Even red Montana in play as Election Day looms; CNN moves state from "lean McCain" to "toss up"

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN

CNN) – Call it the battle for Big Sky country. George W. Bush won Montana by 20 points in his re-election victory four years ago. But it seems the times have changed in the state.

CNN's new Electoral College map, updated Sunday morning, moves Montana from "lean John McCain" to "toss up." The move is partially based on our new CNN Poll of Polls in Montana, compiled Friday, which suggests McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, has a one-point lead over his Democratic rival Barack Obama, 46 percent to 45 percent. Nine percent of voters are undecided.

"The fact that Montana is up for grabs has to be extremely unsettling for the McCain campaign," said CNN Senior Political Researcher Alan Silverleib. "Montana's usually a reliably Republican state in presidential campaigns. It's been won by the Democrats only twice in the past half century. If you're a Republican and you're fighting for Montana in the last few days of the campaign, you're not in good shape."

Three electoral votes are at stake in Montana, a state Obama visited in late August. McCain has not campaigned in Montana during the general election.

With Montana moving to "toss-up," CNN estimates that if the election were held today, Obama would win states worth 291 electoral votes — more than enough to capture the White House....

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/02/even-reliably-red-montana-in-play-as-election-day-looms/

[machI]

1. Translation for the MSM as it covers McCain's rear end

When the MSM says "toss up" it means it is going to Obama.

When the MSM says "in play" it means it has completely gone to Obama, and the Republicans are in panic mode.

When the MSM says "it could be Obama anywhere from one to seven points" it means we are riding a LANDSLIDE folks.

[crikkett]

2. Imagine a beautiful wave of blue across the nation.

Happiness abounds. I wonder if we will see a 50-state sweep.

[Roy]

7. You forgot about Kansas!?!?!?!?

[norepubsin08]

8. and UT, WY, SC, TN, OK,, KY, AR, MS, AL and LA?

All will go red...sorry to say! and probably Texas also.

[crikkett]

9. But... I like my beautiful blue wave!!

You can't take it from me. I choose to remain in optimistic delusion.

[Roy]

10. And you are not alone! n/t

[OswegoAtheist]

3. Hmmm...

Aren't Ron Paul and Bob Barr on the ballot in Montana? IIRC, Paul did extremely well there in the primaries, and both are likely to siphon McKampf's voters, yes?

Oswego "Helena Handbasket" Atheist

[BlueMTexpat]

6. I am keeping my fingers crossed

that Ron Paul will indeed siphon off voters who just cannot bring themselves to vote for a Democrat.

Last summer, when I spoke with family members in MT who are reliably Republican in their voting, I found that they were, to a person, sick and tired of the Bush era and everything that it represents. This was before the economic freefall. They had all favored Paul in the Republican primaries and none were happy with McCan't as the candidate. Interestingly, most of the males are also veterans (generally from the Vietnam era).

Montanans also have fairly recent memories of a Republican Sarah-Palinesque governor, i.e., Judy Martz, who was literally godawful.

[kmdemqueen]

4. I am holding up hope

[Bluenorthwest]

5. McCain keeps knocking Montana

He's always whining about money spent to study bear DNA in Montana, even though Palin's Alaska gets lots more for the exact same sort of vital wildlife studies. Fish DNA in Alaska, bear in Montana, but Montana very bad, earmarking and all. Alaska is fine however.

[Hawkowl]

11. Ron Paul is on the ballot

Ron Paul is running on the constitution ticket. He received more votes than McCain in the primary and because of this, I believe Montana will be carried by Obama with the rethugs splitting their votes between Paul and McCain.

[DeepModem Mom]

13. Thanks for that info, hawkowl88! nt

[Hawkowl]

12. Dupe.........nt