McCain Pulling Out Of Michigan

The Politico reports that John McCain's electoral map is getting smaller:

John McCain is pulling out of Michigan, according to two Republicans, a stunning move a month away from Election Day that indicates the difficulty Republicans are having in finding blue states to put in play.

McCain will go off TV in Michigan, stop dropping mail there and send most of his staff to more competitive states, including Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida. Wisconsin went for Kerry in 2004, Ohio and Florida for Bush.

Marc Ambinder adds:

A McCain adviser confirmed the news but noted that the Republican National Committee's independent expenditure arm is still running ads there, and that McCain will keep most of his staff in-state. McCain officials and Michigan Republican Party officials declined to comment. Weirdly, McCain's staff scheduled a surrogate conference call with Mitt Romney for this afternoon, perhaps assuming that their shift in advertising would not be noticed or reported. The McCain move was disclosed one day after auto manufacturers based in the state reported record revenue declines. Previously, McCain has argued that Obama's intention to raise taxes on the rich would further deepen Michigan's worst-in-the-nation recession.

The move away from Michigan reflects the abandonment of any pretense that McCain can spend freely to expand the map for Republicans this year, and it's a sign that the campaign recognizes how the past two weeks have erased nearly all of McCain's gains since August. Instead, McCain's playing defense in states like Florida, Virginia and North Carolina, although his advisers do not consider the latter state as close as public polling suggests.

The AP says that the RNC ads up in Michigan are not expected to continue either.

McCain's campaign discussed the move today, saying that the candidate now needs to win Pennsylvania, Wisconsin or Minnesota.

"We felt like being able to play in Michigan up to this point was an offensive move," a McCain aide said. "As we close down into Election Day, our map is going to become more targeted."

Recent polls have shown Obama opening up significant leads in every battleground state, a stunning shift.

Comments

[omac112211]

Get out .. and stay out!

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

lmao!!

[seachild]

HERE'S IRONY: MCCAIN PULLS OUT OF MICHIGAN; PALIN'S FAVOURITE MOVIE IS 'HOOSIERS'...(SHE TOLD KATIE COURIC!)

[KNadine]

John-John, Why stop at Michigan? Just pull out of the whole race.

[PioneerKing]

DID McCAIN EVER "UN-SUSPEND" HIS CAMPAIGN?

[anniegirl9]

As a Michigander, it will be breath of fresh air not to have to watch the McCain ads much longer. But I caution anyone at the grassroots level of the Obama campaign to lighten their load. There is still enough time between now and the election for a shift. Plus, we want to keep reminding people to get out there and vote. If people think it's in the bag, they may not bother.

I just saw Obama in Grand Rapids, and he is even more electrifying in person. I have my list of names to call and will be out on Saturday going door to door, just as I have for the past month now. If you are invlolved, keep it up. If you are not, get out there and lend a hand. Someday you will be able to tell your children you were a part of history!

[lobear00]

So we have the "Great Maverick" Mcgruff" cutting and running, The so-called "hero" from the "Crooked talk express bus, he can never tell the truth about anything. "Cut and Run.

[Ohg]

McCain is pulling out of the home of the original Joe Six Pack. ...................
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/03/respecting-joe-six-pack/

[EuroAmerican]

This is a decisive moment.

McCain on the retreat will send a message across the border to Ohio.

And there will be a domino effect with too many fires to put out.

And Palin just won't help. It was the biggest mistake of McCain to pick her.

"Darn" and "Heck" won't put any food on the table.

[CindyKay]

Yup Yup......................You Betcha !

[Plank]

Deeetroit Basketball

[mjfoto]

An old saying...When GM sneezes the country catches a cold! It appears as though Drs. Mc Cain & Palin have abandoned Michigan and some of the contributing factors to our sick ecomony. If they have given up on Michigan, how when can they treat the ills of our country?

[Sarrasin]

Hey Senator McCain, I hate to be the one to tell you, but you can't convince the public "Obama's on the defense" by yelling it over your shoulder as you FLEE THE BATTLE FOR MICHIGAN.

[seabass]

johnny cut and run...white flag of surrender you irresponsible gambling fool. take yoruself and yoru nasty unfit campaign and go hide out in sedona or any of your homes...just go...you are stinking up america and your choice for VP totally off the charts, charlie..winking and shout outs...not folksy just plain awful. can anyone in the party pronounce words in english and complete sentences ?????

[jdw1981]

McCain/Palin are white-flag waving Surrender Monkeys.

[POTUS2008]

michigan is a key state by most considerations and some say the key to the ellection, i find it actualy amazing that he is cut and running from a key battleground state.

[mjtaylor22]

PLS NOTE ADS ARE PAID FOR IN ADVANCE AND SCHEDULED WAY BEFORE WE SEE THEM, SOMETIMES IT IS A WEEK SOMETIMES IT IS A MONTH OUT, AND ALOT OF TIMES RECENTLY THE MCCAIN CAMP DELIVERED INTERNET VIDEO ADS TO THE NEWS STATIONS DIRECTLY IN AN EFFORT TO GET FREE AIR PLAY, WHICH THEY DID SO WELL EARLY ON. WITH THEIR MUSLINGING, GARBAGE CAN POLITICS.
A PRIME EXAMPLE IS MCCAINS AD CLAIMING VICTORY AND LEADERSHIP FOR THE BAILOUT BEFORE IT WAS VOTED ON IN THE HOUSE AND FAILED, THEN THE AD BY THE RNC BLAMING OBAMA FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE BAILOUT THAT FAILED IN THE HOUSE.....
THEN THE AD SAYING ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER BEFORE THE AD SAYING HE BLAMED SOMEONE ELSE FOR NOT WORKING TOGETHER (OK THAT LAST ONE IS NOT 100% CORRECT BUT YOU GE THE PICTURE)

[DaOne]

Great news...he's in free fall like his five jets.