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The Note: McCain Seeks One More Storyline

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October 14, 2008 8:33 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Tuesday's Note:

So the Dow won its points back -- where does Sen. John McCain go to get HIS points back?

He's a day late, and $7.5 billion short (as measured by price tags). After realizing that it's all about the economy -- then seemingly forgetting it -- and after saying he would unveil new economic proposals -- then saying he wouldn't -- Team McCain on Tuesday turns the page back, again, to the only issue that's likely to really matter between now and Election Day.

Maybe Sen. Barack Obama really IS right where McCain wants him. (But maybe, since he spent Monday in Virginia and North Carolina, McCain was where Obama wanted HIM).

Assuming McCain, R-Ariz., hasn't precisely been where he wanted to be, this may be his way only way back -- with only a few detours, as arranged by Bill Ayers. His next step comes on a day where investors look to breathe again -- as he hopes that the public takes one more deep breath before Election Day.

From the McCain campaign Tuesday morning: "John McCain will address the ongoing economic crisis, with a special emphasis on those most badly hurt: workers, homeowners, savers, and seniors. He will announce specific proposals to build on his Resurgence Plan, which uses the $700 billion to keep Americans in their homes, stop the drop in housing values, stabilize financial markets and turn the corner on the crisis by charting New Directions for Workers, Seniors, and Savers. Unlike Barack Obama, John McCain understands that in a crisis raising taxes is an especially bad idea."

Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.


The details, per Reuters' Steve Holland: "McCain will propose that seniors pay a maximum tax rate of 10 percent on money they withdraw from IRAs and 401(k) retirement plans in 2009 and 2010, instead of paying the current higher tax rate." 

"[Doug] Holtz-Eakin said McCain will also propose relief for Americans who are 'aiming toward retirement' and were counting on investment income to send their children to college or pay the mortgage. Internal Revenue Service rules say Americans can only deduct $3,000 in stock losses in any given year. McCain would expand that deduction to $15,000 a year for the tax years 2008 and 2009."

"We've got help at all levels of society, not just at one," former mayor Rudy Giuliani, R-N.Y., told ABC's Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America" Tuesday.

As for the shift in campaign tone: "They have great disagreements -- a lot of respect for each other -- but real disagreements," Giuliani said. "My advice to him is that he just has to get his message out."

The biggest thing going in McCain's favor is also his biggest enemy: time. There's not enough of it left to force a major shift in the race -- but there's just enough of it to cram in another storyline or two. And that demands more than one candidate.

Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.

ABC News' Hope Ditto contributed to this report.

October 14, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Clinton, Hillary, Giuliani, Rudy, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans, Washington, White House | Permalink | User Comments (75)

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Both Obama and McCain internal polls show this race is close – that’s why Obama is buying half-hour slots of TV. (Remember the last candidate who did that – President Ross Perot??) Much of the poll numbers put out by the MSM are skewed to favor the liberal candidate – big surprise there. McCain Democrats, do you really believe what the polls say, that 90% of Democrats are supporting Obama? Look around at your own families and friends - are they 90% on board for Obama? The liberal media is attempting to create an air of inevitability around Barack Obama by skewing polls, and by ignoring or playing down stories that might harm Obama. They hope to discourage McCain voters from going to the polls. This race is not over until the polls close in November. If you stay away from the polls, you are doing exactly what Obama and his allies at ABC, NBC, CBS and ACORN, the voter fraud specialists to whom Obama gave $800,000, want you to do.

Posted by: JB in St. Louis | Oct 14, 2008 8:44:34 AM

Unfortunately for McNegative, the $700 billion will be long gone before he ever makes it to the election. What's he wanting - a NEW $700 billion?

Rudy Giuliani is making economic points? Ha Ha! Talk about a guy that benefited from 9/11. NYC was running hundreds of millions in the red until all that cash came in from Bush - and they just sat on it.

Posted by: Tom | Oct 14, 2008 8:48:06 AM

all those ACORNS have grown into a mighty OAK TREE OF OBAMA VOTER FRAUD.

Posted by: geevill | Oct 14, 2008 8:51:39 AM

And that is the specific reason the McCain campaing is behind and will lose this election. They are always looking for "story-lines". Voters want answers and solutions, NOT "story-lines".

Posted by: MsKay | Oct 14, 2008 8:53:10 AM

JB, you need to wake up. "my friend". Since ACORN has registered close to 1.3 million voters in the last 4 years, how do you reconcile your errant comment that they want people to stay away from the polls? Are you also blind to McNegative's past support for ACORN as well? Or is it off limits because it involves your failed candidate? As recently as February 20, 2006, Senator McCain was the keynote speaker at an ACORN-sponsored Immigration Rally in Miami, Florida at Miami Dade College – Wolfson Campus.

Posted by: Tom | Oct 14, 2008 8:54:10 AM

Did Tom Bradley lose the CA governorship in 1982 because Democrats said they were willing to vote for an African American, and then didn’t, or did he lose because the left-wing media skewed the polls to favor him in an effort to discourage his opponent’s voters from the going to the polls? The polls showed him leading by a wide margin. He lost.

Posted by: JB in St. Louis | Oct 14, 2008 8:54:20 AM

THe amazing $700 billion. Apparently it can be spent over and over and it magically regenerates each morning.

Posted by: bubba | Oct 14, 2008 8:56:43 AM

Unfortunately for you sheep that listen to Hannity and Limp-butt, they have been ACCUSED of voter fraud. Except your big mouthed radio hosts usually fail to drop the fact in that it isn't voter fraud if no one has voted yet. When you collect signature cards for voters in the volumes they have, just like the Repubs do, you don't think you might get a few people that fill it in as a joke? The Las Vegas investigation has already been pushed to the back burner for that very reason. No charges have ever been filed in the 3 weeks after and none are forthcoming.

Posted by: Tom | Oct 14, 2008 8:58:00 AM

JB in St. Louis - You're right. The race isn't over yet. But out of all my family, circle of friends, and neighbors, I know only one person who plans to vote for McCain. I know this probably doesn't mean very much in the scheme of things but it is indicative of how people are feeling about their government at this point in time. The so-called "change" that McCain promises is not what most of us want, assuming that he can hold to them in the first place. And, most likely, McCain's version of change wouldn't be considered change at all.

Posted by: nomorerepublicans | Oct 14, 2008 8:59:46 AM

JB, funny how when McNegative and Caribou Barbie were ahead in the polls - these very SAME polls, you all rejoiced and celebrated that she was the magic he needed. Now that we know she is a Moose in the headlights for real, and he cannot find a cognitive thought from day to day that stays on message, you want to attack the very same pools you loved a few weeks ago. Hypocrite much?

Posted by: Tom | Oct 14, 2008 9:02:13 AM

Looks like it's a day late and a dime short for the McChicken campaign.

From Quinnipiac/washingtonpost.com/Wall Street Journal polls:

Colorado: Obama 52, McCain 43
Michigan: Obama 54, McCain 38
Minnesota: Obama 51, McCain 40
Wisconsin: Obama 54, McCain 37
Dates conducted: Oct. 8-12. Error margin: Ranges 2.8-3.1 points

Posted by: Nat Turner | Oct 14, 2008 9:09:11 AM

Only a Republican would try to tell Democrats that we are not supporting our candidate at the 90% number. Sorry but our party is more united right now then the Republicans will ever be. You have right wing crazies who vote on social issues battling fiscal conservatives and yet you have a candidate who does not win over either group. Even Hillary Clinton supporters are voting in heavy numbers for Obama and that Obama/Clinton controversy was directly caused by what you consider a bias media.

Posted by: Craig Feldman | Oct 14, 2008 9:09:59 AM

With Palin on the ticket there is no way McCain has a chance

Posted by: Kathy | Oct 14, 2008 9:10:01 AM

MY FELLOW PRISONERS:

"That One" has not only taken my milkshake and drank it, but he has opened so many cans of Chicago whoop ass on me, my parrot with lipstick and the entire GOP, that this will be a schlacking that we will never forget.

POTUS OBAMA - Even I know it's a lock
John "The Great White NOPE" McChicken

Posted by: Nat Turner | Oct 14, 2008 9:15:12 AM

Watching McCain during this election campaign is like watching a fish thrashing about on a hot sidewalk.

Posted by: peter | Oct 14, 2008 9:15:46 AM

In my lifetime there have been only a few Republican candidates that I felt I could vote for: Eisenhower, Ford, McCain (in 2000). Only one of those was elected president and I was to young to vote for him, but I worked for his election in a school-wide mock campaign and election. McCain has lost me in this campaign. "Maverick" has become an empty word, "a noisy gong."

Posted by: George | Oct 14, 2008 9:24:01 AM

Marianne Pepitone: You are so right about the polls. Here in Missouri the polls show Obama neck and neck with McCain. I’ve lived in south St. Louis County my entire life. There is NO way Obama will carry Missouri. It will be close, but McCain will win by 3-4 points. I’d be willing to bet on it. I know far too many Democrats voting Democratic down ticket, and McCain for president. As far as Republicans claiming to vote for Obama on this site, I don’t buy it for a minute. Many of my neighbors are Republicans, and they’re terrified of a Socialist in the office of president. Republicans for Obama = liberal Democrat pretenders.

Posted by: JB in St. Louis | Oct 14, 2008 9:24:14 AM

McCain = DISHONORABLE; Palin = SCARY!!!

Posted by: Howard Gallas | Oct 14, 2008 9:27:35 AM

The Turnaround:

McCain Vows to Stop Voting with Bush 90 Percent of the Time

Posted by: zorg | Oct 14, 2008 9:28:16 AM

The Dow won it's points back? When? Last year we were at 14,000 now 9,000. This reporting is about as pathetic as anything I have seen.

Give me $15 and I'll give you $10 back. How is that for a deal? Be careful when you show your face, they see you coming.

Posted by: Thinking | Oct 14, 2008 9:30:25 AM

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