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stephanie, ft. pierce, fl. — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:20:39 GMT

I just watched Chuckie T. interview two people, one from Missouri and another from Nevada. Asked about race being an issue, both mentioned sections of their state that would not vote for Obama because of his race and that is why McCain is sending Palin to the area of Missouri, to rally the base. McCain, who apparantly ignored Nevada, is going there tommorow to the area that race is an issue, to rally the base there. So what does that tell you - is the base of the Republican Party a bunch of racists? After the election the Republican Party is going to have to get with the program - according to some reports, white people (of which I am one) are going to be the minority. Kharma is just around the corner.

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John Cobb, CA — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:25:59 GMT

Obama folks take heart! It ain't as bad as it looks.
Mason/Dixon has had a lean toward McCain in all of their polls. For a great discussion of this go to:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

It's the story entitled "House Effects in Action". Nate Silver points out that this is not bias on the part of the pollster but rather an interpretation of what composes the electorate.
We shall prevail!

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Beverly in Chicago — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:26:37 GMT

The good news for Obama -- and bad news for McCain -- is that if Obama holds on to his leads in CO, FL, NV, and VA, he’s going to easily win on Tuesday, racking up well over 300 electoral votes. But the bad news for Obama -- and good news for McCain -- is that Obama is below 50% in all of these polls. And if undecideds break decisively for McCain, that’s how he would pull off the upset.
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That may very well be true in either case; however, I think perceptions of the last two elections stolen with the world watching and wonder does America want freedom for itself.
Senator John McCain, when in three hours Gov. Sarah Palin arrives there in Franklin County on her own three-city Ohio tour; I'm sure most Ohioans will remember DHL!!!

The old civil rights campaigner wanted to see an African-American elected president in his lifetime. Studs Terkel was 96. Rest in peace; just like Studs Terkel Obama stands up the arrogance of corrupt power. http//:www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/379041

As Obama said the question now becomes is not--- ARE YOU BETTER OFF 4 YEARS AGO; RATHER, ARE YOU BETTER OFF FROM 4 WEEKS AGO?

Voting McCain as Joe the dumber Plumber says... and we get more of the same last 8 years of or 4 more years mystifies me.

If Obama had the courage to endure a gruelling 20 months, surely we can withstand a few hours
McCain supporters, it's ludicrous to think all undecided will vote McCain
=============================================
Drink of choice: Champagne. Toasts will be lifted to Keith, to Senators Obama and Joe w Biden, to David Plouffe and David Axelrod and the entire Obama campaign staff, AND to the millions of volunteers who gave it all for this extraordinary candidate.

They did the impossible.

Cheers to you all.
============================================================
Pat, in Boston MA
I love me some Keith Olberman. If I don’t get my nightly dosage of Keith’s witty, comical, intellectual analysis, I get very edgy, and my sons can verify this if at least one TV isn’t on countdown. I wish you and Keith Olberman have the opportunity to be here in Chi-Town Barack Obama's election night event. However, the tickets are all gone.

I did for our Chicago Bulls NBA championship celebration, btw I still love me some Scotty Pippen, but; since I’m an election judge; I’m sure based on early voting’s long lines, I’ll be there working a lot longer! ! ! !

Cheers to you, Pat

p.s. Pat are you still waiting to Sarah Palin’s medical records. Why is the media giving all undecided Joe and Jane plumbers another change to vet her? I wonder how much pipe Joe the dumber plumber will lay if he would still believe in mccain/Palin lies.

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Linda, State College, PA — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:29:32 GMT

Now that the RNC is running "Wright" ads in PA, the polls may go back to the previous Obama point advantage. I saw the ad 4 times while trying to watch sports, gave up and am now watching movies. However, not until I was inspired to make another contribution to Obama!

The RNC should be ashamed!

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M Phillips,Toronto — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:30:52 GMT

How can these polls all be so vastly different?Are these results meaningful?CNN's Poll of Polls, for instance, shows a much wider gap between the candidates

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chpa, brooklyn, ny — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:36:01 GMT

Isn't it true that the Mason Dixon polls are weighted Republican therefore they will always show a bias for McCain?

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alisha jacksonville fl — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:38:45 GMT

This just show that McCain and palin spewing lies and half-truths about Obama.Tell the American people Obama will raise Taxes on the middle class (which is a lie).. Using scare tactics like the rove/bush campaign did in 2004 can work..
It's so amazing to me that people out of ignorance and fear will vote against their own best interest..

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gggg — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:39:18 GMT

I say this election is over OBAMA wins by huge landslide. OBAMA/BIDEN 08!!!!!

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Jkan — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:44:51 GMT

You, Todd, will never be able to tell the truth again!! So much manipulative reporting!!! How do you do that? How do you reconcile with yourself when you don't tell the truth to the millions????

Election is an election. One will win, no matter what. But sacrificing one's integrity in the job certainly doesn't set a precedence of morale in our world.

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Cindi in Louisiana — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:50:39 GMT

I have been saying for days that Pennsylvania worrieds me as an Obama supporter. If McCain somehow picks off this Democratic blue state worth 21 electoral votes, won't that negate the gains we hope to make out west? Barack, please go back to Pennsylvanis and hold serve in the home court!!

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Rock, Janesville, Wisconsin — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:50:53 GMT

Do not believe the polls America, and remember to get out to vote early. Remember what decides elections are if all the people vote, and not what the polls say. "Remember New Hampshire!"

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Corinne Carter, Richland, Washington — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:55:49 GMT

I hope when this election is over, Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro will not disappear. Obviously, we have seen more of Chuck Todd frequently over this political season and for good reason; he's done an outstanding job. Hope he stays center stage while we follow the next president. But, everyone at MSNBC has done superior work: the writers, the producers, the folks who put together the terrific visuals, those who encourage us to think and participate by providing questions we can vote on, and everyone who contributes to make us more informed voters. I hope you will continue to challenge us with more questions during the coming months and even the coming years. Challenge us to think. But we can't think properly without the information we need to make informed decisions. I know I can count on MSNBC to be a reliable source of accurate information, and for that I cannot thank you enough.

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Corinne Carter, Richland, Washington — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:57:28 GMT

RE: last message. Please NO posting.
Thank you

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Bruce — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:59:28 GMT

No complacency. The election is over until it is over. Please vote!!!

Obama/Biden '08

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JTatEHT — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:59:41 GMT

Like any Obama supporter, I would love to have the polls even stronger in his favor. That said, the Obama ground game is solid, the early voting trends in his favor and the enthusiasm gap favors Obama by such wide margins that one has to ask: Which candidate’s supporters will most readily stand in long lines waiting to cast their votes.

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Pat, Boston, MA — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:00:50 GMT

Beverly, Keith was our inspiration these last 2 years. I can't imagine an America without his voice. I won't be in Chicago, I'm working on going to DC in January for the swearing in.

I've been reflecting all day. I can barely speak. It has all hit me like a ton of bricks today.

Do you remember the scene in Gone With The Wind when Scarlett and Melanie are on the porch, and they see their soldiers straggling home after the Civil War? That's what I'm thinking about. All the volunteers, all the press - all just about to head home after an extraordinary 2 years.

They really did an terrific job. So did everyone here at First Read.

Best of luck to you in Illinois on Tuesday. You must be so excited. You gave us one heckuva candidate and for that we thank you.

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jm/Az — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:08:11 GMT

I don't mind the Mason Dixon polls. What I do mind is that now MSNBC is using only that poll.
It's so transparent that your doing it to make this look close.
All of a sudden you see no other polls to reference.
pathetic.

ratings
ratings

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Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:09:42 GMT

Hey! Chuck, Mark and Dom all on the air at once!
Cool beans!
I will be glad when this is over and I can finally take a shower.
I think I need new glasses to. My head hurts.
Onward!

Obama\Biden...NOW!

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Sam F, MS — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:20:28 GMT

It's nice to see Chuck doing some desk time today. His analysis is really top-notch.

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VoteForAmerica — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:21:32 GMT

I don't know why everybody is making such a fuss about this. Given any random sample, there will be deviations. If you look at these polls within the context of polls, these new Mason-Dixon poll lies with the margin of error.

Take Ohio for example
http://voteforamerica.net/polls.aspx?Race=Ohio&Election=General&Dem=Obama#Results

The new MD polls lie within the window of likelihood, albeit towards the boundaries.

These polls are simple statistical deviations.

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Scott Sheperd St.Louis MO — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:21:45 GMT

Why all of a sudden are we seeing the Mason Dixon polls when most of the time we were seeing averages of major polls? They have always been closer than almost every other poll out there. For all I know they might be right but I wonder if the focus on them right now is to keep people coming to the set to see the upset in the making. I love MSNBC and Keith and Rachel but come on let's at least stay consistent with the polls.

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Debbie, Pittsburgh, PA — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:24:10 GMT

You all have it wrong!! You vote for the man God directs your heart to vote for. GOD WOULD NOT back
a man that believes in murder! Yes murder!! To think that it's ok to suck a full term baby out of it's mothers womb with Saline killing it's brain is
so far off base, it's not even funny. I LOVE AMERICA!! However, because of our nation turning it's back on christian principles we're no different than
Sodom and Gomorrah, WHICH GOD DESTROYED!! Wake up people!! BO came into power out of nowhere, was taught Black Liberation Theology (which is very dangerous-check it out on the website) for 20 years,
claims he didn't know his aunt lived here but received
$260 in contributions with US Postmark(Uh hello??),
do the math-his numbers don't even add up, and as for
taxbreak.org - check it out- the website was paid for
by-you guessed it-BO. DO YOUR HOMEWORK PEOPLE!! Honestly, this is not the God fearing nation it started out as over 200 years ago. Tell me this isn't
an election based on race-go to our african american
neighborhoods and just see whose sign is in their yard! GOD HELP US!!!!

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Casey — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:28:19 GMT

IGNORE the polls - the only one that counts is YOU voting for the candidate of YOUR choice.
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I'll say this about Missouri. Yesterday, my daughter and her family (husband and 4 children, ages 3mos-6yrs) - who live in Southwest Missouri (ozarks) went to the Obama Rally in Springfield. They went early, stood in line 5 hrs and didn't get home until after midnight. They live 1 1/2 hrs south & west of Springfield.

She said that some day, her children will be able to say that they heard Obama speak just days before he became a history-making President.

She said that everyone there (40,000+) was friendly, well-behaved and eager to hear Barack, Michelle and Claire McCaskill. But what was SO incredible to her was the number of older men and women in the crowd.... AND the VETs... I wonder if McCain realizes the support Obama has from Veterans?

SW Missouri is the MOST Republican part of the state... mostly older, white, rancher/farmer types and it is a land where your mega-church has a big sign outside with not-too-subtle directions on WHO to vote for in the election. In that, Missouri is much like Arkansas. It is the land of WalMart, believe me.

But my daughter and her husband have personally convinced at least 4 of these die-hard Republicans to vote for Obama - through personal witnessing of their belief that he is an upright, good man with a sincere desire to make America work better for the average family.

I hope Missouri goes blue; I believe it will.

Oh... and after they got home past midnight... they STILL had to milk the cow!

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Eric Andrews, Chicago — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:35:48 GMT

We will all look back as ponder why Barack Obama spent the millions he did on the infomercial.

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geek, upstate NY — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:39:33 GMT

The story will be voter turn out in total and % of Eligible Voters. If the total vote exceeds 133 million and the % reaches over 65% there will be a landslide. The story will become an incumbent President with a historically low approval rate and a Republican campaign and VP that energized the Democratic base to turn out in record numbers.

Forget the Conventional WIsdom, look to the Republican Margin in Alaska, discount the Senator Steven's affect and then you will be able to judge the effectiveness of Sarah Palin and her future first as a Governor.

I am not as smart as Chuck Todd, but I see Palin as Newt Gingrich in a dress.

Once we see the final score we can do the after game analysis and talk about if the team can go with what they have or will have to go deeper in the bench. The draft from the farm team did not work.

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Mariel Tennison — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:40:34 GMT

Well, chuck - you could not be any more bias toward McCain if you just said out loud you that you are pulling for him. Unbelievable. Comments like "we like to hear Bruce Springsteen - no matter what the reason" subtle, but clear. All of your interviews here 48 hours before the election you are using your powerful "journalistic" position to taint the election. You 're too unprofessional onthis score - and all of us trying to get unbiased news see it. Also, what a damning special last night - "Barack Obama Reveiled" Your station has lost its standing as being fair. That was particularly ugly - We have to ask ourselves whose payroll you are on. Disappointing-very. And, thanks for not allowing the public to hear :the bosses intro for Barack - that was really classy.

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cathy — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:43:33 GMT

Where are Palin's medical records!!!!

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Brian — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:45:39 GMT

Wow, a postitive for McCain comes out and MSNBC tries to quash it. Very objective (snark).

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Karen — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:47:52 GMT

I'm watching MSNBC and looking at Chuck T.

I just want to tell him that we miss him too. Todd's pain and loss is obvious and I'm sure Tim would have loved to see this day and the excitement around this election. Tim will be in our hearts on Nov 4th thinking of his full cheek smile of the enormity of this election season.

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John Mehan, San Francisco, CA — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:55:22 GMT

Before you vote for McCain, read the article in the Oct. 16th Rolling Stone entitled "The Make Believe Mavrick." It will change your mind.

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John Doe, Las vegas, NV — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:58:54 GMT

Seems fishy..I wonder if this article has anything to do with it?
http://eye4knowledge1.wordpress.com/why-the-jews/

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Casey — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:09:08 GMT

MSNBC, why NO COVERAGE of this? The REAL damning evidence in the Keating 5 scandal... about HOW McCain "campaigned" to be exonerated, breaking the law while doing so...

...The Senate Ethics investigation into the Keating Five scandal would last over a year, between 1989 and 1991. But before the actual hearings even began, carefully timed leaks featuring information from Committee deliberations--which were secret--began to appear. Committee members were privy to the information that was ending up in the leaks, but so were the five senators and their staffs, who received Committee documents in order to safeguard their due process rights.

Essentially, the leaks deflected public attention away from McCain and toward his colleagues.

Just five days after that October leak, McCain appeared on the Senate floor urging the Committee to recuse him from the rest of the hearings. It was an impassioned speech, laced with references to his Vietnam service. "I do not deserve ... to be strung out for week after week, month after month," he said.

The leaked documents reoriented the entire direction of public scrutiny to McCain's benefit.

This reorientation was significant because McCain was in many ways a natural suspect in the entire affair. McCain and Keating had been friends as early as 1981. He was the only senator who took personal gifts from Keating, including nine trips to Cat Cay, Keating's island in the Bahamas. Cindy McCain and her father were also involved with Keating in an Arizona real estate development called the Fountain Square Project. "I always thought McCain had by far the worst case facts," said one senior government official.

None of the other Keating Five senators had a close personal relationship with Keating.

The Final independent report was formally inconclusive but argued for a strong trail of circumstantial evidence that pointed in McCain's direction. In our interview, he was emphatic on this point. "There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that McCain made those leaks."

Finally, there are Hall's reflections on the leaks today: "When you look at these stories, you interview the people--I must have interviewed 50-60 people, and I didn't have one single person defend McCain. If and when they pointed, they pointed in his direction."

Had either of the leaks probes found McCain guilty, in all likelihood he would have been recommended for censure by the Ethics Committee, but also possibly faced expulsion by the Senate or charged with perjury for having lied under oath. As it was, the worst that happened is that those observing McCain reevaluated the senator. Said one source close to the leaks investigation, "It pricked the balloon I had that McCain might have had integrity."

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John Mehan, San Francisco, CA — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:10:32 GMT

Before you ote for John McCain, read the article in the Oct. 16th issue of rolling Stone. No BS: It will change your mind.