All Blog Posts from Horserace
McCain Launches "Freedom" As Part Of Closing Argument
John McCain's campaign has released a new ad, called "Freedom," as part of the closing stages of his campaign. The ad features McCain speaking over footage of him as a POW and campaigning, saying: "I've served my country since I was 17 years old, and spent five years longing for her shores. I came home dedicated to a cause greater than my own. We can grow our economy. We will cut government waste. Don't hope for a stronger America. Vote for one. Join me." The ad will air in key states. Watch it:
McCain Camp Looking For Treats, Not Tricks
Senior advisers for John McCain's campaign and the Republican National Committee briefed reporters on the state of the race earlier today, with campaign manager Rick Davis proclaiming his candidate in the midst of "one of the greatest comebacks that you've seen since John McCain won the primary."
Political director Mike DuHaime laid out the campaign's efforts in targeting voters over the past several days, saying that the joint effort with the RNC has given the campaign a "data and technology edge" that has allowed for intense micro-targeting and voter identification. DuHaime said the effort has far outpaced that of the Bush campaign in 2004. "In the past week, past seven days, we've made over 5.3 million targeted calls and door knocks," he said according to a transcript of the call released by the campaign. "These are the people we believe are either going to vote for McCain and need the push to get out or are people who are persuadable voters that we think are still sitting on the fence that we need to personally touch. We did 1.3 million phone calls and door knocks yesterday alone."
Davis also predicted that the McCain campaign will have outspent Barack Obama's in TV advertising over the last ten days of the campaign when all is said and done and insisted that many voters remain in the class of late-breakers. And, on the subject of running mate Sarah Palin, Davis launched a strong defense. "Governor Palin's crowds are huge," he said, noting that her event last night drew 20,000 people while Joe Biden drew just 800 in the same vicinity. "So, all the talk that we see on television and the newspapers about what a drag Governor Palin is on our ticket can't be further from the truth. She's electrifying crowds all across the battleground states, and we really appreciate the hard work she's putting in."
Political director Mike DuHaime laid out the campaign's efforts in targeting voters over the past several days, saying that the joint effort with the RNC has given the campaign a "data and technology edge" that has allowed for intense micro-targeting and voter identification. DuHaime said the effort has far outpaced that of the Bush campaign in 2004. "In the past week, past seven days, we've made over 5.3 million targeted calls and door knocks," he said according to a transcript of the call released by the campaign. "These are the people we believe are either going to vote for McCain and need the push to get out or are people who are persuadable voters that we think are still sitting on the fence that we need to personally touch. We did 1.3 million phone calls and door knocks yesterday alone."
Davis also predicted that the McCain campaign will have outspent Barack Obama's in TV advertising over the last ten days of the campaign when all is said and done and insisted that many voters remain in the class of late-breakers. And, on the subject of running mate Sarah Palin, Davis launched a strong defense. "Governor Palin's crowds are huge," he said, noting that her event last night drew 20,000 people while Joe Biden drew just 800 in the same vicinity. "So, all the talk that we see on television and the newspapers about what a drag Governor Palin is on our ticket can't be further from the truth. She's electrifying crowds all across the battleground states, and we really appreciate the hard work she's putting in."
McCain Takes His "SNL" Turn
Just weeks after his running mate appeared on "Saturday Night Live" alongside her mimic Tina Fey, John McCain will appear on the last regular pre-election episode of the show tomorrow night. No word on what part McCain would have on the program but he's no stranger to the set, having last appeared on the show in May. McCain also hosted it in 2002.
Obama To Advertise In McCain's Home State
On a conference call this morning, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe told reporters that his campaign is expanding advertising into three states in which few expected the Democratic nominee to be competitive: North Dakota, Georgia, and John McCain's home state of Arizona.
McCain has represented Arizona in Congress for 26 years, but recent polls have shown Obama trailing by just the low single digits in the state.
Pressed on why the campaign was advertising in the three states when other battleground states remain tight, Plouffe said the polls were close enough to justify the effort.
"We're just going to give it a go in the last 4 days and see how close we can get it," he said, adding that the campaign's push in the three states would not detract from its efforts in more traditional battlegrounds.
We wrote about the two spots now set to air in the three states, "Rearview Mirror" and "Something," yesterday. Check them out here.
"Something," which Plouffe referred to as a "positive closer," will be airing in Arizona. He said "Rearview Mirror," which links McCain to President Bush, will air in the other two states because "we've seen movement" there. He cited "highly encouraging" early voting numbers in Georgia and noted the campaign has organizations in all three states.
The Obama campaign would not release the size of the advertising buy.
McCain has represented Arizona in Congress for 26 years, but recent polls have shown Obama trailing by just the low single digits in the state.
Pressed on why the campaign was advertising in the three states when other battleground states remain tight, Plouffe said the polls were close enough to justify the effort.
"We're just going to give it a go in the last 4 days and see how close we can get it," he said, adding that the campaign's push in the three states would not detract from its efforts in more traditional battlegrounds.
We wrote about the two spots now set to air in the three states, "Rearview Mirror" and "Something," yesterday. Check them out here.
"Something," which Plouffe referred to as a "positive closer," will be airing in Arizona. He said "Rearview Mirror," which links McCain to President Bush, will air in the other two states because "we've seen movement" there. He cited "highly encouraging" early voting numbers in Georgia and noted the campaign has organizations in all three states.
The Obama campaign would not release the size of the advertising buy.
Obama To Advertise In Arizona
On a conference call this morning, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe told reporters that his campaign is expanding advertising into three states in which few expected the Democratic nominee to be competitive: North Dakota, Georgia, and John McCain's home state of Arizona.
McCain has represented Arizona in Congress for 26 years, but recent polls have shown Obama by just the low single digits in the state.
Pressed on why the campaign was advertising in the three states when other battleground states remain tight, Plouffe said the polls were close enough to justify the effort. "We're just going to give it a go in the last 4 days and see how close we can get it," he said, adding that the campaign's push in the three states would not detract from its efforts in more traditional battlegrounds.
We wrote about the two spots now set to air in the three states, "Rearview Mirror" and "Something," yesterday. Check them out here.
"Something," which Plouffe referred to as a "positive closer," will be airing in Arizona. He said "Rearview Mirror," which links McCain to President Bush, will air in the other two states because "we've seen movement" there. He cited "highly encouraging" early voting numbers in Georgia and noted the campaign has organizations in all three states.
The Obama campaign would not release the size of the advertising buy.
McCain has represented Arizona in Congress for 26 years, but recent polls have shown Obama by just the low single digits in the state.
Pressed on why the campaign was advertising in the three states when other battleground states remain tight, Plouffe said the polls were close enough to justify the effort. "We're just going to give it a go in the last 4 days and see how close we can get it," he said, adding that the campaign's push in the three states would not detract from its efforts in more traditional battlegrounds.
We wrote about the two spots now set to air in the three states, "Rearview Mirror" and "Something," yesterday. Check them out here.
"Something," which Plouffe referred to as a "positive closer," will be airing in Arizona. He said "Rearview Mirror," which links McCain to President Bush, will air in the other two states because "we've seen movement" there. He cited "highly encouraging" early voting numbers in Georgia and noted the campaign has organizations in all three states.
The Obama campaign would not release the size of the advertising buy.
McCain Ad Touts Obama's Praise
A new ad out this morning from John McCain's campaign features Barack Obama praising the Arizona Republican for his work on a a bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "The right approach begins with the proposal put forward by Senator Lieberman and Senator McCain," Obama is shown saying. "The Lieberman-McCain bill establishes limits for greenhouse gas emissions. It's a framework that's not only good for the environment, it's also good for business. I want to thank Senator Lieberman, as well as Senator McCain, for the outstanding leadership that they've shown." The ad will air in key states. Watch it:
Starting Gate: Campaign Fatigue Cure
If you're still looking for just that right costume for the Halloween party tonight, you might want to consider going as the economy or maybe a 401k plan or upside-down home mortgage.
Or maybe, among select company, go as one of the presidential candidate. People seem to find plenty to be frightened of there (in the newest CBS News/New York Times poll, 57 percent of likely John McCain voters said the thought of Barack Obama being elected "scared" them – 47 percent of Obama supporters said the same of McCain).
No doubt you'll see a lot of Obama and Sarah Palin lookalikes out on the trick or treat circuit tonight but it's a pretty good bet that most voters are ready for this never-ending election to finally come to a conclusion. The campaigns can't afford to let up now – in fact they're in the midst of their final blitzes, revving their get-out-the-vote machines to full throttle and blitzing the battleground states with visits.
Continue »
Or maybe, among select company, go as one of the presidential candidate. People seem to find plenty to be frightened of there (in the newest CBS News/New York Times poll, 57 percent of likely John McCain voters said the thought of Barack Obama being elected "scared" them – 47 percent of Obama supporters said the same of McCain).
No doubt you'll see a lot of Obama and Sarah Palin lookalikes out on the trick or treat circuit tonight but it's a pretty good bet that most voters are ready for this never-ending election to finally come to a conclusion. The campaigns can't afford to let up now – in fact they're in the midst of their final blitzes, revving their get-out-the-vote machines to full throttle and blitzing the battleground states with visits.
Continue »
Democrats Target McCain In Arizona
With polls showing a surprisingly close race in Arizona, Democrats are upping their activity in John McCain's home state. MoveOn.org announced it would begin airing an ad on broadcast and cable in the state over the weekend. An NBC News/Mason Dixon poll out today showed McCain ahead by just four points.
The MoveOn ad features former Staff Sergeant US Air Force John Weiler, a "lifelong Republican" who won a contest the outside group conducted earlier in the year. "I'm a Veteran, I served under President Ronald Reagan and under the first President Bush," Weiler says in the ad. "I've been a Republican since before I could actually vote. We need somebody in the White House that is strong. We need somebody who's gonna represent the left and the right, the Democrat and the Republican, everybody. I'm a lifelong Republican and I'm voting for Barack Obama." You can see the ad here.
Also, CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder reports on an e-mail sent to Obama supporters in Arizona urging them to double their efforts and try to pull off a "real upset" on Election Day. "The Arizona Republic is now reporting that a series of new polls show us 'neck and neck' with John McCain in Arizona," the e-mail says. "According to the Republic, Senator McCain is 'struggling in his own backyard.' Arizona is his home state. He should have a comfortable lead with voters who've known him for nearly three decades. That says all you need to know about the strength of Barack's message and the grassroots movement we've built. With Election Day just 5 days away, this surge of support for Barack couldn't come at a better time. But we have to act immediately to take advantage."
The MoveOn ad features former Staff Sergeant US Air Force John Weiler, a "lifelong Republican" who won a contest the outside group conducted earlier in the year. "I'm a Veteran, I served under President Ronald Reagan and under the first President Bush," Weiler says in the ad. "I've been a Republican since before I could actually vote. We need somebody in the White House that is strong. We need somebody who's gonna represent the left and the right, the Democrat and the Republican, everybody. I'm a lifelong Republican and I'm voting for Barack Obama." You can see the ad here.
Also, CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder reports on an e-mail sent to Obama supporters in Arizona urging them to double their efforts and try to pull off a "real upset" on Election Day. "The Arizona Republic is now reporting that a series of new polls show us 'neck and neck' with John McCain in Arizona," the e-mail says. "According to the Republic, Senator McCain is 'struggling in his own backyard.' Arizona is his home state. He should have a comfortable lead with voters who've known him for nearly three decades. That says all you need to know about the strength of Barack's message and the grassroots movement we've built. With Election Day just 5 days away, this surge of support for Barack couldn't come at a better time. But we have to act immediately to take advantage."
Poll: Voters Believe McCain Running More Negative Advertising
As part of a poll to be released in full later today, CBS News and the New York Times asked voters who have seen television ads for both Barack Obama and John McCain about the tone of those ads.
Their responses suggest there is a gulf in voter perception of the candidates' efforts, with Obama widely seen as running the more positive advertising campaign.
Half of those surveyed say Obama's ads are primarily focused on what the candidate stands for, while thirty percent say they have been mostly concerned with attacking his Republican rival. Fifteen percent say both.
The perception is far more negative for McCain: Just 21 percent say the Arizona senator's ads are primarily focused on what he stands for, while the majority – 64 percent – say the ads have been largely concerned with attacking Obama. Twelve percent cite both.
We'll be making further results from the poll available at 6:30 this evening, so check back with CBSNews.com and watch the Evening News for a full report.
Their responses suggest there is a gulf in voter perception of the candidates' efforts, with Obama widely seen as running the more positive advertising campaign.
Half of those surveyed say Obama's ads are primarily focused on what the candidate stands for, while thirty percent say they have been mostly concerned with attacking his Republican rival. Fifteen percent say both.
The perception is far more negative for McCain: Just 21 percent say the Arizona senator's ads are primarily focused on what he stands for, while the majority – 64 percent – say the ads have been largely concerned with attacking Obama. Twelve percent cite both.
We'll be making further results from the poll available at 6:30 this evening, so check back with CBSNews.com and watch the Evening News for a full report.
Candidates To Appear On Monday Night Football
Barack Obama and John McCain will participate in one-on-one interviews during halftime of next week's installment of ESPN's "Monday Night Football," the Associated Press reports.
The interviews, set to be taped via satellite during the day on Monday, will air during halftime, ESPN says. Voters (who have not voted early or absentee) go to the polls the following day.
"I am ready," Obama said, a reference to speculation that he would run for president. He then put on a Bears cap and added, "for the Bears to go all the way, baby!"
The interviews, set to be taped via satellite during the day on Monday, will air during halftime, ESPN says. Voters (who have not voted early or absentee) go to the polls the following day.
"I am ready," Obama said, a reference to speculation that he would run for president. He then put on a Bears cap and added, "for the Bears to go all the way, baby!"
