Have we gotten past "close enought to steal"?

[Steerpike_Denver]

With three long weeks to go, I really hate to jinx this, but it really is looking like a blowout. The latest national polling puts Obama anywhere from 5 to 12 points ahead, with no one showing McCain't anywhere close, let alone ahead. In terms of Electoral vote, it's even more stark. McCain would have to pull in every single state where he is currently behind by less than 5 points in order to win, while Obama would only have to win ONE of these states to pass the 270 vote threshhold. (http://www.pollster.com/)

Given the widespread distrust of the last two elections, would it really be possible to pull off a "surprise! the exit polls were wrong" move?

For that matter, would the Republicans even WANT to steal this thing for McC at this point? Given that he will be facing a veto- and filibuster-proof Democratic majority in both houses, how could he expect to accomplish anything? If Angry Democrats feel they have had the presidency stolen from the yet again, I guarantee they would block every initiative, appointment and bill that the Republicans dared to initiate.

[madeline_con]

1. Sure, just like Pelosi impeached the chimp. n/t

[RagAss]

2. So the next question is, what's their strategy?

Like you said...House and Senate locked up...what could this hatefest be all about?
Do they want civil unrest? Does that serve them somehow?

How does this end?

[Steerpike_Denver]

4. I WOULD say they've decided to punt

except that the last thing they want is a bunch of investigations into the last 8 years, not to mention 2-3 SCOTUS appointments.

That said, there is a certain logic in setting their sights on '12, prepared to blame Obama for the escalated disaster in Afghanistan, a failure to "fix" the economy (which they broke), and everything else that will go wrong or not get better over the next few years.

[KaryninMiami]

3. Nope. Sorry- we are three weeks away and anything can still happen-

Remember- BUSH NEVER WON. Anything can happen- and they have done enough destruction to our constitution that I'm just not convinced they are going to give it all up without a major fight till the end. Don't get me wrong- I too am feeling twinges of-- ok -- I'll say it- HOPE- hope that their might be a iight at the end of this tunnel and HOPE - that there might finally be justice and our efforts and our misery will be rewarded with the opportunity of what a Barack Obama presidency might would mean for this country and this planet- but then I remember who we are dealing with. People who laugh when they get supoenad, people who abuse their power and rig elections and lie and start wars without cause and people who will stop at nothing to get what they want but hide under the veil of patriotism and fighting for our freedom and--so no- we cannot let our guard down for a minute.

[Steerpike_Denver]

5. Absolutely--it's not time for the end-zone dace quite yet

However, I think the opportunities for a credible election theft are getting dimmer by the minute.

We must not get complacent, cocky or overly optimistic. For one thing, we need to crush them and discredit them for a generation, not just beat them.

[donheld]

6. Has Barack been certified the winner yet?

Has he been sworn in?

[FlyingSquirrel]

7. Amen to THAT answer!

[iceman66]

8. NO

The more Obama advances in the polls, the harder it will be for them to steal, but they are still mulling their options.

Notice that CNN lately has been HEAVILY pushing the idea that the polls may be up to 6% off due to the 'Bradley effect'.

[regnaD kciN]

9. Turnout, turnout, turnout...

I remember when popular Governor Mike Dukakis was as close to a lock in the 1978 Massachusetts Democratic primary as anyone has been in any election...until the votes were counted, and he had been defeated by wingnut DINO "Crazy Eddie" King.

What happened? In a word, turnout. Dukakis's backers were so convinced it would be a blowout they didn't bother to vote....but all of King's anti-integration, pro-death penalty fanatics did. They pulled off the impossible -- defeating a popular progressive incumbent with a reactionary blowhard in the most liberal state in the nation...and in the Democratic primary, at that. :-(

Now, I'm not saying that Democrats will be that complacent this time around. But Obama's lead is nowhere near as large as Dukakis's was back then, either. As I pointed out in another thread, in a country where 50% is considered great turnout, a 10-point lead matters little when your opponent gets 60% of his voters to the polls, and you only get 40% of yours.

Sorry, but there's no lead that is "safe" until the polls are closed and the last precincts counted.

[4lbs]

10. This thing took a major turn in 25 days. There are 25 days left, and if we start coasting

then it could take another turn.

Just keep hammering away at the Republicans, and talking directly to the American people on the important issues of the economy, health care, jobs, and taxes.

Act like the race is still tied.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. To quote Yogi...It ain't over till it's over.

I will not feel relaxed until after the election has been called for Obama AND he has been sworn in as President.

These dirty filthy cheaters are capable of anything....

[salguine]

12. I've posted this before, but...

of course they're going to try to steal it! Have people completely forgotten what a completely vicious, amoral cabal of criminals Obama is running against? They're going to do everything possible to steal this election if there's any way at all to do it. Has everybody forgotten that this Administration—with the complicity of the Democrats in Congress—now has the legal authority to suspend the Constitution and declare martial law in response to a "national emergency" that the President gets to define? These people have been laying the groundwork for a full-on totalitarian fascist dictatorship for thirty years, and they've now brought it to within 98% of completion—do you really think they're going to just let it slip away when they're this close, and they'll probably never get another chance?

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

13. I think so

The reasons are set forth on this thread. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4211283#4216529

The biggest problem the pukes have is that O is up in so many states Chimpy won that they don't really where to try and steal votes. The last two election cycles were always going to come down to one or two states. This time there are maybe ten in play. Stealing votes at the polls is not easy and the pukes have no idea which states will turn out to be crucial.