McCain isn't going to try and steal Pennsylvania.

[Drunken Irishman]

He realizes the race is over. His campaign realizes the race is over. So why is he making a play for Pennsylvania? Because they have to do something. You don't just give up a week and a half away from the election. No candidate has ever done that. Dole didn't in 1996, Bush Senior didn't in 1992, Dukakis didn't in 1988 and Mondale -- the most dire of dire -- didn't in 1984. They realized it was over, but they continued fighting as to not look defeatist and minimize the blowout possibility.

McCain realizes Colorado is gone. He realizes New Mexico is gone. He realizes Virginia is gone and he probably realizes Nevada is gone as well. The electoral map does not work without Nevada and he's essentially giving up that state, too. So why Pennsylvania? Well as a poster said last night, Obama is flipping all these Republican states, McCain at least has to try and put a blue state into play. It's a way to keep the troop morale high in the final week. Why? Because they realize if they give up Pennsylvania, then there is zero path to victory. That is conceding this race a week and a half out and most likely will lead to an even larger Obama victory.

Let's use a sports analogy, since it works perfectly for politics. McCain's team is down about 21 points with 90 seconds left. They're on the 50 yardline. Do they just kneel it and end the game? No. They try to score one more time to keep the score respectable. No team ever kneels when they're in this position and if they did, the crowd would boo. Is it likely they win? Hardly, but it's not about winning now. It's about keeping the Obama victory as slim as possible. They do that by giving their supporters hope Pennsylvania will flip and make this a close race on election day.

Even though McCain knows, Obama knows and the media knows it ain't happening. But it would be a hell of a lot worse if they just conceded this race and their supporters decided to stay home on election day, resulting in a 20-point Obama victory.

[sickinohio]

1. I soooo hope you are right.

I want it to be Nov. 5th with Obama as our President. My nerves on total edge right now.

[Curtland1015]

2. But, but... Rove... October surprise... errrr... Call congress right f*cking now?

...nah your right. McCain is screwed and he knows it.

[Beetwasher]

3. B-B-B-But The AP Has A Poll Out W/ Them TIED!!!

:sarcasm:

[Jersey Devil]

4. The new meme is that Obama must rush back to PA

because PA polls are so unreliable that despite a big poll lead things could change in a hurry. This is being echoed over at Politico and apparently abetted by Rendell for whatever reason (maybe he wants Obama in PA to rack up some really big Dem gains there).
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/Pennsylvania_scenario_20.html?showall

Personally I think it is to keep Obama out of the red states where his coat tails may topple a lot more Republicans than anything else.

[democrattotheend]

5. I hope he goes back to PA

So my mom will get another chance to see him speak. She hasn't gotten to see him in person yet, and she's been volunteering in Philly every weekend.

[Lugnut]

6. That's my theory.

Where else would they go if they bailed out of PA?

[Two Sheds]

7. It is an admission by the GOP that Obama will turn some red states blue

they have to try something. If they buck the odds and turn PA around, suddenly Obama needs to win several red states. It's their last strategy.

[rufus dog]

8. PA is where they can put up a fight with the least amount of embarrassment and cost

If they go down to Virginia they need to answer daily why they are spending so much time in a safe Red State. From PA they can run day trips into Ohio, thus keeping costs down and defend a Red State, while still playing offense in PA. They only get embarrassed if they lose PA by 20 and even that would be overshadowed by the defeat.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. maybe McCain should head down to save Texas?

Texas could go blue!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

12. maybe McCain should head down to save Texas?

Texas could go blue!

[Condem]

9. Coming to Iowa, this weekend, Drunken

I have no idea why. I guess he knows it's a bye week for the Hawks. So maybe some of the thugs will show up. Doing MTP from Waterloo.

[melonkali]

10. Is it coincidence that his strategy leads to a "no early voting/no recount" state?

I hope it's just politics, but I am very, very worried.

[yardwork]

16. I'm not celebrating until Obama takes office.

[grantcart]

13. Your not only right its obvious in a few days all the negative stuff will be packed up and

he will be the happy warrior and try and go out on a high note.

[Drunken Irishman]

17. I expect it to happen Monday or Tuesday.

[RedSpartan]

14. I hope you're right, but I think we'll see an Obama blowout either way.

Much like 2006... I think the media/pollsters/etc. are underestimating the enthusiasm of the Democrats and are similarly underestimating the lack of enthusiasm among Republicans. And this will only increase as we get closer to the election and no major shift takes place. I honestly think we'll see Obama on November 4th with 300-350 electoral votes.

[Cali_Democrat]

15. Nice analogy

I love football analogies!!

[Drunken Irishman]

19. I do it with all my political posts.

I just love football too much!

[CreekDog]

18. I was the poster that said that last night!

I think. :rofl:

:pals: