Wow. I knew Michigan would be a close call for us.

[BeatleBoot]

http://www.clickondetroit.com/politics/16621878/detail.html

Gore Joins Obama In Detroit Monday

FLINT, Mich. -- Al Gore announced his endorsement of Barack Obama Monday and promised to help the Democrat achieve what eluded him -- the presidency.

In a letter to be e-mailed to Obama supporters, the former vice president and Nobel Prize winner wrote, "From now through Election Day, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure he is elected president of the United States."

In 2000, Gore won the popular vote but lost the disputed 2000 election to George W. Bush, who captured Florida and its electoral votes after a divided Supreme Court ended the recount. Since then, Gore has made combatting global warming his signature issue, and has been recognized worldwide for his effort -- from an Academy Award for a documentary for his effort to the Nobel Prize.
Gore is one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, but he maintained a low profile in the primary campaign. He's planning to appear with Obama at a rally in Detroit Monday night.

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[Thrill]

1. Gore and Edwards both endorsed in Michigan. I think they clearly think work needs to be done there

which is surprising considering Michigan has been hit hard by the Bush economy

[MichiganVote]

2. Ahem....I been telling you all that for months. And its still too close for comfort.

[TahitiNut]

4. Ditto. It'll take campaigning ... showing the Michigan working class some respect.

Yup.

[MichiganVote]

6. And the Ohio working class and those in Pennsylvania... etc.

[muryan]

15. Don't worry about Ohio

Its going to be blue come november.

[Danger Mouse]

3. Obama intends to fight hard for Michigan...good idea, cause he'll need to.

[MichiganVote]

8. So will McCain but he doesn't believe it yet. Obama is thinking ahead of him

[Danger Mouse]

10. Obama has a much stronger campaign than McCain and a much better strategy.

[MichiganVote]

19. Michigan residents don't care about campaigns and they don't care about strategies. They want work.

[deadmessengers]

5. The primary mess is DEFINITELY going to hurt him there & in Florida

I don't think it's near the point where it's worth writing off those states, but Obama will definitely have an uphill fight in Florida and Michigan through November.

[MichiganVote]

7. Just TRY to write off Michigan. Its not about the primaries, its about the last 7 years

and the chronic recession the rust belt states have been in despite the efforts of its citizens to try to maintain their schools, infrastructure, and so on.

[goldcanyonaz]

9. Michigan is close to rolling up their sidewalks

Our property is for sale in Royal Oak, and will probably be up for a long time, the only thing we have going for us is that it is zoned commercial/multi family.

[MichiganVote]

18. I was in Battle Creek about a month ago. Early evening. No people. Made me sick.

[onetinsoldier]

13. obama in florida

as i wrote here before,i am a fourth generation floridian(rare)obama will NOT win in florida,he should not waste his money here

[Hippo_Tron]

17. Doubtful, the polls are showing an unusually large amount of undecideds in Michigan

Due to the fact that Obama never campaigned there in the primaries. If we were in trouble McCain would be getting those undecideds. They're staying undecided for now and Obama can easily win their votes.

[Beregond2]

11. This really surprises me.

Why would anyone in Michigan not vote Democratic? Who has been hit harder by Republican policies? I don't get it.

[MichiganVote]

21. Michigan has a great many independents and the residents are intolerant of political promises.

Believe me, we've heard them all in every flavor, ideology, and with or without religious fervor. Those of us left in Michigan are die hard residents and we want work. Work for ourselves, work for our children. SO if Old McSame comes in and presents a viable plan the residents here will eat it up. If Obama is smart he will narrow his focus to this over and over, hammering it home to Michigan residents.

Right now he's courting Michigan. But he has to do better than that. He has to marry his fortune and future to Michigan.

[Davis_X_Machina]

12. Interesting piece....

...over on openleft on how the presence -- or absence of a candidate skews polling in the state:

Michigan is one of the examples.

Michigan: (McCain 6.2% above 2004 PVI): McCain 38 days in state-- Obama 13 days in state.
(PVI is Partisan Vote Index)

Their take -- don't worry. Spend time in state, and the numbers will follow.

[book_worm]

14. And Kerry won Michigan by 3-points. Michigan was also close in 2000

Obama is doing as well as Kerry did in 2004 in latest poll--a three-point lead. It's a state we always have to concentrate on.

[Politics_Guy25]

16. Obama will be president if he wins Michigan

Conversely, he will not be president if he loses Michigan.

[MichiganVote]

20. Perzactly. The people want work, not the promise of work.

[barack the house]

22. I think Gore is best palced to help us with FL and Ohio and Tenessee