Posted on 10/14/2008 12:45:59 AM PDT by earmarksrus
To get the feel of a political race, anecdotal stories on the ground of voters' enthusiasm is a better gauge than looking to polls.
To make this point I reference one story covering the Biden event where pollster Terry Madonna predicts that Obama will take Scranton. Her polling firm has Obama leading by 7 points in Pennsylvania.
Now compare the following anecdotal stories from Scranton Pa.:
Biden, and both Clintons had a campaign rally in Scranton Pa.
Working families, Biden told a crowd of about 6,000 at an indoor soccer complex here, were asking themselves "questions that are as simple as they are profound" -- whether they'll remain employed and be able to fill their gas tanks, and whether their homes will retain their value.
Sea of red to greet Palin in Scranton
Carol Oleski, director of the Scranton office of Democrats for McCain, said the level of enthusiasm building up to Palin’s arrival is “unbelievable.”“Absolutely, we will all be wearing red,” Oleski said. “We were told 10,000 tickets would be available for the event and they are going out fast. I expect a majority, if not all of them, will go.”
The Riverfront Sports Complex, depending on how it is configured, could hold up to 12,000 people.
Don't believe the polls when they say Obama is winning. He isn't and proof is in the stories on the enthusiasm of the events.
They are already Lining the Streets From West Chester to Downingtown.for Her other Visit in Pa.It will be packed..
They are just trying to demoralize Republicans, conservatives, Independents, PUMAs and “bitter clingers” to give up and not vote for McCain/Palin to save our country. Amazingly, there’s a small contingent here at Free Republic trying to do the same thing. Most have a pretty recent “born on date” but some don’t.
I’m familiar with Scranton and have many relatives who live in this area and I can tell you that there are quite a few “bitter clingers” to contend with. The two areas that will be critical for McCain in PA are the counties which ring Philly (Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware) and Northeastern PA. Considering how well the man child did here in the primary, it’s certainly up for grabs.
Terry Maddona is a guy.
Agreed. Pittsburgh maybe a toss up too although I never thought that the residents of “Big Smokey” were all that liberal; lunch bucket Dems instead.
I am a bitter clinger who doesn’t believe the polls.
In the primary, Hillary got about 75% of the vote in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties in NE PA, where the biggest cities are Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.
I think that Obama’s chances in PA depend a lot on getting a bigger share of the vote in places like Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. If big numbers of those Hillary supporters don’t vote for Obama, he will not carry PA.
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