We've had quite enough of him! Palin won't be the standard bearer for the Republicans in 2112 if McCain loses. They will hopefully learn and choose a sensible, articulate moderate (NOT Romney!).

andy zaller (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:03 AM)

This is exactly what McCain gets... "I picked her because she was a Maverick"... well now she's getting all Mavericky on him. She is running the show!

She has her own plane, it is the Palin & McCain Campaign, she is having press conferences without his approval, she is adding lines to speeches they didn't write, she is going places they said not to go... wow..

The bad part for her is, you can never be a good leader, until you are an outstanding follower. The number one task of this job is to SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT (in this case the Presidential nominee). I think she is confused on why she was asked to come... or is she?

Mrs. Jones, Chicago, Illinois (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:03 AM)

This is starting to sound like The end for the bomber.The Pit bull unleashed,running on her own, looking out for her self,ummmm.I see that the home town paper in Alaska has endorsed Obama.That has to hurt.Bomber you can't have it your way,you hugged up to Bush,we've seen the tape of all the hug and kissing.You supported him 90 % of the time,you supported his war,his tax cuts for the rich,His torture and his tactics,His wiretapping,his finger prints all over the Justice scandal .Enough said.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:03 AM)

It would be nice if your information wasn't so biased. Obama didn't need to spend a lot of money of ads because he has had main stream media backing him the entire time he's been running. You followed him overseas, your reporting is slanted for him and against anything that deals with McCain/Palin. Of course you pointed out how inexperienced Palin is but seem to forget the Sen Obama has 143 "days" of experience prior to the campaign. I don't know about you but I would be more concerned about how much experience the Presdential candidate has and not the VP. Maybe main stream media could report the facts as they are and not as you want them to be seen. The American public should be entitled to facts and not your opinions. Try following Hemingway's lead, Write one true sentence and follow it up with another and another, and another. Since you deal with opinions so much, this was mine. Even though this goes against your "position" hopefully, you have the guts to print this.

Greg Robinette, North Branch, Michigan (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:04 AM)

McCain sent up the white flag this week when he was playing defense by saying vote McCain Palin to keep a check and balance in play. The Republicans have treated the country like second class citizens since 1996 by thinking it was a country for business and the extremely wealthy. The Republicans put their votes up for sale since Tom Delay and Newt Gindrich were in charge. You can go back to Reagan and see the down slide of this country. When you quit caring about the workers along with creating a seperation of wealth through bad legislation. Free trade, low wages, Wal Mart, K-Street, greed of the politicians, Wall Street thinking working people are expandable. Wages create the base economy of any country not business. Business isn't very economically smart because the workers they pay are there consumers. Cutting taxes for business is good however lower workers taxes causes a positive cashflow up to the top. When wealthy people are long term greedy by allowing money to flow from the workers, small business, etc up word creates the economic conditions of the 90's. Bush's economy has been on credit not a cashflow economy.

Rob (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:04 AM)

I am an independant and vote for the person I think will do the best job.It baffles me immensly how anyone can even consider Obama's tax plan and not understand how it will affect them in the long run. It might sound good to them now,but down the road maybe they'll start to understand how he talks out of both sides of his mouth.

Jani Littler (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:06 AM)

What’s more, Obama will call for changing the tone in Washington. (But haven't we heard this before? Both Bush 43 and Clinton 42 promised this.)
*******************

Yes, but Obama has done it time, and again. As the President of The Harvard Law Review, and as a Community Organizer he brought Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics, etc., together. As a result, they worked together for the greater good of them all.

donna (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:07 AM)

8 days to go but some recent developments came up...
Can you write about the following:
1) 2001 Barack Obama radio interview in Chicago where is explaining his plan for 'spreading the wealth' by using our judicial system.
2) Obama campaign pulling the plug on Joe Biden interview after he fails/struggles with an answer to simple question made by a local Florida TV station.

Thank you very much!

Hazel Boyd (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:07 AM)

McCain has no option but to support Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy; if he loses the conservative vote he
will surely have no hope of winning the election. This decision was in lockstep with his decision to select Sarah Palin as his running mate. As one can see
McCain believed he could "sell" these choices to the
electorate without hurting him image.

No matter to him that he gave up his good name and
reputation as a maverick.

Larry Gould, Raleigh, NC (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:07 AM)

I encourage everyone to vote straight Democrat this year up and down the ballot..I am a former Republican (until 2003) and the party has lost its way pandering to the most racist and ignorant of our population...they hate Americans and can't govern

Rick, NC (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:07 AM)

"I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites."

- Barack Hussein Obama

Full Moon (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:09 AM)

Just heard McCain at his rally say when he is elected he will get the government out of the banking business. Didn't McCain just vote to put government in the banking business? Is this man senile or what?

Seattle Sue (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:09 AM)

After reading the post about Arizona moving from likely McCain to lean McCain I couldn't help but think how Sen. McCain should forget about Ohio and Florida and all the other "Swing States" and focus on his home state. As a Arizona Democrat, I truly believe Arizona could vote for Obama, by a slim margin if McCain forgets his own state and by a little push by the Obama-Biden ticket. An article in Sunday's Arizona Daily Star reported how Arizona is turing from deep GOP red, to a light shade of Democratic blue. With a little push,(and money), McCain's home state could end up in the Obama column.

Casey H., Douglas, Arizona (Sent Monday, October 27, 2008 10:09 AM)

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