I think we are looking at a much narrower win than one that includes Michigan.

She would also be a great fit for MN assuming the SurveyUSA poll out today is accurate and McCain really is ahead there.

I say hold OH, VA, FL, CO and NV and maybe pickoff MN to make up for an uphill fight in CO.

Give it another shot.

Similar demographic to MI, but McCain has been polling better and there is no uber-corrupt Detroit to deal with

Similar demographic to MI, but McCain has been polling better and there is no uber-corrupt Detroit to deal with

Young voters under 30 have been leaving the state in droves.

Obama has repeatedly ripped the auto industry, ranging from miscues like fuel standards to gaffes how terrible a Ford he once owned was.

The Democratic mayor of Detroit was indicted and resigned.

The Democratic governor has an approval rating hovering around 20%. Unemployment is 8.9%.

Fertile ground for a GOP gain, right?

And yet, poll after poll show Obama with a larger lead than Kerry won the state by in ’04?

Republican lawmakers caved to massive tax increases in the state last year to avert a government shutdown?

Losing in a landslide to an unpopular incumbent governor in ’04, despite high unemployment?

Someone’s not running things right in that state. From those facts alone, McCain should have an immediate lead. There should be commercials running 24-7 linking Obama to Kilpatrick and Granholm.

Instead, it’s a bungled, mismanaged in-house job. There are some serious issues with the Michigan GOP.

The RNC always gives up on us… I know, I’ve run as a Rep Candidate more than once… Even the MI-GOP just rights-off whole sections of the State, STUPIDLY IMO…

STAND AND FIGHT….

1. “The Ticket” – Gov. Granholm and many Dem’s have DESTROYED the State and Obama BinBiden needs to be tied to them by way of demonstration that they will do to the Country what they have done to the State of MI. 1B. Killpatrick – The disgraced Mayor of Detroit is NOT the sole Killpatrick (yes, I spelled it that way on purpose, this family is out to ‘Kill’ Capitalism and only out to serve themselves) in play… FINALLY there is a chance to move the 14th District (Downriver) with all the anti-Killpatrick sentiment as Republicans are moving people against Killpatrick THE MOTHER, current Rep., to Ed Gubics. Efforts that McCain puts into MI helps the Republican ticket overall, not a strong-point EVER of McCain, but now is the time for JOHN to do something for the whole of REPUBLICANS instead of working against us. The opposite, of course, is true also, in that anti-MI-ruling-party (The Dem’s) plays to Republican base and Independents wanting ‘Reform’ versus “Change” (‘progressing’ to “Progressives”) to SOCIALISM (MI Gov. is CANADIAN, and a big fan of Socialism – she stood in as Biden’s Debate practice partner) to turn out the vote on Election day.

Proposition 2 in MI – STEM CELL ISSUE on ballot will bring out the base and those leaning Republican!!!

Polls – We are lying to them… The Polls are skewed and Obama BinBiden is not as far ahead as the MSM would like to believe.

Point… Now is NOT the time to draw-down in MI, if for anything else than in the rhetoric.

Even if he is conceding the State, it CANNOT be allowed to continue to be perceived that way!!! McCain needs to keep the Detroit area offices open/active, even if closing down some in the already Republican heavy Districts so as to be there for those who will “Fight With Us” as was called for at the Convention. Moving some to other States is easily done WITHOUT allowing the MSM to plaster the airwaves with stories of ‘pulling out’ as ‘conceding.’ These reports must be refuted.

McCain can state that it is our belief we have gained ground in MI and things are going well, even if to say ‘despite the MSM polls,’ and moving some staffers to other ‘battle-ground’ States is therefore warranted, but McCain is in NO WAY conceding MI.

TO JOHN MCCAIN – “FIGHT WITH US” (us Republicans) for a Change…. Reform your campaign first, if you want/expect any real chance of getting elected to then Reform the Country.

More can be said, and I hope other fellow Michiganders will jump in and add…

If the national poll numbers climb back in McCain’s favor then the race will have tightened in Michigan. At that point they can return and hit it hard.

Even if McCain and Palin can nolonger win Michigan, Republican state candidates still need such kind of help.

because anybody linking to that vote from this domain would HAVE to be a troll.

Only Democrats would not want the Palins to campaign in MI.

Campaign where you are mostly to win votes. Unfortunately, Michigan ain’t one of those places.

You know what we will call John McCain and Barack Obama on January 20, 2009 if McCain wins 270 by an average of 50.1% per state and Barack Obama wins 268 electoral votes by an average of 99.9%?

President John McCain
Senator Barack Obama

Again, it ain’t about winning so many popular votes in every state. It’s only about winning the plurality of votes in states with 270 electoral votes. Everything else if worthless gravy.

Did anyone notice Sarah Palin’s comment during the debate about “East Coast politicians”?!?

Just by definition, that group that includes these Senators:

Richard Burr – Republican, North Carolina; Saxby Chambliss – Republican, Georgia; Susan Collins – Republican, Maine; Paul Coverdell – Republican, Georgia; Jim DeMint – Republican, South Carolina; Elizabeth Dole – Republican, North Carolina; Judd Gregg – Republican, New Hampshire; Joseph Lieberman – Democrat, Connecticut; Connie Mack – Republican, Florida; Mel Martinez – Republican, Florida; William Roth – Republican, Delaware; Jeff Sessions – Republican, Alabama; Richard Shelby – Republican, Alabama; Olympia Snowe – Republican, Maine; Arlen Specter – Republican, New Hampshire; John Sununu – Republican, New Hampshire; John Warner – Republican, Virginia;

As well as these Governors:

Donald Carcieri – Republican, Rhode Island; Charlie Crist – Republican, Florida; Jim Douglas – Republican, Vermont; Sonny Perdue – Republican, Georgia; M. Jodi Rell – Republican, Connecticut; Bob Riley – Republican, Alabama; Mark Sanford – Republican, South Carolina

Ouch! Is an apologetic shout-out to the East Coast in order?

McCain’s only chances of winning this thing rest largely on OH and FL I think. Obama has a far more superior ground (and media) operation in every state, so McCain needs to concentrate his resources if he wants to stand a chance. Michigan would spread those resources even thinner than they already are. Obama has Michigan in his pocket. I think he should concentrate mainly on OH, FL, VI, CO, and NV. It may do well for one’s spirit to say “keep fighting”, but when you’re tanking this bad you’ve got to be realistic with your options.

I seriously question the McCain camp’s decision to announce that they were pulling out of Michigan only hours before the most anticipated debate of this election season.

Had the VP debate not gone well for Palin, the impression left would have been of a campaign in complete melt-down.

Having said that, the votes are just not there in Michigan. The demographics tell the tale. And every dollar spent there is a dollar less that can be spent in places with a more realistic chance of winning.

If McCain is even getting close in Michigan, it will mean that he’s made such progress nationally that he’ll be picking up enough states to win anyway.

Is there some genius at McCain HQ who says:

you know what would be a TERRIFIC idea for the campaign- sure to get a lot of positive media attention?

Let’s announce we are giving up on a battleground state and pulling out our personnel!

How does this make it into the media?!!

I mean we are talking about 15-20 staffers being involved, how much effort would it take to say- we are moving you part time to Ohio but don’t mention this to anyone.

what kind of a campaign is going on behind the scenes for this story to make it into the media?

it is better to just keep ads running up there even if you know you are going to lose. And from what I know of the scene in the Mccain HQ, this is par for the course.

always one step forward, two steps back with these guys.