Posted on 02/04/2008 4:03:39 PM PST by Checkers
Many in the media have decamped to sunny California, and for good reason: The state not only provides the biggest targets to campaigns on both sides looking to score their share of the hundreds of delegates available tomorrow, it also allows reporters to stay up late as results roll in. Going to bed at 1 a.m. after the rest of the country has reported is a lot easier than going to bed at 4 a.m.
For at least one candidate, though, California will not be the story. John McCain, once an afterthought, then the front-runner, is seeing his poll numbers in the Golden State sink again. After enjoying leads as high as 19 points, just days after his New Hampshire win, and 13 points, in a CNN/Politico/LA Times poll last week, McCain now owns just a 2-point lead in the latest RCP California Average.
The news may be worse than that. A tracking poll for C-SPAN and Reuters, taken by Zogby, shows distinct movement toward McCain's chief opponent in California, Mitt Romney. After taking the lead yesterday, Romney is now up by eight points. A victory by such a small margin would only give Romney a few extra delegates -- the state allocates most of their Republican delegates in a winner-take-all by Congressional District fashion.
In anticipation of such a result, McCain's team has started downplaying expectations and California's relative importance. "We're going to do very well in the winner-take-all states in the Northeast," spokesman Brian Rogers told Politics Nation today. "California is a toss-up that, at the end of the day, won't be the big story [as long as] we pick up some delegates."
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
Rogers promoted the importance of states like New York and New Jersey, which award delegates to the statewide winner and in which McCain is far ahead. In fact, if Romney wins a majority in each of California's districts, he would win 170 convention delegates, twelve short of what McCain would win from victories in those two states and his home state of Arizona.
Even if a win in California left Romney at a disadvantage in the rest of the country, it would be a huge boost for a candidate who has looked, if not resigned to his fate, at least on the ropes and badly in need of a victory. A Golden State win could prove to the former Massachusetts governor that a one-on-one race against McCain really could turn to Romney's advantage, and in the end, that could make for a renewed interest in a long-term crusade against the Arizona maverick.
ping
Interesting. It has gone from all but over to downplaying expectations.
Sure thing John...
Everyone seems to be worried about Cali. I just got two calls from Hillary.
Exactly! What a Bozo...
The message is very clear. McCain can be beaten.
Go Mitt!
This is interesting. It is winner-takes-all-by-district so even a small win (e.g. consistent 38-34 across the state) migth lead to massive amount of delegates (e.g. getting 90% of delegates).
This is still hope for conservatives!
I wish Arnold would visit every state in support of McCain.
Its a real reminder and turnoff to voters. LOL!
This just in from the MSM. McCain still in the lead and ignore the man behind the curtain.
Ping! Sure you know this, but thought I’d bring it to your attention. ;>)
I do wonder what McCain’s GOTV is like. We caucus tomorrow and I have received 2 calls from volunteers for Mitt since Saturday. We have also received about 4 robocalls, 2 from “Mitt” himself. I have not heard a word from McCain’s camp.
Tomorrow will be interesting. It sounds as if it will be a late night awaiting results.
If McCain doesn’t do well, I wonder how the MSM will react and spin.
Is Brian Rogers suggesting that he knows some of Romney's strongest support is in California?
Romney dominates in the Sagebrush region whereas mcCain does well in northwest metro regions.
Yeah, it's remarkable how as soon as Schwarznegger endorsed McCain, his poll numbers tanked in CA.
Now that he is going to lose in CA he is downplaying it....
LOL LOL
Dang varmit
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