McCain's Crowd Disturbingly Small, Ten Times Less Than Planned For

Something was missing from the first of John McCain's seven campaign stops today: the crowd.

Kicking off the last day of the election in Tampa, Florida, John McCain was welcomed by a roughly 1,000 voters. Compare that to the 15,000 people that President Bush drew to a rally in Tampa on the eve of the 2004 election. "What's up with that?" wrote Adam Smith at the St. Petersburg Times.

Even Fox News had a bit of difficulty spinning the whole thing. Carl Cameron, who is following the Senator at every stop on Monday, said the crowd size was likely "a little bit disturbing" for the McCain campaign. He added that organizers had set up the venue predicting ten times the number of attendees.

"Last night in Miami Sen. McCain arrived for a midnight rally and had more than 10,000 people in Miami. Today in Tampa, for a morning event, it's a small crowd, only about 1,000. And I can tell you is it looks like it was set up with the perimeter and all for about 10 times this crowd. In addition, you'll note that there are no actual McCain signs here. This is one of the events that is put on, ostensibly paid for by the Republican Party."

Later in his segment, Cameron tried to explain the empty venue as a byproduct of volunteers being dispatched for get-out-the-vote activities. But he couldn't hide the fact that the Tampa kick-off wasn't the best start for a long day.

"They believe that their 72-hour get-out-the-vote exercise will make the difference," he said. "That is one of the reasons why the size of this crowd is a little bit disturbing for the McCain campaign."

UPDATE: Off the Bus has some other good reporting on the small crowds at McCain events.

PREVIOUSLY: McCain Camp Buses In 4,000 School Kids To Fill Crowd

Comments

[YankeeYahoo]

The same thing happened here in the Hampton Roads area. Obama's two latest visits drew crowds of 20,000 - 25,000 each time, while McCain drew only around 1,000 .... that is why I am so surprised as to how close the "count" was. Hmmmm ...

[soonerdem]

Take heart GOP,you have 2012 to look forward to.May I sugest your ticket consist of those two mental dwarfs Sarah Palin with Dan Quayle.I can't spell Dan's last name but he couldn't spell tater.Joking aside,I am happier than I ever dreamed.After 8 years of W and his cohorts.America has found it's soul again.

[kid5rivers2]

"McCain's Crowd Disturbingly Small, Ten Times Less Than Planned For" is incorrect.

The correct?
"McCain's Crowd Disturbingly Small: One-Tenth What Was Planned For"

[ayupanqui]

Many of you Americans have got it all wrong. Thousands worldwide support Obama , not because they believe that as President,he would be more likely than his opponent to kowtow to the world outside of the USA; precisely the opposite. For most of us, The United States, warts and all, represents ideals of Liberty, Freedom and Justice ,which historically have transcended party boundaries, and which are noticeably absent from the palette of the leaders of other countries competing for twenty-first century world influence .

We tried to gauge the true worth of Obama and Mccain as leaders who will exert a huge influence on a world badly in need of the baseline morality which we expect of the United States. It soon became obvious that that leadership should be entrusted to Obama; McCain''s choice of the rather sad Sarah Palin was the final straw as, desperate, he ignored the basic qualities and abilities which Vice Presidential candidates must bring to the post. So much for "Country First" ! We listened in bewilderment as McCain stated that he would lose if he continued to discuss with the American people, solutions to the huge, pressing economic problems , and we listened with incredulity as he focused instead on someone called "Joe the Plumber".

We trust the majority of the American people; we believe that your desire to return your great country to higher moral grounds will triumph over McCain 's pettiness and cynical betrayal of her great ideals.

jeffrey cobham

[sonnysj76]

What time was he making those campaign stops? If he did it way early in the morning, I kinda understand. You know, senior citizen still in bed ?

[FZliveson]

Censored again for questioning headline makers.

[MadJeffersonian]

Nobody wants to see Mr. Burns! Was Smithers (Lindsey Graham) there?

[InspiredbyObama]

Tee hee!

[devans00]

Sad Grampa indeed.

[Seldomright]

Not only was the crowd small but there was damn little enthusiasm from the people who showed up. It reminded me of the White House staff waving good-bye to Nixon as he walked to the helicopter after he resigned in 1974. Of course, compared to the campaign McCain has waged, Nixon was an honorable man.

[imsosure]

Disturbing would be the correct word if you thought he was suppose to be popular and win this race. Under the circumstances it may be respectable crowd since some people did show up. Now we only have just a few more hours an McCain can have his pity party and get back to work in the Senate assuming he has the nerve to show his face.

[forthepeople1]

How about zero crowd, with just a few pieces of paper blowing in the wind? I want him gone, back to AZ permanently, and Silly Six Pack Palin gone as well, permanently! We are sooooooooooooooooo
sick of them both!

[TXfemmom]

McCain should see the handwriting on the wall. His team was probably telling him that Obama had sent out announcements which said the event was to happen at noon.

[goodnessgracious1234]

All the folks in Miama (at midnight) were perhaps a little drunk and thought that they were going to an Obama rally. Oh c'mon, you know that's what happened.

Is McCain going to start bussing in poor helpless school kids again to fill his crowds?

[DumbDad]

It would be just like God to end the world tomorrow morning before the vote's counted

[cmdebbie]

I hate to disappoint all of you Demorats, but all of McCain's supporters have JOBS and had to be at work! That is something that a majority of your party knows nothing about!!!

I was at a Sarah Palin rally on Saturday, and can tell you that the support is there!!!!!!!!!!

[DumbDad]

if you could be one of us for just one Saturday night...

[gratonite]

Now Debbie, you know that's not true. In fact we have better jobs, we are the liberal elite after all.

[Call me Sweety]

cmdebbie...it's pretty bad that Palin draws the crowds and NOT the Presidential Candidate. You're the one who'll be disappointed Tuesday night...maybe you can look up Palin and "pal around" with her...she won't have anything to do!

[InspiredbyObama]

You're KIDDING RIGHT??? McCain's supporters are OLD racists who dragged their family and friends to these rallies..... they have no jobs, they are all retired!

[kycatfan]

cmdebbie,
What an ignorant comment--as if being a democrat means welfare and unemployment for the "majority" of our party. Do you have an education past high school?

In good ol' red state Kentucky it is the airheaded, 1-inch deep Sarah-Palin-lovin' moms who don't work. Their primary focus in life seems to be getting thir nails done, finding a good maid and driving around in Cadillac Escalades talking on cell phones. What a laugh.

gotta go--time for work. See you tonight for Obama's victory speech.