Nebraska, The Unlikely Battleground

Washington Post: Obama Camp Steps Up Efforts To Split Nebraska's Electoral Votes

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Peter Slevin.

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With a month to go before Election Day, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, touched down here Sunday for an unexpected rally in a state that President Bush won by 22 percentage points in 2004.

In early September, even as it was shifting resources out of other traditionally Republican states to key electoral battlegrounds, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign sent 15 paid staffers to Nebraska, a state that has backed a Democrat for president just once since 1936.

Despite Nebraska's consistent preference for a Republican in the Oval Office, Obama and the national mood are forcing Sen. John McCain to focus more on the state's biggest city and most urban congressional district.

Both camps have their eyes on the same reward: a single electoral vote that could prove pivotal in determining the next president.

Nebraska is one of only two states that award electoral votes by congressional district, rather than on a winner-take-all basis. Obama strategists see an opportunity in the 2nd District, where disaffection with Washington and strong Democratic voter-registration efforts are narrowing the Republican advantage.

If Obama pulls an upset in this district, regardless of what happens in the rest of Nebraska, he will pick up one electoral vote toward the 270 needed to win.

Among the scenarios that strategists have spun out, both sides see the possibility of an unprecedented tie in the electoral college. If Obama won Iowa, Nevada and New Mexico, for instance, and the rest of the map remained the same as in 2004, the race would be knotted at 269 to 269. The same would be true if Obama won Iowa, New Mexico and Colorado while McCain picked up New Hampshire.

Obama's Nebraska strategy is perhaps the most extreme manifestation of his campaign's determination to expand the electoral map to open as many paths as possible to win the White House. The approach has had mixed results: Traditionally Republican states such as Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana and Colorado appear within reach, while efforts in North Dakota, Montana, Alaska and Georgia have fizzled.

"One of the keys is going to be stretching the map. If we can put all of these states into play, that will make a difference," said Jon Carson, Obama's national field director. The more competitive Obama can be, he said, the more traditionally Republican territory McCain will be forced to defend, at a cost in time and money.

The McCain campaign announced its own one-vote strategy Thursday when it said it would move field organizers to Maine in a last-minute attempt to win the largely rural 2nd Congressional District. The move to the only other state that splits its electoral votes came as McCain gave up on Michigan, one of a handful of Democratic states that he had hoped to win.

Republicans have scoffed at the notion that Obama can pick off a congressional district in Nebraska, which has never split its vote.

"Ain't going to happen," said Dave Boomer, campaign manager for Rep. Lee Terry (R), winner of five straight 2nd District races. Boomer predicted that, late one mid-October night, Obama state director John Berge "will call his staff in and say: 'We're pulling out. We're going to Scranton.'"

The Obama campaign insisted it's in town for the duration, and it announced Friday that it will open a second Omaha office this week.

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Where Republicans see folly, the Obama camp spots an opening. Unlike most of Nebraska, the 2nd District has a significant minority population, with a population that is 10 percent black and 6 percent Hispanic -- groups that strongly back Obama.

The median household income in the district is about $45,000. A recent Washington Post poll showed that Obama leads by 54 percent to 41 percent among all U.S. voters with household incomes under $50,000, although McCain holds a similar advantage among white voters in that category.

Democrats point out that a political newcomer -- 30-year-old businessman Jim Esch -- won 45 percent of the vote against Terry in 2006. Esch is running again this year, and party leaders like his chances well enough that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is contributing to his effort.

[hjedtyj]

Since both signed off on $700 billion bailout that favors corporations, neither have a clue to solve economic crisis. I liked McCain bringing up Obama%u2019s vote to the 2005 Bush/Cheney Energy bill and how Obama and his cronies were the biggest benefactors of Fannie and Freddie Mae.

It is reported that CBS and NBC polls tilt to Obama with intentionally oversampling of African American democratic voters. Are other media polls legitimate too as they claim the same results?

Is it true that the candidate who bumps off mutual opponent will win in November regardless of debates, issues and poll numbers? Apparently the mutual opponent exposed corruption within both parties and is presently targeted. Will either party use the %u2019sweetheart exchange deals%u2019 where convicted felons are used to commit crimes/murders in exchange of less jail time, conveniently covered up and culprits never suspected? Will Dems use an OJ SImpson-like black convict with jail time to do the bumping off? Will GOP use a Guiliani-like mob ties similar to the ones used by his ex-NYPD commissioner who was indicted and may be jailed up to 140 years? Or Gotti, Jr. who is currently in midst of conspiracy and murder trial?

Do we have to worry about our personal safety too? For example, will our 4 hour car ride next Sunday be safe? Will our car wheels and brakes be tampered with? How about sleeping in the middle of the night inside our home as our habits and plans are known in advanced due to bugging devices?

[kansas1946]

"Ain''t going to happen," said Dave Boomer, campaign manager for Rep. Lee Terry (R), winner of five straight 2nd District races. Boomer predicted that, late one mid-October night, Obama state director John Berge "will call his staff in and say: ''We''re pulling out. We''re going to Scranton.''"
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Really. Hmmmm...we will see. Keep after em'' Barack. You already have Palin showing up in Omaha, a trip that the Republicans shouldn''t have to make. I live in Kansas and I know that my vote will probably not count, and the state will go to McCain, so one electoral vote from Nebraska would make me happy.