McCain Pulling Out of Michigan
By Nicole Belle Wednesday Oct 01, 2008 5:00pm
John McCain is pulling out of Michigan, according to two Republicans, a stunning move a month away from Election Day that indicates the difficulty Republicans are having in finding blue states to put in play.
McCain will go off TV in Michigan, stop dropping mail there and send most of his staff to more competitive states, including Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida. Wisconsin went for Kerry in 2004, Ohio and Florida for Bush.
McCain's campaign didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Oh, but don't fear you lurking McCain supporters...the RNC isn't leaving Michigan and most of McCain's staffers will move to their headquarters.
A McCain adviser confirmed the news but noted that the Republican National Committee's independent expenditure arm is still running ads there, and that McCain will keep most of his staff in-state. McCain officials and Michigan Republican Party officials declined to comment. Weirdly, McCain's staff scheduled a surrogate conference call with Mitt Romney for this afternoon, perhaps assuming that their shift in advertising would not be noticed or reported. The McCain move was disclosed one day after auto manufacturers based in the state reported record revenue declines. Previously, McCain has argued that Obama's intention to raise taxes on the rich would further deepen Michigan's worst-in-the-nation recession.
The move away from Michigan reflects the abandonment of any pretense that McCain can spend freely to expand the map for Republicans this year, and it's a sign that the campaign recognizes how the past two weeks have erased nearly all of McCain's gains since August.
In fact, the word on the street is that the RNC is planning a big blitz against ACORN in Milwaukee, since ACORN had a big voter registration blitz here. Can't wait to see the barely veiled racism of those ads.
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McCain admits defeat!
sweet. this is good news, but take nothing for granted. There are nationwide voter purges underway which will very likely be VERY effective.
as an aside, Palin's got another bridge...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNM42wlnxt8
As a Michigander I am thrilled for this admission. We ganders don't want more of the (Mc) same.
Oh god, if they draw a bigger target on Florida many of us will be wading out into the ocean over our head. I am so freakin' tired of his ads. He must have spent a fortune down here on air time. Even with that much money spent, Florida is polling a little bit higher for Obama than McCain.
The pundits have been saying that the McCain campaign was going to go ugly on Obama during the last weeks of the campaign. I don't know if that's such a good idea right now when everyone's mind is on serious problems. The people the ugly ads would play to are already never going to vote for Obama, no matter what.
Ah, just emailed this in and I should have known Nicole would catch it quick! The latest state polls reported on our local TV news has Obama at 51% and 38% for McCain. I've had a couple of emails from our state dems already, though, and they're not taking anything for granted.
I'm just doin' the happy dance about the "no mail, no ads" thing!
While I'd certainly not wish more ads on Michigan, I'd really prefer that McCain wasted more of his donor money there. But maybe the silver lining is that the foreclosure-based voter suppression that was brewing won't be so heavy handed.
I remain CAUTIOUSLY optimistic. A lot can still happen. I fully expect Palin to not wet her pants tonight....which makes her the clear winner in today's bizarre political world.
I also expect Republicans to get even nastier. At this point they have nothing to lose. Watch for them to pull out every dirty trick their tiny minds can dream up. The ugly rumors and vicious smears have only begun.
pissed off patricia @ 4:
Thank God I live in Northern California. We never have to see a stupid GOP ad or deal with their campaign visits. If a conservative does come to the Bay Area, they just sneak in and out under the dark of night.
"McCain Pulling Out of Michigan", ...to distance himself from the shock and awe the RNC is about to release on the citizens of Michigan? Does that sound about right?
pissed off patricia @ 4:
Got a warm sweater? Come and stay with us for a few weeks! The unfortunate thing for us is we're pretty close to the IN border so we'll still get ads depending on the location of the station we're watching.
I'm betting Mr. G will call for a block of all IN stations until after the election. McCain ads tend to make me angry and I've been eyeing the coffee table lately with evil intents. Its a piece of crap and I'd like a new one anyway.
Does anybody remember H. Ross Perot becoming so desperate for free air time he ended his campaign... decided to run again... ended his campaign... decided to run again... ended his campaign... decided to run again... ended his campaign... decided to run again... so on.. and so on.
Hard to take someone serious when they act like they don't want the job.
I'm suspending my campaign... I can't go to the debate... I'm dropping out of Michigan...
The RNC and the 527s (flush with money) will pick up the slack and then some. Most people won't know the difference in the amount of advertising other than the missing tag line "I'm John McCain and I approved of this ad."
The Truth Hurts @ 8:
Thank gawd I live outside the USA and never see them, except when they are posted here. If a GOP-er approached me, I'd just tell them to fuck off, or go torture someone else.
McSame, just another:
Cut and run coWard.
If the Republicans get a second bounce from Palin after the debate tonight...that's great for the Democrats because it shows the world, McCain is the lead weight that brings the ticket down and afterall, you guys are voting for a President....not a Vice President.
However, the world will be dealing with Mccain!
I'd say that this video pretty much sums McCain's campaign up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjomYMe6t_U
Enjoy!
Rico @ 12:
I don't know... I've just noticed something very strange. I've had the TV on for local news and, more importantly the weather (planning ahead for work tomorrow) and I've just realized that I haven't seen one republican ad of any sort for the past 90 minutes. Not. one. I'll admit I haven't been paying undivided attention to the television but the teeniest soundbyte from an ad by McCain for the RNC puts me into a spitting rage. No rage for 90 minutes!!!
I had heard they were suspending ads as of next week but maybe they pulled them early.
It's time for him to move on to the next state. Before all his money runs out. I haven't heard much about his fund raising lately.
I wonder if Cindy will lend his campaign some dough. With all of his and her blunders, I can't imagine people will be sending lots of cash. No, he's running out of money.
majicman @ 15:
Just how mind-numbingly pathetic is the GOP ticket if Palin is considered the highlight????
Gretchen the aspiring elitist @ 16:
Nix that thought. I've just had FOUR from the RNC in a row. Nope. Make that FIVE. Now SIX is a particularly nasty Obama slam from something new called the Judicial Confirmation Network. Has anyone heard of that one?
Sweet Moses in a basket. We'll probably get it worse than before. They were just lulling me into a false sense of security.
World stock markets continue to slide, despite the Senate vote for the bailout. I guess there is a major loss of confidence in the USA as a nation. (I can't wait for the open thread. The teevee is "warmed up" for the big debate.)
the times they are changing when the usa can even cosider this turd as a president. POW goes a long way in the minds of the dumb. How many other POWs are ther in the usa?
Can he "pull out" of california now? I don't know why he runs ads here either.. even Orange County is voting for Obama!
Bailout! He's good at that.
Tim @ 22:
Orange County?!?!?!?!?!??? Say it ain't so.
Oh the humanity. Did you know that Calif is traditionally a red state. Yeah I was shocked to find that out too. Take nothing for granted.
Here, check it out for yourself. You can go back as far as you like.
http://www.270towin.com/
Hmmm.... do you think they are planning on dumping
Palin and substituting Romney?
Che's Lounge @ 23:
Meaning to be nasty, as I am going to be, McCain forgot to tuck his arms in when ejecting from his plane for goodness sakes!
"Independent expenditure arm" sounds like a bit of a misnomer.
Timothy Meadows @ 25:
Tim, that is a Rovian thought; brilliant for its evil genius. If Mittens was in the VP slot McCain wouldn't need the resources here. Too many swing voters still love that dope.
Loonie @ 28:
Those arms are the only mavericks in town. The brain has left the district.
Gretchen the aspiring elitist @ 29:
That's true Gretchen. But there are millions who have been sold Palin. If they dump her, the whole campaign goes into disarray.
It's too late for McJohnny2pants.
I thought the blitz against ACORN had already begun a couple of days ago when they tried to blame Clinton, Carter, the CRA, and ACORN for the sub-prime mortgage crisis. It fits in to their narrative pretty well.
Gretchen the aspiring elitist @ 29:
Many states will not let you switch candidates. During the 2000 election, a dead man was elected to the US Senate. The governor decided to appoint his wife to seat.
I wondered if McCain backed out due to lacking finance and fundraising, especially when George Bush is stuck in the WH trying to figure out the economy and not helping out in fundrising for him. It will be interesting to see the September fundraising dollars are.
Gretchen the aspiring elitist @ 17:
There's a reason for that -- it's the debates. With so much free media coverage in the regular news, the campaigns take this opportunity to save some bucks.
I hope ACORN has cleaned up its act in the last few years. They had a real problem with fraudulent registration cards 4 years ago. Not nearly as big of a problem as the Repukes tried to make it out to be, but their poor management in general seems to lead to problems. I speak with a good amount of personal experience on this.
Before passing judgement upon ACORN, I decided to take a look at what they had to say...
http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12364
I decided to join the organization.
I had never heard of these people before.
I suppose the folks at ACORN should send a thank you letter to the corporate talking heads for helping them get new members.
Umm, pulling out of a state isn't really that big of deal. Many candidates pull out of states they can't win by Oct. Obama left NDak just a few days ago. What gets me is the crazy notion he can make a difference in WI somehow. The erratic nature of McLames campaign is more proof that the wheels are coming off the Straight Talk Express and it is about to veer of the road and head over a cliff.
"The dead have risen and they're voting Republican!" -- Bart Simpson
"A frustrated Michigan could not be reached for comment"
mudshark @ 31:
True. And, as upchuck brought up @33, some states won't let you switch candidates.
I know there are many who have bought into the Palin thing but here I have yet to meet one person who thinks that was a good idea, republicans included. Even the guy I met today - repub to the core and hates Palin. This guy thinks Coulter is a "respectable journalist" whose views are "centrist". Once those words left his mouth I began to back away slowly and when his attention was diverted to someone else, I ran like hell. He's a substitute teacher. I have serious problems with the thought of him coming in contact with impressionable students.
Jay Severin Has A Small Pen1s @ 39:
"Don't let the door hit ya in the ass on your way out!"
- Michigan
Via TPM: McCain campaign stating that key red states are actually "battlegrounds."
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/
Why didn't you use the headline "John McCain Cuts and Runs from Michigan!!!"???
Michigan here.....nothin' prettier than an entire row of houses with Obama signs out front. Ferndale, Michigan--I love you and your heart.
To quote an old English folk song: 'Happy days are here again'
Grand Ledge, MI here. Tons of creepy McCain signs popping up everywhere. Particularly in the fancy ex-urb parts. Those McMansion folks don't seem to know where to direct their anger.
Not a big deal, its not like one of his homes is there.
Jay Severin Has A Small Pen1s @ 39:
Now that's funny!
why has there been no mention of this in the MSM?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITToVCGgvEk
everyone in michigan knows grampy mcshitstain is a senile moron..it's about time the rest of the country figured it out
annaeye@44
IN FERNDALE?!?
Jesus, makes me wonder how Al Sharpton might poll in Burton right about now.
yep, Andy. wierdly enough Ferndale is showing their love for Obama. it's a little city rife with diversity. Not necessarily, racial...but certainly life style and sexual leanings as well as political tendencies.
"McCain Pulling Out of Michigan"
The Viagra has worn off.
Steve Lawrence @ 3:
Agreed! I, too, am a proud Michigander! I saw Obama at MSU yesterday. The crowd was very fired up, alot of them waiting up to six hours to get in. There were about 20,000 enthusiastic people. There were about 12 pro-McCain supporters outside the gates holding up the usual dead fetus signs. But at least they were silent and keep their traps shut. I asked one why don't you have signs showing bloody, blown up soldiers from the illegal Iraq occupation? You know, the actual living people with wives, husbands, friends? I was met w/silence.
I'll be glad not to have to listen or watch anymore of McCain's lame ads.
Just listened to Quinn Klinefelter (SP?) on public radio in Detroit who was talking to a McCain representative who said ...."No we aren't leaving Michigan....we are redistributing our resources to other states" Sounds to me like he's pulling out of Michigan..and not one minute too soon.
On another note....I teach high school social studies and without being told to, many of my students watched the debate last night. I had joy in my heart when I saw that most of my first hour class declared Sarah Palin an idiot (their words) and a couple of them are volunteering to work for the Obama campaign. This from a generation of children that have never for one minute been interested in anything outside of their very small world. Ahhhh. I'm happy!
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