Why McCain's insane move might have already cost him the election: Early Voting

[Barack_America]

Here are some states that are CURRENTLY voting:
Georgia
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
South Dakota
Virginia


Here are some states that will begin voting NEXT WEEK (or early the following week):
Arizona
Indiana
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
Ohio
Vermont

States that won't be far behind: California, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, Florida

Great resource: http://www.earlyvoting.net/states/abslaws.php

Bolded are this year's crucial swing states, which (with the exceptions of Minnesota and Wisconsin) are red states threatening to turn blue. There is a noticeable lack of swing states that went blue in 2004 (i.e. MI, PA, NH).

So, did the McCain campaign pull this "suspension" stunt to get more early votes in before the debates occur (particularly the VP debate)? The fact that they're particularly anxious to push the VP debate back makes me think the answer to that question is "yes".

But will it work? And has the negative media coverage of the stunt already cost him dearly in states like Virginia and Iowa? And if McCain cancels tomorrow's debate, what will the follow-out be in states soon to vote, particularly Indiana and Ohio?

My personal analysis: McCain just threw away this election. All Obama has to do is hold and insist that the Vice-Presidential debate happens Oct. 2, or earlier (even if it means the VP's are the first to debate). That could be all it takes to provide the necessary majority in VA, IN, OH and MN. And that, folks, is checkmate.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I like your reasoning!

Looks very sound to me...

[Barack_America]

2. Thanks!

I can't imagine there wouldn't be some sort of backlash in the states that are voting and will begin voting next week. They must think that Palin is REALLY unprepared to pull this kind of stunt.

[Barack_America]

3. Kicking now that there's a bailout agreement and McCain's stunt officially backfired.

Was it worth it, Johnny?

:rofl:

[zonkers]

4. How does it backfire -- early voting commences w/ no Pres. debate which

would just do in McCain in my opinion.

[Barack_America]

10. I'm sorry, but I don't follow.

Given the agreement on the Bailout proposal, the debate will almost certainly take place.

So yeah, McCain's trying to postpone the VP debate using the bailout as cover has certainly backfired.

[zonkers]

11. But isn't it the Pres. debate (tomm.) that is being postponed?

[nsd]

5. Colorado should be in bold. It's likely to turn from red to blue. /nt

[rvablue]

6. LISTEN UP! THERE IS NO EARLY VOTING IN VIRGINIA!

I guess this is going to become my pet cause on DU.

I just finished posting on a thread above that I am getting seriously pissed that folks here keep saying there is EARLY VOTING in Virginia.

Now, one can at this point vote in Virginia. But it is an absentee vote. Meaning that you have to fill out an absentee ballot application, which entails meeting the threshold requirements, such as not being in town on election day. Once approved, you can cast a ballot.

Now some of you might say that I'm splitting hairs here. I am not. It is dangerous for us to spread the misinformation that there is "early voting" in VA, when in actuality it is "voting absentee."

Here's why: Early voting means that weeks before an election, there are either polling places that you walk into, get your name checked off from the rolls and just like Election Day, you go into a booth and vote. Other state(s), allow EVERYONE to vote by mail, which entails sending in your ballot anytime within a few weeks of election day -- there is no approval process.

Early voting is an ONGOING PROCESS and requires nothing but normal voter registration.

In VA, there is only ABSENTEE VOTING.

You must meet special requirements. If people get the idea there is "early voting" in VA it could lead to some votes not being counted, people missing there chance to vote.

Jeez Louise. I really need to copy this post and hang on to it as it doesn't seem to be heard.

THERE IS NO EARLY VOTING IN VA. CONTINUING TO SAY SO ERRONEOUS AND WRONG!

[rvablue]

7. LISTEN UP! THERE IS NO EARLY VOTING IN VIRGINIA!

I guess this is going to become my pet cause on DU.

I just finished posting on a thread above that I am getting seriously pissed that folks here keep saying there is EARLY VOTING in Virginia.

Now, one can at this point vote in Virginia. But it is an absentee vote. Meaning that you have to fill out an absentee ballot application, which entails meeting the threshold requirements, such as not being in town on election day. Once approved, you can cast a ballot.

Now some of you might say that I'm splitting hairs here. I am not. It is dangerous for us to spread the misinformation that there is "early voting" in VA, when in actuality it is "voting absentee."

Here's why: Early voting means that weeks before an election, there are either polling places that you walk into, get your name checked off from the rolls and just like Election Day, you go into a booth and vote. Other state(s), allow EVERYONE to vote by mail, which entails sending in your ballot anytime within a few weeks of election day -- there is no approval process.

Early voting is an ONGOING PROCESS and requires nothing but normal voter registration.

In VA, there is only ABSENTEE VOTING.

You must meet special requirements. If people get the idea there is "early voting" in VA it could lead to some votes not being counted, people missing there chance to vote.

Jeez Louise. I really need to copy this post and hang on to it as it doesn't seem to be heard.

THERE IS NO EARLY VOTING IN VA. CONTINUING TO SAY SO ERRONEOUS AND WRONG!

[Barack_America]

8. Um, okay. Thanks for posting that twice. The link I posted has the relevant information...

Regarding voting in Virginia. Everyone is free to look at that for themselves.

Whether it is true "early voting" or not, the media is reporting it that way so Virginians will be going to cast their ballots, whatever those ballots may be.

http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/news/headlines/29479889.html

[musicblind]

9. Thank you for that information! :)