The electoral maps on both MSNBC and CNN have PA and IA in LIGHT blue

[jenmito]

even though Obama's leading by double digits in every poll but 1 Repub. poll which has him increasing his lead from 5 to 8%. Are they helping him STEAL one or both of these states?:

The facts:
http://www.electoral-vote.com/

http://news.yahoo.com/election/2008/dashboard

http://www.zogby.com/50state/

BUT...
"Lean Obama: IA, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NM, PA, WI (89 votes)"
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/20/1570521.aspx

and CNN map: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/calculator/

[RagAss]

1. yes.

[liberalmuse]

2. I like electoral-vote.com

It is nice to see Washington back to dark blue. Damn, it keeps going from light blue to dark blue, but right now we're bluer than Oregon, thank dog.

And MSNBC just wants it to look close, especially since those are the states McCain is campaigning in this week. Sad.

[jenmito]

4. So do I...

I just wanted to make the point that there are other maps that also show similar numbers. :)

[davidinalameda]

3. I think CNN is just being overly cautious

same thing with MSNBC

I prefer electoral-vote.com; it's a great site

[jenmito]

6. But they have no facts to back it up.

That bugs me.

[davidinalameda]

14. there are no facts right now

the only facts that we'll have will come on election night

[napi21]

8. Chuck Todd said that tonight. H specifically said "We are being very cautious

with our judgements now." He did give a reason, and it had something to do with history, but I can't remember what event he cited.

[jenmito]

9. I saw that and think he was talking about VA when he said that. n/t

[CreekDog]

21. Avg lead in MS is 10 and it's solid red; Avg lead PA is 12 it's light? blue

:wtf:

asses. the only reason they make it light blue is because they want the story arc they are on to be taken seriously.

[Thrill]

5. I do think Obama needs to get back to Iowa

He was planning to go this week. But something may be getting a bit tight there

[jenmito]

7. McCain's pulling out of Iowa. n/t

[Thrill]

11. McCain is also visiting there this weekend

[elkston]

15. No way IA lets us down. They launched Obama.

C'mon Shawn Johnson, don't let us lose Iowa!

[Critters2]

16. Iowa keeps sending Steve King to Congress.

We shouldn't take anything for granted.

[chiefofclarinet]

17. Not if we in IA-5 can help it

Rob Hubler is a pretty good candidate. Even if he wasn't, it would mean that IA-5 no longer has Steve "Makes Bill O'Reiley Look Good" King.

[chiefofclarinet]

18. Not likely

Iowa LOVES Obama, especially since he's from neighboring Illinois. We vaulted him to the top, and we should keep him there.

Iowa HATES McCain. He finished fourth in 2008 caucuses, and 5th in 2000 caucuses here. He threw the Iowa campaign under the bus after the first debate with his snub of ethanol and hasn't come back to repair damages since.

As I can see, Iowa is bluer than any of the other Midwest states besides Illinois.

[FVZA_Colonel]

19. Well, I'm sure he'll make it up at some point.

[Stagecoach]

10. Let's face it

The mainstreams like CNN, MSNBC, and so forth, they'll pull a state back if they have to so it keeps Obama under 270.....you'll never see any of their maps before election day showing Obama at 270 or higher.....it's not in those network's interests to do so.

[TheDonkey]

12. They are setting PA to be the new FL or OH. :( I hope the Obama team is watching

they are really making it clear they'd like to steal PA. :(

[AndyTiedye]

13. YES! DRE = Direct Republican Electing machinez

http://www.verifiedvoting.org/verifier/map.php?&topic_string=5std&ec=mixed&year=2008&state=Pennsylvania

[FVZA_Colonel]

20. This is exactly what the "Army of Lawyers" was created for.

They seem to have caught everything else so far, so I doubt this is anywhere near the back of their minds.

[Hippo_Tron]

22. The problem with Pennsylvania is that it is a historical battleground state

And it is in the very nature of historical battleground states to stay that way. Virginia which was a GOP stronghold four years ago will probably be a Democratic stronghold four years from now but Pennsylvania will still be a "swing state".

I think that given the historical closeness of Pennsylvania, CNN and MSNBC are trying to hedge their bets a bit. As for Iowa, I don't have a fucking clue on that one. McSame has been DOA in Iowa since he opposed ethanol (which he flip-flopped on BTW).

[Hellataz]

23. This CNN map is always more accurate (link)

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/map/polling/

[barack the house]

24. I do see some going that way but no real movement to McCain. Obama just needs to keep folks >

motivated. Barack needs to do a few more inspirational ads.