Both campaign chiefs claim confidence
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Barack Obama's campaign, apparently unsatisfied with the many Republican states it's already running strong in, revealed this morning that it is launching a new push in North Dakota, Georgia, and John McCain's home state of Arizona, all of which seemed like lost causes for Obama just weeks ago.
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe told reporters today that they were encouraged by tightening polls and results from early voting, and were going up with TV ads in all three states in hopes of pulling off an upset.
"We're always looking for opportunities to expand the map, and these three states are close enough," Plouffe said. "It's enough in the realm of possibility that we want to put a little extra effort here at the end."
The only substantive change in strategy, though, is the purchase of advertising time. The campaign has been running ground operations in all three states, and Plouffe said Obama has no plans to travel to any of them in the closing days of the race.
Plouffe insisted the expansion into Arizona, North Dakota, and Georgia would not detract from the campaign's efforts to hold the states John Kerry won in 2004 and maintain its edge in a handful of traditional GOP strongholds.
"We've got an opportunity to pull one out," Plouffe said. "But it does not at all take away from the fierce urgency of trying to win" red states-turned-battlegrounds such as Colorado, Virginia, and Indiana.
Plouffe also rattled off a series of early-voting trends he said augured well for Obama. He said that as of last night in Florida, where Republicans usually top Democrats in early and absentee voting, Democrats had cast 200,000 more ballots. In Nevada, he said, 43 percent of the Democrats who have voted already are voters who have never cast general election ballots or only voted sporadically.
"This is not a case where we've thinned out all of our best supporters," he said.
The early results across the country, Plouffe asserted, are starting to fill out the picture of what the tallies will look like on the morning of Nov. 5.
"We're out of the land of theory here in a lot of these states," he said. "You're beginning to see how this election is likely to unfold."
He added, "The die is being cast as we speak."
UPDATE: McCain campaign manager Rick Davis responded by asserting confidence of his own.
"We're pretty jazzed up about what we're seeing in the movement in this election," he said in a conference call. "We are witnessing, I believe, probably one of the greatest comebacks since John McCain won the primary."
Davis cited growing enthusiasm in GOP crowds, and said the campaign has just seen its best 10 days of polling since the conventions. He said their internal numbers showed a tie in Iowa, asserting that that was why Obama was headed back to Des Moines today.
"We believe we're on a run right now," Davis said, adding that it would continue "unabated" to Election Day.
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If Obama wins convincingly hope will have won over fear, economic policy will have won over political rhetoric and the candidate with the sound economic advisers will have beaten the one with political hacks. The man with the workable ideas will have beaten the man who wants to promote the welfare of those with the wealth.
There is hope for America and we will have to sacrifice to succeed but we will have a leader who is moving in the direction we want to go. If nothing else we will have an era of good government.
I think Davis meant "on the run".
I have watched both Obama and McCain as they developed and launched strategies for winning the election. If the way these two candidates ran their campaigns is any indication of how they will govern, Obama wins by a landslide...Robert
If it wasnt for early voting, Obama would loose.
Why do newspapers keep saying the "die" is cast lately?? Don't you really mean the DYE is cast??? Betch you can't spell potato(e)????
""We're pretty jazzed up about what we're seeing in the movement in this election," he said in a conference call. "We are witnessing, I believe, probably one of the greatest comebacks since John McCain won the primary.""
Everyone else is stuck in a reality-based world where Republicans couldn't get elected dog-catcher
Divided we fall together we stand. President Obama will unify the United States and make all 50 stars shine anew with glory.
If he is elected, we will never know whether Obama was elected because of his vision for the country or the number of dollars in advertising he spent to overwhelm the elecorate. I hope someone has a manuscript for "The Purchase of The Presidency" in the works. America...we have a problem.
let me ask this question.
But who is John McCain ?
The guy was always in the shadow voting in and empowering his best friend GWBush for what has been the most greedy, destructive,chaotic, un-American un-patriotic regime ever in the history of this country.
Now John McCain wants to come out from the dead and try to make us Americans believe he is the man to run this country?
You ran it John along with your best friend George W Bush and we have seen the results we all have seen the power od destruction You along with your friends have done to this country...you are cetrtainly not the man to lead today....period
Mccain should now retire to a resting home, the ignoble Pile in to the backwater and GOP to the Deep.
You've got to admire the McCain campaign's optimism.... even if it is unfounded and not backed by any substantial support. :-P
'Political Intelligence'....now there's an oxymoron!
My favorite thing about the Obama campaign is they are giving every American a chance to repudiate Republicans all over, not just Dem strongholds, for the last 8 years of destroying America.
Young voters are fired up,good for democracy.I am disappointed by McCain's negativity,this is not President in waiting.Look at the young man &his dignity &that is what president should be, very well spoken&balanced.
"We believe we're on a run right now," Davis said. I think he meant "We're on THE run right now!" Couldn't happen to a nicer guy...
Yeah -the crowds are real big -- they keep bussing in students to fill the joints up!
McCain himself hasn't always seemed so opposed to progressive taxation. Here's what he said in a 2000 meeting with college students sponsored by the MSNBC program "Hardball," when questioned about the issue:
McCain, Oct. 12, 2000: [W]e feel, obviously, that wealthy people can afford more.
....
And I think middle-income Americans, working Americans ... all of the taxes that working Americans pay, I think they – you would think that they also deserve significant relief, in my view.
...
[H]ere's what I really believe, that when you are – reach a certain level of comfort, there's nothing wrong with paying somewhat more.
FactCheck.org:
To Rick Martin: You're wrong; the correct spelling is the "die" is cast, not dye. Look it up before you start correcting people!
50 STATE STRATEGY!
Mocked by Republicans, and many Democrats alike. How's the crow taste?
"Why do newspapers keep saying the "die" is cast lately?? Don't you really mean the DYE is cast??? Betch you can't spell potato(e)????"
Hey GENIUS. It's spelled correctly "DIE CASTING". Look it up.
The die has been cast
Meaning
An irrevocable choice has been made.
Origin
This expression has nothing to do with the modern-day process of die-casting of metal - the die here is the singular of dice. Julius Caesar is supposed to have spoken this phrase when crossing the Rubicon. Such stories are difficult to verify at this long remove and, of course, Caesar wouldn't have uttered the expression in English.
I will reluctantly vote for Obama, not because I believe any of this "change" hype but because another four years of Republican misrule is unthinkable. It is sad when the best you can say of a candidiate is that he is the lesser of two evils.
Oh well, at least we will be entertained over the next four years by watching the expressions on the faces of the Obama kool-aide drinkers turn from reverence to shock as their hero's actions (or rather inactions) demonstrate that he has feet of clay and that he's just another cynical, opportunistic political hack.
What is wrong with people "Hope is finally on the way". These people must not be christians or appreciate the freedom that they have. If you think Obama is bringing Hope then think AGAIN. I guess when you want something for nothing or you are on welfare then hope is all you have to cling to (I hope someone works hard this week so Obama can take there profits and give me some). Get off your BUTT and work for your money and be thankful for your freedom & health. If Obama gets in your freedom might be gone since he wants our Guns & to back down from the terriosts (his friends & relatives that is).
GO McCain/Palin!!!!!!!!!!
Dave,
If you saw the percentage of less than $200 contributors you would realize that neither this man of modest means nor the DNC, if Obama wins, purchased the White House. This has been an unpresidented garssroots campaign for either a Dem or Republican.
I own a business and I am suffering from nervous anticipation that these polls are correct. I gave $110 dollars to Obama's campaign and I've never given to anyone past state rep before.
You don't hype up AZ unless everything else is hitting on all cylinders. Looks like McCain is toast
If Obama does not win, there will be rioting in city streets that have large African American populations. They'd need to call in the Nat'l. Guard, ooohhhh whoops, they're in Iraq right now. Sorry ... Obama BETTER win!
Uh, Rick MARITN?
The correct expression is that the DIE is cast. You could, you know, look stuff up before you post.
The die is also being cast for the Republcan Party as hoards of once-loyal Republican voters desert it. I have personally spoken with quite a few Republicans who cannot believe what has happened to the GOP. Once a party of political moderates and fiscal conservatives, it has been hijacked by hate mongers, and neo-conservative idologues. The real danger to this country is from the right, not the left. Civil discourse and compromise are no longer tolerated.
I pray to God that the turnout on election day will be so massive and the margin of victory for Obama so large that there can be no doubt, because the if it is a close race, the Republicans will find a way to steal it just as they did in Florida in 2000 and in Ohio in 2004
Rick Martin,
die2 /daɪ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[dahy] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, plural dies for 1, 2, 4, dice for 3; verb, died, die·ing.
–noun
1. Machinery.
a. any of various devices for cutting or forming material in a press or a stamping or forging machine.
dye /daɪ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[dahy] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, dyed, dye·ing.
–noun
1. a coloring material or matter.
Rick Martin, the usage of die as in die casting is correct. As in tool & die. It is not dye. It's a tough one to explain, but it's not dyed in the wool or throwing of the die (dice). It is correct to say, "Die is being cast". And it's not as in the McCain Campaign is dying and will eventually die. Confused enough yet? Don't believe me, look it up.
Lets not forget that both of these men are to be thanked for putting everything they have into winning this election. They have subjected themselves to the weird slams by the far left and far right. They have both done this because they believe in their country and want the best for it. While I strongly support one candidate, that does not mean I think evil of the other. If you read, observe, and reflect upon what each of these men can offer our country, you will make the right decision in the voting booth.
Rick Maritn,
The term is "Die", as in the singular of Dice. You can look up the origins of that term if you don't understand.
Just to second Mr. Fanshier:
"The die is cast" refers to rolling the dice--as in, the game is on. Look up the original Latin expression "alea jacta (or iacta) est".
The phrase "the die is cast" in use today is an allusion to the phrase uttered by Julius Caesar upon crossing the Rubicon river to invade Italy. Plutarch's account of this event was documented in Greek as "Anerriphtho kubos", which translates as "Let the die be cast" or "Let the dice fly high"; kubos is the greek word for gaming dice. To use another gambling reference, Caesar was effectively saying, "we've played our hand, let the chips fall where they may".
Metal Man,
Take it easy there cowboy. If you look at the tax plan you would realize that 98% of us will do better under Obama. I own a successful company and if I get past the $250K year mark I will gladly pay the little extra to see my employees get a little more to keep in their checks.
And to MJ,
I have been struggling with the lesser of two evils since 1984 and every election since. I hate coolaid and met a lot of politicians(and hacks) and celebrities, including Obama. I can usually get a sense of who is for real or not although I'll admit it's hard in a brief conversation. This guy seems like the real deal to me. It is my instinct that it will be you that will be pleasantly surprised in a couple years and not the koolaid drinkers that will be horrified.
The correct term is die is cast. It was a phrase first used by Julius Ceasar.
The Liberal Media has run amok again!
Just look at the article and see the difference (space) in the comments provided by the campaign heads!
The Obama media campaign lives! Wish we had an election where people could clearly vote on real issues , instead of lies, racism, and all the character assasination!
Hopefully the "Silly Season will be over" on Wednesday
Alea iacta est. The die has been cast.
These words were spoken by the great J.C. (no, not that one, Julius Caesar!) at the crossing of the Rubicon. By crossing the Rubicon river with the Roman Army he began a civil war with his detractors in the senate (who wanted to take away his army after he had just defeated the Gauls).
It has a double meaning: The die is up in the air and no on knows how it is going to land. No one knows what the outcome will be. The second meaning is just as Mr. Fanshier wrote in his quote: an irrevocable choice has been made.
I've gone to Obama's and McCain's website to simply check out their health plans. McCain gives a family a $5000 deducation. Yeah, your health benefits are included as income (hence the charge by obama that McCain will tax your health benefits), but the deduction is waaaay larger than the additional tax. A family would net thousands of dollars in aditional tax deductions. Wow. Obama's website has two pdf files of his plan to download. I looked for a similarly clear dollar amount of savings. After reading 12 pages showing Obama's understand of the problem the only mention of savings for a family is a number that a family MIGHT save UP TO if an Obama administration is able to accomplish a HUGE list of things -- go and read it at his website. REALLY VAGUE. His number is $2500 ... MAYBE. Clearly, McCain has a better plan for everyone. If you don't have insurance, well let's see what you can do with a $5000 tax deduction's savings. $5000 grand right off the top line just like that! Obama's team is smart for sure... but it doesn't translate into good policy.
The truth be told AZ has been moving in Obama's directions since the bailout. McCain lost a 20 point lead in his home state. 2 polls show it too close to call so spending a little money on adds is not a bad idea.
The last 8 years of Republican rule has left a bad taste in most people mouth. I know there are the dead enders that this everything has been just great. However most of the country thinks that McBush has been a horror show that diminished this great nation.
Interesting.... those who are arguing for die being plural for dice. While it seems true does anyone have any real back up about the history of "the die is cast" besides wikipedia or google. It goes to show how stupid our culture becomes that we believe everything being read on goodle or wikipedia without any real proof that it's true. While I think it's true that the correct term is die not dye I noticed that people responded to what wikipedia and google said about it. If you don't believe me go to google and type in "die is cast" and see what you get. wikipedia will tell you and some other websites but yet there is no back up on the historical facts of the s5tatemnts