McCain on Defense in Red States: Campaign Notebook - Bloomberg

[WillyT]

<snip>

Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- John McCain is circling the wagons.

The Republican presidential candidate, with few prospects in Democratic-leaning states, is struggling to hold on to the states George W. Bush won in 2004. Iowa and New Mexico, where Bush got the narrowest of victories in the last election, are moving into Obama's column. That would shave 12 electoral votes from Bush's 2004 total of 286 -- 270 are needed to claim the White House.

Meanwhile, the blue states McCain has targeted for an Electoral College cushion, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, increasingly look like an uphill climb. He is trailing even in New Hampshire, which he viewed almost as a home state after winning two primaries there.

Obama, 47, is surprisingly competitive in the reliably Republican states of Virginia, North Carolina and Indiana. He's slightly ahead in the big swing states of Ohio and Florida and is running even in Missouri. Obama also is holding a consistent lead in national polls, with an average margin of 7 percentage points, according to figures compiled by RealClearPolitics.com

Republican campaign strategists say there is no electoral map to victory for McCain that doesn't include Florida, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina. ``Without those five locked in, all it is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,'' Republican consultant and pollster Tony Fabrizio said.

Ed Rollins, political director in Ronald Reagan's White House, said that if McCain, 72, doesn't engage more on the economy, ``he's going to have three weeks of nobody paying any attention to him.'' Rollins said the Arizona senator needs to do ``something really drastic,'' such as making a pledge to serve only one term so that he can deal with the economic crisis without regard to political consequences.

John Feehery, a Republican strategist formerly with House Speaker Dennis Hastert, said such a move would backfire. ``That would put all the focus on Palin,'' Feehery said, referring to McCain's running mate, the governor of Alaska. ``He needs the focus to be on Barack Obama, not Sarah Palin.''

<snip>

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aPeeY8LYgMVE&refer=us

Schadenfruede anyone???

:evilgrin:

:hi:

[progressiveforever]

1. Bloomberg seems a little behind times

Iowa has been increasingly Obama since June and New mexico hasn't been far behind.

[sunnybrook]

2. Yes that is the advice he needs

"Do something drastic." Who are these geniuses? That is what he has been doing nonstop for the last 6 weeks: all melodrama and no substance. They are lost! Do something drastic! That should be their campaign slogan. Because voting for him WOULD be drastic and "risky."

[elleng]

3. NM would have been Kerry

had the State (gov richardson) handled recounts properly.

[jazzjunkysue]

4. FAMOVANC. It's the FAMOVANC, stupid.

Florida, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina: That's the new focus: He has to get them all, or he's toast.

I think I can handle this.

F M O V NC: Let's call it FAMOVANC.

[WillyT]

5. LOL !!! - I Like It !!!

:evilgrin:

:hi: