The Field Pulls In to Michigan... as McCain Pulls Out

I'm watching Tweety let a McCain flack get away with more tax bullshit.  Googled and found this chart comparing the two candidates on taxes.  It shows that the bulk of O's cuts go to the bottom, and most of Grumpy's go to the wealthy.

http://chartjunk.karmanaut.com/taxplans/

The Obama rep (Biden's press secretary, maybe?) was ill-prepared to debate the point.

Just got home from the Obama rally here at Michigan State University where I volunteered and registered some voters and picked up more volunteers (but mostly directed human traffic around vehicle traffic); I wasn't expecting such a quick payoff!

And McCain, I have to ask: what ever happened to no cut and run, no surrender, no appearing weak in front of the enemy? Ah well, I suppose you're right about one thing Senator: we "terrorists" won't give up now that you're gone.

Had a conference call cancelled today because Obama showed up on the campus of MSU. (is that E. Lansing?) 

Going to a debate watching party tonight. Must. bring. popcorn. Oh, and wear lipstick! Doubtful that I'll be doing web-surfing debate snark commenting during debate, tho.

My friends Dori and Tom came up with a Debate Bingo card for Palin. 

Get it at backupbrain.com/palinBingo

Click to generate a new card.

Thank you Howard Dean and Trippi for showing us a way to fundraise without having to spend endless hours with millionaires. (Not that Obama shuns those funds, but he raises far more from the people).

Two million at at least $10 each means $20 million a month (I'm using a bare minimum amount), allowed Obama to opt out of public funding altogether, and because of the internet allowing him to raise money 24/7, he could also spend more time campaigning than raising funds.

McCain couldn't raise that money no matter what-the money men didn't like him, and the fundies weren't going to dig all that deep.

The result is that in early October, Obama swims in an ocean of cash, able to put ads anywhere he needs to while McCain must pick spots that he can afford. It will get worse as McCain can only spend his federal funds-funds that he cannot replenish. Obama can in response increase his expenditures and force McCain to spend deeper. That is one of the strategies that defeated Hillary-she ran out of money after Super Tuesday and never really got out of the hole since.

This is out of the experience of the Republican Party-they are used to having massive resources compared to the Democrats who always opted in for matching funds. The experience of helplessness is new to them, and I expect a great deal of lashing out by the 527's as a result.

Michigan is the state I've been most concerned about, and that I've heard the most concern about from other Obama supporters.  This is amazing.  I honestly feel like McCain just surrendered.

Hard part now is fighting overconfidence and staying in the game.

Susan:  Definitely, lipstick tonight!

you scared him off!

Note that you can see Hoosiers from some houses in Michigan.

Susan that says it all about what I expect from SP in the debate.

Michigan gets it done! Al giving the credit to the field organization, if I am remembering the threads of this campaign you have been discussing, will mean a lot more than Michigan getting it done. And we are just starting to put out signs!

The reality is that he can only pull that stunt once before people start really wondering about his sanity or his organizational skill. Also, I doubt the Obama people in the state will go home and relax. It's far too late: if nothing else I'm sure they expect that the 527's, voter suppression tactics and other things will continue. Home state Republicans don't have to work with the McCain campaign at all to continue their work in those areas.

Also, it's far too late in another sense: if this pullout had been done in say, August or July, the Obama people there might have gone home for a bit of vacation. It's October: nobody is going home or taking a break until November  5th.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/02/obama_campaign_clears_its_va_v.html

Great news, but I am still going to chip in another $50.00 in October toward victory.  And, of course, I am gong to continue canvassing voters.

Voter registration ends on October 6th here in Florida.

It ain't over till it's over--and you can bet they have all kinds of nasty tricks up their sleeves.

Wounded elephant's cause a lot of damage before they are finally down for the count.

Tonight's debate might be the most crucial of the season.  Palin only has to appear half-way competent to be considered 'presidential' in the eyes of the low-info voters and the pundits that would like to see the race tighten-up going into the home-stretch.

(If she started speaking in tounges in the middle of the debate it would be 'perfect'.  But that ain't gonn'a happen.)

Biden simply needs to appear aware and competent.  Joe don't need to do anything fancy.  Please, Joe, just keep it simple bro.

I see from The Page that the McCain campaign is planning on putting resources into Maine. So far there hasn't been advertising (except for national buys) in Maine. Realistically, there is zero chance of winning the state as a whole, but the 2nd district might be possible. That said, the Obama campaign is very active in the district, including on college campuses.  So far we've gotten no serious surrogates in the 2nd district although I heard a rumor last week that Palin would come in and possibly Biden or Michelle or Barack.

Oh, Al's caution on what's really happening in Michigan is warranted. McCain's "official" campaign is now running on limited public financing, so he has to announced these things to justify an uptick in direct campaign spending in other places, such as Wisconsin. 

But it seems very likely that the Republican Party and its various "committees" are staying put and pouring money into Michigan -- pushing the top of their ticket and GOTV, etc.

I  believe they are ... so it's smoke and mirrors when it comes to these press plays about pulling out of a state.

Palin has been criss-crossing the country in recent weeks raising money for the shadow McCain campaign:

From the Austin American-Statesman:

Admission to the Dallas and San Antonio events [featuring Palin] ranges from $1,000 per guest up to $57,000 for couples.

"The response has simply been overwhelming," said James Huffines of Austin, a state co-chairman of McCain's campaign. "It has been many years since I personally have seen this type of excitement and response to a political fundraiser in Texas."

Proceeds from the fundraisers won't flow to Texas candidates. They are earmarked to go to the McCain-Palin Victory 2008 fund, which allocates money to the Republican National Committee, state parties' federal accounts in four battleground states - Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania - and to the McCain-Palin campaign for legal and accounting services.

So they might be hiding Palin from the press, but they certainly aren't keeping her away from the fundraising circuit -- private events with well-heeled invites.

We're trying to get a "money bomb" thread going at Daily Kos:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/2/20757/6371/481/607679

Most important, rent a booth at the Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival this weekend.

Buy a ton of ads on the local Air America outlet.

Buy 2 full page ads a week in The Isthmus and the Madison edition of The Onion.

Democrat for US Senate (Wisconsin 2012)

I really hate how important the debate has become - it's importance is completely out of reach of reality.  It is purely a political American Idol moment where hitting the right notes and choosing the right song are more important than what you sing.  How awful is it that an American Statesman who has been a terrific representative of the citizens of Delaware in the U.S. Senate and is completely informed on every possible subject and who has committed a lifetime of service to the country could possibly not "perform" as well as this Half Baked Alaska woman who we have yet to know a damn thing about her except for a collective 45 minutes of TV interviews!?!  It really pisses me off to have to deal with this in the middle of an important election.

Palin did do better than many on the liberall/left thought and hoped she would--but Biden held his own and made the case that McCain is more of McSame, and that the man has consistently opposed policies that help the little people.

Of course, Palin's performance will again firm up the chicken-little Republican base.

However, no major gaffs and a competent showing by Biden will leave the tendencies favoring Obama (in my judgement).

Still, the economic crisis will frame the politics from here on out, and Obama will gain in support and in the collective perception that he stands for significant, positive change from this Bush/McLame nightmare.

I am sending Obama another $50.00 tomarrow.

No game-changer tonight--and you can be certain that as they put Palin out into the public spot-light more there will be more major gaffs to come.