McCain opposes farm policies popular in Midwest

[highplainsdem]

http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/politics/article/mccain_opposes_farm_policies_popular_in_midwest/15315/

By MIKE GLOVER
Associated Press Writer
Published: August 6, 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa - Republican presidential candidate John McCain opposes the $300 billion farm bill and subsidies for ethanol, positions that both supporters and opponents say might cost him votes he needs in Ohio and other Midwestern states this November.

His Democratic rival, Barack Obama, is making a more traditional regional pitch: He favors the farm bill approved by Congress this year and subsidies for the Midwest-based ethanol industry. McCain instead has promised to open new markets abroad for farmers to export their commodities.

-snip-

It’s not a stand that pleases Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa.

“I would not advise him to take that position,” Grassley said. “For sure, he can’t lose Missouri and that’s in the upper Midwest. Could he lose Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin and still be elected president? Yes, but I wouldn’t advise him to have that strategy.”

-snip-

“I don’t see any scenario in which McCain can get to the White House without carrying some upper Midwestern states,” said Harkin, an Obama backer. “I’ve never really understood in all my years why Sen. McCain has gone out of his way to speak against and vote against policies that are important to the upper Midwest.”

-snip-

More at the link.

[Alter Ego]

1. Well, I have news for Senator Grassley.

McCain IS going to lose Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Iowa is safe blue this year--more so than it has been in a long time. Minnesota hasn't gone red since Nixon. And Wisconsin?

Not happening.

Yeah, McCain will lose all three.

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. Good that it might cost McCain votes, but ethanol subsidies are still a crock.

It takes more energy to turn corn into ethanol than you get back from burning the ethanol as a fuel. Considering that the energy inputs for corn farming depend heavily on fossil fuels, corn-based ethanol is not a sound part of a serious long-term energy strategy.