McCain Running Robo-Slime In ... Washington State?
Hmm, a new twist to robo-slime-gate. John McCain appears to be pumping one of the nastier species of his robo-slime into a state where he has no chance whatsoever of winning.
A reader just outside of Seattle, in Washington State, reports to us that she got this McCain robo-call that was running yesterday in Arizona -- it paints Obama as unprepared to handle terror and singles out Joe Biden's recent claim that Obama was likely to be tested by an international crisis early in his first term.
The reader, Anne Francis, who is general manager for a company that books Broadway shows in venues across the country, played us the call, which came into her home phone.
The Real Clear Politics average has Obama up by 17 in this state. So we're not sure what to make of this.
Perhaps most of the Kerry toss-up states are so out of reach that the GOP is pumping robo-slime wildly in all directions in hopes of somehow getting some blue state, any blue state, to flip somewhere. Or maybe the robo-slime machine is in overdrive and cracking up and the GOP has lost control of it, like some kind of rampaging Franken-Slime monster on the loose.
I think the second is more likely.
October 30, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are these calls from the McSlime campaign or the RNC?
If the RNC, they could be thinking about minimizing down-ticket damage. After all, robo-sliming Obama is a very trickle-down way of pursuing that end.
E.g., someone pointed out that AZ-03 is competitive this cycle with Bob Lord as the Dem challenger. That might partly explain the robocalls in AZ.
October 30, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm thinking it's a robo caller special: slime 2 states and we'll thrown in the 3rd for free!
October 30, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or maybe they're just fucking retarded.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/30/joe-the-plumber-ditches-m_n_139248.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/30/rick-sanchez-v-michael-go_n_139357.html
October 30, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yet more evidence:
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/everbody.html
October 30, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Robo calls taking over North America! Very Halloween of the RNC.
October 30, 2008 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why the hell is McLame doing this? This won't make one bit of difference in Washington. There's no way in hell he wins that state or even comes close.
WTF?
October 30, 2008 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps this is the utter collapse we've all been predicting. No direction home...
October 30, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm telling you - there is no rhyme or reason to the McLame Campaign.
None.
That old man has never once told the country why he wants to be president, either. Obama has explained why he wants to be president about 54,000 times now and it's not: "Because I want to."
It's because he wants to fix the country.
October 30, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain loves to tell us he'll fix everything, the war, the economy, health care. Never says how!
October 30, 2008 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
He "knows how" (and picture me using air quotes with my fingers)! Why do you need to know the details?
October 30, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those air quotes - does he have any clue how ridiculous he looks doing that? Jesus' tits!
October 30, 2008 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I said in the previous thread, an entire ad of McCain air quotes would be such a blast. I f'n love 'em.
October 30, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Especially the "health of the mother" and "nuclear safety". Personal faves!
October 30, 2008 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Already done (kind of), but damnit, I forget where - everything is running together these days.
Probably The Daily Show, but possibly Keith O or Rachel Maddow. Hilarious.
October 30, 2008 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Daily Show. That was where Stewart proclaimed them "dick fingers."
October 30, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Washington is the home of Boeing. Boeing is the company that lost the tanker contract McCain is always crowing about. (McCain steered it to the French company AirBus who had the wisdom to hire Charlie Black as their lobbyist.) No, Washington is the last place in America where McCain wants to spend money.
October 30, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm thinking it might be something like a down-ticket slime effect -- we're in the midst of a very very contentious (and very close) gubernatorial election.
Agitate the base to vote against Obama, pick up a Republican governor instead.
October 30, 2008 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
My thought exactly. Not to mention a contentious House race in the 405 corridor.
Screw Dino Rossi.
October 30, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have been complaining for months that electoral vote prediction sites have been characterizing Washington (where I live) as "lean Obama" rather than "solid Obama" for no other reason than the Gregoire/Rossi race. Obama is ahead by more than 15 points. This is Obama country. The problem with doing this is that gubernatorial races have NOTHING to do with presidential races. Kansas has a Democratic governor, for fuck's sake. So does CO, VA, NC, OH, NM, and MT. California, on the other hand, has a republican governor.
Handicapping Obama's Washington chances based on the Ross/Gregoire race is just as stupid and handicapping his Oregon chances based on the Merkely/Smith race. Again, nothing to do with each other. But Oregon has also, for much of this race, been characterized as only "lean Obama" because of that race. McCain beats Obama in Oregon the day pigs fly.
Sorry for the rant, but I find it insulting that my state would ever be characterized as anything but solid Obama. We are not stupid, and they call us stupid when they suggest there is any chance we would vote for McCain.
October 31, 2008 1:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have been complaining for months that electoral vote prediction sites have been characterizing Washington (where I live) as "lean Obama" rather than "solid Obama" for no other reason than the Gregoire/Rossi race. Obama is ahead by more than 15 points. This is Obama country. The problem with doing this is that gubernatorial races have NOTHING to do with presidential races. Kansas has a Democratic governor, for fuck's sake. So does CO, VA, NC, OH, NM, and MT. California, on the other hand, has a republican governor.
Handicapping Obama's Washington chances based on the Ross/Gregoire race is just as stupid and handicapping his Oregon chances based on the Merkely/Smith race. Again, nothing to do with each other. But Oregon has also, for much of this race, been characterized as only "lean Obama" because of that race. McCain beats Obama in Oregon the day pigs fly.
Sorry for the rant, but I find it insulting that my state would ever be characterized as anything but solid Obama. We are not stupid, and they call us stupid when they suggest there is any chance we would vote for McCain.
October 31, 2008 1:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
CT, looks like it won't be long before you get one of those calls, lol!
October 30, 2008 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oooooh, I hope so!
October 30, 2008 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
MCWar seeks desesperatly Joe the Plumber, Maybe this is why, lol
It is his dementia effect.
October 30, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I'm John McCain and I approve of...blowing my last pocket full of change on ads in states I have NO CHANCE IN HELL of winning! In fact, I'm thinking about dropping a few million on ads in Illinois because, dammit, I feel like I can win it! Oh crap, did I just exceed 30 seconds??"
October 30, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I'm John McCain, and I'm hell-bent intent on destroying the GOP's chances of representing anything but bitter white racists for the next generation."
Paid for by Bitter White Racists.
October 30, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn the robots, JTFM, Embarracuda - all acting rogue.
October 30, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Robo-slime, going China Syndrome on us...campaign in critical meltdown. Dear God, forgive us for trying to harness the McCain campaign as an alternative energy source. We thought it was self contained, a catalyst for our generators powered by the spinning of our Founding Fathers in their graves. Fools! We've destroyed it all!!!
Tell my domestic partner I love her...
October 30, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you! That's first thing in a record-breakingly shitty day to make me smile.
I owe you, cowboyx.
October 30, 2008 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you! That's first thing in a record-breakingly shitty day to make me smile.
I owe you, cowboyx.
October 30, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you! That's first thing in a record-breakingly shitty day to make me smile.
I owe you, cowboyx.
October 30, 2008 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you! That's first thing in a record-breakingly shitty day to make me smile.
I owe you, cowboyx.
October 30, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
aaarrrgggg! Every time it timed out and I checked for the comment, it wasn't there. Then all of a sudden there are four!
I have to go home, crawl under the Christmas decorations in the basement and stay there until Inaurguration.
October 30, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Heh, I just thought you were REALLY grateful. ;)
October 30, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
ROTFLMFAO! Now THAT made my whole week!
October 30, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Vote Palin/Robocall in 2012!
October 30, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!!!!
October 30, 2008 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Apparently early voting in King County (Seattle) has been well below expectations, so they're hoping to steal one here.
October 30, 2008 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
ROFLMAO!
Yeah, McLame carries Seattle.
And I'm Marie, the Queen of Romania.
October 30, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not saying he would carry Seattle. But Spokane is relatively strongly outperforming Seattle, and that probably has them thinking about the state.
October 30, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
He might carry Tacoma.
He might do ok in Spokane, as you said.
Otherwise - well, really.
October 30, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well,...I'm from Seattle and i have no idea where to vote early,....the only place i found online is down in Renton,....nobody in Seattle is gonna drive 20 miles back and forth in traffic to vote early,...so I would suspect a big turnout on Tuesday at the usual locations.
http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/voting/earlyvoting.aspx
October 30, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm in King County as well -- you're right about Renton being the only "place" for early voting, but a sizable number of us vote early via mail.
I haven't seen numbers on those yet, but it could well be that some early voters are waiting to return their ballots. I've no idea why.
I just hope that apathy (or antipathy) about our current governor doesn't spill "up-ballot" to Obama.
October 30, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
What are you talking about? Washington is entirely vote by mail but for two counties: King and Pierce. You can vote by mail if you want to in those counties, but you can also go to the polls. There are no early voting polling places, however.
Also, Seattle and Tacoma cancel out Spokane and the entire eastside of the state, and conservative parts to the north, south, and west.
Again, McCain beats Obama in Washington the day hell freezes over.
October 31, 2008 1:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whoops, I didn't realize there was an early polling place in Renton, I stand corrected. Renton...eeewwww...
October 31, 2008 1:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whoops, I didn't realize there was an early polling place in Renton, I stand corrected. Renton...eeewwww...
October 31, 2008 1:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
well, McCain's campaign _is_ a medley of extemporanea.
/dorothy parker ref.
October 30, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
ROBO-CALL...SOON...NEED...WORK...AFTER...TUESDAY...HAVE...EXPERIENCE...IN...900...SEX...CHATS...THANK YOU...HAVE...NICE...DAY.
October 30, 2008 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now that's funny!
October 30, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
My full post above was "edited" down before it appeared here - I may have crossed the line. :-)
October 30, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he's dipped into Cindy's stash. . .
October 30, 2008 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's obvious. In order to make the Diebold Effect more believable it is necessary to show a national "trend" back to McStain over the coming days. Remember, McStain has already won the election, all that is needed now is the formality of the vote. As Stalin once said it doesn't matter who votes, it only matters who COUNTS the votes.
October 30, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
This isn't the right thread, but you gotta give it to Fox...
Their national poll today has Obama leading McCain by only 3 points - down from 9 a week ago. Oh no.
Now look at their party weighing
10/23
Democrats n=401, ±5 percentage points; Republicans n=345, ±5; independents n=148
10/30
Democrat LV n=379, ±5; Republican LV n=364, ±5; independent LV n=146, ±8
Notice anything funny?
October 30, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
funny? As in almost equal proportions of Dems and Repubs in the 10/30 poll?
Ben SMith is reporting that the CBS/NY Times poll, due out later today, shows Obama with an 11 point lead.
Since it was 13 points a week ago, I'd say OMG!!!!!THERACEISTIGHTENING!!!!!!@#$!!!.
Tuesday just cannot come soon enough.
October 30, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
O Noesssssss!
It can't come fast enough for me either. But then I've said that.
;)
October 30, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's what I thought. They changed the methodology/weighting to get a different result. Have to love it.
October 30, 2008 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Last ditch attempt to convince every white person that they're secretly racist? Washington isn't super diverse. Maybe they're shooting for the most white blue states?
But I haven't heard of any calls here in Oregon, and we're embarrassingly non-diverse.
October 30, 2008 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain: From respect to disgust in ninety days.
October 30, 2008 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Arizona's area code is 603. Washington state's area code is 360. Most likely this was a data entry error. Someone has to feed numbers to the robo-callers, after all.
October 30, 2008 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, that would make sense given how much they fuck up everything they touch.
Nice bit of investigative journalism, btw!
October 30, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't buy it. While the numerals match, there is no simple transposition of numbers that I can think of to result in that combination by accident..
October 30, 2008 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
603 is New Hampshire, not Arizona
October 30, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oops. so much for those credentials as an online guerilla journalist!
October 30, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gah, google has failed me! Oh, well. Mea culpa.
Maybe they flubbed 520 (which *is* in Arizona) into 630?
It really makes more sense for this to be a mistake. Never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity, even when dealing with republicans.
October 30, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
We all make mistakes. But not as well as McCain!!!!
October 30, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
My guesses: either a) he got Washington mixed up with Idaho, or b) he has secretly entered a contest for Most Poorly Executed Campaign in the History of the Universe.
October 30, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only republican that needs help in Idaho is Sali. He's not doing well at all (down by 6). The rest are up by double digits.
October 30, 2008 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll take B Molly!
October 30, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe they're targeting the popular vote, to mitigate the landslide/mandate narrative? Maybe they're conducting some kind of efficy test for the medium or the message? Of course, it could just be sheer unadulterated rage, in which case they might continue with the robocalls after Obama's won the election, "Our president elect is a terrorist. If anyone asks you, say you disapprove of his performance."
No matter the explanation, that party has gone totally off the rails.
October 30, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he's doing this as some sort of cover for having to run robocalls in Arizona. Other than that, it doesn't make any sense.
October 30, 2008 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
My guess is that some genius screwed up the area codes in programing the 'bot. You get what you pay for.
October 30, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this one is pretty obvious - there is a competitive house seat in Washington:
Reichert (R) 46%, Burner (D) 46%
This is aimed at getting some down ticket action on the house campain.
October 30, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
More likely it is for the governor's race. Washington Republicans are steamed about what happened with it in 2004.
October 30, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Totally agree this is aimed at pulling down Darcy's congressional run. The GOP is throwing tons of money into protecting the seat, with big help from the Local Powers. Slimey race by the GOP, and eating into even 3-5% of Obama's supporters to stay home may impact the race. Robo Calls are cheap.
John
October 30, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
OT: For those who saw the new Fox poll saying the race has changed from Obama + 9 to Obama + 3, two things to keep in note.
1. Their LV method
2.This is their party id makeup between the two.
28-29 Oct 08 LV 41% 39 16 2 1
20-21 Oct 08 LV 43% 37 16 2 2
The main thought on party ID is that Dems have a 10 point lead and Fox has them at 2.
October 30, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
a little OT,
found this new ad about Obama and pre-conditions on McCain campaign website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1azQcs-8iI&eurl=http://www.johnmccain.com/blog/
(sorry if it's been discussed already)
October 30, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
10/10 Fox Weighing
Democrats n=371, ±5 percentage points; Republicans n=304, ±6 percentage points;
independents n=190, ±7
So, we we have gone from a +67 Democrat to +56 to +15
By Christmas we'll be extinct
October 30, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
By Christmas we'll be extinct - LOLOLOL!
October 30, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Probably just a little help to Dino Rossi in the governors race. They need some sort of win anywhere, at any level to hang their hats on.
October 30, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or like some kind of rampaging "whack-job" "diva" on the loose?
October 30, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
on the one hand McSlime complains that he has so much less money than Obama, but on the other hand he's not spending his resources wisely at all.. I can't understand how this campaign became so inept and incompetent.. I mean we all have read all these analyses which say tht the GOP brand is so damaged, that the conservative movement is on the ropes, etc.. but, call me naive, I don't understand why this has translated into such a poorly-run campaign.. it's like b/c their movement is faltering all of a sudden Repugs can't run campaigns anymore.. but hey, I'm not complaining about this....:) just making an observation..
and speaking of all this, Obama is running ads in northern New Jesrey, where I live.. I think this is a bit nutty, obviously NJ is in the bag for him already.. I think if he has so much extra cash he should help local tickets down the ballot instead of running ads in places where he will obviously win..
October 30, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's because the substance of their movement is comprised entirely of running campaigns. It's all set dressing and props.
October 30, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's because the substance of their movement is comprised entirely of running campaigns, at least for the past 16 years. It's all set dressing and props.
October 30, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I live in WA state. Totally dumb decision. Let's hope he's not elected so he can't make more decisions like this all across the board.
October 30, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
One obvious possibility is that neither McCain nor his campaign staffers are competent enough to make good decisions.
In fact, I think this could be a prime example of Occam's Razor.
October 30, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does Sarah Palin like movies? Mr. Movie Phone may be in need of a protege!
"WILD HOGS 2 - I darn tootin' loved it, you betcha I did!"
"MYSTERY, ALASKA 2: PUCK YOU, TOO" - hotties, hotties, hotties! Of course, don't tell Todd I said that (wink!)."
October 30, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
One obvious possibility is that neither McCain nor his campaign staffers are competent enough to make good decisions.
In fact, I think this could be a prime example of Occam's Razor.
October 30, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
The governor's race in WA is very close. The robo-calls may be related to the Gregoire-Rossi race. The calls won't make a difference in the presidential race but perhaps the calls will influence a few potential Gregoire voters. Gregoire won by less than 200 votes in the last election. It looks like every vote matters again this year too.
October 30, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
IMO, that's exactly right. In Spokane, there is a "Seattle/SF liberals are stealing your election again" theme. Generalized fear of Obama would really play into that.
They may not have money to produce new spots and pay for air time - so it could be a "best fit" from things already produced. I don't know why they'd do it in Seattle though. Wouldn't it be more effective as a GOTV tool in conservative areas? It will probably turn people in Seattle off. I wonder if they are also calling Spokane?
October 30, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm from King County,...and I'm saving my kick in the balls for Tuesday night,....don't worry about King County,...it will be an Obama blowout!
October 30, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Go King County. Save your state from multiple recounts that happened the last time around.
October 30, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's funny is the Robocalls actually have more warmth and vitality than John McCain.
October 30, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's just poisoning the well as he leaves. Just trying to make Obama's job as President as hard as possible, to kick up partisan rancor in hopes Obama has to fight the House and Senate every step of the way and to stoke the partisan fires one last time in hopes the embers are still burning come 2012.
That, or it's one last temper tantrum because Obama didn't do his town halls...
October 30, 2008 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't care about Fox trying to spin their poll. Once election day comes and we win by 5-9 points they will have blue donkey egg on their faces.
October 30, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
From McCain's "Where's Joe the Plumber" rally this morning -
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/30/1616435.aspx
October 30, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Based on the content that "internal" memo about their internal polling that the chatterers spent all of yesterday excitedly chattering about, my theory is that their ability to even get out of bed and continue the campaign is now dependant upon internal polling that's degenerated into the statistical equivilent of eating sixteen ounces of peyote buttons.
Their internals are probably telling them they're within a the margin of error in Washington.
October 30, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
God you're funny!
LOL!!!!!!
totally OT but did y'all watch Colbert last night? I love that guy = he endorsed Obama and it was hilarious. He's such a genius.
October 30, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or, alternately, maybe the constitutional robocracy predicted by in John Stewart's "America (the Book)" has come sooner than we think.
October 30, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's obvious. McShame's campaign hasn't been about winning the election for at least a month now.
It's about sliming Obama so thoroughly that whatever "mandate" he gets counts for nothing, and he spends his entire administration fending off repug attacks, getting no help from the dems in congress because people back home are suspicious from the get-go of the president they just elected.
I'm already hearing it here from my lovely freakazoid bosses.
October 30, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
The biggest PR narrative right now for McCain is that he is tightening the national polls. Perhaps his strategy is to try to pick up as many votes as possible, even if they do not matter, in hopes that it will affect the polls this weekend.
If that were to happen, the MSM would give McCain free PR by over analyzing the "Bradley Effect", "Why can't Obama close the deal", "Does race matter", "Is McCain on a come back" and so on.
October 30, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
w/e If the media wants to pretend that the race is getting closer then so be it. There is only 5 days before the election, let them say its getting closer and get more Obama supporters to go vote. Then when the votes come in we will see.
October 30, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
And if this is the tactice, it sort of epitomizes the ineptitude of the campaign. For one, the race isn't really tightening nationally. It's tightening only if you cherry pick certain polls on certain days and ignore the internal breakdowns in those polls.
For another, it's not a national race. It's the same tactic McCain has tried with his ads. Get the media talking about them, and it's equivalent to running a national ad. Meanwhile, the Obama campaign has been quietly targeting specific regions with specific ads, and the political media has, for the most part, ignored this strategy.
McCain is running a 20th century national campaign. Obama isn't.
October 30, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh I'm not saying it is a good tactic. Trying to mind-meld with the McCain campaign in order to figure out what they think they are doing is quite painful and disorienting.
It's not like the McCain campaign has any good options left. Getting their national poll numbers up is all they have left. The map is so bad for them that they need a national PR push to have a chance, but they don't have the money for it. Suckering the MSM to report favorably towards McCain in the final days is about as good as it could get for them.
October 30, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I live in California and I've seen McCain ads on local tv channels. I was baffled especially since I live in conservative Orange county. It seems like a waste of money and time if you ask me. Now I have seen Obama here, too. But that seems to make more sense. After all, Obama wants to sway traditionally conservatives away from McCain to secure a win without taking anything for granted. That has been his strategy from the beginning.
October 30, 2008 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
This story reminds me a bit of something that happened right before the election in 2004. A week before the election a poll came out which showed that Hawaii was virtually tied. The Republicans went nuts over it, and Cheney himself made a trip out there. The Democrats won Hawaii, but it was much closer than they had thought. There always could be a surprise out there.
October 30, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another resident of Washington state here, and I agree this may be going on to help down ticket candidates like Reichert and Dino Rossi.
Listening to KUOW (local NPR station) this morning had a scathing piece on Rossi and his lawyer stonewalling an investigation into him accepting illegal campaign cash. It's a very nasty governor's race he's in with Gregoire, yes lots of bad blood from 2004.
I went to the Biden rally in Tacoma a few weeks back with my 6-year old (so he could appreciate the historical significance) and Burner, Gregoire, Patty Murray were on stage with Joe, it was very inspirational. If it's not already apparent there are huge divides between western Washington and east of the Cascades, I mean deep deep cultural rifts that color all state-wide politics. I wouldn't put it past the Republicans throwing cash and slime just to prevent an all-female delegation.
As fyi, if the call went to Anne Francis "outside Seattle" the area code would likely be 206 or 425. 360 is down Tacoma way. 509 is Spokane, eastern WA.
October 30, 2008 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey there! I'm the Anne in the story above - my area code is 425. It's Comcast VOIP so I'm not sure how they got it. I love in Lake Forest Park, not really the east side....
It was odd getting the call...I thought at least they would have puched the Dino Rossi angle. I'm getting a ton of Dino calls, BTW. My favortie was a few days ago, wherein the robocall told me to "be sure and vote in the Primary." I kidd you not. they wrong-robocalled me!
October 30, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pardon all my typos! this is my first time posting comments on TPM. I'm normally more literate!
October 30, 2008 7:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Tena and other OBAMA supporters. I need some advice.
Do you think Obama still needs money in these final days? Tomorrow is payday and I had planned to donate my last $50.00 of the campaign. It would put me over $800.00 since I began donating in the primaries.
Does he need more money? Should I send it?
Thoughts?
October 30, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, send it, if you can afford it. I just got an e-mail from Joe Biden claiming that the Republicans and John McCain had a cash advantage and that Obama needs the money. I'm giving more, and I hadn't planned on it.
October 30, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I sent him $250 last night.
October 30, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
DemDave -
That is a personal decision, but I'd be more inclined to tell you to donate to a congressional or Senatorial race.
October 30, 2008 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I sent $150 to the DCCC night before last.
October 30, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I will give him my last $100 tomorrow. It is indeed payday:)
October 30, 2008 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here in Washington ... we don't have a lot of options for voting early at a polling station ... but we do have the ability to vote by absentee ballot via the mail ... most people (all of those I know here) vote this way ...
I voted 2 weeks ago.
Regardless ... a McCain robocall is not going to help any of the close races here in-state ...
October 30, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just don't elect Rossi.
(Why do y'all have the same avatar? What am I missing? Is that now the default avatar?)
October 30, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Second that - no Rossi!
October 30, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe this has been posted on one of the threads already but this is priceless and I had to mention it.
McCain has had to resort to busing kids in from school just to fill seats at his rallies.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/30/1616435.aspx
"A local school district official confirmed after the event that of the 6,000 people estimated by the fire marshal to be in attendance this morning, more than 4,000 were bused in from schools in the area. The entire 2,500-student Defiance School District was in attendance, the official said, in addition to at least three other schools from neighboring districts, one of which sent 14 buses."
October 30, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe that sometime late Saturday, or early Sunday morning, the talking heads will put a stop to this disinformation campaign of McCains on "tightening" poll numbers.
It will be officially put out of reach, and the last two days will look more like a victory lap for Obama.
This is classic smokescreen stuff. In 2000 Rove said that the Bush campaign had stopped their internal polling ten days prior to election day. This was designed to create an atmosphere of inevitability. It was all BS they knew the polls were showing Gore taking the lead, and didn't want to suppress their turnout.
October 30, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes and in '06, if y'all will remember, Rove was crowing about the poll numbers and how the GOP was going to win. Remember?
Remember how very pissed off a bunch of Congresspeople who lost were at Rove?
October 30, 2008 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, but I never thought he believed what he was saying. I figgered it was all trash-talking to keep GOP voters from getting too demoralized and staying home.
October 30, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here is my thought....
Perhaps this McCain robo slime is an attempt to inject negative campaigning in a state where Barack Obama will offer zero response....Why?????? To tighten the national polls to make the race seem closer than it really is...Often times when negative adds are not responded to, they become very effective.
Will this flip washington or even AZ?? Nope, but it may change just enough minds on the national level to give the illusion of a tightening race.
October 30, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course, if it works, and the national polls tighten up, it may give more hope and energy to "Base" voters in swing states..
October 30, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please, God, don't let the people of Washington State elect Dino Rossi. That is more important than Obama carrying the state (which he's sure to do, so it's moot) to me.
It's hard to believe that Washingtonians could look at the fate of other states during the last ten years and then turn us over to a Republican Governor now.
Especially Dino Rossi.
October 30, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's robocalls attacks towards Sen. Obama will NEVER prevail ! I rebuke all of McCain,Palin, the RNC, and their supporters' insults and attacks towards Sen. Obama in the name and blood of Jesus and send all of them back to the pit of hell where they belong ! I plead the blood of Jesus for Barack, Joe, their family, his presidency, and his campaign this day and forever !
No weapon forged against you [ Barack Obama] will prevail, and you [ Barack Obama] will refute every tongue that accuses you [ Barack Obama] . This is the heritage of the servants [ Barack Obama] of the LORD, and this is their [ Barack Obama] vindication from me," declares the LORD. - Isaiah 54:17
" I [ God ] will send my terror ahead of you [ Barack Obama] and throw into confusion every nation you [ Barack Obama] encounter. I [ God ] will make all your [ Barack Obama] enemies turn their backs and run." - Exodus 23:27
They will fight against you [ Barack Obama] but will not overcome you, for I [God ] am with you [ Barack Obama] and will rescue you," declares the LORD. - Jeremiah 1:19
The Lord will rescue me [ Barack Obama] from every evil attack and will bring me [ Barack Obama] safely to his heavenly kingdom. - 2 Timothy 4:18
11 For he will command his angels concerning you [ Barack Obama] to guard you [ Barack Obama ] in all your ways; 12 they will lift you [ Barack Obama ] up in their hands, so that you [ Barack Obama ] will not strike your [his] foot against a stone. 13 You [ Barack Obama ] will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you [ Barack Obama ] will trample the great lion and the serpent. - Psalm 91:11-13
I have given you [ Barack Obama ] authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you [ Barack Obama ]. - Luke 10:19
It's time for the American people to get it right and NOT vote for McCain-Palin, instead vote for change. It's time for this country to turn the page and seek a new and better future for ourselves and our children.It's time for REAL change in Washington, it's time to elect Barack Obama for president !
Obama-Biden are the wiser and stronger team to solve the crucial challenges we have in this nation and abroad !
Amen.
October 30, 2008 7:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I got another roboslime, this one attacking Obama's voting record, and calling him a (gasp, shudder) liberal.
This is why political spam calls should be stopped.
October 30, 2008 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anne here again. I got another call today at home. This one about his State Senate record of voting "present" 129 times and how he votes along party lines "97% of the time"
the first was no fluke. They are spending money up here. I have no idea why...delusional.
October 30, 2008 7:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've gotten anti-Obama material in the mail, purporting to be from a pro-Gregoire Democrat who "owns their own business"
What kind of strategy is that - Obama is guaranteed to win here, but Gregoire is kinda iffy.
Anybody else got this?
There's no identification on it (fake name and return address). Is that legal, should I report it somewhere?
The fake return address:
Mike Carutthers
5346 Madison SW
Seattle 98106
October 30, 2008 7:59 PM | Reply | Permalink