McCain Cuts Minnesota Ad Buys In Final Week

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Behind in the polls with a week to go, Republican John McCain is pulling back from the Minnesota television airwaves.

According to an Associated Press examination of Twin Cities ad records, McCain has scaled back his presence by diluting previous ad buys.

At his peak this month, the Arizona senator was spending more than a half-million dollars for a week's worth of ads on Twin Cities television. Until recently, Minnesota was one of the states where he was outspending Democrat Barack Obama on ads.

Obama is scheduled to run hundreds of commercials in the market between now and Election Day. Most independent polls have Obama with a lead in the state.

Minnesota was the site of the Republican National Convention in September.

Comments

[P3]

Can't understand why they'd have a Republican convention in Minnesota much less spend
lots of money on TV ads, I guess if a Republican or Independant can squeek by for Gov.
the sky is the limit, does anyone remember back in 1984 when Reagan won EVERY State
in the Union ..49... except Minnesota which went for Liberal native son Mondale.

[PitbullCatcher]

McCain is wasting his time on this “ SPREADING THE WEALTH” issue. Here is the reason why. In American government we ALREADY mix socialism with capitalism to get the our needs accomplished as a nation. People…socialism is not a new word for this country. It’s all about how you spin it. If you attach socialism it to a crooked nation or deceitful person it sounds bad. If you get a SOCIAL security check it sounds good.

Socialism - general term for the political and economic theory that advocates a system of collective or government ownership and management of the means of production and distribution of goods. Because of the collective nature of socialism, it is to be contrasted to the doctrine of the sanctity of private property that characterizes capitalism. Where capitalism stresses competition and profit.

HERE ARE SOME OF AMERICA’S SOCIALIST PROGRAMS THAT SPREADS THE NATION’S WEALTH AROUND.


Government Worker Programs
Civil Service Retirement Systems
Federal Employee Retirement Systems
Railroad Retirement System

Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Programs
Public Housing
Rental Vouchers & Certificates
Section 8 Housing Vouchers
Shelter Plus Care
Single Room Occupancy
Low Income Home Energy Assistance

Social Security Programs
Social Security (OASDI)
Unemployment Insurance
Temporary Disability Insurance
Medicare
Medicaid
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan

Welfare Programs
Supplemental Security Income
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Food Stamp Program
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
National School Lunch Program
School Breakfast Program
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Taxes

That 700 Billion bailout package

[Horus45]

I just got back from trying to "Vote Early", I left the polling place after being told there was a one hour wait.
This is Arizona!
The line was going way out into the parking lot.
I didn't ask anyone who they were voting for.

[bobdob]

McCain is making a huge mistake. Why only the other day, I saw two--count 'em TWO--McCain/Dingbat yard signs right here in Minneapolis. Of course, they were in someone's recycle bin, but still...

[buddydave]

I guess I can no longer say McCain's never done anything to reduce air pollution in Minnesota!

[WhiteDude]

OBAMA 400

[Horus45]

Don't jinx us!

[aaronsanders]

I think a lot of these articles however, are making some people less inclined to vote, because they feel it is less crucial for them to get out there...

http://www.votesmarter2008.com

[thestargazer]

Speaking of MN, is Backmann still behind in the polls?

I really want her to loose!

[starboymikey]

Guys, please, please do not get overconfident. Take nothing for granted. A week can be an eternity in politics and Obama's margin is continuing to erode in some polls.

Cenk Uygur of "The Young Turks" has been quoting Alec Baldwin's line from Glengarry/Glenross, the great film about salesmen in the financial industry:

"ABC. A=always, B=Be, C=Closing. Always be closing! Always be closing!"

I hope to hell Barack can close this thing out during tomorrow night's 30 minutes.

[hal2008]

Sorry, but if I were a republican, I would be dancing in the streets already.

You don't build momentum with caution.

You don't win by being reserved.

There is too much doubt down that road.

[BrianMac]

I'm not dancing in any streets until I see that Obama has won with no outstanding votes to be cast that would matter. I'm devoting my energy to volunteering instead of dancing, measuring drapes or any of that stuff. I want a mandate, not a squeaker. I want a flood of blue to come down on the Republicans.

The McCain camp wasn't reserved when it picked Palin. It was overly ambitious and threw the dice. See where that got them.

One thing about politicking: you have to build SOLID leads, not just a bunch of vapid "I kinda like Obama" sentiment. You have to build the trust and let it set like concrete and that's what Obama has been doing since early 2007 and continues to do. You then build off those solid leads and continue the expansion until it overwhelms your opponent.

What are YOU doing to help Obama deluge the Republicans? Volunteer! Go to http://www.barackobama.com/index.php and do it now.

[JustSteve]

The polls are an interesting barometer, but unless they translate into votes it doesn't matter.

So vote -- if you care about this country -- vote. And make sure your neighbor votes, and your family votes, and your workmates vote...

I actually think this move does something else -- the Coleman Franken Senate election is way tighter than anyone could have imagined, and I think that Norm's been hurt by the McCain ads. McCain getting out gives Coleman some room to run.

[BrianMac]

And volunteer! http://www.barackobama.com/index.php.

[readyfornewleadership]

It dosn't count unless you vote.


VOTE VOTE VOTE

[BrianMac]

And volunteer! Go to http://www.barackobama.com/index.php.

[ej3]

I hope the Minnesota Democrats win this one for Hubert Humphrey and Paul Wellstone.

[Athena123]

McCain, give it up. Please leave 20th century loaded terms/fear­s/paradigm­s back where it belongs - in the 20th century. Don't talk as if we are in another cold war, or as if we don't know better than to believe that you can't accomplish anything other than through a fight. We know this to be wrong!!!!! But in a way I'm glad McCain has ruined his campaign. This is a wonderful time now. It's a time of real, substantial change that comes from VISION. It's not just tinkering with the failed policies of the repubs. This is so exciting. I'm imagining what the world will look like the morning of November 5th...I know he will just be "president elect", but knowing we have Obama at the helm...somehow I think Americans will look at themselves a little differently...stand up a little straighter...just a bit more pride...world image of the united states will collapse (that being that only ridiculous, unintelligent [I'm being kind here], uneducated, and unskilled rednecks and cowboys rule this country) will disappear into the fog...instead of the silliest leader, we will have the one with the most wisdom and dignity...can we really get used to that??????

[Teri]

if he had chosen a real vice presidental candidate like tim pawlenty, the governor of minnesota, then perhaps he wouldn't be in this predicament. haha johnnie, your poor decision in chosing that woman from alaska will haunt you forever!

[wideawakenow]

I am from MN and Tim Pawlenty, while much better than Palin, is no Peach. I think you are right that his chances for winning would be much better though.

[rpd123]

I never thought that the ice-fishing capital of the US would go for Obama.

Go Gophers!!

[courageunderfire]

It was the home of three great Democrats, Walter Mondale , Hubert Humphrey and Paul Wellstone. This had been a very deep blue state until recent years.
It looks like Obama will help keep Minnesota blue!
Go Obama/Biden!!!!

[SilentShout]

Minnesota is shockingly liberal. You'd be amazed.

[KHAAANNN]

True:
We vote in amazingly liberal numbers (85% participation).
We react to disasters with amazingly liberal speed (35W bridge rebuilt in 13 months.)
We graduate our children from High School with amazingly liberal percentages (82%)
We incarcerate our citizens at an amazingly liberal low rate (2%) (see above)
We have an amazingly liberal standard of living and an amazingly liberal attitude towards other people (Minnesota Nice.)
You should move here and try it (oh, the weather can be kind of rough, so no wimps allowed.)

[JustSteve]

And every place I go in Minnesota I'm stunned how many Obama/Biden yard signs I see -- even in the northern rural, hunting-fishing territory.

[pokemon]

One step closer, yet so many away. I wonder if the Neo-Cons can still steal this election for McCain?

[JRsNana]

They are sure going to try to steal it pokemon. Numbers - great big numbers - should overwhelm their malicious intentions though. So far, all across the country, in early voting, people are saying that they hit the button for a Dem and it immediately switched to Rep. Never the other way around. Interesting no?
GO VOTE!! No complacency. This thing isn't over by a long shot!

[JoeLib]

I think the Obama polling numbers in most states are too large to be undone with some covert GOP cheatificationing. (it's a word!) ;-)

My concern is the tighter down ballot races, such as Coleman v Franken. That's where the GOP can play around just enough to keep d-bags like Coleman and Michelle Bachmann in office.

So, go VOTE!!!

[tables7]

I'm in the sixth, and if 2 months of voter contact through doorknocking means anything. Bachmann is on her way out.