Polling trends: 14 pink, powder blue, and toss-up states (GRAPHICS HEAVY)

[Buzz Clik]

Trends, trends, trends. (from www.pollster.com)

Last polling day before the weekend.

States to note: MO, NM, NV, FL, IN, NC, OH, PA.

States I think will take very hard work to win: IN, NC, FL, MO.

Of these states, ones we probably cannot win: AZ, MT, MS, SD, GA



















I'll be working the phones this weekend. Please help!!!

[Brotherjohn]

1. Interesting. In EVERY state McCain leads, his lead is SHRINKING, and in EVERY state Obama leads...

... his lead is GROWING (FL excepted, where they are both more or less paralleling since Obama recently pulled out to a slight lead).

Yes, the race is getting tighter. Right.

[Buzz Clik]

2. And, of course, IN and NC are still buried in the noise.

McCain is absent in IN. Palin made an appearance 10 days ago in a GOP stronghold. Otherwise, it's only Obama trying to make headway. (Normally, this would indicate that McCain thinks he has Indiana clinched. This year, it could be that McCain is out of money or that his campaign can't find their butts with both hands.)

[Brotherjohn]

3. Also interesting: If you give EVERY one of these states to McCain, except PA, Obama STILL wins.

Based on where RCP has the other states, which I think are all less close than these 14.

Sorry, McCain ain't winning PA. He's down by a solid 10 (minimum).

[Buzz Clik]

4. As I understand it from the McCain campaign, he doesn't need to win any states.

Another one of his winning strategies the specifics of which are never articulated.