McCain Camp: We've Got Obama Right Where We Want Him

Strategists for John McCain insisted late Thursday afternoon that it was Barack Obama, not the Arizona Republican, who was on the defensive when it came to the electoral map.

On a conference call for the press hours after it was announced that McCain would be pulling resources and staff from Michigan, Mike DuHaime, the campaign's political director, and Greg Strimple, its senior adviser, outlined a strategy akin to political rope-a-dope, in which their campaign had goaded Barack Obama into pouring in money into un-winnable locales.

"One of the strategic decisions our campaign has made is to let Mr. Obama spend his resources there until the point where we got closer to the election... I believe that in every one of those [swing states] they will snap back aggressively in our favor. These are states with a conservative voting constituencies where you have the most liberal member of the United States Senate running at the head of the ticket. And in my years of polling I have never seen someone with a more aggressive liberal imagery among the electorate."

Under the current map, they argued, there was a clear path for them to reach the necessary 270 Electoral College votes.

"When we look at the electoral map and we look at Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Missouri, and Indiana, all states that Republicans have been winning repeatedly in the past in presidential elections, all states where we are tied or ahead in current public polling that puts us at 206 electoral votes," said Strimple. "We are currently competing aggressively in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New Hampshire and New Mexico, where we have the combination of any of those states to get ten more electoral votes in order to be successful and have Mr. McCain the next President of the United States."

The assertions seemed, at best, cherry-picked and, at worst, ignorant of recent polling trends. Over the last week Obama has taken leads in several of the states Strimple considered McCain holds, including Ohio, Virginia, Florida and even North Carolina. In the toss-ups, the Democratic candidate is fairing even better, perhaps save Nevada.

Nevertheless, Strimple had a message to push. And in his political universe Obama's movement in the polls was not nearly enough to change the electoral dynamics.

"I am sure that Barack Obama and his campaign today are frustrated because despite the unmitigated negative campaign they have run for the last three weeks, despite the financial crisis that is facing our nation, despite their massive spending in the last ten days, they are having a tough time breaking 50. And certainly they are concerned that the same thing that happened to them in the primaries, where all the undecided voters broke against them in the end, is weighing heavily on their minds."

Later in the call, Strimple was asked if he could point to a poll where McCain had broken 50. He ignored the question.

Comments

[cmp]

Will you give me a break ! Eight states, previously red, are now leaning Obama. He has 192 electoral votes, now, with 70 votes leaning. That's 260. Sorry Sam. The Rethugs are quoting the Obama stats, not the McCains. Obama need about 10 more votes. McCain needs about 100. Go sell arithmetic to somebody else.

[nomequietbe]

No, Rebut Strats, you have Obama right where we want him; getting fitted for his inauguration suit.

[aidancian]

Observing the US election from a distance in Canada, I am saddened by what I see John McCain has allowed himself to be reduced to, a desperate, old shell of a man who will blatantly lie, cheat or steal to win political favour. I once respected McCain, but he has made a deal with the devil in order to give his campaign a faint hope of winning. He will say and do anything at this point, including the absurd selection of Palin as his VP running mate. It is difficult to watch McCain continually embarrass himself with words and actions.
Americans...you deserve better than this sad charade, and these two ridiculous candidates.

(I was so impressed with Biden at the debate. He was statesmanlike, polished and authentic!)
Obama/Biden 08

[dansup]

repub's must really, really be wishing by now that someone, anyone, else had sewn up the nomination......tell me again, how the hell did that happen anyway?

there's no fool like an old fool

[SaltySaltillo]

Is John McCain just Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movies? Their strategies are about equally devious, clever, sophisticated, and intelligent.

[milo h minderbinder]

Just today - Rasmussen national tracking poll, Obama 51, McCain 44.

I guess that "tough time" breaking 50 is over.

[MJJM]

OBAMA,

I believe you or Biden should mention the history of Tax Increses that the Republican Presidents signed into Law when they said they would not raise taxes.

Ronald Reagan said he would not raise taxes and then he did.

George Bush I said "Read my Lips, no new taxes" but he raised taxes.

George Bush II lowered taxes on wealthy people who did not ask for them and now we have the largest National credit card debt in the history of America.

And now John McCain says that he will not raise taxes!! This is a lie and you need to tell the American people!!

[fignozzle]

they do need to hit back hard on the raising taxes lies the mccain camp cannot speak without referring to.

[Snow97]

“What I tell you three times is true.” -- Lewis Carroll, THE HUNTING OF THE SNARK

There ya' go, again, John, doggone it and bless your heart. But you know, we have a sayin' --- a "sayin'" is like a "saying" but, well, cozier, John, bless your heart --- we have a sayin' down where I come from:

We say "that dog won't hunt," John.

And that's what it means. Dog? Kaput.

Now, I'm sure that you and Sarah (bless her heart too --- such a perky lil' thin') will understand this because I'm speakin' in the speak that y'all speak in when you think you're speakin' to me. But, doggone it, John, bless your heart, it surely would be nice if you stopped talkin' like you think we're stupid.

Because, I can assure you, we are not.

[dmsdzinr]

YEP! We got Obama Beating US across the board! Just where we want him! ...DOH!
Has anyone else considered that John McCain is ALREADY exhibiting signs of
DEMENTIA?!

[Shiral]

Yes. And looking at this post, it appears to have spread to his campaign. Perhaps they've caught the dread disease Alaskan Mental Frostbite. Or maybe they're chanelling George Orwell: War is Peace, Slavery is Freedom, Up is down, Black is White and Losing is actually Winning. Uh hunh. They've jumped the shark, they're down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass.

I really prefer my presidents reality based, thanks all the same, Senator McCain.

[jhw22]

They think the polls will "snap back" in their favor? This sounds like Mark Penn/Hillary Clinton's failed strategy to focus only on Super Tuesday.

Jennifer

[ccmd]

Where??? Winning??????

[bygollymissmolly]

I really do want some of what they are smoking over in the McCain camp. It must be a really good high because it puts them all into some weird fantasy world where their candidate isn't in deep trouble. They are all going to be in deep trouble on November 5 when their world, as they know it, is going to come crashing down around their ears.

[meta]

They think they're competitive in Iowa? Seriously? These guys must be absolutely freaking out. Couldn't happen to a better bunch of con men.

[IndyofDC]

In the coming weeks and days, don't be surprised to see Rev. J. Wright's "sermons" being brought up again and played every hour on the hour on Faux News.

[ccmd]

We've survived it once, we can again

[SummerNite]

I see their Rev. Wright and raise them a Witch doctor from Africa!

[grata2ude]

well Palin's minister that said the "hand of God will strike America" will be played along with the ohter minister and his witch chasing. And then there's Old Rev Hagee to be played with McCain glowing and saying on MTP he was honored to have his support.

[MikeDu]

Obama is, according to McCain, the most *liberal* member of the Senate? Hah! Nice try McWhiner, that craven lie goes up there with all your others. To the hard right anyone who doesn't have regular sexual fantasies involving their evangelical pastor is considered a 'socialist'.