Rick Davis Vs. Rick Davis on Virginia
The McCain campaign has posted an on-line "strategy briefing," in which campaign manager Rick Davis uses a series of charts and maps to paint a rosy picture of the G.O.P. candidate's fall prospects.
About five minutes into the slideshow, Davis turns to the electoral map and highlights what are matter-of-factly labeled the "solidly Republican states."
"Today," Davis says, "we start with 17 states that are historically Republican states. They represent about 153 electoral votes." Then Davis highlights 24 states that, he claims, will make up the fall battleground.
The problem? One of Davis' "solidly Republican" states is Virginia. While it's true that the Old Dominion hasn't sided with a Democratic candidate since L.B.J., Obama – who launched his post-primary campaign in the state last week – is set to make a concerted push there this fall, and polls already show an even race.
As I've written before, Virginia, given its recent electoral history and the continuing growth of its population in the more moderate and liberal suburbs and exurbs around Washington, represents the future for national Democrats. Perhaps McCain will end up carrying it this fall, but it is not a "solidly Republican" state – and should not be considered part of McCain's ironclad electoral base.
But don't take my word for it. Here's what Rick Davis – the same McCain campaign manager whose slideshow treats Virginia like a foregone conclusion – told the Washington Post about Virginia (as repeated in Newsweek): "I think it is a battleground state. I know they are targeting it, and we are certainly targeting it."
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 50.0
- 42.2
- Obama +7.8
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 55.9
- 36.7
- +19.2
- McCain
- 49.6
- 41.7
- +7.9
Oh, for crying out loud. This is news? What candidate or campaign manager ISN'T going to describe any given state as a tough contest if he's asked. What did you expect Davis to say? "Yeah, Virginia's a gimme... no sweat. We're taking it for granted."
MC-CAIN’S EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE
Considering his:
• Sacrifice of American Wealth and Blood for the Sole Benefit of Israel
• Amnesty for Illegal Mexicans Aliens Usurping Jobs and Services
• Outsourcing of Jobs and Technology to China
• Early Release from Captivity for Military Secrets
• McCain-Feingold Legislation Suppressing Freedom of Speech
• McCain-Leiberman Control Gun Legislation
• Slander and Ridicule of Huckabee, Romney, and Ron Paul
• Roberts and Falwell, “agents of intolerance”
• Roe vs. Wade Sacrificial Killing of Children
• To “occupy Iraq for 100 years”, “bomb Iran”, and “just keep Afghanistan”.
• Veto of Bush Tax Cuts
• Keating Five Crooks
• Unsolved Recession and Inflation Problem
• Unsolved Heath Care Problem
• Unsolved Social Security Problem
• Long Scandalous, Contentious, and Non-Productive Political Career
Can such an incompetent and dishonest politician; and such a pretentious Christian and patriot, insanely dishonoring Christian culture and Constitution rule, ever be trusted to cherish and honor the American People?
With Leiberman Neo-Liberal Princess Hillary burnt at the stake by the victorious Kennedy Liberals, shall the Reagan Conservatives give this notorious Podhoretz Neo-Conservative puppet, Insane McCain, a date with presidency, or a date with the Republican firing squad?
Google: Mearsheimer Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy; Stricherz “Why the Democrats are Blue”; Wall Street Journal “McCain-Feingold”; “Keating Five Fraud”; Human Events “Ron Paul Interview”; Who Would the World Elect; McClelland "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception”; and Jack Abramoff Israel McCain.