[jack gillis]

Could be, dales, but Corzine spent $60 million to saturate the state, and that's probably 80% of the entire post-convention budget.

If I were Bush, I'd make it a second-tier target.

As for the voters punishing McGreevy or the machine ... FORGET IT. Same in Minnesota. Supposedly popular GOP governor? California? Arnold's the savior?

FORGET IT.

People treat their vote for President entirely distinctly from every other civic act. FL in 2000 proved that if it proved nothing else.

[Dales]

I'd make it a second-tier target.

I'd make it third tier. It is expensive, and the entire GOTV foundation needs to be rebuilt.

Identifying a target and thinking the target's cost/benefit/risk ratio is beneficial are two very different things.

:-)

As for if an unpopular incumbent can sink a ticket, the answer is yes IMO, especially if the voters identify him with the party strongly.