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Obama May Visit Arizona, Looking to Put the Full Dem Ticket there "Over the Top"
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Arizona Swing State, Democratic Arizona, Gop Arizona, John McCain, Mccai Arizona, Mccai Robocall Arizona, Mccain AZ, Obama Arizona, Obama AZ, Obama South West, Obama Swing State, Obama West,
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PHOENIX -- Following on news that pollsters across the spectrum have declared the presidential race in John McCain's home state Arizona a dead heat, Barack Obama is sending signals he will step up efforts there, perhaps even stumping here on his weekend tour of Western swing states.
McCain has responded to the news by directing robocalls to Arizona area codes.
Over the summer, McCain enjoyed a double digit lead here. At the end of September, his lead had withered to 7 points. Early this week, a torrent of polls suggested the race is too close to call.
Until Wednesday, neither campaign had spent money in Arizona except to open offices and hire staff to man them. The only advertisements running in Arizona for either candidate have been the result of national media buys rather than targeted regional or local advertising campaigns.
Although a plethora of research has shown robocalling to be ineffective, it is cheap, and it is fast. Robocalls are usually the last resort of campaigns that are out of money and out of volunteers -- and in this case amount to yet another signal of how the McCain-Palin campaign is stumbling to the finish line. McCain can not muster sufficient volunteer staff in his home state.
The State Democratic Party Chairman told the Arizona Republic Wednesday that he has already had discussions with the Obama campaign about "pumping more money into the state to get the Democratic Party 'over the top' on Election Day."
Richard Wolfe of Newsweek said Wednesday night that Obama's senior aides are "intrigued" by the polls that show Arizona as a dead heat. The campaign, he says, is now "seriously examining a late surge" in McCain's home state,
That may include ramping up TV advertising, on-the-ground staff or even deploying the candidate to stop there. Obama is scheduled to make a Western swing late this week, making an Arizona visit possible.
Wolfe also points out that the race in Arizona is more competitive than the race in Pennsylvania, according to the polls. An Obama visit to Arizona, he says, makes more sense than a McCain visit to Pennsylvania.
Dana Bash spoke with state Republican Party leaders Thursday morning who told her that Arizona looks "a little too close for comfort."
The Arizona Republican Party has been plagued by infighting and scandals. John McCain has not been popular with much of the state party leadership, including Chairman Randy Pullen who won the battle for control of the state party by soundly defeating a candidate who was largely perceived by the rank and file as McCain's hand-picked candidate.
Democrats and Obama supporters have also been heartened by reports that Arizona Republicans may be demoralized. Republican offices in Arizona have been relatively empty and inactive. Democratic offices and the Obama headquarters in Arizona, on the other hand, are bustling with energy and enthusiasm.
Follow Dawn Teo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dawnteo
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Dawn, you are doing a great job reporting on the "pulse" of Arizona for this election. I appreciate all the information you are providing about the McCain robocalls. I live in Camp Verde, Arizona and have rec'd 3 negative calls about Senator Obama from the McCain Campaign Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
We have a friend who just became a United States Citizen this year and it was his first time to vote. My husband and I drove him to Cottonwood today so he could vote early and we could be there to help him through the process in case there was any challenge to his right to vote. The Cottonwood early voting was great with a very short line and wonderful assistance from the staff handling the voting.
Thank you again Dawn for keeping us informed.
I would love to see Obama come to AZ. We need to smack McCain where it hurts, right in his own back yard. His condescending attitude is deplorable and his politics are utterly ridiculous.
I think that is a Great Idea!
McCain needs to worry about these 8 STATES that have moved toward Obama and are within reason:
AZ, GA, KY, KS, MS, MT, SD, and WV
And these 5 states may go to Obama in a landslide election:
AK, SC, TX, AR, and LA
McCain has a good hold on only 7 states:
AL, ID, NE, OK, TN, UT, and WY
This could be 1964 all over again when a WAR LOVING ARIZONA Republican Goldwater won 52 Electoral Votes.
If McCain gets only seven states that is 44 Electoral votes and he would be below Goldwater's 52!
I think you misunderstood what I was trying to convey. For people earning $250,000 to $603,000 their taxes will only go up $12 a year, not a material difference. You would have to earn $603,000 or more to be really affected by Obama's tax plan. I don't think alot of people understand this.
CNN Money.com is where I derive this information. Here is the link.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/11/news/economy/candidates_taxproposals_tpc/
Senator Obama, I am a long time, really life long Arizona Dem, who would love to see you here in Arizona for a pre election visit. We Dem's would show you a really good time, and it is important for us to know that you know we are here and working for you. I bet if you like we could get you some court time at the UofA for some hoops if you like on election day. Consider this your invite. We love what you are doing. A
Dearest Obama:
Please, pay a visit to Arizona.
Even just for fun!
It will be too great to have it negate McCain!
About a year ago people were shedding there Bush bumper stickers in cave Creek, Arizona. I took this as a real loss of support for President Bush. Think about leaving a presidential candidates sticker on your car for three years after the election, and this was by a majority of the people.
Then, during the primaries I was supporting Ron Paul and went to a straw poll in Scottsdale. Ron Paul won around 80% of the vote. McCain came in last with around three votes. I am not exaggerating. So, McCain's support here in Arizona has been extremely soft from the beginning.
On the flip side, I know many people in Arizona that are not planning to vote for Obama for one reason... TAXES. The way I understand Obama's tax plan is that unless you earn millions; your taxes will go up a small percent if you earn more than $250,000. It would go a long way if Obama could be explain, once again, how his tax plan works. Because for most people they think Democrat = high taxes and that's the end of the thought.
As for me, I could get a bigger tax break with McCain, but I have higher priorities in this election.
So, I think Obama could make a big difference if he could come here to rally the troops and let the people of Arizona get another look.
You've got it backwards. Taxes go up OVER $250,000... and DOWN if you earn LESS than $250,000.
If you read Rendell's press conference in another article right here, he explained Obama's tax cut every clearly, that is, if you didn't listen to Obama's himself. "McCain-2008 and Palin: a double fraudulent act that even McCain-2000 would NOT approve of."
That's it Barack. Cojones the size of footballs. Take them on right there in their red states. The Repos say he doesn't have courage, but he has walked right into the belly of the beast since this all started. It has been like a direct challenge. And he has them on the run. The gutless coward liars.
gutless coward liars..... how so?
Obama increases taxes on the "middle-classes" - an outright lie and trumpeted ad nauseum by the McCain/Palin ticket.
This, and other nefarious statements are what makes them "gutless coward liars". I agree with you majorteddy, you hit the nail on the head..Trouble is, some folk see neither the nail, nor the hammer
By all means...go to Arizona Senator Obama.......how about going to Alaska too! I think you'll be well received.
'm really glad to see all these posts from Arizona. Support for Obama is encouraging the largest voter turnout I've ever seen. People are lining up out the door at the early voting locations -- and they're smiling! Having Obama come here to Republican territory in Phoenix could put him over the top in Arizona. But that's not all...
Local political races are generating a lot more interest. There are several other Republicans running for office here -- Sheriff Joe Arpiao, the self-proclaimed 'Toughest Sheriff in America', whose abuses of power are legendary; and incumbent Rep. John Shadegg, who has introduced several bills gutting our environmental protection, putting more power in Bush's hands. These guys have been in office way too long and are getting seriously challenged this year.
Having Obama come to Arizona would give a big boost to the Dems opposing these well-entrenched conservative Republicans.
In several of the local races, the Dems didn't even field a candidate. But most of the moderate Republicans lost in the primary races here, and some of them are running as Libertarians against the Republican arch-conservatives. Arizona politics have gotten very entertaining lately.
I don't call this too close to call...John McCain’s lead over Barack Obama is down to just five points in his home state of Arizona. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds the Senator leading 51% to 46%.
See Dawn Teo's Profile
Out of five polls, you picked the one that has the largest spread. Now that's cherry picking if I've ever seen it. Seriously though, five polls that are all within the margin of error, combined with unprecedented levels of turnout, an energized Democratic base, and a demoralized Republican base... Are you sure?
I must admit that I only looked at two and Rasmussen was the more favorable for McCain. I get your point. While I think the "righteous winds" appear to be at Obama's back I'm not quite convinced that the "demoralized" Republican base has rolled over and quit. We certainly do not have a candidate with the most appeal but somehow I think substance can't be ignored. I'm not thrilled by the McCain bandwagon but I simply cannot go Obama's direction due to his economic plan. It scares me a lot more than McCains and McCains makes me nervous. If Obama becomes our next President I can only hope that my current view is very wrong.
I wish OBAMA would go to ARiz. I have a lot of relatives who are knockings on doors for OBAMA IN ariz.
now. But that should tell those republicans something. Reminder them how they have ruin our country.
People loosing their homes, jobs, health, care etc. People let vote all these republicans out of office.
Obama visiting Arizona would dominate headlines for a day. You'd have pundits talking about the possibility of McCain losing his home state, which would demoralize Republicans. Obama is winning. His ad buy last night took care of 2 of the final 5 days of election news coverage (excluding election day itself). This would take care of another.
Add my vote to have him come here too. Tucson is already Obama territory so make it here in Phoenix for the second stop of the day. I'm sure he would draw such a large crowd that it would make a large difference not only in the Arizona vote but nationwide. The sight of Obama in front of thousands of cheering Arizonans would really make voters stop and think.Do It!
Know anyone from Arizona? Do they like McBush? If you want to lose an election , just pick a woman who no one has heard of! As a vp! take a poll of your friends,ask how many will vote for McSame/Palin and how many know the real score!
I do know some good, decent folks who support Senator McCain. But if Senator Obama came to Tucson, I don't know where we could put him to accommodate the crowd he'd draw
I'm from Tucson also. Yes, there are good decent people who disagree with my point of view but they remain good decent people. I liked your post. Finally, some civility.
If Barack came to Tucson the crowds would be huge! I sure hope he does.
Arizona isn't a done deal yet. McCain is not all that popular and Palin is not popular even among my Republican friends.
The VA in Arizona is very broken and John McCain has shown no interest whatsoever in getting it fixed.
On November 4th, I want to say
that that one won!!!!
Obama 08
The way things are now, Barack would get a bigger crowd in AZ. then mc pow would! -also on olberman i saw a clip of a palin rally and no one in the background was smiling! they had this sour look on their faces like what am i doing here?
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