McCain, the media, Pennsylvania and the "credible path" necessity

[featherman]

The hard-headed numbers guys within the McCain campaign are political pros after all and can read both public and internal polling well enough to know their guy is not going to win the EC this election.

But, like a football team trailing by 3 TD's with under 4 minutes to go, they cannot just walk off the field either.

To maintain apparent viability with the media and with its supporters and donors, a campaign in this much trouble must still present a brave face, a "credible path" to victory however it may fly in the face of current polling data.

This is the sole reason for the emphasis on Pennsylvania. McCain's credible path has been reduced to this: flip PA and hang on to FL, NC, OH, MO, NV, and IN while conceding Obama victories in IA, NM, CO, and VA. This could result in the "narrow victory" scenario currently touted by McCain spokespeople: 273 - 265. And that's good enough for many in the media to continue to promote their preferred "close race" scenario.

By contrast, it appears that the Obama campaign is content to allow McCain this fantasy and is playing a form of rope-a-dope in Pennsylvania. The recent leak of a purported "internal Obama poll" showing a 2% race in PA and the multiple appearances of Obama surrogate PA Gov. Ed Rendell professing concern about his state while Obama continues to campaign and spend in PA all helps suck McCain in committing his diminishing resources in what is certainly an unwinnable state.

Just a few thoughts on the Pennsylvania "concern".