"GOP cuts advertising" "MCCain Campaign pulls out of _____" Have they ceded this election?

[davsand]

We have been seeing articles about the GOP and its various arms cutting spending on this or that race and pulling McCain's campaign out of this or that state. Is this a case where the GOP national party has recognized a looming debacle (internal polls look pretty bad, maybe?) and they are giving up the election cycle or is this a case where they have less money to spend because the rank and file are sitting this one out?



Discuss!



Laura

[endarkenment]

1. They are running out of money. Donate. nt.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

6. Agreed. Obama's budget advantage over McCain was 3 to 1 on Oct 1st, and, according to LINK

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/10/obama_has_more.html , was growing at $5 million a day!

"Obama has more money to spend

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 21, 2008 09:49 AM

Democrat Barack Obama's advantage in campaign cash for the stretch run became even clearer this morning when he filed his monthly report with the Federal Election Commission. After spending $87.5 million in September, his campaign still began October with $133.6 million in the bank, thanks to his record-smashing $150 million haul during the month.

Republican rival John McCain spent $37 million last month, leaving him only $47 million in public money available through Election Day. McCain is accepting public financing, which gives him $84.1 million for the general election campaign, but also caps his spending at that amount.

An edge for the Republican National Committee over its Democratic counterpart is narrowing the gap somewhat -- the RNC reported $77 million on hand as of Sept. 30, compared to $27.4 million for the DNC -- but Obama still has far more money to plow into ads, get-out-the-vote efforts, and other initiatives in the final two weeks."

[davsand]

7. I think a lot of Republican stalwarts are sitting this one out.

I'm starting to wonder WHY the funds are drying up SO bad. I know several local Republicans who have told me they won't even have a McPalin sign, let alone give any money to the campaign. Literally, I saw the first McPalin bumper sticker yesterday on the highway! I about drove off into the median because I have NOT seen one before now.

Is this a national thing? You have to wonder about it and now I'm wondering if it is gonna help the Dems in our Congressional races if those same stalwarts just stay home on election day...



Laura

[ProgressiveEconomist]

8. As of Sept 1st, it was TOO LATE to contribute to the McCain campaign directly,

because McCain accepted public financing and thus subjected himself to a limit of $84.1 million in public funds, unsupplemented by private money, for the final two months.

Rs still can contribute to the RNC and to 527s, but that money cannot be used to fund the final-week GOTV groundgame. IMO most of the money McCain has left from the $47 million he had Oct 1st probably has been allocated to last-minute GOTV efforts in every state where the campaign still has offices.

[ACTION BASTARD]

10. I've seen 1 in the Italian side of my town...

On the ass of some big SUV (of course). I giggle whenever I think of it. So lonely.

[HeraldSquare212]

2. They are retreating to the bunker.

[Higher Standard]

3. They are focusing on down-ticket candidates

They see the writing on the wall where the presidency is concerned and they don't want McSame/Failin dragging down their congressional candidates, as well.

[davsand]

5. I wondered about that too--but I'm seeing them back off Congressional races too.

You'd THINK that if they know the top end of the ticket is gonna go down in flames they'd want to be focusing on the legislative races to try and hang on to some kind of control--but I'm not seeing it. Here in Illinois we have been focused mainly on local and legislative races because Obama is "ours"--this IS his turf. I have not seen that the IL GOP, however, and now I'm seeing that same thing nationally.

I'm wondering WHY? This is kinda like the old cowboy movies where they are standing in camp and one guy says, "Sure is quiet out here," and the other guy says, "Yep, it is quiet. TOO quiet!" And about that time a hoard of screaming extras ride in on horses...



Laura

[Lifelong Protester]

4. They appear (McSame and Pallin Around) to be going through

the motions only, but they know the gig is up, at least HE does~ not to sure about her. The party or whomever made a serious (and as TDS's Jon Stewart says "gift from Heaven")mistake with Palin. That p-oed the 'intellectuals' that Bay Buchanan disses.

Probably looking at down-ticket races that might be salvagable, but I think that is a lost cause also. The coattails are going to be BIG in this election.

[DainBramaged]

9. It's this simple

[davsand]

11. Go Big Ten!

:evilgrin:

Am I allowed to say that as a U of Illinois Alum?

The big thing we face is that we have GOT to stay motivated in the legislative races in spite of happy polling numbers like those. If Obama is to accomplish all he wants to, we need to deliver up a Congress that is willing and able to work with him.



Laura