Obama will be in Chester PA on Tuesday (4.00 / 1)

So evidently they feel some need to make a showing still.  

New Jersey politics at Blue Jersey.

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by: Hopeful in NJ @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 19:59:08 PM CDT

forgot to say: I think it makes sense (4.00 / 3)

But it's not the only sensible explanation.  It's hard to know what McCain is thinking.  Imagine how difficult it must be for McCain to accept that his 9+ year quest for the Presidency is doomed.  

New Jersey politics at Blue Jersey.

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by: Hopeful in NJ @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 20:00:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This also explains all the internal stories (4.00 / 1)

They have really picked up. Usually you wait until after the election but their internal polling must have them down by almost double digits.

This would explain why you haven't heard of any pushback except for McCain shouting: Remember Truman!

It's over. You can just look at Cindy's face and see that it's over.

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by: cupcake @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 20:31:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

John McCain Doesn't Give a DAMN! (4.00 / 1)

You seriously think he gives a crap about House Republicans?!

He's been in Congress for decades, has waited and schemed his entire life to become President. All those nights he woke in a cold sweat, seeing the Oval Office so close he can almost taste it.

All those endless lies and being forced to make nice and smile at at that bastard Bush and all those Fundie scumbags who torpedoed him in 2000 and eat their shit! Years and years of forced grins at fund raisers with complete assholes he'd much rather throttle.

And then finally! Almost beyond hope his big chance arrives and in the end it's all turned to shit before his eyes.

His heart is black with hate and he stalks the corridors at night in search of human blood. Nobody better suggest that he "take a bullet for the team" or he'll go into a frenzied rage and tear their still beating hearts from their chests.

He's campaigning in PA because he knows he's going to lose at least one of CO or VA and probably both. He knows NM and IA are long gone. It's electoral math, that's all.

House Republicans? Don't make me laugh! If putting their mutilated corpses into a tall pile and climbing it would get him an inch closer to the White House he'd do it without blinking an eye at this point!

Right now Obama a mortal lock on 286 EV. So, what's McCain to do? Might as well go down fighting! Go for PA and hope for the best. It's got some western conservatives who might just be lying to pollsters in saying they'll support the "N----r!" It's got 21 EV and with it he could still win.

If he could flip PA, then he can still win, so long as he holds FL, OH, NV, NC and MO, all states where he's pretty close within the margin of error.

Its a crapshoot, sure! But what isn't at this point? When you've been in this desperate game for years, what's one more roll of the dice?

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by: Cugel @ Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 04:04:32 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Excellent summary. (0.00 / 0)

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by: Querent @ Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 18:16:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It Makes Sense (4.00 / 3)

But it could easily backfire.

I think McCain/Palin are getting to the point where the more they show up, the more they remind folks of what they want to be rid of.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 19:59:51 PM CDT

Bob Dole - Sarah Palin in Iowa (4.00 / 1)

In the later days of Bob Dole's campaign he knew he could not win.    He then focused his attention on states with meaningful down ticket races.    

The more interesting news is Sarah Palin's appearance in Iowa today.    I live in Iowa.   There is no way McCain can win this state.    He has stopped running ads here.   Yet, Sarah was here today.    Could she be looking for some Iowa face time in anticipation of future objectives?    

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by: richgreer @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 20:16:47 PM CDT

but (0.00 / 0)

McCain has been there too and it's weird. There's an uncompetitive Senate race and only 2 competitive House races. I don't know what they're doing there. She may have "gone rogue" but that can't include hijacking the plane and going wherever she wants can it?

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by: tremayne @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 20:22:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

state legislatures? (0.00 / 0)

2010 redistricting?

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by: tremayne @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 20:26:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

My Bet--She's Looking For Dorothy & The Wizard (0.00 / 0)

Let's face it, she's from Alaska, none too bright, doesn't listen well, and doesn't even know her own state's geography, so it's easy to see her confusing Kansas and Iowa.  And, of course, this puts a whole new spin on all that shopping, looking for those damn slippers.

As for McCain, well, Shia, Sunni, al Qadea, whatever, he's lucky he's not spending time in Brazil trying to get laid.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 21:42:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Why the House and not the Senate? (0.00 / 0)

You make a plausible argument, and having McCain spend the final days campaigning to help some tight down-ticket races would certainly do a bit to lessen the hard feelings that inevitably come up after a losing campaign.  But, why wouldn't he be trying to salvage a close Senate race or two to prevent a 60 seat Dem majority?  With limited time, one would think the Party would want to defend their one remaining defensive position preventing total Democratic domination

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by: misfit @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 20:35:07 PM CDT

would have to (4.00 / 2)

be a plausible place for a Presidential candidate to be spending a lot of time or else it becomes obvious you've surrendered which will depress turnout everywhere.

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by: tremayne @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 21:13:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yes, this invalidates the 'house' theory (0.00 / 0)

Senate races are not only more important for impeding progressive change, but you'd think that mccain would like to have a least a few people around who like him come jan 2009. Colorada, Minnesota and NH are blue states that have poled closer than PA or Iowa, and North carolina isn't a swing state that is so deep that it would be clear what is going on, the way georgia or missisippi would be.

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by: yoyoyo @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 23:15:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I don't see McCain getting any traction with Senate races. (0.00 / 0)

He has the stink of defeat all over him. He is more likely to alienate ordinary voters with his endorsement than impress them.  I bet he sent out a request for proposals to state Repug parties asking who wanted his help, and Pennylvania was the only credible offer. And I bet that McCain doesn't believe he's going to lose. He can't afford to let himself think that way.  Delusion must be easy for him.  He's not wired right anymore, and he believes in all sorts of stupid fairytale stuff, like trickle-down economics, increasing Federal revenues with tax cuts, and the inerrancy of the markets.  What's one more fortifying lie?  Lightning could strike.  Maybe he'll get lucky.  He's sure been lucky a lot of times before. Well, if worse comes to worst, he can always go campaign with Michelle Bachman.

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by: Querent @ Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 01:40:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

10 seats in PA? Sabato & Cook say 3. (0.00 / 0)

PA-03, PA-10, and PA-11, according to both Larry Sabato and Charlie Cook. There are seven others that are close?  Which ones?

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by: Rob McC @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 21:01:06 PM CDT

just according to Pollster (0.00 / 0)

check the link above. Some races have no doubt changed since they created that map.

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by: tremayne @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 21:11:16 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

thanks for the link (0.00 / 0)

I'm compiling a list of probable and possible freshmen.  Thanks.

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by: Rob McC @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 21:23:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

ok, maybe 3 more (0.00 / 0)

Cook has PA-04 leaning D, and PA-06 and PA-15 learning R.  But you say there are four others the Rs are worried about?

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by: Rob McC @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 21:13:51 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

re: ok, maybe 3 more (0.00 / 0)

I'm sorry - I see now I misread Cook's map - those three are Likely R.

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by: Rob McC @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 21:30:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

And don't forget, the RNC has stopped sponsoring McCain ads! (0.00 / 0)

The McCain campaign put on a brave face, and tried to explain this away with the legal requirement of promoting both the party and the candidate in such a joint venture being difficult to accomplish in a phase where the strategy is to focus on McCain (as reported byKevin Drum recently). But this sounds somewhat unconvincing, and it may very well be that the GOP has goven up throwing good money after the bad, and needs the resources to support endangered downticket candidates. Imho this would fit into the picture you're painting here.  

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by: Gray @ Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 02:45:42 AM CDT