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Reporting and analysis from ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent and "This Week" Host George Stephanopoulos

George Stephanopoulos reports on events in politics, Congress and the White House for ABCNews, on the air and online. He interviews top newsmakers, discusses the events of the week and looks to the week ahead each Sunday on 'This Week.'

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'It's a Whole Different Game'

October 22, 2008 2:25 PM

Barack_obama_ap_0_2 When your adversaries are praising you, you must be doing something right. 

Listen to this from one top Republican campaign official who says Barack Obama's ground game is unlike anything we've ever seen before: 

"This is the greatest ground game they've ever put together," he told ABC News on the condition of anonymity. "It's scary."

He said Obama holds a considerable ground game advantage over McCain and suggests the Democratic nominee has hundreds of paid staffers in each state.

Unlike in 2004 when then-Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry's campaign "parachuted" paid staff people into key states a few days before the election, the GOP official said the Obama campaign has had paid staffers and enthusiastic volunteers in key battleground states for months -- thanks to record breaking fundraising hauls and a brutal Democratic primary battle that energized volunteers.

"It's a whole different game," he said.

"They've been at this since six months ago ... they have total familiarity [with voters]."

Another ground game factor? Obama's ability to tap into young voters using text messages, emails, and Facebook, the popular social networking Web site.

"They're texting and getting $10 bucks from college kids," he said.

--George Stephanopoulos

October 22, 2008 in Barack Obama, Democrats Vote 2008, Republicans Vote 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (455)

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Goes to show you how gullible the public is !! hungry for someone to lead them like little lambs. They arent concerned where all of his money is really coming from or that his ACORN people are committing massive fraud to get him the vote at all costs. They arent concerned that he has reneged on most campaign poromises or that eh has questionable judgement when he works with and socializez with people who killed police officers !! he cannot hear 20 years of hate filledsermons..The list is endless...The voters are falling for this con artist and they will be sorry in 6 months and the media will finally turn on him then too.,

Posted by: jimbo | Oct 22, 2008 3:33:22 PM

Come crying back to who or what BUZZARDS KORNER. A bunch of lieing, old, lipstick wearing, divisive, joe-six packs? Surely you jest. There is no where to go but up, and we are just going to get there a little faster with Obama. Take notes and see how it's done in the millennium and by a black berry while you at, and no that's not blackberry PIE. BARRACK ROCKS!!. OBAMA 2008!!

Posted by: SD | Oct 22, 2008 3:35:08 PM

Now W.VA is incurring voter fraud:

Virginia Matheney and Calvin Thomas said touch-screen machines in the county clerk's office in Ripley kept switching their votes from Democratic to Republican candidates.

"When I touched the screen for Barack Obama, the check mark moved from his box to the box indicating a vote for John McCain," said Matheney, who lives in Kenna.

DO NOT ALLOW THE REPUBLICANS TO STEAL ANOTHER ELECTION!

Posted by: confidential416 | Oct 22, 2008 3:35:14 PM

LOOK AT THE CAPABILITY OF OBAMA, THE WAY HE HAS RUN CAMPAIGN, I AM SURE HE WILL RUN THE COUNTRY SAME WAY.DEFINATELY HARVARD HAS TOUGH HIM THIS MUCH.
I CANT BELEIVE HOW SOMEONE CAN VOTE TO MCCAIN EVEN AFTER REALISING ALL THE SAME.

Posted by: Rahul | Oct 22, 2008 3:01:22 PM

Capable of WHAT??? Smooth talk??? Wake up people!!!! We need John McCain!!

Posted by: BECAREFUL | Oct 22, 2008 3:36:45 PM

Keith, yea we gonna spread the wealth, and first thing we gonna do is pay off Hillary's debt. And we will buckle up if the commander chief sets a plan, then that's what we will do!! OBAMA 2008!!

Posted by: SD | Oct 22, 2008 3:37:05 PM

Kevin, I hear the same things from family/friends about keeping your mouth shut. Repubs have a reason to vote against Obama. Democrats feel guilty so they lie or don’t talk at all. I know too many Dems voting McCain to believe these poll numbers. Either polls are skewed, or people are lying or hanging up/not answering fones. My whole family’s voting McCain and they’re all Dems. NOT ONE has a McCain sign, sticker, nothing. They just don’t talk about it – except among the family. It’s like a big secret – just shut up and vote against Obama. If the rest of the country is like my family/friends (I live Eureka, Missouri), the country’s in for a shock.

Posted by: Guns & Religion | Oct 22, 2008 3:38:18 PM

""The homes of six Minnesota members of Congress — Sens. Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar, Reps. John Kline, Jim Ramstad, Keith Ellison and Michele Bachmann-- were hit with graffiti last night or early this morning.

The garage of Sen. Norm Coleman's Crocus Hill home was marked with the black painted words: "U R A criminal," "Resign or else!" and the word "Scum," written multiple times.""

You bet it is a whole different game with these Obama supporting liberals.

I see they have raised the bar again for what is appropriate in an election. Liberals never cease to amaze me.

Posted by: Disgusting Liberals | Oct 22, 2008 3:40:16 PM

Someone asked John McCain if he wears boxers or briefs, he answered 'Depends..."

Posted by: Alan | Oct 22, 2008 3:41:39 PM

GOP and Palin supporters KILL a bear and staple Obama signs to its head and leave it laying at a college to be found later. TYPICAL GOP supporters, they will stop at nothing, even killing.

Posted by: Alan | Oct 22, 2008 3:44:23 PM

Vanessa My son goes to Hofstra was a huge Obama supporter I asked him two weeks ago about the elction after all the debate was at his school. He said he didn't care about the election. Sad but True. So I told him I did care and asked him to vote for McCain and he said he would. If his choice for Obama wa still stronge I never would ask him who to vote for McCain .I respect his choice. But he doesn't care so whats the harm in guiding him? I think you overestimate alot of the college vote for Obama. I don't know what changed his mind may-be the fact Springstein didn't show up with a free concert.

Posted by: conf1689 | Oct 22, 2008 3:47:14 PM

In my university you can vote right there. So, students vote.

Posted by: stump | Oct 22, 2008 3:50:46 PM

Kevin Good for you. I agree I think there are alot of College students for McCain and I hope you can influence some kids on your campus with the issues not just because he is cool.

Posted by: conf1689 | Oct 22, 2008 3:51:13 PM

Conf, maybe your son got tired of arguing politics with you and just said what you wanted to hear? I do that all the time with my parents.

Posted by: Dave | Oct 22, 2008 3:52:23 PM

Northern lights why should Obama give his campaign money to people that decided to buy a house they couldn't afford in the first place and what about Mr.McCain who owns 7 homes why doens't he use his money to help I'll tell you why because he doensn't care that much about the middle class to do that he deserted his first wife after a car accident and shacked up with a rich woman now that is class is that the kid of person you want in the White House I don't and to the young voters please get out and vote this time let your voices be heard, you can't take anything for granted with the republicans they stole the last election don't let them do it this time around. Bambi against Palin and McCain

Posted by: RJ | Oct 22, 2008 3:52:56 PM

Yes Yes Obama is a real America leader.by the way he do his campaign,he is respectful and having clean vision.I hope Obama win.

Posted by: Ojulu Obang Cham | Oct 22, 2008 3:53:33 PM

Well anyone voting for McCain will be happy that he has picked up the biggest endorsement of them all...AL QAEDA. As reported on CNN, the group believes that McCain will continue the Bush policies and further erode the American economy by fighting dual wars in the middle east. LOL. I wonder what Republicans would be saying if they had "endorsed" McCain.

http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/05/11/osama-endorses-mccain/


Posted by: Margie | Oct 22, 2008 3:55:51 PM

Sarah Palin used RNC campaign contributions to buy $150,000 worth of clothes and accessories for her and her family. That's a hell of an earmark!

Posted by: dave | Oct 22, 2008 3:56:00 PM

Conf1689 shame on you telling your son to vote for McCain because you are he shouldn't vote at all if he doesn't care your not teaching your son to have a mind of his own if your telling him who to vote for shame on you as a mother I would never force my opionions or my political views on someone who can't make up his mind to vote in this great country of ours.

Posted by: RJ | Oct 22, 2008 3:56:29 PM

Conf1689 shame on you telling your son to vote for McCain because you are he shouldn't vote at all if he doesn't care your not teaching your son to have a mind of his own if your telling him who to vote for shame on you as a mother I would never force my opionions or my political views on someone who can't make up his mind to vote in this great country of ours.

Posted by: RJ | Oct 22, 2008 3:56:31 PM

fox poll 40/49 Obama
reuter/C-sapn/zogby 42/52 Obama
diageo/hotline 42/47 Obama
GWU 47/49 Obama

- Battleground (Obama +1)
- Diageo (Obama +6)
- Gallup expanded (Obama +8)
- IBD (Obama +6)
- Ipsos (Obama +8)
- Pew (Obama +14)
- Rasmussen (Obama +4)
- WSJ/NBC (Obama +10)
- WaPo/ABC (Obama +9)
- Zogby (Obama +8)

Posted by: stump | Oct 22, 2008 3:57:34 PM

Conf1689

If your story is TRUE, then you did your son a disservice. You took away his right of freedom of choice...many young people are voting for Obama. This is the most important election of our time. Everyone should vote for the person who will make their life better.

Posted by: francheska ;-) | Oct 22, 2008 3:59:19 PM

AP pole showed that both are equal in national pol. This is scarry. Bradly effect is due to voter supression by republicans ( Sect. of State in different States) and rejection of African American votes. see Rolling Stone article. So Obama may have registered many voters , they will not be allowed to vote if there is even slight variation such as initial vs full middle name in driver license and voter registration or similar abbreviation in street address ( Lane or Ln). Unless Democrat protect right to vote not be rejected by minor technicality, pols mean nothing and Democrats will lose. I do not understand Democrat had 8 years to fix this problem and could not do it. Voter suppression is real. Atleast fake registrant do not vote.

Posted by: kumar | Oct 22, 2008 3:59:22 PM

BRIAN LEVINE posted the following: "Just remember people...we're going to have the executive and legislative branches controlled by the Democratic party. Enjoy and don't come crying back during the next four years."

Hey, Brian, are you serious or just out and out CRAZY??? Listen you nutcake what to you think the Middle Class has been doing all through these last 8 long and HORRIBLE YEARS! We have all been CRYING in rage over how YOU and other REPUBLICANS have been stealing, robing, raping and ripping everyhing from the Middle Class to give to the upper 5% of the wealthy super rich and big fat corporations! Don't you worry your little head any we will NOT BE COMING BACK TO YOU CRYING and in fact, the REPUBLICAN PARTY the party of sex perverts and crooks will NOT see real power in this country again for at least 50 YEARS. What a dumb nitwit fruitcake you are!! DOOM AND GLOOM AWAIT YOU AND YOU OUT OF TOUCH REPUBLICAN PARTY IN JUST 13 DAYS!!!

Posted by: WISDOM FIRST | Oct 22, 2008 4:08:00 PM

Obama is gonna WIN!!! Whoa, Whoa..talk about massive people. Wheewwww. Let's keep it coming people. Let's show them some numbers! Obama 08

Posted by: Tanya | Oct 22, 2008 4:09:44 PM

RCP Average 10/15 - 10/21 -- -- 49.8 43.0 Obama +6.8

FOX News 10/20 - 10/21 936 LV 3.0 49 40 Obama +9

Rasmussen Reports 10/19 - 10/21 3000 LV 2.0 51 45 Obama +6

Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby 10/19 - 10/21 1208 LV 2.9 52 42 Obama +10

Gallup (Traditional)* 10/19 - 10/21 2384 LV 2.0 50 45 Obama +5

Gallup (Expanded)* 10/19 - 10/21 2299 LV 2.0 52 44 Obama +8

Hotline/FD 10/19 - 10/21 782 LV 3.5 47 42 Obama +5

IBD/TIPP 10/17 - 10/21 1088 LV 3.0 46 42 Obama +4

NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl 10/17 - 10/20 1159 RV 2.9 52 42 Obama +10

ABC News/Wash Post 10/17 - 10/20 1324 LV 2.5 53 44 Obama +9

GWU/Battleground 10/15 - 10/21 1000 LV 3.1 49 47 Obama +2

Associated Press/GfK 10/16 - 10/20 800 LV 3.5 44 43 Obama +1

Ipsos/McClatchy 10/16 - 10/20 773 LV 3.5 50 42 Obama +8

CNN/Opinion Research 10/17 - 10/19 764 LV 3.5 51 46 Obama +5

Pew Research 10/16 - 10/19 2382 LV 2.5 53 39 Obama +14

Posted by: Mary Anne, Alabama | Oct 22, 2008 4:10:03 PM

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