Candidates Shift Focus To Red States

After Final Debate, Obama Edging Into GOP Territory As McCain Looks To Protect Republican Turf

(CBS/ AP)  Leading in polls and exuding confidence, Democrat Barack Obama is edging into traditionally GOP states - now including West Virginia - as Republican John McCain looks to protect his turf less than three weeks before the election.

On the heels of the campaign's final debate, the Democrat is launching TV ads in West Virginia, which George W. Bush won four years ago and hadn't been on the list of target states until recently, according to two Democrats with knowledge of the strategy.

Obama lost West Virginia in the Democratic primary to Hillary Rodham Clinton as he struggled to win over working-class whites. But Democrats say the economic turmoil in the hard-hit state and TV ads Obama has been running in its neighbors have made West Virginia competitive. These Democrats spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid angering the campaign.

They say Obama's campaign also is considering pouring money into reliably Republican Kentucky and may yet return to the airwaves in North Dakota and Georgia. Those are two states Obama had tried to put in play over the summer, but he pulled out when they appeared out of reach.

The Illinois senator sounded increasingly optimistic at a breakfast fundraiser at the New York City Metropolitan Club.

"We now have 19 days," Obama said. "We are now 19 days not from the end but from the beginning. The amount of work that is going to be involved for the next president is going to be extraordinary."

But, he said, for anyone getting cocky or giddy, "two words for you: New Hampshire. I've been in these positions before where we were favored and the press starts getting carried away, and we end up getting spanked." Obama won the Iowa caucuses, only to lose to Clinton in New Hampshire in the primary.

McCain, for his part, was returning to the argument that Obama's credentials are too thin for the White House, his campaign and the Republican National Committee releasing ads focusing on experience and judgment.

McCain planned to visit swing state Pennsylvania, but he also was being forced to go to Republican territory as polls show Obama with the edge in such places as Virginia, Colorado and Florida. Obama was heading in the next few days to Virginia and Missouri, states often out of reach for Democrats but up for grabs in a year with Republicans under fire.

Wednesday night, McCain tried to blunt a familiar line of attack when he asserted, "Sen. Obama, I am not President Bush." But Obama quickly turned that argument against his rival in a new TV spot. "True," the ad's announcer responds, "but you did vote with Bush 90 percent of the time."

According to a CBS News/Knowledge Networks poll, uncommitted voters named Barack Obama as the winner of the third and final presidential debate by a large margin.

One unique debate watcher was "Joe the Plumber" - Joe Wurzelbacher of Holland, Ohio, whose exchange with Obama about taxes and small businesses a few days earlier elicited dozens of references from the candidates during the debate.

"It floored me. It's not something I expected, ever," Wurzelbacher told "Good Morning America" on ABC. Though he wouldn't say for whom he was voting, Wurzelbacher said Obama had a "very socialist view" of taxes "and that's incredibly wrong."

The 90-minute debate at Hofstra University marked the beginning of a sprint to Election Day. Obama leads in the national polls and in surveys in many battleground states, an advantage built in the weeks since the nation stumbled into the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Looking to shake up the race, McCain questioned Obama's character and his policies. He linked Obama to a 1960s radical, accused him of planning tax increases that would cripple the economy and said he was dishonest about a promise to accept public campaign financing.

"You didn't tell the American people the truth," the Arizona senator said.

Obama ignored that charge and remained calm throughout the debate. He often turned the accusations against McCain, calling them examples of the petty politics harming the country.

"The important point here is, though, the American people have become so cynical about our politics, because all they see is a tit-for-tat and back-and-forth," the Illinois senator said. "And what they want is the ability to just focus on some really big challenges that we face right now."

McCain went on offense from the opening moments, accusing Obama of waging class warfare by seeking tax increases that would "spread the wealth around."

He also demanded to know the full extent of Obama's relationship with college professor William Ayers, once a Vietnam War protester and part of a group that bombed government buildings, and the Democrat's ties with ACORN, a liberal group accused of violating federal law as it seeks to register voters. McCain said the group could be on the verge of "destroying the fabric of democracy."

Obama condemned Ayers' violent activities and denied any significant ties to ACORN, mocking McCain for bringing them up.

"I think the fact that this has become such an important part of your campaign, Sen. McCain, says more about your campaign than it says about me," he said.

[hootu-1]

JOHN MCCAIN AND SARAH PALIN ARE LIFE LONG MEMBERS OF THE KKK.

[ioweign]

Wave Of McCain Robocalls Reported, Some May Violate State Law

The McCain-Palin campaign and the Republican National Committee launched a massive robocall campaign on Thursday designed to alarm voters about Barack Obama''s past association with former radical Bill Ayers. The committee may be violating state law in the process.

The call begins: "Hello. I''m calling for John McCain and the RNC," before telling recipients that they "need to know that Barack Obama has worked closely with domestic terrorist, Bill Ayers, whose organization bombed the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, a judge''s home, and killed Americans."

[ioweign]

And you thought this type of hatred was just regional.

Sacramento County Republican leaders Tuesday took down offensive material on their official party Web site that sought to link Sen. Barack Obama to Osama bin Laden and encouraged people to "Waterboard Barack Obama" %u2013 material that offended even state GOP leaders.

Taking credit for the site (sacramentorepublicans.org) and its content was county party chairman Craig MacGlashan %u2013 husband of Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan.

The Bee asked MacGlashan about the content after seeking his reaction to hate-filled graffiti that was spray-painted over an Obama display on a fence at Fair Oaks Boulevard and Garfield Avenue.

In recent weeks, MacGlashan, an attorney, joined local Democratic party officials in condemning vandalism to political displays.

The vandalism to the Obama display appeared to have been done overnight Monday. A racial epithet, profanity, "KKK" and the words "white power" were clearly visible from the roadway. Six of the nine fence panels were defaced.

"What you are describing to me is not free speech, it''s vandalism. We don''t condone it," MacGlashan said.

But he defended his Web site. "I''m aware of the content," he said. "Some people find it offensive, others do not. I cannot comment on how people interpret things."

I''m sure Bill O''Reilly will do a segment on this, right?

[john43218]

Unbelievable! People actually think America will change, when in essence Americans don''''t want to change their behaviour,..they want handouts., they want government, they want, want, & want:

that is called : Greed.


Obama thinks in giving you our wealth your attiude will change, that is the biggest lie I have ever heard. Socialism will destroy this country. Period.
Good luck, friends.

[frootloophhh]

If the RealClearPolitics Electorial Map predictions is even 90% correct, I don''t see how McCAin can possibly win this election.
See: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/

Maybe those new Diebolt paperless voting machinces can give him a hand :-)

[repub4you001]

Say no to wealth sharing. The rich and powerful corporations control the world, not deadbeat Americans.

[martin9p2]

McCain complained during the debate that Obama was spending so much money in red states. Guess what? The reason Obama has the money and McCain doesn''t is that ... people support Obama. The size of a man''s war chest is proportional to the number of people who support him. :-)

[noamnestymc]

If Joe the plummer makes 250,000 bucks per year, than obviously he is a republican!

[noamnestymc]

Obama / Biden 2008! For working class americans!

[tannerbird]

Phill gramm must be checking thee people out.

[noamnestymc]

Now if more Americans understood that we could get on to electing John McCain
Posted by john43218 at 02:31 PM : Oct 16, 2008
*** If amnesty mccain finally said he supports working class americans over illegal mexicans, then maybe I could vote for him. If amnesty mccain finally said he will support working class americans, over tax breaks for the extremely wealthy. Why should I want to vote for someone I feel safer with, if it would only be 8 more years of the same economy? Amnesty Mccain says greed and corruption are the problem on wallstreet, yet he wants to give them even bigger tax cuts... that is why I hate mccain!

[tannerbird]

THE MCCAIN PEOPLE ARE O SO STUPID NO LICENSE I THINK OLD JOE JUST SELL SUPPLIES. JOHNDEVINEJR YOU ARE RIGHT ON THANKS FOR THE POST.

[john43218]

If Barack Obama wins the presidency, he will endanger the country by making us more vulnerable to terrorist attacks, the vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence tells Newsmax.

Obama %u201Cwould so weaken our security forces that I personally believe that we would be in much greater danger of terrorist attacks in the United States and abroad,%u201D says Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo. %u201CI%u2019m very much concerned, because he%u2019s shown weak judgment throughout his career. Throughout his campaign he has taken one position after another that just doesn%u2019t make sense in fighting the war on terror.%u201D

Obama voted twice in favor of requiring warrants to intercept communications of foreign terrorists situated overseas, including Osama bin Laden, Bond says.

%u201CHe voted for all of the amendments to weaken the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act bill and fought to strip it of its power,%u201D Bond says. %u201COnly at the 11th hour when he saw the tide was turning, did he vote for%u201D the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Obama%u2019s comment that the way to fight the war on terror is with prosecutions, the way the first World Trade Center bombing was addressed, shows how out of touch Obama is, Bond says.

Now if more Americans understood that we could get on to electing John McCain

[missingamerica]

I think "Joe the Plumber" is an example of things Republican: The facts are not important to them, so they do not fact-check.

Now if the Republicans stick to running businesses, that is not THAT big a problem - you just have to be careful not to work for them or invest in their companies or buy their stocks.

But when you permit Republicans to run the government, that disregard for facts gets people killed in unnecessary wars.

[missingamerica]

Speaking of "Joe the Plumber", check this out (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27207215/)


[bq]
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Joe the Plumber, American''s most famous tradesman, said Thursday he doesn''t have a license and doesn''t need one.

[...]

Wurzelbacher, 34, said he doesn''t have a good plan put together on how he would buy Newell Plumbing and Heating in nearby Toledo.

He said the business consists of owner Al Newell and him. Wurzelbacher said he''s worked there for six years and that the two have talked about his taking it over at some point.
[eq]

It would appear that "Joe the Plumber" has no familiarity with taxes and small business and has no plan to achieve more, and going by his lack of a plumbing license - a requirement for taking over the business - after six years, has no real initiative.

In short, the ideal Republican voter, eh? Ready to believe anything that he is spoon-fed.

[interobserv]

For the first time since 1964, the democrats look like they are going to win in the South. Alas, it is because of shifting demograpics, i.e., Northerners moving South, taking their progressive politics with them and displacing those who have a propensity for conservative opinions.
While I harbor no ill will toward any Southerner, their conservative political persuasion has turned this country''s economic and foreign policies on their ear and is costing all of us more than we can afford. I get on my knees everyday and thank God for Barack Obama!

[mrmazerati]

First of all if Joe The Plumber is going into business he should Incorporate. If he doesn''''t he is an idiot. That is how you protect your personal assets.
An increase in taxes in business is ALWAYS passed on to the CUSTOMER.
If Joe sets up an S Corp he will take most of his compensation in the form of a Corporate disbursement at the end of the year.
If the disbursement pushes him into another tax bracket he should reinvest in the business and not take the money right away. (Buy yourself and expensive company car Joe, I recommend a Porsche 911)
if you can''''t find a more important investment.
Eventually Joe, if you keep investing in the company and keep making more and more money, the tax will seem like a carrying charge.
I was in business for 20 years. When you make lots and lots of money, your accountant figures out the best way to keep the most. Then you pay your tax and stick lots of money in your pocket and complain to anyone who will listen how you pay more in taxes than they make.
People love that.

Posted by johndevinejr

THIS SHOULD BE POSTED ANOTHER TEN TIMES!

[briannorwood]

My uncle is a plumber (Local 442 in Pgh.).

I called him last night and asked him if he knew any plumbers making $250K

After he finished laughing, he asked me "Are you NUTS?"

LOL

[Froman08]

Here''s the real McCain/Palin supporters...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0

[zorar-2009]

Joe the plumber wants to by a $250,000.. Business!

Joe Is the $250,000. gross profit or net?
Did the owners show you a detailed Financial report!
What is the companies expenses?
Are there any leans on the company..
Do they take out Fed/State withholding taxes!
Do they carry workmans comp?
Do the pull the necessary permits?
Do they have liability insurance?
Do the employ undocumented workers?
Have you ever studied any type os business management?
Do you know how to use Quickbooks?
Do you have a lawyer you can trust?
etc....
Joe plumbing is more than a monkey rench,copper tubing & Taxes!

And taxes are your concern you have no business into going into business!
Is Joe the Plumber a GOP ringer?