McCain Can't Afford Bush's Ground Game

Washington Post:

Sen. John McCain and the Republican National Committee will unleash a barrage of spending on television advertising that will allow him to keep pace with Sen. Barack Obama's ad blitz during the campaign's final days, but the expenditures will impact McCain's get-out-the-vote efforts, according to Republican strategists.

...

The vaunted, 72-hour plan that President Bush used to mobilize voters in 2000 and 2004 has been scaled back for McCain. He has spent half as much as Obama on staffing and has opened far fewer field offices. This week, a number of veteran GOP operatives who orchestrate door-to-door efforts to get voters to the polls were told they should not expect to receive plane tickets, rental cars or hotel rooms from the campaign.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[NationalTreasure]

McCain/Palin and the republicans have spent so much money on their nasty campaign ads, mailers and robo calls that they did not prioitize and now are trying to penny pinch an play catch up on the fly

Palin and her family are still walking around in clothes that have cost a tremendous amount of money; money that should have gone to help pay for the ground game.

McCain has spent a fortune feeding and paying the lame political advisors who suggested McCain select Palin as his running mate which has proven to be a waste of money.

All around McCain has allowed his campaign to be run like a middle school student body campaign.

[honestpolitician]

no money huh? You should held back on Palin's shoes...

LISTEN ALL: Please Go Vote! There has been confirmed reports of voting fraud with the Republican Party and it's supporters. Obama is need of all the votes necessary to create a landslide. Let's make sure that our state turns blue! Voting is a right and a privilege. Let's all make history together! Wouldn't it be great to tell your kids/grandkids that you contributed to history?

LATEST ELECTION TV ADS : http://politicaladattacks.blogspot.com/

[Sassys]

Oooooh those penny pinching bastahds!! If they actually manage to pull off this election it will be because they cheated...­they are out spent, and out smarted!

[AlindaFaye2000]

When Bush raised almost $400 million 4 years ago, nobody on the Republican side was crying the blues then. All I have to say is that Bush messed over McCain when he ran against him in 2000 and he messed over him again in the way the country is in such a mess. That is why he is having a hard time. As far as his latest argument about a one-party government, that is what got us in the mess. We've had a one-party government since the first W term up until 2007. Young people, this country needs YOU to go out and vote. It is your future. If you can stand in line for hours to get the newest electronic toy or lay out on the side walk for the latest horror film (or whatever movie), you can stand in line for you future.

[NotMcCain]

More lies.

On the front page of Huffpo, there is this:

"For his part, McCain political director Mike Duhaime said the campaign's ground game was crushing the Bush-Cheney's respected 2004 effort -- making 5.3 million calls and door-knocks in the past week alone, compared to 1.9 million over the same span of time in 2004."


They lie and lie. And then take a rest and come back to lie some more.

[Jules1]

How many bus loads of studants does he need to watch his ads?

[bluecatz]

We just sent another bit of money to Obama ..... he may not REALLY need it, but, in for a penny, in for a pound.
Our future is at stake.

[cyndeewi]

I have got to make another donation to Obama. I want him to have all he needs.

[LiberTLover]

I don't believe them. Last week the RNC was boasting that they had $300 million to spend. I think they are trying to get the Dems to relax and thinking they don't have to push as hard to keep voter turnout down. They lie and cannot be trusted. Don't let our guards down now!!!

[Bocado]

That's exactly it.
Just like anything Rove says in favor of Obama, anything to get people to rest on their laurels.

DO NOT fall for it people.

I got a nephew in Florida with his friends giving out drinks to people in the long Florida line-ups.
He's only 17, but his 2 older brothers are voting for Obama and told him to bring some drinks since they were waiting for an hour.
Sure enough, he had the thought of doing it for everyone else.
Brilliant if you ask me, plus he's inspired by Obama quite a bit, being helpful to people and what not.

Amazing what few politicians can do.

[blueshield]

Bottom of the ninth, Mc.Cain campaign tries text messaging to get out the vote:

"Hello? Can you hear me now?"

[ProgressiveThought]

Fired up!

[iPolitics]

Breaking

McCain to suspend campaign to deal with ground game issue

[ProgressiveThought]

LMAO

[rollingdivision]

Buying the election is now a good thing? It won't be much later than December before the one's campaign finance felonies start coming to light.

[teron678]

voters donating money to a campaign is buying an election .........?­???

[zuffaloo]

Yep - WE the PEOPLE are buying this election!!!

[trollsbwild]

Smell defeat, much?

[nacilbuper]

waaaaaaaaaah!

[1Obamafan]

As S.I. Hayakawa said of formerly Mexican lands, "We stole it fair and square".

[lesterbud]

Brilliant Observation rollingdivision!

Obama certainly bought this election through "finance felonies" based on an average donation of $88.00! A number approaching 2 million individual donors have contributed to the candidate that has stayed constantly focused on hope, unity and the future well being of this country - including you!
Meanwhile, Senator Coleman (R) is soon to be indicted for receiving an illegal $75,000 donation from the same group that donated to MkKKlan's campaign (and GOP General fund).
It is far more likely that he or his sidekick, already determined to have violated ethics rules in Alaska and potentially under federal indictment soon, will have this axe fall directly on them.
I suppose you will see that as a socialist vendetta, even though Old John admitted that he knows Obama is not a Socialist.

[rollingdivision]

Wait and see. The big money, the rich are supporting Obama.

[cactusgal]

McCain reminds me of Vista. Took years to develop, spent time in a box, and still doesn't work right.

[ljc]

Ouch! But accurate.

[iPolitics]

Was the Obama infomercial worth the millions the campaign spent on it? It looks like it. Almost 34 million people watched the 30-minute advertisement. In fact, as the Times reported, that total easily surpassed the audience for the final game of the World Series and last season’s finale of American Idol. Also, the networks that ran the advertisement beat the one that didn’t. Nearly 10 million people tuned into NBC to watch the ad; 8.6 million saw it on CBS; 7.1 million watched it on FOX; and the rest watched the infomercial on cable.

[zuffaloo]

I know - funny too, the networks got millions for airing the ad, AND they got a huge ratings boost from it at the same time. Almost like getting to air the superbowl for free.