Kerry pulling out of Florida? A premature call, at best

The Kerry Spot at National Review Online ^ | 10/26/2004 | Jim Geraghty

[Utah Girl]

I understand this evening that columnist Tony Snow said on Bill O'Reilly this evening that the Kerry campaign was conceding Florida and focusing its resources on shoring up Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Checked with my guy on the Kerry campaign. He said Kerry is currently scheduled to spend Thursday night, all of Friday, and Friday night in Florida.

So for now, I don't think there's anything to Snow's rumor. It seems rather late to pull resources, anyway. The ads, the volunteers, the resources... they are where they are.

[Howlin]

if I were you, I'd spend the entire last week in North and South Carolina.

POSTED: 7:19 PM EDT October 26, 2004

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards will hold a campaign rally Friday evening before a hometown crowd in Raleigh, the Kerry-Edwards campaign announced Tuesday.

Edwards, his wife, Elizabeth, and eldest daughter, Cate, will be at Dorton Arena on the N.C. State Fairgrounds. John and Elizabeth Edwards also will return to Raleigh to vote early, the campaign said. Details about where they will vote weren't available Tuesday.

Rock musician Jon Bon Jovi will warm up the crowd with a few songs Friday before Edwards takes the arena stage, campaign spokesman Ashley Turton said late Tuesday. Bon Jovi has been on the road performing at John Kerry rallies in recent weeks.

Come on down...we'll have some fun. :-)

[Revolting cat!]

Snow job. (Who's Tony Snow?)

[John Jamieson]

And another thing:

Of the 216 years of this country's history, only 5 years have been led by a president elected from a sitting legislature. I don't think Mr. Kerry is going to change that trend (all 3 died in office too)!

[ladyinred]

No way do I think he would pull out of Florida. That is where they will do the most mischief.

[nathanbedford]

I take Snow at face value for the literal meaning of his words, that the Dems are aware that they will lose Fla., not that they are pulling out as a consquence.

That means, with Florida now assumed to be safe, Bush wins if he takes Ohio, even assuming the loss of N. Hamp. from 2000 because of reapportionment.

Next fall back is to win Wis, if we lose Ohio, and match it with either Ia. or New Mex. If N. Mex we get a tie and, presumably, a win in the House. This assumes the loss of N. Hamp.

The next fall back position in the event of a loss in Ohio and Wis. is Ia and N. Mex. which leaves us three short of a tie so we must then look to N. Hamp. for its four EVs and a win with 270.

Assuming Hi. is not in range, I would think N. Hamp deserves a try with one big rally.

[southernnorthcarolina]

Edwards, his wife, Elizabeth, and eldest daughter, Cate, will be at Dorton Arena on the N.C. State Fairgrounds.

Wow. Elizabeth Edwards at Cow Palace. Who'da thunk it?

[Utah Girl]

I agree.

I can't believe your son is home already. That time went by fast (at least it did for me.) Good luck to him in AF language school.

[Utah Girl]

That is not good news for the Kerry campaign. Edwards in NC for this weekend??? Bwahahahaha.

[Howlin]

OH MY......you're being naughty now!

[Moconservative]

After all he is the French candidate and their motto is to run rather than fight. I live in Missouri and I couldn't believe they didn't put up a fight here. We are used to being a battleground state and it seems strange not to have endless commercials from both sides. We will go for Bush on election day and so will Florida. Can you say four more years!

[BOOTSTICK]

I find it hard to believe Kerry will spend Thursday night, all day Friday, and Friday night in Florida!!!!!!, if he does he can kiss off Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, and maybe Pennsylvania, and the election! Kerry does'nt need Florida to win, he does need Ohio, and Pennsylvania, seems to me Snow got it right.

[Dolphy]

I agree, I don't think they would pull out of Florida. Look what Gore did with his all night rallies on election eve. I find it curious that the President has 3 campaign stops in Michigan in the next 4 days though. Cheney will be here Friday. Edwards will also be here this week and I believe Kerry will be back (he was here last night).

Michigan was thought to be close in 2000. Bush campaigned here until the end and then lost by 5. I am figuring they learned from that loss. The GOP is preparing for a close race, including adding lawyers as poll challengers. I don't know what to make of the chances here but on the ground it continues to look like a possibility. We have people up from Indiana working on the GOTV effort.

[nathanbedford]

Let me amend by asserting Minn as fall back in the event of a loss of Ohio. It can substitute for Wis, possessing as it does an identical 10 EVs or, more likely, combine with Wis. for a victory.

Minn. - who wudda thunk it?

[southernnorthcarolina]

...you're being naughty now!

The condition is congenital and incurable.

[tagatose]

Another reason Juan is fumbling on this is that he hasn't recieved the official DNC memo. Tomorrow, look for Juan to have a canned answer.

[Utah Girl]

My head is just spinning. I can't keep up with it all. One more week and we'll know. I honestly don't think it's going to be that close (famous last words...)

[tagatose]

Electile Disfunction

Leading to Premature Evacuation!

You guys are causing voter disenfranchisment. Get a Votesectomy.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Garfield, Harding, and Kennedy...right? :)

[guitfiddlist]

The 'Rats are complete scumbags, but they're not completely braindead. No way they would ever announce to the world, "We're giving up on the one state which would give us a reasonable chance of winning this election. Now we're down to miracle scenarios, but since we've kicked all religious people off this campaign, looks like we're fresh out of those too."

And pulling out of a scheduled appearance in such an important swing state as Florida - is tantamount to yelling "UNCLE!" into a megaphone.

[sphinx]

Now we're down to miracle scenarios, but since we've kicked all religious people off this campaign, looks like we're fresh out of those too."

No, they're down to Larry Flynt scenarios, and they have plenty of that kind of people around.