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Michigan Falls off the Battlefield
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ShareOctober 02, 2008 3:17 PM
ABC News' David Chalian Reports: John McCain's path to the 270 electoral votes he must secure in order to win the White House may have just gotten a little bit harder. ABC News can confirm a Politico report that the McCain campaign is pulling the plug on trying to flip the state of Michigan from Blue to Red and locking up those key 17 electoral votes. According to Republicans familiar with the McCain campaign's plans in the Wolverine State, McCain has canceled a planned event in the state and is expected to halt his television advertising there.
Although McCain's move does not deliver a net gain of electoral votes into Obama's column, the significance of taking the populous state off the battlefield cannot be overstated.
A senior McCain adviser, however, played down the significance of the move by stating that Michigan was more about spreading the field of play on Obama rather than a needed state for their campaign to get the needed 270 electoral votes.
As the general election began to take shape in early summer, McCain campaign aides saw Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire as their best opportunities to take some states that John Kerry won in 2004 and place them in the GOP column. Losing one of those key targets of opportunity while still having to defend a slew of Red states such as Colorado, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, and Indiana is a tough blow to the McCain campaign as it seeks to maintain viable paths to 270 electoral votes.
However, Wisconsin - with its 10 electoral votes - is a Midwestern state that has gone Democratic in the last few presidential elections, but now is proving to have some staying power as a battleground state where both campaigns appear fully engaged.
Michigan's economy has been struggling for longer and more severely than any other state in the union. According to recent polls, the ongoing financial crisis dominating the news and the campaign trail appears to be working in Sen. Obama's favor.
"John McCain has outperformed anybody that the Republicans could have nominated," said Bill Ballenger, the editor of "Inside Michigan Politics," a non-partisan political newsletter. But "things have not gone well for him here since the Wall Street debacle. He has lost ground. This Wall Street meltdown has exacerbated people's anxiety about the economy and it makes it even more impossible for the Republican nominee, whoever it might be."
"We're going to work hard every day to win here and help turn around an economy that has been devastated by job losses during the past eight years of George Bush policies that John McCain wants to continue," senior Obama adviser Robert Gibbs tells ABC News.
You may hear that loud sigh of relief in that statement as the Obama campaign can now start to increasing resources to protect other potentially vulnerable Democratic turf now that Michigan appears to be wiped off the battleground state map. It was probably an extra sweet bit of news for the campaign since it arrived as Sen. Obama was campaigning in Michigan.
ABC News' Teddy Davis and John Berman contributed to this report.
October 2, 2008 in McCain, John, Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (405)
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Good! Being from North Carolina I can tell you that this state is no longer red either. McCain is going to have to work hard to win it by spending time and money here, something he has not done to date. He hasn't even visited this state in weeks while Obama has been here several times and as recently as last week. Libby Dole, the Bush lackey, is on her way out too. Especially, after trying to pander to voters by voting against the rescue (bailout) bill. Kay Hagan will win.
Posted by: indy_voter | Oct 2, 2008 3:44:38 PM
PLEASE do the same here in Florida, McCain! These ads are horrible! (Although the SNL skit where McCain approves everything no matter how outrageous has made me laugh a bit whenever I see the negative Obama ads)
Posted by: allie | Oct 2, 2008 3:47:55 PM
indy_voter: I agree. This state is not feeling very red. hagen is trompping Dole and Obama has made this state a priority. With the recent failure of Wachovia and the state having the 10th highest unemployment rate in the nation we are hurting. The days of republicans winning without trying here are over.
Posted by: roberincharlotte | Oct 2, 2008 3:48:27 PM
Let's keep the momentum going. C'mon Ohio, Virginia, Florida, the water is fine and there is room for everyone that wants real change, not more of the McSame.
Posted by: Billdull | Oct 2, 2008 3:48:55 PM
Do not become complacent !
remember the Republicans have stolen the last two elections with dishonesty.
Posted by: edward magee | Oct 2, 2008 3:50:46 PM
If I didn't know better and I am sure someone will attempt to convince me that I don't know better. I would swear the RNC is deliberatly throwing this election. At least they are going to let John save face and blame it all on Sarah. How's that two party system working for you America! No diffference between them, just a different package with a different wrapper.
Posted by: Bondservant1958 | Oct 2, 2008 3:51:19 PM
I guess the only good thing about Texas being a lock "Red" state is we don't have to watch any political advertismenets from any candidate. Obamo considers Texas unwinable, and McSame sees it as a lock. Austin will overwhelmingly vote Obama, but Dallas, Houston will be McCain. Sorry all you swing states. I had enough in Colorado last week when I saw 6 commercials back to back from Obama/McCain. Unbearable!!!!
Posted by: Brian | Oct 2, 2008 3:51:23 PM
I'm not buying it and think its a ploy by McCain. He did the same thing supposedly suspending his campaing but ads were still running where I live.I do think the race is close and if Obama wins it will be the battleground states that push us over the top.I don't see myself voting Republican again any time soon. Obama '08/'12
Posted by: Didi | Oct 2, 2008 3:51:44 PM
Saw Obama at the ralley this morning. He has it all (except a boat anchor like Palin). The crowd was the biggest I have ever seen in this "Republican" town.
Posted by: Sanity Man | Oct 2, 2008 3:52:53 PM
Why is McCain in IOWA ?
Posted by: Jenny Rome Ga | Oct 2, 2008 3:53:17 PM
Didn't Obama just pull out of two or three states a couple of weeks ago? Red states that the thought he might win, but then realized his chances were not good?
Same thing here, Michigan has been a blue state. Close for awhile, but now falling into the norm.
Posted by: SandyB | Oct 2, 2008 3:54:40 PM
Even though I am a self confessed political junkie, the thought of not having to listen to another McCain commercial sounds like heaven. (My mom will be relieved too)
Posted by: Katherine | Oct 2, 2008 3:55:40 PM
The "battleground states" are expanding! Who would have thought that he would be behind in North Carolina, Indiana is a tie. He is even down to single digits in Georgia. He is in deap do-do.
Posted by: Sanity Man | Oct 2, 2008 3:55:54 PM
"The Audacity of Hope". It is so wonderful to believe and to hope. No More Drama, Vote for Obama!!!
Posted by: AtHeart | Oct 2, 2008 3:56:42 PM
"The Audacity of Hope". It is so wonderful to believe and to hope. No More Drama, Vote for Obama!!!
Posted by: AtHeart | Oct 2, 2008 3:56:45 PM
I think this sums it up the best:
http://www.zazzle.com/economic_violence_bumpersticker-128038162598960921
Posted by: giveitupalready | Oct 2, 2008 3:57:18 PM
Liberals are such egotists, do you truly believe that the country would be better off if John Kerry was President. Laughable, just shows there is no end to Liberal fantasies. the Democrats delay and do not decide and are slow to react to threats to the country. Andwe want Four years of that, not
Posted by: Jeff Melville | Oct 2, 2008 3:57:27 PM
It's starting already ... the landslide for Obama. Still, be wary my friends, the Repubs have staged voter fraud before and they can do it again. Never underestimate a caged animal.
Posted by: annaloh | Oct 2, 2008 3:57:28 PM
Please pull out Failin(Palin) and send her back to Alaska.
Posted by: Phil | Oct 2, 2008 3:58:24 PM
Jeff Melville, what in the world are you trying to say? You sound like a Palin clone with your incoherent rambling. Obama is winning and winning big ... that's no fantasy.
Posted by: annaloh | Oct 2, 2008 4:00:07 PM
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