Election Central Morning Roundup
McCain Ad: Obama "Born Of" Corruption
The McCain campaign has this new national TV ad out, accusing Obama of being "born of the corrupt Chicago political machine," connecting him to former fundraiser Tony Rezko:
"With friends like that, Obama is not ready to lead," the announcer says.
NYT: Rick Davis Collected Six-Figure Annual Salaries As Fannie/Freddie Lobbyist
The New York Times reports this morning that in light of John McCain's attacks against Barack Obama for having connections to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, McCain may want to examine his own staffers' backgrounds. It turns out that McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis was paid about $350,000 per year for five years to head up a lobbying organization for those very same mortgage brokers.
Obamas In Wisconsin, Joe Biden Addresses National Guard
Barack Obama is speaking today in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with an event scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, before heading back to Chicago for a fundraiser tonight. Michelle Obama is extensively touring this swing state, with an 11 a.m. ET rally in Madison, a 2:45 p.m. ET rally in Wausau, a 4:30 p.m. ET rally in West Allis, and an evening fundraiser in Fox Point. Joe Biden is addressing the National Guard Association convention in Baltimore, Maryland, a speech scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET
McCain And Palin In Pennsylvania
John McCain and Sarah Palin are spending the day in the big swing state of Pennsylvania. The two of them will hold a town hall event at 10:30 a.m. ET in Scranton, followed by a rally in Media at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Detroit Free Press: McCain Drives A Foreign Car
The local press in Michigan is jumping at Newsweek's report that the McCain's own over a dozen cars, while the Obamas have only one. The newest shoe to drop: Despite McCain's previous statements that he's bought American cars all his life, among the cars he and Cindy own are a Lexus, a Honda and a Volkswagen -- cardinal sins to Michigan voters concerned about he domestic auto industry.
Poll: Obama Narrowly Ahead In Pennsylvania
A new Mason-Dixon poll of Pennsylvania shows a very close race in this large swing state, which went to John Kerry by only two points in 2004. The numbers: Obama 46%, McCain 44%, within the ±4% margin of error.
Obama Pulls Out Of North Dakota
Barack Obama has pulled his staff and advertising presence out of North Dakota, a traditionally-Republican state that he'd been courting for the past several months. Recent polling gave John McCain a good lead here, making it prudent to look at other states instead.
Rezko? been there. Keating... hmm... haven't been there. do you really want to go there?
September 22, 2008 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh for crying out loud McShame, who the hell cares about Reszko anymore.
September 22, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rasmussen Minnesota Poll:
Obama 52 McCain 44
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/minnesota/election_2008_minnesota_presidential_election
September 22, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's good. Would love to see something like that about PA and WI.
September 22, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
We have LITERALLY been up in ever PA and WI poll since JUNE. It can be close, but I see it going our way. I would be worried if Obama's ground game wasn't so potent. That's why the Mac camp should be REALLY worried in NC, not only does it say it's super close, our ground game could add some points to that spread.
September 22, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
FiveThirtyEight has a post up right now with an analysis of Obama's under/over performance based on State demographics and performance in the primaries. Great correlation (R2 of .72) but there are some caveats.
Bottom line: Slightly more undecideds will break for McCain than for Obama (45%) so, if the polls are close, states like PA could even be closer than we would like. That said, McCain I'm sure will open his mouth again and give voters a reason to turn away from him.
September 22, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
W. Post shows how we can lose both Ohio and Florida and still win, but we can start losing states like you're talking about.
September 22, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's ads are getting more stupid by the day.
Sad news about dropping out of ND, but with NC coming in play, things are looking brighter.
September 22, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
lol...Rezko is old news, but will the Obama and democrats, please, please, bring up KEATING FIVE and Vicki Iseman.
September 22, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
The McCain commercial is so comical, I expected the narrator to continue with: "Obama's high school gym teacher, beat his wife and owes $20,000 in back taxes. A random gentleman in a New Mexico crowd that Obama shook hands with, has had 2 D.U.I's and is a bestiality aficionado. With friends like these.." Jesus.
September 22, 2008 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
That Mccain ad sure is weak!
Back at the ranch, Obama will deliver a major economic speech today in Green Bay.
September 22, 2008 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
That Mccain ad sure is weak!
Back at the ranch, Obama will deliver a major economic speech today in Green Bay.
September 22, 2008 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh for crying out loud McShame, who the hell cares about Reszko anymore.
September 22, 2008 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
September 22 and we have the Rezko ad.
They’re officially desperate.
September 22, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup Yup!
September 22, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
lol...Rezko is old news, but will the Obama and democrats, please, please, bring up KEATING FIVE and Vicki Iseman.
September 22, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Methinks we should be ahead in Pennsylvania by a lot more...
September 22, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
This news article from yesterday reports on a Strategic Vision poll that has Obama up by 14 points in PA
http://www.citizensvoice.com/articles/2008/10/09/news/doc48ee3943a5436906503493.txt
October 10, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rezko? It is OFFICIAL! McCain and the Republicans can feel this slipping away. There is NO WAY they would bust out Rezko this early in the election if things looked like they were holding steady or were even within striking distance. rezko was their 3rd week in October plan.
America's response? Ho Hum. Been there, done that, dismissed it. When Obama gets another 2 to 3 points ahead (and it's coming...mark my words!)...I expect a Reverend Wright ad.
I love the smell of desperation in the morning!
September 22, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, that probably good-and-seals-up Michigan.
September 22, 2008 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
September 22 and we have the Rezko ad.
They’re officially desperate.
September 22, 2008 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed. That angle has already been tried and failed. If McCain really wants to waste his resources on a dog that won't hunt, it is no skin off my nose, but I have a hard time seeing what he hopes to accomplish. Clearly has reached the point where he is trying to stuff paperclips and toothpicks into his musket for want of real ammunition.
September 22, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rezko? It is OFFICIAL! McCain and the Republicans can feel this slipping away. There is NO WAY they would bust out Rezko this early in the election if things looked like they were holding steady or were even within striking distance. rezko was their 3rd week in October plan.
America's response? Ho Hum. Been there, done that, dismissed it. When Obama gets another 2 to 3 points ahead (and it's coming...mark my words!)...I expect a Reverend Wright ad.
I love the smell of desperation in the morning!
September 22, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rezko? It is OFFICIAL! McCain and the Republicans can feel this slipping away. There is NO WAY they would bust out Rezko this early in the election if things looked like they were holding steady or were even within striking distance. rezko was their 3rd week in October plan.
America's response? Ho Hum. Been there, done that, dismissed it. When Obama gets another 2 to 3 points ahead (and it's coming...mark my words!)...I expect a Reverend Wright ad.
I love the smell of desperation in the morning!
September 22, 2008 10:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
So much for the 50 state strategy. Not really surprising, tho . . .
September 22, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
"50 State Strategy" never meant to spend equally everywhere, but it did mean that there should be some attempt everywhere -- and there has been. I'm sure a skeleton presence will remain in ND. Shifting resource allocations in this manner is just smart.
The work that was done this year in ND will help with the downticket races and it'll help build for future elections, the same way the ground organizations in places like Texas, Georgia, and Arizona are working.
September 22, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I second Rorrg. 50 state strategy does not mean that we win in all 50 states. It means that we complete in all 50 states. The fact that we are admitting defeat in ND now does not mean that we did not compete there. This does not negate the legitimacy of the 50 state strategy.
September 22, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wait for the Wright ads.
Next, McCain will claim that Obama is a tax and spend Democrat party hack. At the same time, McCain, if he remembers where Capital Hill is, will support a $700 billion blank check to Paulsonofabitch, with no controls or oversight. I guess that makes him a spend and spend GOPer.
September 22, 2008 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tony Resco? Is that all the angry dangerous old man has?
I would like Mccain to deatil what Obama did wrong in his realtioship with Resco. He can't
September 22, 2008 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
FYI:
Palin will not be in Scranton with McCain. They will meet later in Media, PA. Per the article:
McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, will not be at today’s event in Scranton. She will be joining McCain later today in Media, Pa., for an event there.
http://www.timesleader.com/news/A_quiet_McCain_hits_Scranton_09-21-2008.html
September 22, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
They've definitely opened the door for Keating 5. Not only that, it's germane to the financial crisis. Why is the Obama campaign not giving the American people all the info needed to make an informed decision? Also, hey media, get off your asses, too.
September 22, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Get ready for a full-frontal Republican rightwing media assault of the Dems all this week for not immediately supporting the disastrous "Bush Bailout"[tm].
If the Dems are smart they will jump ahead of this. All they have to do is remind voters of the last time they gave in to the Bushies without thinking things through and how that little escapade turned out.
September 22, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Might not be a true 50 but is certainly more than a 23 state strategy which is already an improvement.
I am sure that Rev. Wright will make an appearance shortly. McCain has shown that he will go to any length to win. I feel confident that the Obama campaign has prepared for it.
September 22, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
i'm surprised mccain didn't link obama to al capone......
September 22, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
i'm surprised mccain didn't link obama to al capone......
September 22, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
sorry with these muti replies ---- that was weird.
September 22, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Important question: Does McShame even know how many cars he owns?
Also: This should play as well in parts of Ohio as it does in Michigan -- the Obama campaign ought to really hammer this home there, as well. Especially in Dayton, Cleveland/Akron, Youngstown and Toledo.
September 22, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
i'm surprised mccain didn't link obama to al capone......
September 22, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
He is pushing it, he is really pushing it, I guess they are saving Wright for the last month. By then it won't really matter though.
September 22, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
We probably are, I don't trust polls anymore.
September 22, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
oops, that was about being ahead in PA.
September 22, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
McStain's team is having to play the Reszko card much earlier than they'd anticipated. Rev Wright is now on deck.
But they're in for a world of trouble when Davis' financial boon lobbying for Freddie and Fannie gets it's own ad.
And Keating better not be far behind! Hear that, Team Obama? It's time for Keating to appear!
And Palin has a much bigger "reverend" problem than Obama does. End times prophecies, with Alaska being the haven for the Rapture Seekers?
PEACE
September 22, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
I want to believe that the Obama are just waiting for the right moment to uncork Keating 5, as opposed to not have decided WHETHER to use it. This should be a no-brainer: To not use the Keating 5 scandal against McCain would be to commit political malpractice.
September 22, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I bet they're just holding on to it until they really need to counter a particularly odious McCain charge -- one that has the potential to really do some damage just from it being mentioned.
September 22, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Stupid of McCain to bring this up. Now there's no reason that Obama can't go hard on McCain and the Keating Five, Vicki Iseman (mentioned above by Nulook23), and John McCain celebrating his 70th birthday with conman Raffaello Follieri on "The McCain-Follieri Love Boat" (http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080929/berman_ames).
That being said, I think a better ad would start with McCain and the Keating Five, transition to a bit about McCain's campaign manger--Rick Davis--taking $2M to lobby for deregulation of Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac, link to Phil Graham and the investment banking meltdown, and finish with McCain saying YESTERDAY for God's sake that he did not regret supporting deregulation in 1999 (http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_09/014824.php) that led to a the need for a trillion dollars in bail-outs. Forget about linking McCain to Bush. Link McCain to McCain.
September 22, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, in the mind of the average voter, "The Keating Five" is almost as obscure (but not quite) as Tony Rezko.
September 22, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
All the more reason to dredge the facts back up and highlight them for voters who may not be aware that (1) McCain really screwed up and engaged in unethical behavior, and (2) that behavior -- involving the hamstringing of government regulators at the behest of lobbyists -- is extremely relevant to what's going on today in the banking and finance industries
September 22, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think there are a lot of creative ways to revive the Keating Five scandal as an issue. Moreover, it shouldn't be an attack on McCain's character, it should be an attack on his judgment and competence regarding any type of fiscal or economic matter. Going along with Phil Graham and the gang should show that McCain learned absolutely NOTHING from the S&L meltdown and the subsequent taxpayer subsidized bailout. Ads portraying McCain as too-trusting, naive, and incompetent would be attacks on his ability, not his character. The message should be that John McCain is not competent to be president.
September 22, 2008 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
What we've seen so far from the Obama camp is brilliant pacing, much better than the last two democratic contenders. I have said to myself numerous times over the last month "Why won't Obama attack!" Come to find, they always hold their fire until exactly the right moment.
It's been impressive to watch.
September 22, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, and I'd like to add that your credibility is enhanced by the sharp sport-coat and smart hair-cut.
September 22, 2008 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not a biggie that the Obama campaign is shifting it's staff to Minnesota and Wisconsin,,,, North Dakota is afterall, a suburb of Minneapolis, so the ground remains covered.
September 22, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
A recently published article I found this morning on McCain's market-based healthcare plan and a video of him expressing his stand on deregulation along with a bonus! He mentions the bridge to nowhere!!!!
September 22, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Chicago. Chicago. BLACK. Chicago. Chicago. BLACK.
It's on. It's so on.
I can't wait to see an ad from "First Crippled Wives for Truth."
September 22, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't like the Pennsylvania poll numbers - they really need to get in there. Obama NEEDS to hold on to that State. He might need to promise Rendell an ambassador gig or something to get him motivated.
September 22, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well the numbers look good today from Minnesota (+8)and Wisconsin (+5). The economy bounce seems to be reflected now in the state polls. Hopefully PA will show a similiar bounce, probably closer to the +3 range.
September 22, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, whatever it takes.
September 22, 2008 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pennsylvania needs to be shored up. This is a crucial state, obviously.
September 22, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is right. And I know Biden has been having some hard slogging. There are a lot of pretty foolish people out in the mid-Atlantic explaining how they got an e-mail saying Obama was a dangerous radical Muslim, so therefore they can't vote for him if though they might like to. Need a nice win in PA.
September 22, 2008 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
there are 2 things: Davis and the 2 millions he got from Freddy
and Kitting 5.
It is the right time to raise Kitting 5
September 22, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure McCain can appeal to the hard-working America-first Michigan voters by pointing out his other nine cars are American.
September 22, 2008 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Last election these crowds that one could still hear echoing “four more years!” that resonated and ultimately stirred a winning cause, was based on Bush would do better in time of war. Did they forget the attracts happened on his watch?
I keep hearing polls insinuating McCain would do better in war because of his experience. Let’s reverse the situation. Who would do better making peace? Better yet. Who would do better in preventing war? Who is the best ticket on talks with our Arab and Muslim friends, McCain-Palin or Obama-Biden? Education is the key here, all nations learning from each other in a give and take of important attitude and feelings. One thing is certain, in the Muslim culture; it is easier for men to converse with each other rather then man and women that’s where Biden has the advantage over Palin. On the same token a man who cries fire (“I would fire him”) is a scary image of McCain’s hand slamming down on a big red button yelling “fire!” Our friends and allies of the Arab and Muslim nations would apt to have a better rapport with Obama
September 22, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shortly after Reagan was elected and some of the deregulation began, Reagan "broke" the air controllers union, and broke the law numerous ways, I became concerned about the fact that the economic safeguards Democrats had helped to create were being destroyed. During Bush I, I continued to see it falling apart; but at least Bush I was more of a fiscal conservative than Bush II.
Now Bush II has put the USA in its most difficult financial state to date.
WHEN we have victory in November, including major wins in most senate and house races, we can start to rebuild America. Just make sure the rich pay their part this time and that controls ARE in place.
September 22, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink