Battleground: The road ahead

The Real Truth!!! — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:27:52 GMT

McCain haven't told anyone in detail what he is going to do to fix the economy...Neither has his V.P.....They only attack the other for doing so....Why is this???? Why haven't Gov. Palin returned the money from "The Bridge to Nowhere" since she didn't build it....Isn't this a misappropriation of approved government funds??????

Battleground: The road ahead

Pat Huntington NY — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:30:55 GMT

Obama is going to lose. Hillary would've won. Simple facts.

Battleground: The road ahead

navy ball cap — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:31:14 GMT

Nothing like a gun totin' honey to up the redneck factor in places like Georgia. She'll get up to speed someday and as long as the media just leaves her alone we'll be fine. The media who needs them? Did they help me out of that Peee OH DoubleU camp! My friends out there don't care about reporting, as long I keep pouring on empty patriotic blather and man do I have a load of it.

Battleground: The road ahead

Andrea, New York City — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:35:19 GMT

By now its been reinforced that the Republican party and John McCain cannot be trusted, are liars and will do ANYTHING to get elected.

John McCain has taken the lowest of his own traits and attributed them to Barack Obama. He knows himself well and therefore can attribute these traits knowingly. He only cares about himself and his ambition. And choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate only shows how dishonest and cynical he is.

The fact that McCain has to go to these lengths only tells you how desparate he knows he is.

Barack Obama is the most intelligent and sincere politician that we have had on our landscape for years. He will make a difference. His displays a deep understanding and love for this country that is unparalleled.

We cannot let the McCain campaign win this election. The Polls are close. The lies are vast. And many times folks do not do their research and find the truth. This year we must be vigilant and not let ourselves be corrupted by McCain, Palin and their viewpoints.

Battleground: The road ahead

BJ, CA — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:36:09 GMT

...a little story of girl named Sarah...found a way
to secure the economics of Alaskans and how we all
paid for it...
Let's see here “I stood up to the big oil
companies”...Impress upon yourself the stupidity of
that statement and let's go to economics 101
class...
Sarah Palin got the oil companies to pay more money
to Alaskan citizens from their oil resource
profits...
Okay...that means that those “extra fees” will have
to be made up so the revenues of the oil companies
do not go down...this is the failings of Sarah.
Do we see what happened here..Sarah Palin made it
“legal” for the oil companies to raise the cost of
oil for every American. The cost for you and me in
the lower 48 States and Hawaii She got a boost to
the Citizens of Alaskans to get elected but those
cost were passed down to us....Are we feeling lied
to. Are we feeling screwed yet?
Increased fees charged by the State of Alaska to
the oil companies does not change the profit
margins of the oil companies...those cost get
passed along to the consumer...YOU and ME..
The Alaskans get $12,200 per citizen per year and
we get to pay that increase
SHE GOT ELECTED GOVERNOR ON EVERYONES HIGHER
GASOLINE PRICES!!!...
For months I've been trying to figure how the cost
of oil could go up and up this last year and a
half...well who has been governor of Alaska for 18
months.
First we figured out that speculators on Wall
Street were part to blame but now it is appears
that because Alaskans are getting higher state
revenues for every barrel of oil pumped out of
Alaska because Sarah Palin stood up to the oil
companies...well ...that's right those increased
cost everyone has been paying for.
Don't let the lies and screwing continue...stand up
to fake and phony politicians like John McCain and
Sarah Palin...Let's put and end to the free
loaders...they just cost everyone to much...
If it was fair we would all be Alaskans..but I
don't think that's going to happen...
Sarah Palin has a whole lot of explaining to do
before she will ever get my vote...
John McCain said he never was good at
economics..well here's that proof...

Battleground: The road ahead

McCain & Palin lead in all polls !!! — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:39:53 GMT

MSNBC --- WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES!
.........................................

FROM DRUGE REPORT, SEPT. 8 AM

USATODAY POLL: MCCAIN TAKES 10-POINT LEAD OVER OBAMA IN LIKELY VOTERS...

ZOGBY: MCCAIN-PALIN UP 4%...

GALLUP: McCain Moves Ahead, 48% to 45%...

duh!

Battleground: The road ahead

MIA in Miami — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:40:44 GMT

Does anyone see how many people the Democrats are registering in these "battle ground" states? And yet again, who and how are the pollsters polling?

In VA the Dems are going wild and heavily registering tons of "new" voters. Where is that story?

Battleground: The road ahead

Class Warrior, D.C. — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:43:49 GMT

Americans are stupid, easily-distracted children. Instead of being able to focus on serious issue-oriented questions of substance offered by Obama, most folks, like a kid with Attention Deficit Disorder, get distracted by the flash of Palin's celebrity. Obama's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't If he talks to adoring thousands with soaring rhetoric, he's accused of being an empty suit, but if he tries substance (have you seen his website? Wonk City!)he's accused of being dru\y and boring. But I agree that he needs to spend a LOT of time hammering Mcsame on his lack of other-than-Bush solutins to the mess the economy is in (and, unfortunately for America, but fortunately for Obama, the hits just keep on comin'---higher unemployment, the Feds taking over a corrupt Freddie and Fannie, etc., etc., etc.)AND, yes, offering maybe a dumbed-down version of his solutions for an America purposely dumbed-down (many Americans know the last few seasons' winners of American Idol, but don't know who their representatives are---bread and ciruses work, just ask the Romans). But, yes, the economy, stupid, it's gotta be the economy Obama talks about the next two months.

Battleground: The road ahead

PAMama4Obama — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:44:08 GMT

Can we do an ad about McCain's "Change-envy" (to quote Gloria Steinem)?

McCain trying to pass himself off as the change candidate is just so preposterous to me. He and Palin are more of the same, in a different package. It reminds me of when I was little & wanted to give my mom a present. I took some dish towels from a drawer in the kitchen and wrapped them up with a pretty bow--but when you opened up the present, it was still her dish towels, that she had used many times before. It seemed like a novel idea at the time, but it didn't provide her with anything new.

I want to see McCain & Palin answering the hard questions, and I want them to do it now--not evading, not ignoring, or picking and choosing what they will answer. Last I checked, this was a democracy--they want their own little dictatorship and feel they are entitled to it. They do no give a rat's backside about the middle class and its crushing concerns.

This campaign isn't about the issues? It's about personalities? I beg to differ. It's about you and me--and what they will do on THE ISSUES for us. Let's make sure we press back and make it about the issues, once and for all. Also, since Mr. McCain has such a problem with Obama's "celebrity"--let's not indulge the old man's vacuous attempt at it.

I think Obama's meeting with Bill Clinton on Thursday will be a productive strategy session, and I look forward to the weeks ahead--because, in spite of the Republicans not wanting us to look at the man behind the curtain--yes, it IS the economy--so let's not be stupid and gloss over that fact.

Battleground: The road ahead

BJ, CA — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:44:56 GMT

Sarah knows how to pay for it...higher gasoline and food and taxes and war and lower education standards and lower wages and ask a YUPPIE...Sarah you sound good but your squeekie nasal voice hurts my pocket book and ears...more like air hockey mom...

Battleground: The road ahead

Eric, Salinas, CA — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:45:33 GMT

Yeah now that the repugnant ones have their own pseudo celebrity all of a sudden that's okay when they've been blasting Obama for being a celebrity with only one speech under his belt. Hypocrites!

"Embezzler" Palin has stolen $233 million of federal taxpayer money and it's about time to demand she return her illgotten funds from us taxpayers. When will the media investigate what happened to our $233 million that "Sinner" Sarah has stolen, or is it her Money to Nowhere. I'd check to see what home improvements she's made lately!

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

Battleground: The road ahead

thats a fact jack — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:46:39 GMT

mccant is using bait and switch tactics just like bush did with his "uniter not divider" tactics, the only change mccant would make is the name on the door would be different but the philosphy the SAME.

Battleground: The road ahead

President or Puppet — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:46:51 GMT

I hope the Independents are watching and thinking. Is it not funny that McPOW could not pick his own VP. Is it also not funny that earlier in the campaign that it was noted that McPOW did not speak for the campaign. McPOW is being used by the republican party as a frontman and the Executive Branch of the government will be ran from behind the scenes by the Neocons that have been running the Bush administration for the last 8 years.

Battleground: The road ahead

Lauri Smalls, Providence, RI — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:49:40 GMT

I still can't figure out how the media let's the republican's get away with the "rock star" stuff when they are clearly hoping their V.P. pick moves voters like that -- It's crazy --btw, I watched bit of Morning Joe - and can I say as a woman I was a bit miffed at Ms. Mika, we really have to represent ourselves better on tv..she joins in making sexist or sexually charged comments then tries to stand to the side over a Op Ed piece -- sorry that doesn't work..

Battleground: The road ahead

Medwest Trailer Trash — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:50:08 GMT

Palin helps in just about every swing state. PA, OH, MI, MO . . . It's Palin that looks like most Americans. And it's Palin that represents the core set of people the country. Inside the beltway media calling Palin 'Trailer Trash" only helps credential her more.

Battleground: The road ahead

twocanepte — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:51:32 GMT

Seeing that McCain is so out of it that he thinks Palin is closer to Russian then Obama therefore more of an expert this would make sense. Too bad Chicago is actually about 1500 miles closer to Moscow then Wasilla! http://www.twocanpete.blogspot.com/

Battleground: The road ahead

Michelle Zee, Lady Pitbulls for Obama/ Biden! — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:56:54 GMT

This is crazy...

Obama has to provide more meat to policies he HASs and McCain has NO policies at all and he is not required to do anything, but drag Palin from state to state!

No wonder we ended up with Bush twice!

Battleground: The road ahead

MI Chick — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:57:05 GMT

I heard Barnicle say on MJ this morning that he talked to a friend on Grand Rapids, MI that McCain was doing well in the area.

Not surprised, but that "friend" must be in a bubble. I saw my first McCain sign only this morning, in the yard of a very large expensive house. Everywhere else, I see Obama stickers and signs. I have yet to actually talk to anyone who is voting for McCain. This is a heavily repub area, but I wouldn't write off just yet.

Chris from Dorr - where are you? Care to back me up on this?

Battleground: The road ahead

Rodney Hopper, Waxahachie, TX — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:01:13 GMT

I know it sounds crazy, but I think AZ is in play.

Obama's putting up strong numbers in New Mexico and with the American Southwest (minus UT, WY) being completely in play this year. I think the Palin pick only helps Obama in this area. Same thing with the Northwest. If people weren't running from the McCain campaign in OR and WA before, Palin's extremist views will make them now.

After Sweitzer's convention speech, I have no doubt in my mind that MT is in play.

If McCain/Palin thinks 'Sarcasm' should be a campaign platform, well, good luck with that. Their approach only preaches to the converted. That means you'll see a 'run-up the score' scenario in places like Utah and Kentucky, but at the risk of alienating the middle of the road independent group.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com

Battleground: The road ahead

reason — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:04:54 GMT

Libs are cying a river now that their misogynistic messiah has fallen to earth. Here is some advice if you ever want to win a presidential election.

Grow up, learn some manners and get a job.

Battleground: The road ahead

Beverly in Chicago — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:07:49 GMT

Frankly, I'm tired of hearing McCain’s POW story. I truly hope telling it at RNC was cathartic. Enough, now the role reversal has come bear in mind-- John McCain is mindless, which means he is not totally present in each moment. Without Palin as a wedge between independents, and disgruntled women, John McCain reversals are of little value; because he a liar. He promises one thing and vote against himself.

So Palin thinks God's will has to be done does this mean if and when Palin becomes Prez she’ll tell an America filled from coast to coast of different religions that we must pray for what she wants? She is the mother of 5 of kids; not this nation!
Enough!
No way
No how
No McCain/Palin
Nobody but Obama/Biden

Battleground: The road ahead

Winners are Republicans — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:11:38 GMT

Chris from Dorr - where are you? Care to back me up on this?
MI Chick (Sent Monday, September 08, 2008 9:57 AM)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's the trouble with liberals. Their can't stand up on their own. They always need that 'me too' from the peanut gallery.

Liberals, now that they are losing this election, will fold up like the cheap lawn chairs they are. No spine, no backbone, no values, no morals, all add up to no win.

Battleground: The road ahead

Hilldem4McCain — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:12:41 GMT

Obama is going to lose. Hillary would've won. Simple facts.
Pat Huntington NY (Sent Monday, September 08, 2008 9:30 AM)

Pat you are SOOOOOOOOOOOOO right !

Battleground: The road ahead

Kate, Atlanta — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:16:55 GMT

Obama needs to ask if the reason the Palin teen hasn't married her beau is because of healthcare!! As long as she's not married, she's on her parents insurance for the baby - if she married the baby-daddy, they'd have to scrape together the money to pay. Yep, pro-life, but not pro LIFE; and, where's that healthcare policy for these situations.

Battleground: The road ahead

Gavin, AL — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:17:03 GMT

Running against Bush for change Mac and P's campaign strategy has a nice liberal ring to it.

Battleground: The road ahead

Steve, Minneapolis, MN — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:22:51 GMT

She's finally going to do an interview, Charlie Gibson will serve up softballs, no doubt. Last week there were ZERO specifics and lies - Obama will raise your taxes, Pallin cut the bridge to nowhere, she's like "you and me." She's prepared on day one, she knows foreign policy, etc.

All B.S.

Country first? Another lie. Elections first more like it. Trickle-down econo. is "coutnry first?" A war based on lies is "country first?" GOP folks, seriously, you really need to look at the FACTS.

Just when I thought the GOP couldn't get any better at the hypocrisy, they out did themselves last week.

It was a good strategy - marginalize the sitting WH occupants (wonder if the hurricane is still the fault of gays and sinners you Christian wackos?), and blame the press for everything - and not offer ANY plans on how to get the country moving again.

The last two weeks obscure another FACT: conservtism is nothing but an abject failure.

Battleground: The road ahead

William, Dallas, Tx — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:26:29 GMT

Ed Rollins, a republican stragest for CNN had this to say, and I must say, I agree.

"NEW YORK (CNN) -- Ten days ago, Sen. Joe Biden was the most brilliant vice presidential pick imaginable. He was going to add the experience and foreign policy credential that Sen. Barack Obama's thin resume was missing.

The so-called expert commentators were arguing that blue-collar Joe was going to guarantee Pennsylvania (because he was born in Scranton) and other states and get Catholic voters because he is a pro-choice Catholic.

I guess they forgot that Joe didn't do so well with Iowa Catholics (23 percent of the population) when he campaigned there for more than a year in the Democratic caucus race. But then getting less than 1 percent of the vote and coming in fifth place showed he didn't do real well with any voter group in Iowa. Nor did he do well anywhere else, other than Delaware.

Then, after Sen. John McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, people laughed and said Biden was going to wipe the floor with Palin in the vice presidential debate. Now, after her incredible convention speech, Biden is saying that he's the underdog because he's not a very good debater.

If Obama had done the smart thing, he would have picked Sen. Hillary Clinton for vice president. If he had, he would have united his party for sure and energized his base."

Battleground: The road ahead

Dennis Dallas — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:31:05 GMT

Sounds like the obamanuts are getting panicky ! as well they should. You people and the DNC ( mostly ) just thre away our chance of taking back the white house. Hillary should be the nominee NOT obama.
Then obama did his part by not taking Hillary as his vp. HUGE MISTAKE ! These polls would be reversed if he had. Now you obamanuts can reap what you have sown.
This dem like million more is voting for MCCain !!!!!!

Battleground: The road ahead

Paulbyl — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:31:13 GMT

The GOP strategy is simply incredible. The more the Dems attack Palin for her lack of experience, the more it will highlight Obama's as well. I love this. And I am just hoping and praying that the Dems keep questioning Palin's ability to handle the VP position and a family at the same time. That would propel McCain/Palin out of reach for November. Keep the attacks comin' baby! Whoooohooo McCain/Palin '08!!!

Battleground: The road ahead

Fred — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:36:02 GMT

wake up America and listen to the lies (ie) the karl rove play book, if You republicans can not see world war III on it's way with a republican administration, check out the Georgia story and how all of this is being played on your blind side, I say vote for McSame and forget the last eight years of stealing lying and disgracing the good will of America and what she stands for. If you can remember 9/11 and it's uncertainty about how it happened and the controversey surronding chenny and him being at the helm of norad and not scrambling fighter jets but instead kept every thing grounded except what was in the air,and btw he has not been back at the helm since. Or if you can't remember Katrina and how the biggies manipulated the open market by taking refineries on and off line at their whims and allowed the price of gas to skyrocket to 4.00 a gallon or how they (republican administration) have became morgage dealers. or how, Hell vote the way you want but vote in a good mind set because you will have to live with it for at least another 4 years enough said go for it and may God bless this country and all she stands for .(before Bush)

Battleground: The road ahead

New Independent — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:37:54 GMT

Why isn't the media hounding the fact that Palin won't give interviews, and McCain isn't giving any "meat"? That's all we heard about Obama but no one is really saying anything about McCain. I think the media has a lot to answer for. McCain has all Bush people, including Rove running his campaign, along with lobbyists. The Democrats need to start repeating that over and over and over.

Battleground: The road ahead

DAVID ANDERS TX. IN LOVE WITH PALIN POLITICS — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:38:33 GMT

THIS WILL BE THE BIGGEST BLOWOUT IN HISTORY, WHEN OBAMA IS TOTALLY EXPOSED=COMING SOON=NO ONE IN RIGHT MIND WOULD VOTE FOR HIM=PUT OUR COUNTRY IN DANGER WITH THIS KOOK WHO IS NOTHING MORE THAN A KARAKOKE VERSION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING. THE REPUBS HAVE THE 2 BEST CANDIDATES EVER.

Battleground: The road ahead

Rodham Democrat — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:40:41 GMT

How about the issue of guns?

John McCain and Sarah Palin have made it clear that they support loose restrictions on guns and don't support curbing guns from getting into the wrong hands.

How many more Columbine High Schools have to happen before mothers and fathers have to start home-schooling their kids? There was already one incident of a school death this year.

What will Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin do to keep guns from getting into the wrong hands?

Battleground: The road ahead

American Voter — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:41:55 GMT

You so called journalists should be investigating this stuff:

The widespread practice of students’ registering to vote at their college address has set off a fracas in Virginia, a battleground state in the presidential election.

Late last month, as a voter-registration drive by supporters of Senator Barack Obama was signing up thousands of students at Virginia Tech, the local registrar of elections issued two releases incorrectly suggesting a range of dire possibilities for students who registered to vote at their college.

The releases warned that such students could no longer be claimed as dependents on their parents’ tax returns, a statement the Internal Revenue Service says is incorrect, and could lose scholarships or coverage under their parents’ car and health insurance.

After some inquiries from students and parents, and more pointed questions from civil rights lawyers, the state board of elections said Friday that it was "modifying and clarifying" the state guidelines on which the county registrar had based his releases.

Battleground: The road ahead

Frankie D, Union, NJ — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:43:17 GMT

These polls are not surprising. This is the same America that voted George Bush... TWICE. This is the same America that has made Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and Ashley Dupree celebrities, for doing nothing!

Battleground: The road ahead

American Voter — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:47:36 GMT

Yesterday, thankfully there was a diary on the rec list about 600,000 votes in Ohio, I am happy and glad that diary got some damn attention, far too many like it drop like rocks. EVERYTIME.

I saw this over at Huffington Post.

"Kansas, Michigan and Louisiana are purging their voter lists.

http://www.alternet.org/...

Colorado dumped ONE FIFTH of all voter registrations -- the largest in history

Florida is refusing to accept 85,000 new registrants -- overwhelmingly blacks.

New Mexico: purged half of the democrats in Mora county (Hispanics) and 600.000 mailers were returned

Ohio & Nevada are scrubbing tens of 1000s of voters who lost their homes to foreclosures
(Kerry lost by a mere 10-votes per district in Ohio)

http://www.gregpalast.com/...

We have got to get this information out.

Battleground: The road ahead

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:48:11 GMT

Obama is going to lose. Hillary would've won. Simple facts.

Pat Huntington NY

Dear Pat,

Please get over it. If the stakes weren't so high, I'd almost want McCain to win (as punishment to PUMA types like you), and then you'd see Hillary either go for the easy Senate re-election bid, or try and really fail in her bid to defeat McCain in 2012. But the stakes are enormous, and we need change in the White House, and change means change in direction, not change the monogram from one GOP President to another one, who has embraced every policy of the current President.

Pat if you truly supported Hillary for any reason other than gender alone, you would get over the primary, and either support the Democratic ticket, remain neutral or back McCain. But your constant claim that Hillary would have won reflects the fact that you live in an area where the anti-Hillary element is minimal, in other parts of the country through no fault of her own Hillary can never win. There is no fact in your statement, it's 100% opinion, and misguided at best!

McCain would be wise to by-pass Iowa, but I hope he keeps wasting his money on ads, that aren't moving voters.

Battleground: The road ahead

Eloise "Family & Children First", Clearwater, FL — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:48:44 GMT

I do not care about McCain, or McCain's POW status, or McCain's war daddy, or McCain's war great daddy or Palin or Plain's baby, or Palin's family...

Palin stinks of ABUSE OF POWER, LIES, COVERUP AND THE REPUBLICAN SMEAR TACTICS....

Americans better start thinking about themselves, their families, how they are going to pay their bills, where they are going to live, how they are going to feed their children, if they will be able to afford children...

I am tired of seeing Palin and that baby...mothers with their babies are living in the streetS here in Florida...MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES ARE HOMELESS...THE REPUBLICANS PUT THEM IN THE STREETS...

VOTING FOR BUSH ONCE SAID THAT MANY AMERICANS ARE STUPID.
VOTING FOR BUSH TWICE SAID THAT MANY AMERICANS ARE STUPID.
VOTING FOR BUSH (MCCAIN/PALIN) A THIRD TIME SAYS THAT AMERICANS ARE WILLING TO PUT THE WELL BEING OF THEIR OWN FAMILIES LAST...AND THE NEEDS OF THEIR FAMILIES ARE NOT IMPORTANT.

I WOULD ALL THIS INSANE...AMERICANS WILL NOT BE FOOLED A THIRD TIME...

Battleground: The road ahead

Used to be Donna, Lincroft, NJ — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:51:55 GMT

Nice job, First Read. First, you let someone steal my 'signature' and that puerile drivel gets up; now, my posts don't get through.

Maybe it was an inside job? Your network can't get any more biased-I guess you only want posters who preach to the choir. Unfortunately for you, the polls are showing that your network loses more viewers per hour than Obama loses voters. Too bad. I'd think you'd WANT different opinions-try it, it might spice things up.

Battleground: The road ahead

Molly, Iowa City — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:52:24 GMT

Medwest Trailer Trash

Your name says it all, ir's Mid with an I, as in middle western states, west of the east coast, it's shortened to Midwest.

I haven't heard pundits refer to her as trailer trash, nor do I think she is, she's far worse, she's a right wing nut.

Battleground: The road ahead

Chris, Dorr, MI — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:59:47 GMT

Thanks for the shout out MI Chick

You are right. Grand Rapids is a heavy repuke area. I have never seen a McPow sign here and there are Obama signs and stickers everywhere.

Obama will carry MI. bank it!

Battleground: The road ahead

schriendog, colorado springs — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:02:27 GMT

Obama has no substance? The illusion created during the primary by HRC -- unforgiveable -- is that "he makes a pretty speech but has no substance" is absolutely baseless. Twenty-nine times in the Invesco speech he was specific about his proposals; how did McCain do in St. Paul? The fact is that many Americans refuse to read further into the issues; they prefer to have others do their thinking for them -- a la Rush, Hannity, Savage, Drudge, and the other neanderthals. When you see the endorsenments that Obama has collected for his Iraq policy (adopted by the Pentagon) and his economic policies (which fly in the face of the Bush-McCain "deficits don't matter" crowd), how much more clear can the distinctions be? Will Americans vote for candidates whose policies ultimately crush them? I didn't think so previously; now, I am not so sure. Low-information voters indeed.

Battleground: The road ahead

Mich Gal, Michigan — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:03:05 GMT

Why is it that everyone things Palin is like every other normal american? I firmly believe she is not. I think everyone tends to forget, she's a former beauty queen. So how many beauty queens do you know that have been raised in a lower/middle class home?? She probably grew up with mummy and daddy handing everything to her on a silver platter. How in the world can she be really in tune with the average normal american??

Battleground: The road ahead

Kelli, Va — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:03:34 GMT

I Love first read.

I have been doing volunteer work here in VA (in deep red VA not NVA) and I too have been surprised at the voter registration number rise. I am also very surprised at the response for OBAMA here. I have been a bit nervous about going door to door but since all this Palin and the polls crap, I will start.

We must stand up and fight this election. We must fight harder to get the message across, this country is in dire straights.

I too wish the Democrats would finally stand behind Barack, especially after these new numbers. He can't fight alone.

COME ON PEOPLE wake up... Please not four more years of what we have been doing... I am afraid for my country's safety and standing in the world.

Battleground: The road ahead

lu, Las Vegas, Nevada — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:05:30 GMT

I don't know why the continue to say that Nevada is a toss-up. With McCain's position on Yucca Mountain he doesn't have a chance here.

Battleground: The road ahead

Brent Hall, Goodlettsville, TN — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:06:18 GMT

I cannot believe that after Bush / Cheney sold us a bill of goods---and did nothing for us & have taken us downward that so many are "buying" what we're being sold now. This excited frenzy, everyone acting as if this relatively inexperienced newcomer is indeed some sort of "savior"! Hey, she simply read a speech, that majority of which was someone else's words and everyone's acting like a bunch of giddy school-kids! McCain even sent his own party down the river and we're buying that? It's like Reagan once said of Gorbachev, even with Detente, Reagan knew and said that in his (Gorbachev's heart), he was still a Communist. Wake up people, our countries future could well be a stake, here.
McCain knew he was somewhat behing, and chose Palin just for the excitement, frenzy he knew he'd create. THEN, he adopted the message of change? Had not messsage, the other guys was working pretty well, so let's use it. Absolutely brilliant? Come on.

Battleground: The road ahead

JE, Philadelphia, PA — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:07:47 GMT

I can only speak for PA, and the Dems have a huge regsitered voter advantage there. Some of that may be due to Independents and some Republicans registering Dem to vote in the primary, but even factoring in a small percentage of that, they would still have a big edge. Since 2006, I think the state has added about 500,000 registered Dems and lost about 100,000 registered Republicans in a state that already usually goes Democratic in presidential elections. McCain would probably have to win something like 20-30% of registered Dems in PA + a majority of Independents to win that state. So as an Obama supporter I think PA is safe, although it may be closer than expected if McCain can pick off some disaffected Hillary voters in NE Philly and the surrounding Philly suburbs. In big cities like Philly, Pittsburgh, and a handful of others, you have to assume the black vote turnout will be at record highs too, so that will help Obama.

I also think nationally and in specific states Obama's support is a little under-represented due to polls probably generally under-representing poorer people and young people (those with no landlines....like college students) and possibly over-sampling Republicans and Independents (this year many "Indepedents" may really be Republicans who are just afraid to admit publicly that they are Republicans, given how the last 8 years have gone).

This may end up being cancelled out by the Bradley Effect though - where black candidates always seem to poll higher in statewide races than their actual results are.

I noticed something interesting during the primaries (which I followed religiously). And that was in almost every state in the last 3 months, the race would either tighten or widen in Obama's favor in the polls taken around Thurs and Fri every week and then the Monday polls would show the race moving the other way in Hillary's favor again (NC was the one state that was an exception). So every time right before election day, Hillary would seem to win over the last minute deciding voters. I attributed this to lower information voters having a favorable opinion of Obama and then getting together with friends or family members over the weekend and hearing the internet smear rumors repeated from some of these people and then changing their minds.....or possibly the Bradley effect.

According to Chuck Todd's map it looks like this election will be fought in these 9 or 10 battleground states again. It will probably come down to FLA and OH again. I can't imagine Obama losing FLA and OH, but then winning VA, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico (which he'd need to do to win the electoral college, if he lost those 2 big states). It would seem national trends and turnout trends would tip most of those states the same way.

Sorry for the longwinded post.

Battleground: The road ahead

Brent Hall, Goodlettsville, TN — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:08:26 GMT

Battleground: The road ahead

JE, Philadelphia, PA — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:11:05 GMT

MI Chick, I hope you are right. But as Nate Silver wrote today on this great site - http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/09/response-bias-and-shy-tory-factor.html

It may be that Republicans have been quiet and under-represented in some of these polls because they were afraid to admit they were Republicans and voting for McCain until this week. They didn't believe they could win. Now they are energized because of Palin and McCain's convention bounce. So we'll see....this was the most disheartening story I've read about Obama's Nov prospects so far this year.

Battleground: The road ahead

you can imitate/but never duplicate — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:24:22 GMT

McCaine is full of it.
He insinuates Obama is a celebrity and has no substance just an empty suit.
Well, well. I would say the same too if I didn't have the charisma and have lost touch with the real world, I would go right out and duplicate a celebrity(supposely)to shine the spotlight on my campaign too.
But the only difference is Obama can think for himself and he can give interviews due to his knowledge of the many serious topics that are on the American people's mind.
Why are you comparing the VP nominee to Obama instead of Biden?
Why are you protecting this barracuda/pitbull?
Can she not think for herself?
Oh yeah, I forgot.
Per your comrade, Gullioni, stated "There's no time for on the job training" and he is quite right.
Sarah Palin is not even close to "on the job training."
Right now she is secluded for a "crammed political science" exam coming up October 2.
Poor Sarah, looks like you are being used like a puppet.

Battleground: The road ahead

Chris, MI — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:29:13 GMT

McCain doing well in Grand Rapids shouldn't be a shock to anyone. The entire Western side of the state is a bastion of conservatism, and GR is Amway country. Obama will have plenty of supporters in the Metro Detroit area, in Ann Arbor, and in Lansing; probably in Flint, too. No worries.

And I'm sorry, but claiming it's only the "media elite" painting Palin as trailer trash, and this somehow makes her MORE appealing, is disengenuous. I work with women just like her every day; I would expect her to be just as ineffective and hypocritical as they are.

Battleground: The road ahead

Mike Sedillo, Albuquerque, New Mexico — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:29:22 GMT

It is not suprising with the corporate media galmorizing Palin as a candidate of perfection. No stories about all the lies she has told in her "great" gop convention speach, her past involvement in trouper gate, using Alaskan tax money to fund her churches. She tells the media to back off and they turn into a bunch of panzies