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Obama vs. McCain, by the map
Los Angeles Times ^ | June 5, 2008 | Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Posted on 06/05/2008 9:39:47 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach


Associated Press photos Both Barack Obama and John McCain must focus on states that Bush won in 2004.

In many states that President Bush captured in the 2004 election, Barack Obama has swelled the ranks of Democrats by the thousands, drawing record numbers of young people and African Americans to the polls.

But will this enthusiasm -- which propelled his victory Tuesday in the race for the Democratic nomination -- deliver enough of these states to Obama to win the presidency?

That question is on the minds of strategists plotting the Democratic Party's drive to retake the White House. In national polls, Obama runs about even with Republican John McCain, but he cannot win the 270 electoral votes he needs unless he picks up states that Bush won.

McCain, for his part, must hold all of Bush's states, or else carry some new ones to make up for any losses.

"Everybody's top priorities will be those 12 to 15 swing states that were close in 2004," said Charles Black, a senior McCain advisor.


For weeks, Obama and McCain have crossed paths in those states, with a particular emphasis on Florida. When South Dakota and Montana handed Obama the delegates needed to clinch the nomination Tuesday night, he did not celebrate in either state, but in Minnesota -- a state that is crucial for Democrats to hold.

Obama is running in a climate that strongly favors Democrats. Advisors say he is well-placed to expand the map of Democratic states to Colorado and Virginia, a pair of Bush states now more friendly to his party -- and might even add such GOP strongholds as Georgia.


(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; electionpresident; mccain; obama
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To: RockinRight

1. With Obama, the Dims take the rap for the coming disaster.

2. With Obama, someone in the House and Senate might at least try to oppose him when he presents his Liberal agenda.

3. With Obama, the Republicans might say, “Enough” and kick the weasles out of administrative positions.


81 posted on 06/05/2008 7:32:14 PM PDT by Ingtar (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery. - ejonesie22)
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To: Ingtar

OK all true.

But American won’t survive it.


82 posted on 06/05/2008 7:49:22 PM PDT by RockinRight (Obama '08 - Because Jimmy Carter Didn't Screw Things Up Enough)
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To: Ingtar

AmericA won’t survive it. Drop the ‘n’ in my last post.


83 posted on 06/05/2008 7:50:10 PM PDT by RockinRight (Obama '08 - Because Jimmy Carter Didn't Screw Things Up Enough)
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To: RockinRight

I think McCain has a good chance in California.


84 posted on 06/05/2008 9:18:16 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: RockinRight
I really don't see McCain taking Massholechusetts or Connecticut. He could take New Jersey if he picks off blue collar whites in the South Jersey suburbs facing Philly (white flighters won't go for Obama), Indian Americans in Central Jersey, and Hispanics in Hudson/Essex/Passaic/Union counties.

I still predict that Obama wins NJ by 4%, while Lautenberg beats Zimmer by 12%

85 posted on 06/05/2008 9:31:13 PM PDT by Clemenza (No Comment)
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To: WOSG

Totally agree with all of those points.


86 posted on 06/06/2008 5:02:52 AM PDT by NYC Republican (Infuriate the MSM---Vote McCain... John McCain- Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory...)
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To: Ingtar
1. With Obama, the Dims take the rap for the coming disaster. 2. With Obama, someone in the House and Senate might at least try to oppose him when he presents his Liberal agenda. 3. With Obama, the Republicans might say, “Enough” and kick the weasles out of administrative positions.

1. Wrong... The media will convince the public that up is down, night is day, wrong is right, and the sheeple will eat it up... the economy will be booming, as the sentiment will improve

2. Wrong... The GOP will NOT oppose H on social programs, and NOT oppose H on most economic programs, for fear of the "R" label.

3. Wrong. Same as #2.

87 posted on 06/06/2008 5:07:48 AM PDT by NYC Republican (Infuriate the MSM---Vote McCain... John McCain- Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory...)
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To: processing please hold
" [voters will] fawn over [Obama] as long as they are in front of a camera. When that curtain closes behind them it will be a different story. PC will be unheard of then."
Which will not be comfortable for us, prospectively, when McCain it down in the polls in October.
Why do you say that. Is it because the media will lie and have Mcpain losing by a mile and those who were going to vote for him just won't bother to go to the poll and vote?
That is, people who are interviewed will feel put on the spot, and not be inclined to articulate the politically incorrect reality that blacks can be racist - and, for historical reasons, typically are more so than whites are. And that Obama and his wife, and their prominent associates, are virulently so, to the extent that their church might as well be a KKK klavern in blackface. And that Michael Pfleger is a white Uncle Tom.

"Change you can believe in" actually translates to "Change that you wouldn't believe." People don't stand up publicly and say that. But intelligent adults know it, and in the privacy of the voting booth they will vote that knowledge. But because they won't say it publicly, pre-election "polls," not being secret ballots, will not reflect the extent of the white rejection of a presidential candidate whom they know in their gut that they cannot trust. Republicans nominate qualified blacks to cabinet posts. White Democrats do the same, with more prejudice against white men. Who believes that Reverend Wright would, were he the president, nominate cabinet officers based on the good of the whole people rather than on his own prejudice? What is the basis on which anyone should assume that Obama would in fact do significantly better than Reverend Wright?

The upshot will be that Obama's poll numbers, if reported accurately, will be an overestimate of his actual election day vote. And you can set your watch by that - and by the fact that the usual suspects will be saying, "No justice, no peace" after Obama loses "unexpectedly." And on that day we will all be wishing that we had a black conservative VP-elect. Unfortunately, I doubt if John McCain is far-sighted enough, and patriotic enough, to nominate such a person.


88 posted on 06/06/2008 6:06:13 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (Thomas Sowell for vice president.)
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To: Ingtar

“1. With Obama, the Dims take the rap for the coming disaster.”

The Liberal History books that blame G W Bush for every single bad thing in the early 21st century in the eyes of the Libs have already been written.

“2. With Obama, someone in the House and Senate might at least try to oppose him when he presents his Liberal agenda.”
Obama victory = more liberal Congress than if McCain wins.

“3. With Obama, the Republicans might say, “Enough” and kick the weasles out of administrative positions.”
The November election will decide the fate of the nation. Considering the party apparatus is ail wagging the dog.


89 posted on 06/06/2008 7:32:39 AM PDT by WOSG (http://no-bama.blogspot.com/ - co-bloggers wanted!)
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To: WOSG

“Obama victory = more liberal Congress than if McCain wins.”

Sorry, but if McCain has coattails, it will be for more Liberals. He is not going to help Conservatives in the House and Senate. They would oppose him on too many things.

“The Liberal History books that blame G W Bush for every single bad thing in the early 21st century in the eyes of the Libs have already been written.”

My fingerprints won’t be on the trigger. It’s not the Libs that need to have their eyes opened. That is an impossible hope achieved by one man, Reagan, and then squandered by Republicrats.

“The November election will decide the fate of the nation. Considering the party apparatus is ail wagging the dog.”

My view is that the nation is as screwed by McCain as it is by Obama. With McCain, we get the added bonus of the Party moving even further Left or ending up even worse off than it is now. You are saying I should sacrifice both country and party rather than just the country?


90 posted on 06/06/2008 7:42:43 AM PDT by Ingtar (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery. - ejonesie22)
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To: Ingtar

“My view is that the nation is as screwed by McCain as it is by Obama”

Your view is wrong. Completely. Judges, taxes, abortion, Iran, Iraq, Israel/Hamas, earmarks, handouts to leftist special interests, pork, affirmative action, sucking up to UN. All will be worse with Fauxbama. Carter-squared Plus racial grievance committees in the White House.

Wake up and smell the Mocha Marxist in the Morning, buddy.

http://no-bama.blogspot.com/


91 posted on 06/06/2008 8:04:03 AM PDT by WOSG (http://no-bama.blogspot.com/ - co-bloggers wanted!)
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To: Ingtar

“Sorry, but if McCain has coattails, it will be for more Liberals. He is not going to help Conservatives in the House and Senate. They would oppose him on too many things.”

ps. COATTAILS ...

If Obama wins Colorado, the liberal Democrat wins there too.
If McCain wins Colorado, Shaffer wins the Senate seat.

McCain will have conservative Republican coattails, Obama will have liberal Democrat coattails. How big depends on the campaigns.


92 posted on 06/06/2008 8:06:27 AM PDT by WOSG (http://no-bama.blogspot.com/ - co-bloggers wanted!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Yet another reason why I think Obama has to select a Veep that will appeal to Hispanic voters more than a Veep that will appeal to women voters. Clinton’s female supporters aren’t going anywhere - Roe v. Wade will keep them in the camp. But attracting Hispanic voters will help in New Mexico, Colorado, maybe Florida, and Nevada.


93 posted on 06/06/2008 8:10:11 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: RockinRight

McCain take Massachusetts? When pigs fly.


94 posted on 06/06/2008 8:11:41 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: WOSG

Judges - McCain will not make any more than a token effort for judges.

Taxes - McCain will allow the Bush tax cuts that he opposed on Socialist grounds to lapse, though he will try to blame someone else. His global warming scheme will raise them more.

Abortion - He has never stuck his neck out for Life. He only votes pro-life when his vote makes no difference in the outcome. If it is close, he is not there for the vote.

Iran/Iraq - the tough talk will continue until the first time his “friends” in the Senate oppose him.

Israel/Hamas - Ditto the above.

Earmarks, handouts, pork, affirmative action, and sucking up to the UN will be just as bad under McCain. How will he stop it? Where is the increase in Conservatives in the House and Senate needed to stop overrides? They will not ride in on McCain coattails - he is more likely to bring in more Liberals like himself.

We have a Marxist and two Socialists still in this. The outlook is not good.


95 posted on 06/06/2008 8:12:26 AM PDT by Ingtar (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery. - ejonesie22)
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To: Non-Sequitur

Obama is going to crumble this summer and fall...watch and see.


96 posted on 06/06/2008 8:13:41 AM PDT by RockinRight (Obama '08 - Because Jimmy Carter Didn't Screw Things Up Enough)
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To: Ingtar

Boy are you uninformed. Sad really. You could start by checking out McCain’s tax reduction proposals and positions, as you got that wrong, and go from there. The truth will set us free, my friend, and you are not speaking for the truth.

If you cant tell the difference between a guy who’s economic advisor is Phil Gramm and a guy whose pastor is the leftist nutball Rev Wright, you are truly lost!
http://no-bama.blogspot.com/ - co-bloggers wanted!


97 posted on 06/06/2008 8:39:12 AM PDT by WOSG (http://no-bama.blogspot.com/ - co-bloggers wanted!)
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To: WOSG

I’ve seen his tax reduction proposals. They clash with his cap and trade proposals. They clash with his history of giving socialist reasons for opposing the Bush tax cuts...

Also, it does not matter if he is “better than Obama.” Electing McCain ensures that I will only have choices as bad or worse in future years. At what point does one draw the line at which he will not vote for Democrats with an R after their name? For me, it is here.


98 posted on 06/06/2008 8:46:43 AM PDT by Ingtar (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery. - ejonesie22)
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To: WOSG
And what pray tell do these morons for Obama see in this recycled Cartesque inexperienced elitist extreme leftwinger?

The electorate will see a striking contrast between a cranky, non-telegenic McCain pushing a mishmash Democrat Lite agenda mixed with a smattering of highly diluted quasi conservative issues. Obama will move to the center perhaps backing off on dividend/capital gain tax hikes, and likely announcing a slate of respected moderates to fill cabinet position maybe even including a Republican or two.

At this point a stay the course in Iraq go after Iran message from McCain is not going to resonate with the American electorate. If Obama selects a running mate with strong national security credentials such as a retired Flag officer it's all over in a big way.

The debates are virutally certain to destroy McCain, hence the preemptive action to propose touchy-feely Town Hall events. Recall in the early one-on-one debates against Hillary Obama was rather effective in pushing her buttons to ellicit emotional responses while keeping his cool. McCain will be an easy mark. His next tantrum lies just beneath the surface. It won't take much, and reasonable people will not like what they see.

The die is cast for this election cycle. No good choices. Best to accept reality and prepare to begin effecting positive change in the 2010 mid-terms. So the pendulum swings.
99 posted on 06/06/2008 11:11:13 AM PDT by info_scout
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To: info_scout

I’m counting on the MSM to go so overboard with Obamania that it will create a backlash in the voting booth.


100 posted on 06/06/2008 11:16:51 AM PDT by AU72
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