From The Road
October 31, 2008 1:08 PM

Tricks And Treats From the Campaign Trail

By
Dean Reynolds
Topics
Campaign '08
(CBS)
From CBS News' Dean Reynolds:

(DES MOINES, IOWA) - The Obama campaign plane, which smells much better these days by the way, is alive with Halloween decorations now.

Little pumpkins and witch hats dangle from the ceiling. A couple of paper spiders are pasted to the walls.

As we pass over Missouri enroute Iowa I'm wondering what the mood must be like on the McCain-Palin plane.

What Halloween theme might parallel their polls?

Frankenstein comes to mind. Freddie Krueger? Janet Leigh trapped in the shower as Tony Perkins stabs away. Lon Cheney Jr. transformed into a werewolf could be a metaphor for the McCain candidacy that shifted from conservative to, well, VERY CONSERVATIVE.

Maybe they're releasing actual spiders in the McCain press section?

Meantime, Obama has shifted into high gear this past week.

Three big rallies per day including late night extravaganzas timed for the local evening news in whatever market wants to show it. Huge crowds.

Now comes word that his campaign will broaden the boulevard to an electoral majority to include ads in North Dakota, Georgia and, yes, Arizona.

Arizona?

The campaign says they have a shot, so why not take it?

But even Barry Goldwater carried his home state, which, of course, happens to be McCain's.

North Dakota has been religiously Republican since... forever.

And Georgia?

These are not good signs for the McCain camp.

Trick or treat.

Time to let the tarantulas out.

  • Dean Reynolds

    Dean Reynolds is a CBS News National Correspondent based in Chicago.

Add a Comment
by oldwhiteguy1 October 31, 2008 10:17 PM EDT
After 11 months of politics, we''re just days away from the election. Thanks to ALL for making this Post, entertaining.
As the candidates make THEIR closing arguements, I''d like to make mine...

Born in Chicago in the early fifties, raised in a broken home, had a job and an apartment, when I was eleven. I earned what I have.
I was ''tear gassed'' in 68, simply for being on the lakefront during the convention. I knew of Ayer''s ''group'', back in the day, and thought it was cool that he always notified the occupants of his targeted buildings, and WELL in advance. (He NEVER KILLED anyone!) He only wanted to get people''s attention that WE were in a stupid war, which was killing our buds and resulting in countless POW/MIA s.
Let''s face it, WE ALL did dumb stuff when we were young, but, we wanted change.
Greaser, Duper, Hippy or Beatnick, life was good. Nam changed all that-and-it changed all of us.
WE ALL wanted to make a difference, we ALL prayed for peace, but we were young.
Next we were busy, now we''re old.
Old enough, in fact, to fear the change that WE knew would save America.
We couldn''t do it for US. Let''s Do It for our grandkids. Peace and Change.
Its how we built our lives.
Change.
One candidate gets it.
Obama 08/12
Reply to this comment
by koko1998a October 31, 2008 6:10 PM EDT
Does it smell better because reporters from the right wing papers are no longer on the plane?
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 October 31, 2008 5:46 PM EDT
Americans (in the lower 48 don''t ya know?) need to keep Sarah Baracuda from becoming the President (given that something should happen to OLD John)of the United States.

Prevent Right Wing Fascism from taking place in the US by Sarah Moosilini!

Reply to this comment
by DCropp October 31, 2008 5:38 PM EDT
Palin gave a real treat today. She claimed that the media writing any criticism of her was a violation of her freedom of speech.

What an idiot!!!

The freedom of speech guarantees the media the right to report. In fact, Palin''s attempt to force the media to only write her stories is the real attempt to take away our liberties that are guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

Palin''s claims clearly show she wants to take away our Constitutional rights.
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 October 31, 2008 5:34 PM EDT
How could any American want to sustain the same policies and detrimental actions of the last 8 years of Conservatism.


End the Iraq war spending
End outsourcing of jobs.
End Corruption of Oil, and Wall Street.
End Discrimination and attack on the American Middle Class!

Vote to end the Horror of Conservatism.

Reply to this comment
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