McCain Camp Maps Out Way to Win

By: John Bentley
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

(WILLIAMSBURG, VA.) – John McCain starts his day trying to keep the traditionally Republican Virginia from falling into the Obama column with two rallies here, one in Newport News and another in Springfield. McCain also has a stop in Perkasie, a northern suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, another state McCain needs if he wants to pull off a come-from-behind win on Tuesday.

His campaign manager, Rick Davis, sent out a memo to supporters and the press outlining their path to 270 electoral votes, which includes their hope that they can persuade a large number of undecided voters.

"An AP poll released this morning revealed a very telling fact: ONE out of every SEVEN voters is undecided. That means, if 130 million voters turn out on Tuesday, 18.5 million of them have yet to make up their mind," Davis writes. "With that many votes on the table and the tremendous movement we've seen in this race, I believe we are in a very competitive campaign. That means, if 130 million voters turn out on Tuesday, 18.5 million of them have yet to make up their mind. With that many votes on the table and the tremendous movement we've seen in this race, I believe we are in a very competitive campaign."

The latest CBS News/New York Times national poll shows McCain trailing Obama by 11 points, 52% to 41%.

McCain will also try to convince viewers of late night comedy shows as well, as he caps off his day with an appearance on "Saturday Night Live" tonight.

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by sharkteeth10 November 1, 2008 10:57 PM EDT: I think the upset is coming. NH will turn red. The undecided vote their will break for him. From there he only needs republican leaning states to stay red. VA will be close but OH,FL,NC,GA will stay red. If VA does then the folks in the west still voting will see the trend. NV looks good already (big dem early voting advantage, but exit polls show them almost even); Reply to this comment


by pjc27 November 1, 2008 6:39 PM EDT: McCain is toast.
I have been playing will that cnn poll map, it is almost impossible for him to win without PA, Florida and Virginia. It would have to be -like the right says, the will of God. Only God could stuff those ballet bozes for the win.; Reply to this comment


by bstratton7 November 1, 2008 6:37 PM EDT: Mr. Daivs is making an optimistic assumption. It is likely that a lot of undecideds will stay home. We will see a high turn out of motivated supporters of the candidates.

We will not let this election be stolen. There are 18 million more registered Democrats than Republicans. It is itme we stood up and stopped the fraud. Enough is Enough!; Reply to this comment


by kikubot November 1, 2008 6:27 PM EDT: McCain would get a bump if all the undecideds decided to vote for him. But, research shows that undecided voters, at this point in time, tend to break evenly for the candidates. McCain isn''t likely to get a bump there. McCain needs a St. Paul moment to turn this around.; Reply to this comment


by November 1, 2008 6:25 PM EDT: I''m sure that everyone, at all times, knows the status and whereabouts of their deceased, estranged father''s elderly half siblings.

Give me a break. If Obama had helped her with her immigration status, Republicans would be the first to cry, "special treatment!"; Reply to this comment


by stopkidding November 1, 2008 6:19 PM EDT: The Republican credo is that no election is too big or too important that they can''t steal it.; Reply to this comment


by abbe91 November 1, 2008 1:34 PM EDT: The only way for McCain to win will be with a big help from Diebold and Sequoia. And we have seen such things before ...; Reply to this comment