Rolling The Campaign Dice In Pennsylvania

CBS Evening News: McCain Campaign Hopes Keystone State Can Offset Western Losses, But Are Tactics Working?

(CBS)  It's game night inside the Kline household near Allentown, Pa., and the family is gathered around a deck of cards.

But picking a president this year is the real contest in the home, CBS News' Jeff Glor reports.

"This is probably the one that stands out the most as far as being undecided," said Jane Kline, a registered Republican.

Both Jane and her husband Rick, 50, are registered Republicans. But Rick especially believes he has reason to cross party lines.

"In 2006 and again this year I've been laid off from two different jobs, and I look at it, and it's all happened under the current party," he said.

Even though John McCain is behind in the state, which hasn't gone for a Republican in a presidential election since 1988, his campaign has come to believe that Pennsylvania is essential.

"It seems inevitable that the McCain camp is going to lose some Western states, and if they can somehow offset those losses with wins in Pennsylvania, and its 21 electoral votes, it really does give them the chance that they're hoping for," said Christopher Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.

McCain spent six days in Pennsylvania in the past two weeks - and Obama's noticed, launching a two-day swing this week, and bringing in Bill Clinton Wednesday.

While McCain is being outspent on TV ads, the commercials he is running in the Keystone State are overwhelmingly negative.

"They rolled the dice here," Borick said. "They rolled the dice in making a negative campaign, and so far the results simply don't show that it's bearing any fruit."

Rick Kline said: "I don't think it's necessary to be that ugly and that nasty against your opponent."

His wife added: "I think it actually hurts their cause rather than helps it - at least for me it does."

That said, she's still likely voting Republican.

"I'm in the middle, but I'm leaning slightly towards McCain," she said.

Her husband, likely not.

"Obama, most likely," he said.

A split decision here, as McCain keeps swinging for a last-chance late-round knockout.

[floroh_panow]

As a voter in PA, I am a bit nervous. Quite frankly, there are those out there that believe McCain''s focus on Pennsylvania is mute...Even though I fully support Obama, I do concede that this is a brilliant move on McCain''s part. I do not believe that the current polls are reflecting a true depiction of the outcome on Tuesday night. I think it is going to be rather tight in PA. There are a lot of McCain signs in the Pittsburgh area...a lot. Now many of my die hard democrat friends are actually jumping ship in this election and voting for McCain. It will be a lot closer than what people think. Even if PA turns red, Obama will be the next president and the country will be headed in the right direction once again.

[onarollagain]

Everyone...Repubs and Crats...email the LA Times to release the tape...it is our civil duty to do this and their responsibility to release the tape. Take action...let''''s get control of the United States of America again and out of the mainstream media''''s bias release of information

[raheem44]

OBAMA 08

[rmonroe401]

So if she is leaning towards McSame, then she is definitely voting for McSame? Great reporting.

[garys21121]

Hey, A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
www.garyinthemorning.com

[garys21121]

Hey, A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
www.garyinthemorning.com

[Confidential416]

I am an independent voter in PA- wishing PA had an early voting option. 6 months ago I thought I would be voting for mccain - then palin - reckless, erratic decision to put the country at risk for a short term gain of a few points in the polls. that''s when I began to really pay attention. time and time again mccain has been erratic, reckless, unprofessional - then he started with the negative campaigning - the other night in PA he addressed obama concerns with nuclear power blah blah blah... those were his words - blah blah blah over something as big a topic as nuclear energy... since nothing else has worked he has the fear tactics in full force.. and that was it for me - mccain became mcsame - their big word now - socialism ... the parrots of mccain have started using the word without knowing the meaning. worse yet, once they started using an "ism" they went from socialism to fascism - to whatever "ism" will scare the american people. I am done being afraid. I will be voting for Obama!

[onarollagain]

Everyone...Repubs and Crats...email the LA Times to release the tape...it is our civil duty to do this and their responsibility to release the tape. Take action...let''s get control of the United States of America again and out of the mainstream media''s bias release of information

[dutchiehaley]

MY GOD!! Who takes a vacation to SYRIA? Oh yeah. I forgot. NANCY PELOSI put her $1800 Designer Gucci TOWEL on her head and met with friends in Syria.

[dutchiehaley]

MY GOD!! What''s on that Video the Libs and LA TIMES will NOT release. OCTOBER SHOCKTOBER SURPRISE? Barry: ''Alah be praised, death to American and Israel! lalalalalalaal!!!!"

[dutchiehaley]

TRUTHHONOR, CONCORDE, MIKE, I love how you libs are not intelligent enough to get A POINT. You''re only reaction to ANYTHING is racism. The sad truth to BARRYS economic socialism is it will ONLY buy votes. It is as PERVERTED as promising 72 virgins to Muslim men such as BARRY to blow themselves up. These political reparation checks NON-TAXPAYERS are salivating over will be wasted on all the things mentioned. Remember all those $2500 debit cards KATRINA victims spent on lap dances?

[onarollagain]

Why isn''''t the Los Angeles Times releasing the videotape of the 2003 farewell bash in Chicago at which Barack Obama lavished praise on Rashid Khalidi former mouthpiece for master terrorist Yasser Arafat? Because it shows Obama standing next to Bill Ayers? Now that would damage Obama severely and since LA Times opening supports Obama they won''''t release the tape. The written article doesn''t show who was there, what else was being said and who Obama was chumming with. Obama is controlling the LA Times and suppressing critical info to the American voters.

[truthhonor]

Posted by codymac4 at 09:56 AM : Oct 29, 2008

I see why you will not vote for obama. YOu are an unabashed racist. Go spread your word on the skin head or neonazi sites. They will love your "humor" there

[concorde5]

Posted by dutchiehaley at 09:45 AM : Oct 29, 2008
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Those kind of posts make you sound foolish.

[truthhonor]

Mccain leading his home state by 1 % in the last Arizona poll. He is about to lose his own state. LMAO

[truthhonor]

Obama representing the United States - LMAO

Posted by codymac4

Can you say president Obama, get used to it?

[mike-avelli]

BARRY''''S ECONOMIC REDISTRIBUTION FOR REPARATIONS, brought to you by NEWPORT CIGARETTES, the LOTTO, KFC, COLT 45 MALT LIQUOR, WINCHESTER-maker of the .38 Special, BINGO HALLS, CASINOS, KENO, I-POD, NINTENDO, ZIG-ZAG ROLLING PAPAERS, and PORK RINDS.


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Posted by dutchiehaley at 09:45 AM : Oct 29, 2008

Wow, Dutchie, your mother/sister must be really proud of you. She probably will put her good teeth in and give you a big smile.

[truthhonor]

Posted by dutchiehaley at 09:49 AM : Oct 29, 2008

Somebody has been watching Gone with the wind. Perhaps you should try to actually talk with a black person than getting your material off 7o year old movies

[truthhonor]

Posted by AFactJack at 09:37 AM : Oct 29, 2008

We have a hyphenated conspiracy theorist. I think you need to take your xanax and get your aluminum foil hat. The xenon rays are hitting your brain.

Bill Clinton and left over money LMAO

Obama and secret foreign conspiracy LMAO

[dutchiehaley]

Man!! I''z cants wait''s for Brother BARRY TO WIN''Z DA ELECTION. When do I gets my REPARATIONS CHEK? dO IT COME EVERY MONFF? iT BETTER GITS HERE BEFORE DA big game drawing.