Pollster.com

Thank you, cheeseheads! WI is like MN: they flirted with Palin for a week but once they found out there was nothing to back up the accent, they dumped McCain.

Very nice

McCain is collapsing along with the remains of 20th century conservatism. We are witnessing a political realignment, folks. The Republicans will try to rewrite history and pretend this had something to do with the legislative gridlock of the last two years, but Americans aren't that stupid. America is now a progressive country.

Let's paint WI a deeper shade of blue!

John McCain = Epic Fail!

I go out of town for 2 days and the whole map gets painted blue!!! I had to squint to find a red state! Not really, but seriously, what a change.

I don't know if I'd go as far as to call America a 'progressive' country, but this is encouraging. I hope it stays like this until election day.

I'm in WI and I don't think McCain ever stood a chance here. (Obama crushed Hillary in the primaries.)

The path to victory for any Republican here is to win enough rural and suburban votes to counter dem strongholds in Milwaukee and Madison. To do that a Republican campaign has to have boots on the ground.

Obama has three times as many offices as McCain in Wisconsin. It won't be pretty on election day for McCain.

I'm a little nervous that the early voting numbers for Ohio were so low (only about 3,000 so far). Does this this reflect badly on Obama's much vaulted ground game? Any valid thoughts (and no, trolls, he's not about to lose).

mac7396:

I reserve my Epic Fails for boomshaks statistical analysis, or what he thinks passes for it.

@Babbit:

Know what's truly even MORE amazing. Not only is Barack creaming McCain in the Electoral College, but there are actually, PHYSICALLY, MORE blue states than red states! (24-21) That is amazing considering all those Republican states with three electoral votes.

Negative attacks aren't going to help McCain reign in these numbers. I'm afraid that without any real plan to rescue the economy, no one's going to vote to continue along the same path.

WI -- Kerry won this state by less than 1%. McCain should be far more competitive than -10. He clearly hasn't done enough to distinguish himself for George W. Bush.

Chester, where did you find that number? I'm curious.

Chester:

The 3000 number is misleading. There are two groups, and I believe the 3000 is people who did same day registration along with their early vote.

It took a crisis of epic proportions to make Americans realize this is a progressive country? I can't quite think that... More along the lines of McCain paying for the excesses of the past decade, brought to the fore by said crisis.

@Chester,

Early voting is still going on in OH, right? I think only the same-day registration and voting window closed. Still, Obama still enjoys a lead in the polls.

Babbit:

A Toledo paper, but also carried in AP (4K, not 3K voted). I thought there would have been more.

Oops... article by clicking "chester" on my last entry (first timers).

Nice poll. Party breakdown looks pretty good (its Democrats +4).

The question is where McSame will pull out first - either WI or PA. I'm thinking PA because of how expensive the Philadelphia media market is.

Coming originally from MN my theory is that the good citizens of MN and WI enjoyed the movie "Fargo," but resented it when outsiders compared them to any of the comic figures in the story.

When Tina Fey does Sarah, it's still great entertainment. But MN and WI are fairly cosmopolitan states, and the real Sarah is a reminder of the local redneck type they cannot abide.

Further, I believe that nationwide, Sarah Palin has added 2% to Barack's lead.

Ah, I see it now. Told ya I was out of town for 2 days. :)

It's possible that they have done such an excellent job with getting folks registered before the early voting started that there weren't that many who could do both on the same day. Has anyone seen numbers for how many people have voted early in Ohio so far?

If those voters are reflective of the current polls then Obama is gonna win for sure.

Btw, I was in PA over the weekend, and there were people all over the place with clipboards and voter registration forms.

thank God only about a month until these rt wing lunatics shut their collective pie holes.

McCain pulls out of MI and into WI, and only days later achieves some serious kick-ass results. Palin, meanwhile, is coming to Lakeville, MN this Friday. With Obama lead already in double digits in MN, one wonder how much further her visit will sink their campaign?

I'd like to repeat my extended welcoming offer for the McCampaign until Nov. 4. I think you ought to sink all your resources here. MN looks really winnable. You just gotta pray harder.

The whole thing is reminiscent of Chief Wiggam's advice on the opposite sex to his son Ralph: "women are like nuts, you just gotta be persistent!" McCampaign, you just gotta be more persistent. Maybe if you focused all your energies on just one state... Hmmm?

Notice BOOMSHACK has given talking about any poll internals and just rants now?

The Ohio numbers are low but there are a few other numbers out there that say 175,000 absentee ballots have been requested in Franklin County (Columbus) alone.

This early in-person voting is new for Ohio so most people are still resorting to mail in ballots.

Ohio Go Blue! (Don't see that often from a Buckeye)

I'm from WI, and 10 points seems on the light side to me, given that Obama beat Clinton by 17 points in the primary. If the party breakdown is only +4 as noted above in this poll, that should explain why.

Regardless, McShame can keep wasting money here as far as I'm concerned, since it's money out the window for him!

FYI-You can register to vote on the day of election in WI, so if you live here and are not registered yet, by all means get out to vote. Better yet, register early and then vote, because the lines will be long on Nov 4!

Landslide Baby Landslide!

Well all the Kerry States are double digit now for Obama.

Florida does it on its own. Obama needs a good night tonight and McCain caves tomorrow.

The Repubs are going to need all their money to try to rescue a few Senate seats and the House.

At the moment for an under performer Obama seems to have very long coat tails.

Dow closes down 508 points. Lets see how McSame talks about Ayers and makes a fool of himself tonight.

Chester,

The article is not well written. It says at one point that 3,000 voted but that may be connected with Cuba Gooding Jr. Then later it says thar 3200 voted in three countries in three days, not counting the other 84 counties in Ohio. My guess, a lot more than 3000 voted.

McCain so desperate in states like CO, NV, and VA, his internals must be showing a better shot in MN and WI than those states. That's TELLING!

I'm getting more and more psychic it seems. I said about a week ago Mccain's only real chance was to completely pull out of every 2004 Kerry state and just bear down white-knuckles on every '04 Bush state. (and this was before the MI pullout anouncement). I think that either Obama's 50 state strategy either goaded McCain into investing heavily into longshot states, or more likely, he saw an opening in blue states like PA where Hillary won big and where there seemd to be lots of disgruntled Hillary supporters ripe for conversion. But it's becoming clear that McCain wasted lots of time and money in states he can't win, and now he has to pull a Hail Mary out out of his backside just to try to hold most formerly red states.

I just hope Obama plays it safe tonight. If he makes any mistakes then this could be a lot tougher for him.

I wonder when the RNC will quit wasting their money on the McCain campaign and start concentrating on congressional races. From what I am hearing in these blogs is they may have already pulled back. I've heard folks in NC, VA, and FL claim that they see Obama ads EVERYWHERE and rarely from McCain. This is telling to me. Obama can now literally EMPTY his war chest...McCain is stuck with the $80 or so million and that's it. The rest is up to the RNC. Hmmmm.

The one and only McCain sign I saw in Philly over the weekend was at Geno's Cheesesteaks, and they certainly didn't get my business!

To give everyone an idea of what a 10% lead means... Texas right now leans McCain by 10%.

Texas.

I was at 7/11 today here in Portland...DEM USA here. LOL They had two kinds of Coffee cups... Obama (blue) and McCain (red). I asked the guy what the HELL would you do if you ran out of Obama cups being that this is Portland. He said, well we probably wouldn't sell coffee that day.

Cheeseheads for Obama!

McCain can't win in Wisconsin, but he's welcome to keep burning money there. The two biggest cities, Milwaukee and Madison, are deep, deep blue; the southern tier is basically metro Chicago and will vote like Illinois; the western counties are a lot like, and deeply influenced by, Minnesota, and that means deep blue by now. The Milwaukee suburbs and some of the smaller towns and rural areas trend Republican but apart from a few rabidly anti-abortion wackos these tend to be pretty moderate Republicans who are turned off by Sarah Palin's know-nothingism and McCain's increasingly shrill name-calling and character assassination. Most of all, they're appalled by McCain's utter inability to say anything thoughtful, helpful, or insightful about an economy they see going straight over a cliff.

McCain is finished. All the smears in the world can't save him now. His newfound zeal for slanderous personal attacks only undercuts his own hard-earned reputation for honor and integrity, hitches his wagon to the most unsavory haters, and underscores how irrelevant his candidacy has become to the central issue of the day. I look for Obama to win this going away.

I find it humorous and a little sad the way the the McCain campaign and his minions (read talk radio, right wing media and Fox news) are acting like stewards on the Titanic. They are busy rearranging the deck chairs with their rants about Obama's tenuous relationship with Ayers and other negativity, while the ship is heading for an iceberg, ie. the economy. Bush is the captain and has not been seen in the past few weeks other than an obligatory appearance. Obama is right in front talking about the economy and how everyday Americans are worried about what the future brings. He sees that iceberg.

The McCain camp would be better served by talking to the American people about their plans for the future. McCain's negatives are so low that people have begun to tune him out.

Don't get me wrong. I want Obama to win. But I am concerned that all this negativity will just continue the polarization of America. If McCain really believed in "Country First" he would put an immediate stop to the negative campaigning and run a respectful, honest and issues oriented one.

Rassmussen confirms:
PA Obama 54 McSame 41:

New Rasmussen in PA has Obama up, 54-40. I think the dream is over for McCain in the Keystone State.

Obama is viewed favorably by 59% of voters in PA, McCain by 50%.

@"well we probably wouldn't sell coffee that day."

This is a good one :-)!!!

*I heard that Barack is getting around 57%.

"Convenience store chain 7-Eleven has launched a coffee cup poll to determine patrons' favorite presidential candidates.

Java drinkers can pick a red cup for John McCain or a blue cup for Barack Obama in the firm's 7-Election survey, which was fairly accurate in 2000, when a single percentage point separated George W. Bush and Al Gore. Bush beat John Kerry again in the cup competition in 2004.

With 57 percent, Democratic candidate Obama is currently winning the poll, which will end on November 4th."

Obama is viewed favorably by 59% of voters in PA, McCain by 50%.

This is after the negative attacks. They are backlashing against the old man.

@CHESTER:

Not sure where the ground game emphasis is. Early voters are notoriously concentrated among older, more affluent, and conservative voters. Besides, there is usually an enormous increase as the deadline for early voting looms. I don't know the details of the Ohio situation. As you know, the key thing for the GOP will be to do their usual thing, which is to suppress the vote of those who likely will vote Democratic. They claim it's to prevent fraud, but despite their claims of widespread vote fraud, they have as yet to have brought more than a tiny handful of such cases to the law. The instance of unqualified voters showing up at the polls is laughable compared to the numbers of eligible voters who've been denied their vote, most often so denied by the great GOP and their operatives. So I'm much less worried about lower than expected early voting than I am about the slimy GOP efforts to intimidate, prevent, and otherwise disqualify voters from exercising their citizen rights. They are shameless and sanctimonious in this as in so many other things they do.

Please good lord, let McNasty and "Failin" waste every penny in Pennsylvania :-).
Go Obama/Biden '08!!!!

Yes, please send all your $$ to PA and MN McCain. Please, I beg you.

Per Rasmussen in PA.

Obama is viewed favorably by 59% of voters statewide, McCain by 50%.

As for their running mates, Joseph Biden is viewed favorably by 58%, Sarah Palin by 46%.

McCain and Obama are now tied among white voters in Pennsylvania, but Obama dominates among all other voters.

Ouch on Rasmussen.

Kerry barely won PA (and WI, for that matter).

Barack is cleaning up in both states right now..

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state shows Obama on top by 13 percentage points, 54% to 41%.

Picking Biden seems to have been inspired. Picking Palin a disater.

Do No Harm rule broken. Biden's ratings due to Sarah Palin pulling 75 million Americans has gone through the roof. People see McCain is an old fellow and its difficult to work out who the voters have less confidence in.

That seems to be the under current to the economy tanking

Guys go here and vote which state you want to be polled :-)
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/

Just take a look at how Kerry was doing 4 years ago in Pennsylvania, according to Rass:

Rasmussen | 10/6-10/12 578 LV 4.0
Bush 46 Kerry 47 - Kerry +1

Rasmussen | 9/25-10/1 578 LV 4.0
Bush 47 Kerry 47 - TIE

Kerry was fighting for PA, Obama/Biden? Running away with it :-)!!!

----------------
Rasmussen
Tuesday, October 07, 2008

John McCain’s lead has been cut by over half in Alaska, but he still leads Barack Obama by 15 points, 55% to 40%, in the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state.

A month ago, in the first poll since McCain named Alaska’s highly popular governor, Sarah Palin, as his running mate, the Republican led Obama 64% to 33%. In the two months prior to that, he was ahead by just five.
-----------------------------
It's very telling of Palin's image. It's getting lower and lower even in Alaska where she's supposedly very popular

If I am McCain...I stay in Wisconsin. He has 3 visits to the state this week. One poll shows a 10 pt lead, another 5...you can't give up on all the big blue states. Right now WI, ME and MN? If we go by surveyusa, the last MN poll had McCain plus 1....I think Joe Biden, being Pa's 3rd senator wraps it up there.

FOR-REAL Logic Problem:

Steve Schmidt calls you up. He says "____, you are the premiere political genius of your time! Oh man, back in ____ when you drugged that _____ and put ____ in _____'s hotel room? You're a legend! Anyways, we're ****ting blood over here. We need your help. We will pay you one hundred million billion dollars to win this thing for John McCain! We are counting on you, ___!"

What do you do?

I really can't think of a thing. Even mass voter purging can't make up deficits like these.

Put all your eggs in Florida, OH and MN?

ACTUALLY suspend the campaign (no ads, no surrogates, nothing) and, instead, hold televised townhalls with economic experts trying to figure out what to do?

He could punch Obama on stage and hope that BHO cries?

Wait for a bin Laden video to appear (like in 2004) and cut an ad about how much bin Laden loves Obama (which is funny, considering how much Al Qaeda hates Obama and wants the Republican party to remain in power...good for recruitment, says the CIA)?

First Minnesota, now Wisconsin. I'm proud to live in the Upper Mid-West.

Word is McCain will not be bringing up Ayers tonight. That's smart.

That doesn't mean Brokaw or someone in the audience won't ask about it.

Connor:

Let's put McCain at 174 right now. All McCain has to do is win traditional red states that are currently toss-ups or leaning Obama, like NC(15), VA(13), NV(5), CO(9), FL(27), MO(11) and OH(20). He still wins with 274. Obama has to steal one red state to win. That's why I still say this race hinges on NV, NM, CO, and NH.

Colorado InAdv/PollPosition Obama 51, McCain 45 Obama +6
Nevada InAdv/PollPosition Obama 49, McCain 47 Obama +2

EVERYONE!!!!!!!!! LISTEN UP. The latest Ras numbers for Pennsylvania suggest that Palin's affect on the GOP ticket is increasingly negative. While she might set the Confederacy of Dunces's mouths drooling, many Reps will in their hearts admit she's a disaster and continues to be one. While her voice puts Dems into cringe mode, I believe that for Reps to admit the degree to which her choice was a strategic blunder (never mind the short-term tactical advantage) is not an option, but even with the economy no doubt continuing to erode the Palin/McCain ticket, I believe there is an underlying rot on that side due to the utter irresponsibility of having chosen the Pitbull with Lipstick for a running mate. The depth of cynicism and rashness of that choice takes one breath away, and when this is all over people will finally admit it.

Boris:

Please give some credit to Joe Biden, Palin didn't do this all on her own.

Yeah Boomshak,

McLame won't bring it up because Obama will nail him with the keating five scandal and connect it to today's financial crisis. That's why! and by the way, How are you liking the us map up there? Beautiful aint it!

Yes, the Biden/Palin contrast was dramatic. Point taken.

And yet ANOTHER 6 point lead for Obama in Colorado!:) Colorado, NM, IA is the Obama safety net but I think this thing is MUCH bigger.

@Batony

"Let's put McCain at 174 right now. All McCain has to do is win traditional red states that are currently toss-ups or leaning Obama, like NC(15), VA(13), NV(5), CO(9), FL(27), MO(11) and OH(20). He still wins with 274. Obama has to steal one red state to win. That's why I still say this race hinges on NV, NM, CO, and NH."

But Mccain is losing most of those states. It is not 2004. The Republican brand has gone sour. McCain has to hope for a miracle not to lose most of those states. Obama needs only one. Justify it any way you would like but McCain is losing and if he continues with the negatives he will lose even bigger. The American public are looking for a leader not a negative, bitter man.

Yea, I think Boom and others thought 70 million Americans tuning into Sarah would be good for her. But It gave Biden the opportunity to be Vice Presidential and voters bought it and reflected well on the top of the ticket's judgement and wisdom. hence the Trust ratings have gone

Speaking as a Wisconsonite (Wisconsonian?) I was never very concerned about my state. It's been extremely close in the last two elections, but I really can't see it turning red, especially not in this election. Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota aren't like the rest of the "Midwest." You really can't take WI and compare it to, say, NE, or even OH for that matter.

Further, Madison and Milwaukee are the two most liberal cities in the Midwest other than Chicago. Madison is leftie-central; it's often compared to San Fran.

So don't worry about us up here! We'll come through :]

RCP has a forgettable article by Denis Prager which starts: "Just as Charlie Gibson did in his interview with Sarah Palin, Katie Couric set out to humiliate the Republican vice-presidential candidate with a series of "gotcha" questions."

What "gotcha" questions???

Now Prager is no dope, but he is clearly so far in the echo chamber that he has lost all contact with simple reality. Is it tribal loyalty that makes these people say such ridiculous things? Palin can be excused -- she's just dumb. What I can't understand is the totally blinding effect partisanship is having on apparently intelligent and educated conservatives.

It is obvious that as the economy further slips, DOW, SP Nasdaq further decline and 401k plans look like the end of October holiday America is looking towards steady leadership and it is Obama Biden and the no drama Obama approach and Biden experience. PA polls clearly show that

That is good news about PA. I was worried that McCain's negative attacks would gain some traction there.
If I recall, Clinton used them there during the Democratic primary to some effect.

BOOM:
Ayers is immaterial in this race. I understand how every McCain supporter is grasping it like the last straw but in a national election when the economy is so fxxxed up:
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WOULD CARE ABOUT AYRES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY VOTING FOR MCCAIN.

@political_junki:

"THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WOULD CARE ABOUT AYRES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY VOTING FOR MCCAIN."

I agree. And it is turning off the indys. They are looking for someone to vote for. The negativity turns them off very quickly. Palin is turning into a shrill and vindictive personality.

ericsp28,

It was the first time the issue was brought up. It is the "new" element that shocks, either in a positive or negative way. Remember how Palin "cautivated" America with her convention performance? Well, it didn't happen with the debate, although she was the same "folksy," "pitbull-with-lipstick" girl. It wasn't new anymore.

It's like a joke, funnier the first time you hear it :-)

@ericsp:

We will know in couple days if the negative attacks work, we still have 28 days to go.

@Decatur Mark:

It's not 2004, but those voters are still there and they can turn an election. If you look at the states I mentioned and the avg lead by Obama...please tell you don't think it's impossible for McCain to still win all of those states?

@Batony

I will say it. McCain can not win all those states.

@Batony:
Nobody is saying it is impossible for McSame to win, but we can be happy over these results so far, cant we?

@bath

Anything is possible...but becoming more difficult. It's hard because of limited $$ and limited places to be. It's especially hard for McCain because they really can't campaign alone.

An external event may have some impact, but even that it may be difficult if this trend continues.

Want to know why the Republicans are losing? Just visit NRO.com.

They really think people really care about Ayers, etc. If I taught a class in innuendo, this would be my textbook. They have their heads so far up their butts on this Ayers thing it's not even funny. The Dow is in free fall they are obsessed with cocktail parties and lunch meetings in 1995.

They are drowning in their own kool-aid. Funny as hell.

@Mysticlaker:

You are exactly right. HE CANNOT campaign alone.

@politicaljunkie:

I know. Believe me I went through ups and down in 2000 and 2004 believing polls, and I remember how I felt on the day after election day. I'm just trying to make sure people are not counting their eggs before they are hatch. 28 days is an eternity.

This says it all to me. #2 most GOOGLED news event yesterday...KEATING 5. #38 Ayers.
Enough said.

@Jase:
"Speaking as a Wisconsonite (Wisconsonian?)..."

Queso-cabesian?

High five to you, Jase, our neighbor on the right and to cousydee (dee, remember how I told you not to worry? *big grin*

What are the odds on a minor McMeltdown tonight during the debate? Even heavily sedated, there is no way McCain cannot remain unaffected being in the eye of the bad news sh*tstorm swirling all around him. And he cannot be completely comatose because he has to actually make sense tonight.

Who knows, maybe he'll try winking at the camera? You betcha.

I can't WAIT to hear what McCain will do about the economy. Obama's FDR style jobs program is FANTASTIC. Voters will love it.

@d3nnisbest

"They are drowning in their own kool-aid. Funny as hell."

Great line -- but I don't find the spectacle "funny"; it's pathetic, it's sad, and depressing.

NW Patrick:

You know better. Do you really believe the people McCain/Palin are trying to reach with the Ayers bs will google Ayers?

A lot of Obama supporters and people like are too young to remember the Keating 5. Hell I even looked up the Keating 5 and was surprised the revered John Glenn was involved.

Batony based on the major media which EVERY DAY folks do watch, it looks like the Ayers attack by McCain has caught very little attention. Enjoy the debate!

@NW Patrick:

"This says it all to me. #2 most GOOGLED news event yesterday...KEATING 5. #38 Ayers."

Well, NW Patrick, as much as I respect you, I have to take issue with the demographics. Most of McSupporters are not aware of this newly fangled Internet Windows Pentium thingie, never mind Google.

all imho, of course.

To Everyone.. it all looks nice and positive but make sure we follow-up on this. Do your part, call friends and family, go out on election day, volunteer. I will be bussing voters. Just do whatever you can. Our Country, our World, can't afford McCain/Palin.
I like where we are but I am afraid. It's not over, republicans have a way of turning out their vote. We have to do the same then we can uncork the champagne (or the prosecco in my case) on Nov. 4th.
In the words of Jimmy V:
"Don't give up, don't you ever give up!"

to Boomshak:

You said that "word is" McCain won't bring up Ayers. I'm sure he won't, but what's your source?

hey, where are all the trolls?
anyone else miss boomshack?
i am getting a little vaklepmt.

Batony,

I think you are forgeting something: McCain has built an image based on honesty and trust, and the Keating5 issue totally contradicts that image. A lot of people, especially those 40 and younger, most probable wouldn't even remember that event and could be very surprised to find out that McCain, the straight talker, was involved in the loss of millions of $$$ belonging to many inocent Americans.

Politico: "[The RNC] will release a new ad in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin hitting Obama on spending. WIth McCain pulling out of Michigan, the committee has followed suit and is not including the Wolverine State in this new buy, to total over $5.5 million."

Yay! There ARE going to throw money away on PA and WI.

Oh and nice work own "hitting Obama on spending"... I know that's going to work. I mean who wants MORE government in this day and age. Oh, wait...

Brilliant!

New NBC/WSJ Poll: Obama 49, McCain 43

Obama increases one point from September 19th survey

"Who would be better on...

Improving the economy: Obama +17
Handling Housing Crisis: Obama +15
Dealing with Energy: Obama +8
Handling Wall St Crisis: Obama +6"

MNLatteLiberal and people who do NOT use the internet are going to change their mind and not vote for Obama because they see an Ayers ad? LOL

I think that reasonable people, even Conservatives, are starting to get uncomfortable with what the McCain campaign is doing.

Look at this:

"Schwarzenegger to candidates: Get back to issues"

"Look at what the presidential campaign has reduced down to: They now are accusing each other of things that have nothing to do with the economy, that have nothing to do with health care, that have nothing to do with the environment, that have nothing to do with, you know, how we deal with foreign countries," Schwarzenegger said.

--------------------------------------------

This is an article from Kathleen Parker, a Conservative columnist:

"Kathleen Parker: Palin and her supporters know the code"

"Neither McCain nor Palin would dare mention Obama's middle name, Hussein, but they can play up Obama's past associations and let others connect the dots. Terrorist. Muslim. Dangerous. Other.

It is legitimate to question character and dubious associations -- and Ayers is certifiably dubious. The truth is, Obama should have avoided Ayers, and his denouncement of Wright was tardy. But this is a dangerous game.

The McCain campaign knows that Obama isn't a Muslim or a terrorist, but they're willing to help a certain kind of voter think he is. Just the way certain South Carolinians in 2000 were allowed to think that McCain's adopted daughter from Bangladesh was his illegitimate black child.

But words can have more serious consequences than lost votes and we've already had a glimpse of the Palin effect.

Dana Milbank of The Washington Post reported that media representatives in Clearwater were greeted with taunts, thunder sticks and profanity. One Palin supporter shouted an epithet at an African-American soundman and said, 'Sit down, boy.'

McCain may want to call off his pit bull before this war escalates."

When you see reasonable Conservatives, middle of the road, warning McCain about where he is going, watch out because the mainstream media will pick on it.

Yah the news reports of McCain/Palin supporters just DOESNT LOOK GOOD to Americans.

THIS IS FRIGGIN HILARIOUS:

If you want to see Robert Gibbs, Obama Spokesman, bob and weave and dodge on whether Obama knew Bill Ayers and that he had been a terrorist, you have GOT to watch this.

I mean, it is pathetic. he starts out by saying the Obama DEFINITELY did NOT know Ayers was a terrorist when he went that party and was NOT close to him afterward.

The anchor then confronts him with some facts and ole'Roberts starts stammering and stumbling all over himself and then basicallt confesses, "I don't what was going on with Obama and Ayers..."

Seriously, you have got to watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wuvi8NKWVw

Then tell me if you don't think Obama is vulnerable on this.

I mean, when Obama's #1 spokesman can't even explain the relationship without trying to change the subject, you know it's bad.

Kathleen Parker is a f*cking idiot.

The funniest thing about that lame Robert Gibbs interview was that when he couldn't answer the question on Obama and Ayers he just said,

"Well, I'm not sure about that, but what I am sure about is that Americans are losing their homes..."

Good lord, he gets the "lame dodge award" for the week.

ACORN office in Vegas raided in voter-fraud probe

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada state authorities are raiding the Las Vegas headquarters of an organization that works to get low-income people to vote.

A Nevada secretary of state's office spokesman said Tuesday that investigators are looking for evidence of voter fraud at the office of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, also called ACORN.

No one was at the ACORN office when state agents arrived with a search warrant and began carting records and documents away.

@boomshak

The global credit markets have frozen stiff, the Dow is dropping like a stone, and the US economy is completely Donald Ducked ...

... and you want to join the conga line of suck-holes that is the delusional far right and turn attention to this nonsense.

You're smarter than that. Try thinking for yourself -- please.

boomshak is desperate! ANYTHING just ANYTHING PLEASE GOD TO TAKE AWAY the fact that my party has destroyed the United States, yet hoping the people agree we deserve another 8 years! We're DESPERATE!

Boom,

NO ONE CARES. Really.

Good luck pushing this though.

If changing the subject is indicative of a serious problem for a candidate, what can we conclude from Governor Palin's responses in the VP debate?

Boom I've seen more stories about McCain's ties to Iran Contra today than Ayers. I know it's difficult for you.

And even MORE PATHETIC DODGING ON AYERS by Robert Gibbs.

I am telling you, this is just scary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxlZ8xhkEZ8

The reporter asks Gibbs at least 10 times, "Does Barack Obama think it is appropriate to have a professioal relationship with an unrepentant former terrorist?" and he WOULD NOT answer the question.

Simple yes, no question and he would not answer.

Obama better pray like hell he doesn't get asked this tonight. If he does the same dodge and weave that Gibbs did here he will be in serious trouble.

boomshak,

Since you are asking our opinions, I am giving you mine, which doesn't mean that it is the opinion of everyone out there. So, here is my opinion:

I think that Ayer's history with the Weather Underground sounds quite old, 40 years is kind of ancient history. The guy was a young, crazy man from the 60's and 70's, when the majority of the youth, especially wealthy like Ayers, in this country was running wild. No doubt that it helps that Obama was a little boy at that time, and he met Ayers as an adult, productive member of the society. It is also good that the relationship is limited to work-related. Except by $200 back in the 90's when Obama was running in Illinois senate, the fact that Ayers has not contributed to the Obama campaign helps as well.

Bottom line: Ayers was a productive member of the society when Obama met him. Obama has no resposability whatsoever for what Ayers did when Obama was 8. Ayers and Obama relationship is so "weak" that it is hard to "paint" Ayers as Obama's buddy.

This is my opinion. I think that if Obama have had with Ayers the same type of relationship he had with Rezko, Obama will be in huge trouble, but let the American people judge that :-)

Colorado InAdv/PollPosition Obama 51, McCain 45 Obama +6

Nevada InAdv/PollPosition Obama 49, McCain 47 Obama +2

QUESTION:

If Obama truly condemns Ayers acts and find them abhorrent, why the hell did he work closely with him for years and ever write the forward for Ayers book?

Does that sound like the way you treat someone you abhor?

boomcrap

Yea right Obama is in trouble! HA HA HA HA

Boom? KEATING 5. Look it up.

@Boom....

There are a few problems for McCain that Ayers or any of this can't solve. He is applealing to his base with this stuff, not the middle...It is not working. His problems:

1) Woman HATE Palin.
2) They have to campaign together (less geographic coverage) cause McCain can't draw the crowds
3) He failed on the economic crisis. This was recoverable, his campaign stinks, and the windows hsa closed.

Boom. Question. Why is Bush friends with the BIN LADEN FAMILY? Could you explain? We have PHOTOS of them hangin' out in TX. Please explain!

@carl29:

The problem with your argument is that Ayers has always been quite proud and vocal about his terrorist acts and even recently said that "he wished he had done even more".

This means that while Obama was working closely with Ayers, Ayers was unrepentant and quite vocal about it.

AN EXAMPLE:

Let's say that John McCain had served on two boards with David Duke, had his coming out party at Duke's house and even written the forward for Duke's book. All this while, David Duke was vocally unrepentant of his racism and McCain knew it.

Would you be so understanding then?

Boom! During the 1980s, Sen. John McCain served on the board of a far-right conservative organization that had supplied arms and funds to paramilitary organizations in Latin America. What's THAT all about!?

@NW Patrick:

"Boom? KEATING 5. Look it up."

Have YOU looked it up?

McCain was acquitted of ANY wrongdoing in the Keating 5 Scandal. Meanwhile, one of Obama's current advisors was found complicit in the scheme.

BOOM:
LOL, you are like a broken record, I guess because there is nothing left for you to cling to. Ayers is a non-issue, even if you repeat it 25 million more times in this forum.

BOOM:
With your logic:
"McCain was acquitted of ANY wrongdoing in the Keating 5 Scandal. Meanwhile, one of Obama's current advisors was found complicit in the scheme."

Also Obama has never been accused of any wrong doing "legally". Association with Ayres is not illegal!

@NW Patrick:

And that is comparable to DOMESTIC TERRORISM how exactly?

@political_junki:

If Obama's association with William Ayers is no big deal, why did Robery Gibbs TOTALLY DODGE the question in two separate interviews?

I mean if it is no big deal, why didn't he just say, "Yep, Obama thinks it's fine doing business with unrepentant terrorists". Why didn't he say that?

Because the tuth of the matter is BAD for Obama.

By the way from now on I will ignore any comment regarding ayres since it is becoming really tiresome listening to you repeat yourself like a parrot!

BOOM:
Polls define what is a big deal what is not.
It is not for you to define. McSame's campaign started using it on Sat it has been 2,3 days no effect yet. It may have an effect, but it is unlikley. Lets wait a couple of more days and see.
Anyway, if some thing doesnt change the polls, it is a non issue.

@political_junki:

Just answer the question:

"Does Obama think it is appropriate to have close business dealings for many years with a known unrepentant terrorist and even write the forward for his book?"

It's a simple yes or no question.

Don't dodge, don't weave, don't asnwer the question with another question. Don't say the question doesn't matter because the economy is bad.

Just answer the question, yes, or no. Have some balls for Chrissakes.

This WI poll is the 2nd released today that shows Obama ahead there; CNN has the race at an 8-point Obama lead, SUSA has the race at a 10-point Obama lead. The SUSA poll is slightly fresher. Both polls are consistent with the next most recent poll, a Republican SV poll that found Obama ahead by 9 points. Overall, the trend of recent WI polls goes Obama +5, +6, +9, +8, and +10. The state appears to be slipping away from McCain, which calls into question his strategy (hold as many Bush states as possible and swing at least 1 Kerry state from among ME, MN, NH, PA, and WI).

SUSA finds Obama up 10 despite the fact that McCain holds a 7-point lead in Milwaukee--a lead that he may not hold through election day. Also, McCain only trails Obama by 1 point with young WI voters, despite the fact that Obama has a 2 to 1 advantage with this group nationwide. See:
http://futuremajority.com/node/3177

Finally, this poll's sample has a 50/50 male/female split, and is only 4% African-American. The 2004 exit poll of WI found a 47/53 male/female split, and an African-American vote of about 5%. In other words, the margin in WI may be more than 10%.

21 consecutive WI polls have shown Obama ahead there. No poll since early May has shown a McCain lead in WI. Perhaps McCain's internal polling shows something different. McCain and Palin campaign in WI Thursday and Friday.

If McCain does manage to narrow the margin in WI, then the race there may come down to the ground game and GOTV efforts. Obama has 44 campaign offices in WI; McCain has 10. Obama is now outspending McCain in WI. See:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/10/obamas_spending_edge.html

taking peoples money for your own personal gain, especially people that need it just to make ends meet. that is terrorism to me.

BOOM:
In politics you need brain not balls. McCain knows it Obama knows it every body with a little political savy knows it.
What do you think it is ? WWF? Who needs balls when you can have brains?

Buy Here. Pay Here car lots, that's legal terroism. Giving people loans to put a roof over their head, and making contracts with interest rates that skyrocket after a couple of years. That is Terrorism.

@political_junki:

No effect?

CBSNews: O+3
Hotline: O+2
DemCorps: O+3
Reuters/Zogby: O+3
ARG: O+4

That's 5 major polls in the last 2 days that say it IS having an effect.

WHY?

Because Obama is asking us to TRUST a man with NO EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE to save the economy from ruin. Part of that trust is trust in his character and judgement.

Ayers goes to the heart of that. So in that light, questioning Obama's relationship with Ayers IS about the economy.

@Ryan in MO:

"Buy Here. Pay Here car lots, that's legal terroism. Giving people loans to put a roof over their head, and making contracts with interest rates that skyrocket after a couple of years. That is Terrorism."

Don't be so rough on the poor Democrats...

@political_junki:

Dude, just answer the f*cking question already! You are as lame as Robert Gibbs:

"Does Obama think it is appropriate to have close business dealings for many years with a known unrepentant terrorist and even write the forward for his book?"

Yes, or no. Gibbs couldn't asnwer it in two interviews. Apparently you can't either.

LOL
You are not ignorant I am sure you just pretened not to understand:
Gallup Obama +9
Rassmussen Obama +8
Those are the ones you predicted last week they will change.
ARG hasnt changed, it a was +4 before the weekend . The only major change is Hotline.
DemCorps: O+3 is the same as before the weekend.

@political_junki:
BOOM:

"Who needs balls when you can have brains?"

Fine, use your brains and answer the question.

I am not Obama's spokesman and to be honest his answer could be yes or no. I could care less

Great numbers for Obama, very exciting. I have felt all along that Palin would be a drag on McCain's ticket. Her right wing, wacky ideas may fly in Alaska but having lived in the midwest my entire life, I can promise you that midwesterners, by and large, are practical, down to earth, straight talking and no-nonsense. Even the republicans tend to be more moderate in their social views. What is sad for McCain is that had he picked a women, who was more moderate and even somewhat qualified, he might have stood a chance. Although, I am thrilled that he picked trailer-trash barbie!

Those stunts that she pulled at the debate, the winking, joe 6 pack crap does not sit well here, especially with the women and as evidence of that, watch the audience reaction to her stupid attempts to be folksy. Remember the focus group was in Columbus, Ohio.

Go Barack, go!!

You're quite a foot soldier boomshak. But you know as well as I do that the Ayers thing won't gain any traction outside the rabid Fox News rubbing ourselves raw to Sarah Palin crowd. In fact, by any of us even responding, we're playing the game. He's trying to thrash this into a story.

Besides the Republican faithful, who cares about Ayers. Dems don't and it looks like independents don't either. Unless you can demonstrate that Ayers is responsible for bombing my 401K, then I don't care. Maybe if we were all sitting around fat, dumb, and happy, we could afford to pontificate on the choice of business associates or how to avoid unseemly characters that Sean Hannity will parade around as a sign of our unfitness. But the country's broke and my 401K ain't looking so hot. McCain had better figure that out pretty fast or he risks going out like Barry Goldwater did. The more he rides this train the bigger the train wreck.

Adjusted for 2004 exit poll demographics:
By gender alone: Obama +10 (14 point advantage with women)

By ideology alone: Obama +13 (33 point advantage moderates)

This is unreal.. The whole damn Republican party has lost their minds. I've seen this dumb ad alrady.. and they are now going to pay to run it in... wait for it.. PA, WI, and Maine... MAINE. What are they smoking?

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/07/1508283.aspx

TURNS OUT THAT WHOLE "MCCAIN LINKED TO CENTRAL AMERICAN DEATH SQUADS" THING IS TOTAL BS:

AP: McCain Linked to Iran-Contra, ‘Nazi Collaborators,’ and ‘Right-Wing Death Squads’ By Kyle Drennen (Bio | Archive)
October 7, 2008 - 16:40 ET

On Tuesday, an Associated Press article featured on MSNBC.com and briefly as a top headline on the popular internet homepage MSN.com was titled: "McCain linked to group in Iran-Contra case." The subtitle read: "Organization had ties to former Nazi collaborators, right-wing death squads." The article attacked a group founded by retired U.S. General John Singlaub: "The U.S. Council for World Freedom was part of an international organization linked to former Nazi collaborators and ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America. The group was dedicated to stamping out communism around the globe."

The AP appears to be getting its story tips from the Obama campaign, as Boston Globe deputy national political editor, Foon Rhee, reported: "The Obama camp today is sending around reports on Singlaub, founder of the US Council for World Freedom, which was involved in the Iran-Contra scandal during the mid-1980s and was criticized for supposed links to Nazi collaborators and right-wing death squads in Central America." The AP article justified reporting on the tenuous McCain connection by explaining: "McCain's ties are facing renewed scrutiny after his campaign criticized Barack Obama for his link to a former radical who engaged in violent acts 40 years ago."

In the article, General Singlaub is quoted and suggested that McCain had little or no involvement in the organization: "We had McCain on the board to make him feel like he wasn't left out. It looks good to have names on a letterhead who are well-known and appreciated. I don't recall talking to McCain at all on the work of the group." Despite that explanation, the AP still thought it appropriate to suggest an equivalence between McCain’s ties to such an organization and Obama’s ties to domestic terrorist Bill Ayers: "The renewed attention over McCain's association with Singlaub's group comes as McCain's campaign steps up criticism of Obama's dealings with William Ayers, a college professor who co-founded the Weather Underground and years later worked on education reform in Chicago alongside Obama."

CONCLUSION:
So McCain was just a figurehead and not involved in the day-to-day operations of the organization.

Nice try though.

Wow, RCP has many more polls listed for today than pollster.

@Trosen:

"This is unreal.. The whole damn Republican party has lost their minds. I've seen this dumb ad alrady.. and they are now going to pay to run it in... wait for it.. PA, WI, and Maine... MAINE. What are they smoking?"

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/07/1508283.aspx

What you talkin 'bout Willis? That is a BRILLIANT ad! Hits Obama where he lives.

@atriedes

The Ayers story is only an opening move in the Republican chess game. I just saw a story about Cindy McCain calling Obama's campaign the "dirties ever." They are trying to establish a meme here.

We've seen this before, negative campaigning not to get votes, but to keep voters from voting. Make everyone involved seem like they are dirty and get people disgusted with politics. Make sure you fire up the "base" and then hustle to GOTV. Try and get your base to beat their base.

We'll see if it works again.

Hey guys,

Watch Intrade http://www.intrade.com/jsp/intrade/contractSearch/index.jsp?clsID=19&grpID=95 tonight during the debate. It is fun to see what how the traders think the debate is going.

It moved like crazy during the first debate and not all during the VP debate.

@boompalin

Sarah it is good you are back. I see that they have you out pa-Trolling the blogs now instead of raising money or showing off your intellect.

Good for you moving up in the world. I see they gave you some new talking points, good for you. Did you make sure to write them down on those folksy little cue cards. Been practicing your wink?

You go BoomSarah, you go.

Why am I not surprised that BOOM suddenly changed the subject :))

On another subject:

http://therecord.barackobama.com/

Nicely done!

@political_junki:

"I am not Obama's spokesman and to be honest his answer could be yes or no. I could care less"

A sphincter says what?

Lol, lamest non-answer ever dude. You get the plastic poodle.

Don't feel bad, Gibbs couldn't answer it either. As a matter of fact, Gibbs has no idea when Obama even learned Ayers was a terrorist. You would think that Gibbs has never even talked with Obama about this in 2 years. Odd.

@boomSNAP

yo dood, you ought to go join Jenn at the henhouse and eat you guys some Outback bloomin onions and Hungry Man dinners.

BOOM:
What matters is this : Obama will win and these parasites from right wont change any thing, kill yourself breathless by repeating them, lets see if it helps you.

stupid boomy and McCain,

Jerry Rubin was a successful stock broker.
Tom Hayden was a Congressman.
They were both SDS members long ago, barracaded in Columbia's Admin. Building. They were the ones who actually started it and admitted it.

Grow up. It was a long time ago, when people didn't inhale. In the dark ages.

It will not win you the election.

boomshak, you really think it's a good idea to pay to run adds in PA, WI and Maine? Great.. go with it. I hope they keep pouring money down the drain in MN, NH, and ohh maybe back into MI too.

@political_junki:

"Why am I not surprised that BOOM suddenly changed the subject :))"

lol, I changed the subject? Weak.

The Mccain campaign is silly for going the smear/association route. It's unlikely to work and could even backfire.

The funny thing is he really doesn't need to. Yes, Obama has the momentum now. But things could change if the Mccain campaign stayed focused. It's likely Obama will need one state out of NC/NV/CO/VA/OH/FL/MO/IN...CAn Mccain win them all? It's not probable, but it's certainly not out of the question. All of these polls are tilting Obama...but are very close. As an Obama supporter I don't feel overly confident about ANY of those states.

Unfortunately, Mccain's campaign is in panic mode.

Boomshack, I go away for an hour and you go bizerk. Let me answer your question about Ayers, Wright and Rezko: nobody cares. That song has been played by Hillary and it didn't stick. And it's not gonna stick now because it is OLD NEWS. And Americans hate OLD NEWS. They want fresh new talking points, new scandals, etc.. That's what the newsfotainment has taught us. For better or worse.

Americans are not going to consume news that somebody fed them a couple of months ago. But in Ayers case, that's even worse for you: Americans, as a rule, do not know history and HATE, absolutely hate to be reminded of their ignorance and blind spots. McCain's first debate he kept bringing up Kissinger and Reagan, and nobody other than the Republican base actually CARES about what Kissinger says or thinks. Like it or not (I do not) Kissinger is a relic, one of those dinosaurs who walked side by side with man 6000 years ago.

Same with Ayers: the undecideds DO NOT CARE. They have no idea who Ayers is or was, they have no clue what the Weather Underground is, and will likely confuse it with the Velvet Underground. Or, a subway system in a distant European city.

But they will get the tone and the gist of McCain's demeanor. And the fact that he is not talking about the economy. The economy, which is bothering them REAL BAD right now, and which, according to you, was supposed to be no longer in the news by now. But why remind you of what you said? You probably don't even remember.

Guys, what time is the debate showing tonight ET? I ask because I'm away from home at the moment.

TIME TO PLACE YOUR BETS:

I am betting that CNN already has their "flash poll" done and ready to go. I am guessing they have Obama winning by 24 points. I also bet they won't release their party affiliations.

Boomshack, I go away for an hour and you go bizerk. Let me answer your question about Ayers, Wright and Rezko: nobody cares. That song has been played by Hillary and it didn't stick. And it's not gonna stick now because it is OLD NEWS. And Americans hate OLD NEWS. They want fresh new talking points, new scandals, etc.. That's what the newsfotainment has taught us. For better or worse.

Americans are not going to consume news that somebody fed them a couple of months ago. But in Ayers case, that's even worse for you: Americans, as a rule, do not know history and HATE, absolutely hate to be reminded of their ignorance and blind spots. McCain's first debate he kept bringing up Kissinger and Reagan, and nobody other than the Republican base actually CARES about what Kissinger says or thinks. Like it or not (I do not) Kissinger is a relic, one of those dinosaurs who walked side by side with man 6000 years ago.

Same with Ayers: the undecideds DO NOT CARE. They have no idea who Ayers is or was, they have no clue what the Weather Underground is, and will likely confuse it with the Velvet Underground. Or, a subway system in a distant European city.

But they will get the tone and the gist of McCain's demeanor. And he did really, really well with his demeanor during the last debate. I mean, with the undecideds. And then the Americans will sense the fact that the old man is not talking about the economy. The economy, which is bothering them REAL BAD right now, and which, according to you, was supposed to be no longer in the news by now. But why remind you of what you said? You probably don't even remember.

Surveyusa NC poll McCain plus 3. The Ayers ad will work in places like NC, Va, parts of Oh, Mo, places McCain needs to sure up. The taxes and Obama is a liberal will work in Fl.

Obama owes Hillary TONS of thanks, first for helping drive organization and ground game, and second for already throwing the mud at Obama.

She took away a lot of Mccain ammunition.

boomshak:
As if it is hard to beat McLame in a debate by 24 points. My republican grandpa debates better than him and he is a lot less grumpy :)

boom-
"CONCLUSION:
So McCain was just a figurehead and not involved in the day-to-day operations of the organization."

What difference does that make? He did sympathize with the right-wing death squads and he gave Singlaub's organization legitimacy by being a member of its board. This is far worse than the association Obama had with Ayers.

surveyusa had Mccain +17 in NC in their last poll.
Their party breakdown is way too generous to the republicans. Compare it with PPP and you will see what I mean

sorry about the double post. have no idea what happened there.

boom, you still here or did you go to dig up some other corpse?

So I just listened to the East Coast Avengers EP, (you know, "Kill Bill O'Reilly".) It was different.

How come no one talks about Palin's husband being part of a "group" that hates America, hates our flag and hates America's institutions and wants to leave the country? And she has the nerve to these kooks as Gov. of one of our states that they should keep up the good work ...wtf?

boom,

Sorry for not having answer before, but I was helping my son with a homework.

Now, let me try get my point across: In my opinion, the story not only sounds pretty old, 40 years ago?, but Obama's relationship with Ayers sounds "weak." If Obama and Ayers had been "buddies" at the same level of Rezko, I think that it will be very diffucult for Obama, or if Ayers had being black.

Again, I don't know if other people is going to think like me, but so far, I think that so far my opinions, either about debates or "campaign tactics," have turned out to be more or less in-tune with what mainstream Americans ended up expressing. It doesn't mean that this time I will be on target. Actually, I could be terrible wrong. We'll see :-)

How come no one talks about Palin's husband being part of a "group" that hates America, hates our flag and hates America's institutions and wants to leave the country? And she has the nerve to these kooks as Gov. of one of our states that they should keep up the good work ...wtf?

Batony,

Did you know that less than a month ago, SurveyUsa had McCain up by 20%?

SurveyUSA 09/06 - 09/08 671 LV
McCain 58 Obama 38, McCain +20

How having lost 17 points in less than a month is something "encouraging" for McCain?

boomcreature,

From an informal survey, listening to man-in-the-street interviews with what people want answers to during tonight's debate, it has become obvious that PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO HEAR CHARACTER BASHING TONIGHT!

I predict that McCain will lose ground if he tries this tactic.

If McCain calmly and convincingly explains his policies and his credentials, and makes the case for Sarah Palin as the best qualified VP he could find,

he might, just might, score some points, and win over some supporters.

However, if McC simply attacks Obama, you will find that he will lose ground faster than an earthquake in Alaska.

Boomshak,

Stop it you're scaring me!!! You are the complete miror image of McLame himself! If he wasn't about to go on live tv in a couple of minutes I would have thought you were him. Your aggresiveness and subject changing (It's the ECONOMY STUPID!)......