Why Obama is Tied With McCain in National Polls

Okay folks. We keep hearing that Obama and McCain is neck and neck. They are. The Palin bump is fading fast. Now listen closely. Here is why the presidential race is so close.
1. The country is evenly divided. The last few elections were not landslides. The already convinced know who they will vote for. Palin was added to the ticket to shore up the conservative base. Even if Sen. Clinton was the VP nominee the race who be this close.
2. The Republican National Committe should be worried. Attack ads on McCain being out of touch is targeted toward the young adult voting block. Soon there will be attack ads targeting seniors. The surrogates have been hammering away at Palin. This is only going to get uglier.
3. Now here is the key for the next few days. Battleground state surveys are the key. Each camp knows it must win some battleground states. Unless something unexpected happens, it will come down to who gets out the vote. If that is the case, Obama has the edge. But it is an eternity now until election day. What do you say?

Its the Air War and the Ground War until Election Day

Despite much talk about an expanded playing field, by and large, states receiving advertising in 2008 look similar to the states targeted in the 2004 presidential campaign.

The Obama campaign aired ads in 17 states from September 6-13, while the McCain campaign aired ads in 15 of those same states. Just over half of the money spent in this first full week after the late summer political conventions was spent in the Midwest battlegrounds of Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Of note though, Obama also continued to air ads in Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Virginia -- all of which were won by George W. Bush in both 2000 and 2004.
Read More Here.

McCain Takes A Hit From the Press

Dems hit McCain on access
By MIKE ALLEN | 9/17/08 5:57 AM EDT

The Democratic National Committee on Wednesday is launching a “McCain Press Watch” – a counter showing the number of days, minutes and hours since the last news conference by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Currently, it’s at 34 days and counting.

“John McCain once prided himself on running an open and transparent campaign, saying he could not curb his accessibility to reporters because ‘that destroys credibility,’” the DNC page says. “McCain even promised to hold weekly press conferences if elected. … John McCain hasn't done a media availability with national reporters in more than a month. His last news conference was on August 13 in Birmingham, MI.”

Politico’s Amie Parnes reported on Tuesday: “[W]hen Straight Talk Air departed Tampa today, a dozen reporters chanted,’ Bring Mac back! Bring Mac back!’ … The chanting lasted under a minute as staffers in the business cabin smiled and then promptly closed the curtain between business and coach.”

DNC spokesman Damien LaVera said: “[I]t's easy to see why he doesn't want to be held accountable to the people or to his own promises.”

The DNC is calling attention to the issue by delivering a gift bag of reports and other items to the regulars in the McCain press corps, ostensibly to keep them occupied until the next media availability.

Politico has asked the Republican National Committee and McCain campaign for a response and will add it when it comes.
Read More Here.

Good Week for Republicans

The Palin Gambit is working so far. The Republican base is excited. Obama's camp has been off message. McCain is looking like the maverick he wants to be portrayed as. As long as Palin is the center of attention the issues fade to the back. Here is what you should look for in the next week:
1. Republicans will keep Palin the focus as long as possible. This keeps the Democrats off target and off message. Their attacks on her look negative. Until the VP debate, Palin is unstoppable. Only she can hurt herself.
2. McCain will be free to defend his VP nominee. This makes him look good to the people that matter--independents. He will continue to pick up percentages in the polls. Can Obama weather this hurricane Sarah?
3. The Democratic strategy must be to refocus the campaign on McCain/Bush. Quit crying about the Republicans stealing the "Change" theme. It just shows that everybody wants change. Obama's camp must define McCain with attack ads and keep it up until November. Will they do it?
4. Surrogates will be enrolled to counter Sarah Palin. If they define her with her own record in Alaska that will work. Personal attacks will backfire. She must be seen to be out of the mainstream and not credible. Can Obama's camp accomplish this?
Okay, look for more insights, remember you read it here first.

McCain's Distortions Called Out

McCain barbs stirring outcry as distortions
Republican candidate's attacks on Obama come under fire from all sides

By MICHAEL COOPER and JIM RUTENBERG

updated 10:45 p.m. CT, Fri., Sept. 12, 2008
Harsh advertisements and negative attacks are a staple of presidential campaigns, but Senator John McCain has drawn an avalanche of criticism this week from Democrats, independent groups and even some Republicans for regularly stretching the truth in attacking Senator Barack Obama’s record and positions.
Read More Here.

Alaska Lawmakers to Supoena Palin's Husband

Alaska Lawmakers to Subpoena Palin's Husband

By Gene Johnson
Associated Press
Saturday, September 13, 2008; Page A04

ANCHORAGE, Sept. 12 -- Alaska lawmakers voted Friday to subpoena the husband of Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, after an investigator called Todd Palin "a central figure" regarding the governor's dismissal of the state's director of public safety. Read More Here.

Palin's Pastor Asks for Prayers for Media

Palin's pastor asks flock to pray for the media
Congregants urged to do their own research when deciding who to vote for
updated 5:12 p.m. CT, Sun., Sept. 7, 2008
WASILLA, Alaska - A little sermon about — and for — the messenger seemed to Pastor Larry Kroon an appropriate message on Sunday morning.

"It's been an interesting week," laughed Kroon, pastor at the Wasilla Bible Church, as he welcomed attendees. The nondenominational congregation where Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and her family worship was carrying on services as usual this Sunday, but with a few extra guests.
Read More Here.

The Palin Gambit, Will it Work?

This my friends is the defining image of the presidential campaign. Here is my controversial theory about the Sarah Palin pick to be the Republican Vice-presidential running mate.
1. The McCain people realize the campaign is really about 6 or so battleground states. They believe the vote in those states will come down to the white male vote. Hence Sarah Palin. Can she deliver?
2. The Democrats showed the Republicans how to effectively attack Sen. Obama. Hillary found her voice too late for her campaign, but she showed the Republicans how to attack Obama. Use a white woman. In the minds of America, it plays into an old racial paradigm, we will watch it play out in the next eight weeks.
3. The media got it wrong. McCain's people didn't care about vetting Palin for anything except the most serious improprieties such as ethics and finance. Palin is on the ticket to attack and destroy Obama in the minds of certain hard working Americans (code for white folks). Sounds prejudiced? Sounds jaundiced? We will see. Palin is the attack dog. McCain can't do it and stay on the high road.
4.Palin will discredit Obama and challenge him to get down and dirty. Obama has built his campaign on change. He can not attack her directly and stay on the high road. Biden can but must use indirect attacks. The only one who can neutralize Palin is Hillary. Will she do it? At what price?
5.There you have it. Racist? Realistic? You decide. Later I will decode the stratagem. Will it work? We will see.