Iowa GOP Spokesman: State "Still In Play," McCain Should Not Withdraw

A spokesman for the Iowa GOP tells the Huffington Post that the state should still be in play for John McCain, despite a report that aides to the Republican nominee believe the chances for winning there are "gone."

"While Iowa, New Mexico and Colorado are still officially listed as McCain target states, two top strategists and advisers tell CNN that the situation in those states looks increasingly bleak," CNN's John King reported Monday night.

But Iowa Republican Party communications director Nathan Treloar begs to differ.
"I just think that the whole activity in the state is well beyond anything that I've seen in previous elections," Treloar told the Huffington Post. "It's a testament to the hard work the McCain camp has been putting in."

So the McCain campaign isn't withdrawing resources from the state in anticipation of an impossible climb?

"No," Treloar said. "They've in fact just recently been adding resources. More offices, adding new staff."

Asked how he would regard any decision made by the McCain camp in the next 14 days to scale back its effort in Iowa, Treloar suggested he would disagree with any such move. "I definitely think that Iowa's still in play. We have the strategy laid out across the state to put it [the McCain campaigin] over the top," he said.

That confidence may not be entirely well earned, at this point. The Pollster.com average of surveys in the state has showed a consistently significant lead for Obama in the state -- and one that has only been growing since June.

None of this fazes Treloar, however. Asked what he makes of the Obama campaign's much-ballyhooed ground game in the state, he said: "I think that they definitely have lots of staff and lots of ofices. But to me, it looks like they have splashed them in [the state] with no real idea for targeting for where the votes are."

Comments

[Shieldmaiden]

Iowa is Obama country McCain - get that through your thick skull and GTFO.

[ckol800]

I am from Iowa, and just returned from a trip to visit family. I would have never guessed that I would see so many Obama signs there. I have heard of a few people stating they will not vote for Obama because he is black. I am truly disappointed. These are lifelong democrats. I wonder how many in the poll are stating they will be voting Obama, but will not.

[BIG JOHN]

PULL OUT MCCAIN, IT WILL TEACH YOUR RUNNING MATE SOMETHING.

[Mildmannered]

I wonder what Nathan Treloar has been smoking.>

[lejman]

the way things are going, arkansas, louisiana and mississippi will be in play on november 4. maybe even arizona will wake up and realize they are surrounded by a blue new mexico, colorado, nevada and california. everyone wants to be with the winner. come on in. obama/biden is inclusive, generic america.

[Weez54]

NO WAY McCain will take Iowa. Sending Barack out of our caucuses in first place made most Iowans extremely proud. It's not every day a little state like Iowa can do something so far-reaching, and we're not about to screw it up now!

[Missmn]

Yes. The Obama campaign, who has analyzed every aspect of every county lost by Democrats in previous elections has just spashed offices through this one state with no regard to where the votes actually are. That's plausible.

[KBinIA]

Surely you jest. I just get home and see this baloney? Well, I just want everyone to know that my name is Kevin and I did NOT approve this message! Just goes to prove that the GOP in Iowa is as delusional as the GOP anywhere in the U.S.A. Don't believe this wishful thinking.

Here's a message I do approve: Iowa loves Obama!

[lisakaz2]

Does this guy know something we don't re:machine flipping or something or is this guy hopeless? Perhaps he should define "in play" -- is that under 10% down?

[HawkeyeD]

Nathan Treloar is right. The Obama campaign is not organized enough to sustain a fight against the full-bore assault of the mighty McCain machine. If McCain and Palin spend the next two weeks touring all ninety-nine counties and flood the airwaves with anti-Obama ads, they could turn the tide. This may also help prevent Democrats from getting over two-thirds of the Iowa Senate and adding ten Iowa House members to the majority. It is imperative that the McCain campaign do this, as skipping the state during caucuses gave Obama a big lead. Maybe they can get Giuliani to hit Des Moines' "gay loop" bars in drag to bring in that caucus.

The Obama campaign wouldn't be ready for that and it would be Mavericky.

[KayWrites]

LMAO! I like the way you think.

[ZsaZsa]

JMc came out against ethanol subsidies in the first debate. He has no chance in Iowa.

[KayWrites]

Right now, Obama is sitting with an over 11 point lead in Iowa, with only 5% of the vote still undecided. Even if McCain got all the undecideds (which he won't), Obama would still take Iowa.

The only real question is, what drugs is Treloar on, and where can I get some?

[TheWrayman]

ah....

Don't you know ?

The entire Iowa GOP was taken over by Snake Handling Fundies !
They were so ticked at their own long term GOP Senator Chuck Grassley that they refused to let him be part of the Iowa Delegation at the Repub. convention.

So to answer your question, their drug of choice is Jebus...

[Mango]

I am in Iowa. Wrayman's comment is the most insightful of any in the 4 pages of them. The fundy nutcases grabbed the state Republican party and McCain opposes ethanol. That's sure death for them. Treloar must own a motel or restaurant.

[repubforobama]

fantastic, posted by a republican texan for obama on salon.com:

I am sick to death of the negativity and lack of substance offered by McCain's campaign. The Ayrs [sic] "connection" is ludicrous, and the attempt to paint the "good touch, bad touch" training program for kiddoes is disgusting. Books could, and will be written about Palin's shallowness, and the arrogance that attempted to foist her on us. If these are products of the "'Straight Talk' Express" then I'd hate to see full blown Bushism.

BTW, I am a white Southerner, the descendant of a Civil War-era Tory. My family was voting Republican by 1868, if not 1864 -- way before all these Johnny-com­e-latelies­, whose ancestors were in the Klan. Regardless, I cannot stand any more hubris, incompetence, cronyism, profiteering, lies, malfeasance, mismanagement, or perversion of justice -- whether by Bush, his enablers in Congress, or their successors.

The concern I have -- greater than "God, guns, and gays" -- is going to war for a pack of lies. Bush's hands are bloodier than any abortion doctor's and he has exchanged the nation's moral high ground for a miry pit. He has perverted justice, and permitted Alberto Gonzales and Monica Goodling to pervert Justice. And I don't think Bush has the capacity to even realize that he's done anything wrong.

[speeddeeps]

My family has been democrat since the mid 1800s, i guess that was because they were Irish and the whole Tammany Hall thing

[lisakaz2]

Well stated, sir. Glad you're on O's side.

[MisterV]

ej3, Ford didn't win in '76.

[StanTheManic]

Let's go Iowa! We got this thing started -- let's finish it off!!!

I've done my part -- I voted weeks ago, the first day early voting was offered in Iowa.

I may vote again!!!

[lisakaz2]

LOL. Don't try, just see it's counted okay, otherwise we'll never hear the end from the Mc-insaniacs,

[IowaCali]

I've been counting the number of Republicans here in Iowa who have told me in the past two weeks that they're voting for Obama - so far I'm at 10. Eight of these people were screaming the virtues of McCain, conservatism, small government, etc. just a few months ago. To a person, each have finally admitted the clincher is Sarah Palin. For various reasons she does not rock their boats. I was even told today by an evangelical that he believes Obama could have run as an Independent because he appeals to conservatives and liberals. I'm trying to convince these folks to vote early, before they change their minds again! Ten people may not sound like much, but most of these people were die-hard republicans until recently. I can only hope this is representative of what's happening around the country.