Obama Scales Back 50-State Strategy

Time:

Barack Obama has never been particularly shy about his hope to reshape the political landscape of a country deeply divided between red and blue. To much fanfare earlier this year, his campaign launched into General Election mode pledging to make a serious play in all 50 states: the idea was scoffed at as a waste of time and money by Republicans, and lauded by many Democrats as at least a shrewd way to tie up the GOP's resources. But until recently, even as some anxious Democrats started to view the 50 state strategy as an indulgence their candidate could no longer afford, Obama seemed to have followed through -- even now he has a few paid staffers sitting in Salt Lake City, despite the fact that Utah is the most Red of Republican states. His advisers argue that the approach not only expands the playing field and aids down ballot candidates, but also helps with fundraising and adds to volunteer efforts in neighboring states more in play -- such as, in the case of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.

But now, as voter registration winds down in the next two weeks and the impact of John McCain's running mate Sarah Palin becomes clearer, the Obama campaign has apparently scaled back its outsized electoral ambitions. It is already shifting staff abandoning some states, and putting others on notice.

Read the whole story: Time

Comments

[openhand]

Pity, one trip to Alaska and he would have every news team in his hand, plus digging for stories everywhere. Simply act of solidarity would make him look like a leader of the country. Hope he goes.

[RememberTheAlamo]

Finally . . . focus

[milo h minderbinder]

It seems like it was a pretty decent strategy, now that we're down to the wire it makes sense to prioritize.

If he had only focused on "likely" states, that probably would have ignored ones like Indiana where McCain isn't campaigning, but is getting pretty close.

[nellie]

Here Obama has been in all 50 states for months, for most of 2008. And now that were, what five weeks away from the election and it's time to concentrate on the true battlegrounds, Time decides to portray the shifting of resources as some kind of failure on the part of the Obama campaign.

Too bad Time can't go the way of Lehman Brothers.

[VikingQuest]

"Obama has been in all 50 states for months"

You mean 57 states plus Hawaii and Alaska right? That is how many states Obama said we have.

[nomobull]

showing your ignorance doesn't change the facts.

[jcwtts1]

The benefit of the 50 state strategy is going to be felt not only this election but in 2010 we're going to grow the house majority and the senate majority rather than losing it which typically happens during the midterm elections. Great plan.

J

[VikingQuest]

How do you plan on growing the house and senate majority when the Democrats put leaders in place like Pelosi and Reid?

Isn't their approval rating under 10%?

[milo h minderbinder]

And yet the polls still have more people identifying themselves as democrats by a 10%+ margin, and looking like the dems will add at least a seat or two.

People don't like those two, but they seem to like the alternative even less.

[jeffp26]

We only need 270 electoral votes, and with the recent polls, nevermind the lack of cell phone polling, it looks like McCain can go bother Cindy again, and for the rest of his sorry life.

[holyhandgrenaid]

They described Real Clear Politics as a non-partisan site. Bollocks. They have a pretty Real Clear Bias towards the Rethugs. I'll admit that 538 has a Dem bias, so the way to counter those biases is to cite both websites.

[barackobama4prez]

So?

OBAMA/BIDEN 2008-2016!

Vote for our future. Vote smart.

[McChimp]

The whole point of the 50 state strategy is to get voters registered in all 50 states, and help in local elections in some red states.

With five weeks until the election, O's campaign is pulling their resources where they are really needed, it makes no sense for O staffers to have offices in die hard red states like Utah, Kentucky, or West Virginia. Send their resources in swing states like Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Nevada, Indiana, New Mexico, New Hampshire, even here in Virginia.

[JackND]

Yes. and since North Dakota already has a 100% Democratic congressional delegation, and there is no voter registration, it's wise for him to move resources elsewhere.

He's made his case here, it now remains for the voters to make their decision.I­f my state opts to be distracted by Sarah Palin, there isn't much that can be done about it.

The most disappointing thing about it is that there are many who attended O'bama's April speech at the ND Democrats convention in Grand Forks (yes, Democrats) who were led away by the Palin pick.

[McChimp]

North Dakota and its three EVs won't make or break the election, so nothing to be worried about.

I've seen polls with Obama leading in Colorado, Michigan, and Wisconsin, which is excellent news. As long as Obama carries as many red Bush states that he can, he's on a good track to winning.

[Charmed]

Wasnt' this reported on yesterday. Oh I get it, there must be a negative leaning article towards Obama just to keep things fair.