True Believers In McCain Flock To Pa.

Washington Post: GOP Volunteers Converge On Battleground State Where Upset Win Is Keystone To A McCain Victory

(Washington Post)  This story was written by Washington Post Staff Writer Eli Saslow.

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He hated the helplessness of watching John McCain's efforts from afar, so Joe White, 62, loaded up his trailer in South Carolina and drove here last weekend. He set up camp in a Wal-Mart parking lot, bought a map of State College and started knocking on strangers' doors -- 25 houses per hour, 10 hours each day.

On Tuesday morning, more than four days and 1,100 houses into his trip, White approached a rancher with a McCain sign in the front yard. Beverly Blood, 71, answered the door.

"You're here for John McCain?" Blood said. "I'm for him, too, but some people are saying it's not looking so good."

"Well," White said, "I'm one of those people who thinks it's not over until the fat lady sings."

During the last two weeks, thousands of volunteers such as White have flocked to Pennsylvania -- the land of last resort for McCain's campaign. Among staffers and volunteers working frantically in this state, the typical line of thought goes like this: If McCain can somehow score an upset in Pennsylvania, he will earn 21 electoral votes, compensate for potential losses in some traditionally Republican states and narrowly defeat Sen. Barack Obama for the presidency. On their T-shirts and hats, McCain volunteers reduce the strategy to a simple slogan: Twenty-one.

It's the promise of twenty-one that persuaded McCain's campaign to redirect so many of its efforts to Pennsylvania; that drew McCain and vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to the state for eight rallies this week alone; that compelled McCain to confess to a crowd in Hershey, "We need to win in Pennsylvania on November the 4th."

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Read the latest news from the campaign in Pennsylvania from CBS News and around the Web

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Pennsylvania has not gone for a Republican candidate for president in 20 years, and several polls indicate Obama maintains a double-digit lead here. But, on an electoral map that looks increasingly grim for McCain in swing states such as Virginia, Colorado and Florida, advisers said they have reasons to hope in Pennsylvania. Obama lost badly to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in this state's primary, in part because he struggled to connect with white working-class voters. Because Pennsylvania does not allow early voting, McCain has more time to make his comeback.

For the strategy to work, McCain will have to woo unprecedented support from registered Democrats, who outnumber Republicans by more than 1.2 million. His campaign helped launch more than a dozen Democrats for McCain groups across the state, and it bused in Democratic volunteers from New Jersey and New York. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Lynn Forester de Rothschild, a top fundraiser for Clinton's campaign, will spend several days speaking to Democrats on McCain's behalf.

"I think Pennsylvania could be a big surprise to the conventional thought in the Democratic Party," Rothschild said. "Pennsylvania is a conservative Democratic state, and John McCain can win it. We are targeting independents and Democrats, and they're just not comfortable with Barack Obama's plan for America, because it's outside of the mainstream. This is the most important thing I've done in politics. The election could turn right here."

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Obama's campaign has responded to McCain's efforts by fortifying its own operation in Pennsylvania. Obama held a rally Tuesday in Chester, and his running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., visited four cities last week. Less than 16 hours after a Palin rally in State College on Tuesday night, Bill Clinton took the same stage and spoke on Obama's behalf.

"As unlikely as it is for them to succeed [in Pennsylvania], we've got to take that seriously, and we will," said David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager.

Said McCain spokesman Peter Feldman: "Both campaigns see Pennsylvania as in play."

Which is why White, the South Carolina volunteer, decided to travel to this college town in central Pennsylvania last week. While driving through the state, he listened to a cycle of competing campaign commercials on radio stations and heard news broadcasts announcing one small-town presidential rally after the next.

White had never volunteered for a presidential candidate before, but he thinks that McCain would make a better guardian of the country than Obama. "I think we'll be safer with him as commander in chief, and that's too important to mess with," White said.

He took a 10-day vacation from his small business as a medical supplier and signed up for a volunteer program called McCain's Mavericks. When he arrived in State College, he visited McCain's local office to procure a list of addresses for registered voters.

As he trudged through the snow, White drew enough cold stares to understand McCain's challenge. For the first time in 30 years, Centre County has more registered Democrats than Republicans -- the result of a 10,000-person registration drive for Obama at Penn State University. Among its 100,000 voters, Centre now has 5,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans. White knocked on the doors of enough bitter conservatives to learn that "these kind of places are just getting more liberal."

But White also learned enough about politics in Pennsylvania to maintain his optimism. Even two of the state's most powerful Democrats -- Gov. Edward G. Rendell and Rep. John P. Murtha -- seemed to suggest McCain had a chance. Rendell told a reporter that, "the undecideds are most likely not going to go in Obama's direction." Murtha recently told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that "there is no question western Pennsylvania is a racist area," a comment that has put his own reelection in jeopardy even though he apologized. A new Mason-Dixon poll this week showed Obama's lead in Pennsylvania at a tenuous 4 percent -- though other polls still show him with a larger margin.

"We're really ahead in this election, but we're not going to let anybody know until next Tuesday," White told one McCain supporter who answered the door. "You'd be surprised how many people I've already talked to around here who said they just won't vote for Obama. I'm telling you, there's a whole community of us."

The McCain believers showed up en masse Tuesday night on the Penn State campus, forming a 7,000-person line in the snow for a chance to attend a Palin rally in a student gymnasium. They came to see the potential vice president, but many supporters said they were more impressed by the crowd. Three thousand people crammed onto the floor, two levels of arena seats filled to capacity and hundreds of people waved McCain signs. It was a visual reinforcement of Republican support.

Alex Smith, a Penn State junior and the president of the College Republicans, stood shirtless in the upper deck, his chest painted with a purple "C" to help spell out "MAVERICK." He had been teased regularly for the last three months, an outsider on a campus dominated by Obama supporters. Now, he gestured at the crowd. "It feels good to be around like minds," he said.

Ken Pasch, a 55-year-old independent, helped direct traffic near the stage. He had "pinballed between Obama and McCain" before finally deciding to support McCain three weeks ago. "I think there's a chance McCain can take it," he said. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be here."

Mitch Hagmaier, a 36-year-old Democrat, stood near the entrance and pointed out a handful of other Democrats he recognized in the crowd. A self-described "national security" voter, Hagmaier had decided to support McCain after Obama defeated Clinton in the Democratic primary. For the last three weeks, Hagmaier had volunteered in McCain's State College office six days each week, calling undecided voters from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.

"If McCain can hit Pennsylvania, he has it made," Hagmaier said. "It's striking how many registered Democrats are here or working in the office. We're starting to get some momentum going our way. With Palin coming here, and this crowd, you can feel it starting to turn."

But after Palin spoke, the crowd exited the arena to a somber reminder of the difficult task ahead. More than two hundred Obama supporters stood across the street, handing out bumper stickers and waving signs. As the Palin crowd walked by, a few student Democrats held up a sign showing Obama's lead in the Pennsylvania polls, and began to taunt.

"Scoreboard," they chanted, over and over.

[hypnotoad72]

The guy''s got his hat on backwards or he''s a coward. Anyone who has to shroud their face is a coward.

[rixmix98]

He hated the helplessness of watching John McCain''s efforts from afar, so Joe White, 62, loaded up his trailer.............


hahahahahaha. Enough said.

[hypnotoad72]

OOPPS he just endorsed Barack Hussein Obama!"

Posted by LOOK- at 09:40 AM : Nov 01, 2008
--

Some claimed he was told to.

Trouble is, I don''t believe that.

Even Al Gore, in 1993, was hyping up Saddam''s weapons of mass destruction, so I have serious doubts about the political left when it comes to the Iraq war. Want proof? YOUTUBE has it. I wish it was available in 2003. It has been since 2007. I implore everyone to find it.

[kiwi_chick]

LOOK - bet you didn''t mind the racism when it was white on black did ya?

[oldtwo]

WAKE UP!! The Republicans already have your money!

Republicans DOUBLED the national debt in 8 years and mortgaged our children''s future. They''ve given billions to banks and oil companies -- nothing for social security, health care or veterans. Republican policies gutted your college/retirement IRA and now your job''s at risk. McCain PROMISES more of the same.

Say "NO" to four more years of Republican corruption and deceit. Say "NO" to Palin for president! Send them off to fix the peeling paint in military hospitals or to teach the 20% of kids who drop out of Texas schools -- something actually useful.

Vote Democratic -- for the team that cares about the other 95% of us stuck in this crisis Republicans created.

[rixmix98]

Vote Democratic -- for the team that cares about the other 95% of us stuck in this crisis Republicans created.

Posted by OldTwo at 09:46 AM : Nov 01, 2008



Amen to that!!

[hollybb2]

OldTwo: If Clinton had done his job instead of getting his _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, Fannie May and Freddie Mack wouln''t have happened!

[dremn1]

Nice, his brother is living in trash with nothing and his elderly Auntie is living in the slums of Boston as an illegal.

The speaks to Obama''s character. If you were filthy rich wouldn''t you take care of your brother and Aunt?????

WAKE UP AND VOTE MACCAIN

[cozzicon]

"The GOP Messiah is dying."-- Posted by FloydZeppd

The weird question I ask myself is: What happens to the GOP if they do not win? Because their base they have pandered to for a long time is social conservatives. If they lose- this voting block becomes useless and the only way to stay relevant would be to liberalize the party somewhat.

But would they?

I think the outcome of this election, no matter the winner, is going to be violence. Not on my part, but rather on the part of the extreme political edges who become disenfranchised.

I hope I''m wrong about this. Who can really tell the future? But it is a thought that keeps returning to me.

And that thought should scare everyone. And both sides need to lower the rhetoric after the election to ensure it doesn''t happen.

Some people take hyperbole from their favorite candidates literally and at face value. Candidates need to be careful about what they say.

[rudy654-2009]

If Clinton had done his job instead of getting his _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, Fannie May and Freddie Mack wouln''''t have happened!

Posted by hollybb2 at 09:52 AM

Is that how helpless your Bush was? Eight years later you and him still blaming someone else?

[rixmix98]

Nice, his brother is living in trash with nothing and his elderly Auntie is living in the slums of Boston as an illegal.

The speaks to Obama''''s character. If you were filthy rich wouldn''''t you take care of your brother and Aunt?????

WAKE UP AND VOTE MACCAIN

Posted by dremn1 at 09:58 AM : Nov 01, 2008



Good Grief!! You can''t even spell your candidate''s name correctly. Pssst, it''s McCain, not MacCain.

[kiwi_chick]

The problem the republicans have with spreading the weatlh amongst the middle class is that for the last 8 years their mantra has been "i''ve got mine, now let me get yours." Contrary to that old *** McCain and sugarpants Sarah''s ideas, it''s not wealth redistribution or socialism to let the middle class keep more of their OWN money.

[kiwi_chick]

The problem the republicans have with spreading the weatlh amongst the middle class is that for the last 8 years their mantra has been "i''ve got mine, now let me get yours." Contrary to that old *** McCain and sugarpants Sarah''s ideas, it''s not wealth redistribution or socialism to let the middle class keep more of their OWN money.

[rudy654-2009]

I think the outcome of this election, no matter the winner, is going to be violence. Not on my part, but rather on the part of the extreme political edges who become disenfranchised.
************

And don''t think they wouldn''t turn violent. Remember in 2001 when Gore demanded a legal recount, they stormed the building frigtening the workers and literally shutting down a completely legal recount. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court which had the duty to uphold the law, became a whimpering dog.

[dremn1]

Obama scares the h*ll out of me and do not call me a racist because I think Powell or Rice would make a great president.

IF YOU ARE A BORDERLINE OBAMA SUPPORTER CHANGE YOUR MIND HE WILL RUIN THIS COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rudy654-2009]

The problem the republicans have with spreading the weatlh amongst the middle class is that for the last 8 years their mantra has been "i''''ve got mine, now let me get yours." Contrary to that old *** McCain and sugarpants Sarah''''s ideas, it''''s not wealth redistribution or socialism to let the middle class keep more of their OWN money.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Kiwi_chick at 10:01 AM

Nor is it redistribution to let the wealthy carry their own weight and pay their taxes.

[oo_daddy]

Hey LOOK, you said Colin "Powell = Experience?".

I say absolutely. Airborne, Ranger, Expert Infantryman, CJCS, Winner of Gulf War I, NSA, Sec of State. Whether you agree with the man or not his experience is unimpeachable.

[kiwi_chick]

The problem the republicans have with spreading the weatlh amongst the middle class is that for the last 8 years their mantra has been "i''ve got mine, now let me get yours." Contrary to that old *** McCain and sugarpants Sarah''s ideas, it''s not wealth redistribution or socialism to let the middle class keep more of their OWN money.

Oh what fools these mortals be..........a vote for McCain is a vote for the continuation of the failed Bush administration........wake up people.

[rixmix98]

rixmix98,

It is called a typo you dipsh*t

Posted by dremn1 at 10:04 AM : Nov 01, 2008




Whatever. Nice try.

[kiwi_chick]

The problem the republicans have with spreading the weatlh amongst the middle class is that for the last 8 years their mantra has been "i''ve got mine, now let me get yours." Contrary to that old *** McCain and sugarpants Sarah''s ideas, it''s not wealth redistribution or socialism to let the middle class keep more of their OWN money.

[oo_daddy]

hey LOOK, Happy to engage on a debate Re: General Powell''s endorsement.

First in response to your comments re: Gen Powell getting it wrong on WMDs. He has admitted he was duped by the administration and that his soldier''s loyalty led him to a poor course of action. He says it was the low point in his career.

[hollybb2]

Kiwi:

Can''t you do anything but cut and paste the same message? No one wants to read the same drivel over and over.

[smclimans]

In past elections, when pollsters make calls
to determine which candidate has a lead,
an AVERAGE of 20 to 30 percent
"refuse to answer" the pollsters question.
The pollsters never include the people w
ho "refuse to answer" in their polls
and count ONLY the people who answered the question

HOWEVER, in this election,
A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE ( 60 to 80 percent )
are refusing to answer pollsters question
about McCain or Obama.

60 to 80 percent !!!

If 60 to 80 percent of people are refusing to answer the polls,
then the polls are ABSOLUTELY meaningless.
AND
if a majority of those 60 to 80 percent who are
"refusing to answer" are McCain supporters
because they don''t want to be labeled
"politically incorrect" by the stalinist left media,
then Obama''s so-called "lead" is
NOTHING MORE THAN A MIRAGE

[smclimans]

In past elections, when pollsters make calls
to determine which candidate has a lead,
an AVERAGE of 20 to 30 percent
"refuse to answer" the pollsters question.
The pollsters never include the people w
ho "refuse to answer" in their polls
and count ONLY the people who answered the question

HOWEVER, in this election,
A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE ( 60 to 80 percent )
are refusing to answer pollsters question
about McCain or Obama.

60 to 80 percent !!!

If 60 to 80 percent of people are refusing to answer the polls,
then the polls are ABSOLUTELY meaningless.
AND
if a majority of those 60 to 80 percent who are
"refusing to answer" are McCain supporters
because they don''t want to be labeled
"politically incorrect" by the stalinist left media,
then Obama''s so-called "lead" is
NOTHING MORE THAN A MIRAGE

[oo_daddy]

hey LOOK, The irony here is that Gen Powell was adamantmently opposed to torture. The Mobile WMD evidence he pointed to in the UN presentation was OBTAINED BY TORTURE !!! Just like McCain the guy broke and said whatever he thought would save his hide.

[nearl4511]

Posted by Kiwi_chick at 10:04 AM : Nov 01, 2008

Just the Republican way of saying "Country First".

You got it right.

[zaniacloclo]

Obama''s supporters are willing to take an enormous gamble on someone with no experience because his words are comforting.People do crazy thing when they are desperate. Face it America no one can fix the current crisis. What we need is a way to survive it no make it worse. Our only hope for some stability is McCain... No one can fix this economy because the problem is a global problem and we do not control the governemnts of other countries...

[nearl4511]

Maybe the faithful will just stay in PA and vote for him.Probably assume a "MickeyMouse" identity too.

[rudy654-2009]

Whose endorsement impresses you more?

General Colin Powell?

Joe the Plumber?

LOL!

Yea, I thought so too.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Centerfall93 at 10:09 AM

That''s perfect!

[rudy654-2009]

Whose endorsement impresses you more?

General Colin Powell?

Joe the Plumber?

LOL!

Yea, I thought so too.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Centerfall93 at 10:09 AM

That''s perfect!

[oo_daddy]

hey LOOK OR ANY MCCAIN SUPPORTER,

Can you refute General Powell''s 3 main reasons for NOT supporting McCain ?

Do you support the Anti-American comments of dope fiend Rush Limbaugh and the DITTOHEADS ?

[tawpdawg111]

This is comedy, right?

I mean...... he''s joe WHITE.....he''s OLD.....he lives in a TRAILER........and McCain is HELPLESS!

There is a REASON he''s helpless. Or, rather, a LONG list of reasons.

[nearl4511]

"i''''ve got mine, now let me get yours."

Posted by Kiwi_chick at 10:04 AM : Nov 01, 2008

Just the Republican way of saying "Country First".

You got it right. Better your drivel than Holly''s inanity.

[oo_daddy]

I REPEAT MY CHALLENGE TO LOOK !!! hey LOOK, The irony here is that Gen Powell was adamantmently opposed to torture. The Mobile WMD evidence he pointed to in the UN presentation was OBTAINED BY TORTURE !!! Just like McCain the guy broke and said whatever he thought would save his hide.

[oo_daddy]

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT LOOK , I REPEAT MY CHALLENGE TO LOOK !!! hey LOOK, The irony here is that Gen Powell was adamantmently opposed to torture. The Mobile WMD evidence he pointed to in the UN presentation was OBTAINED BY TORTURE !!! Just like McCain the guy broke and said whatever he thought would save his hide

[oo_daddy]

hey LOOK, you''re not making sense, who is Jimmy, sorry if I''m a little slow but i dont understand

[smclimans]

In past elections, when pollsters make calls
to determine which candidate has a lead,
an AVERAGE of 20 to 30 percent
"refuse to answer" the pollsters question.
The pollsters never include the people w
ho "refuse to answer" in their polls
and count ONLY the people who answered the question

HOWEVER, in this election,
A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE ( 60 to 80 percent )
are refusing to answer pollsters question
about McCain or Obama.

60 to 80 percent !!!

If 60 to 80 percent of people are refusing to answer the polls,
then the polls are ABSOLUTELY meaningless.
AND
if a majority of those 60 to 80 percent who are
"refusing to answer" are McCain supporters
because they don''t want to be labeled
"politically incorrect" by the stalinist left media,
then Obama''s so-called "lead" is
NOTHING MORE THAN A MIRAGE

[oo_daddy]

Hey LOOK, If you can''t articulate and efute the General''s arguments i can at least help you with the facts of hs argumnent ....

[oo_daddy]

Hey LOOK, General Powell''s points re: McCain were

1) He was erratic during the Wall street crisis
2) Sarah Palin is not ready
3) The republican party is becoming les inclusive

Can you OR ANY MCCAIN SUPPORTER refute these points ? Happy to debate.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by LOOK- at 10:17 AM

And then McCain said, there is poor little Jimmy now sending us anthrax in the mail. Let''s go and shoot little Jimmy all to hell.

[oo_daddy]

Actually LOOK ios my tool at the moment. He gives me the excuse to expose knuckleheads like the DITTOHEADS. I think the backlash against the comments of dope fiend Rush Limbaugh have had a significant impact.

[rudy654-2009]

My dead grandmother has more courage to say no to a false war that would take peoples lives. Colin Powell shows no such courage if we were to believe you all.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by LOOK- at 10:21 AM

Your kind was supporting it the whole time. You are on no high road, idiot.

[ofbyfor3]

Who in the hell can give Obama $200 dollars for his election? Money is tight? Where is the money coming from?
Just where is all this money coming from to elect Obama?
Remember now America is broke with no jobs and Obama seem to have cash thats out of this world?
Please ask yourself WHERE is Obama getting the money? WHERE?

Posted by LOOK- at 09:57 AM : Nov 01, 2008

From millions of Americans who are willing to sacrifice to get our country out of this horrible downward spiral.

Sorry that your candidate doesn''t make people feel that way.

[kiwi_chick]

smclimans, where are you getting your numbers from? Have you done any telephone polling this election? I think you''re FOS.

[rudy654-2009]

Were talking about who started this war. Colin Powell did!


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Posted by LOOK-- at 10:24 AM

Good one!

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by sir2258 at 10:25 AM

Says the shlemiel.

[tyronehogleg]

Thousands of lily white racists flock to Pennsylvania to hear their white boy Mcpoopieinmydrawers as they are all so deathly afraid of a "black" man in office. Yes fear and hatred drives Mcsames campaign...No diversity at all in the people who vote for McCain/Palin...all white....100%..that should tell people something right there....

Can any McCain supporter answer why there is never any minority face in McCains crowds? Hell, even when Nixon ran there were some blacks/browns/ohers in the crowds....interesting phenomenon...

[ofbyfor3]

Posted by smclimans at 10:09 AM : Nov 01, 2008

Cite your source.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by zuqzuq at 10:27 AM

Interesting, but when challenged on these accusations, McCain completely shuts up. Worse, his audiences get mad at whomever asked and he uses that as a reason not to answer.