AP: California dreaming — can McCain win?

[Bleacher Creature]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080707/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_california

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press Writer
31 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - John McCain is starting a California campaign that might already be over.

The Republican presidential candidate opens a handful of political offices this week in the nation's most populous state, the historical turf of Reagan and Nixon that in recent years has become a Democratic fortress in presidential contests.

The Arizona senator boasts that he can win California's 55 electoral votes, the biggest prize on Nov. 4, but he's running as the Republican successor to GOP President George Bush, whose approval rating is at an all-time low in the state. Three of four voters say the nation is on the wrong track, and McCain's opposition to abortion rights and his support for the Iraq war and offshore drilling leave him out of step with a potentially decisive swath of Californians.

A Republican hasn't carried the state in a presidential contest in two decades, and Al Gore and John Kerry notched double-digit victories here. Democratic voter registration is inching up, while the Republican slice of the electorate is shrinking. The growing ranks of Hispanic voters — possibly 20 percent of the California vote this November — tilt Democratic.

The numbers are so daunting for a Republican that Bush didn't bother to contest the state in 2004.

(snip)

No. Simple answer to a stupid question.

[Waya]

1. He's got the same chance of winning California.....

....... as Obama has of winning Utah....

[Mz Pip]

2. I think the last polls I saw

had Obama up by 28% in CA.

Dream on, John.

[Arugula Latte]

3. Yes, yes, yes he can! But first he must spend LOTS of money!

Lots and lots of money, John McCain, do you hear me? We're talking tens of millions! Throw it down the dr -- errr -- start making that wise investment now!

[boobooday]

10. He's got to spend every minute, and every dollar there

Don't give up, John!

[muryan]

4. The PUMA crowd is convinced he will win CA

despite being down by 16 at the moment.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/ca/california_mccain_vs_obama-558.html

He can spend all the resources he wants in CA for all I care. He still only has one office in ohio (columbus) with a skeleton crew. He should try Illinois next.

[tishaLA]

5. Spend lots of time and--especially--money here, Johnny

It's an expensive state to campaign in. It'd do wonders to that budget you have.

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. Michael Blood is an AP reporter you need to watch

Mon, Sep 10, 2007 1:52pm ETSend to a friend Print Version
AP reported California GOP "endorsed" Electoral College measure, but not that top GOP lawyer initiated it
http://mediamatters.org/items/200709100001


He handles almost all the GOP California stories for AP also
submits a lot of Negative Democratic California stories.
Not saying he's bad but be aware of him.

[beltanefauve]

7. Thanks for the tip!

I'll be keeping my eyes open and calling him on his shit whenever possible!

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. Just take it with a grain of salt.

I started doing a google search on 'reporters' years ago,
everyone has an agenda, you just need to do a search to
see what they handle and how they handle it.

[book_worm]

9. I think one recent poll had Obama up in CA by 28-points.

[wmbrew0206]

11. If McCain is serious about trying to compete in California

He'll have to take Chris Cox as his VP candidate and pray that the seme sex marriage bans makes it on the ballot.

[Hoof Hearted]

13. I don't think McCain could win CA with Jesus himself on the ticket.

[wmbrew0206]

17. I'm not saying McCain could win CA, but if he chooses Cox as his VP

then we'll know he is serious about it.

That will tell us a couple things:
1. McCain doesn't think he can win in the Ohio, MI, PA or VA
2. McCain feels that CA 55 EC votes are his only hope to win

[Hoof Hearted]

12. I hope McCain dumps half his puny little war chest in CA, because he can't win it.

That would be perfect. Plus, even if he did dump half the Democrats could still outspend him 5 to 1.

[margotb822]

14. My favorite quote from this article:

McCain has a single paid staffer in California.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Yeah, good luck, Johnny!

[Ichingcarpenter]

18. My town is 50% democratic and 50% Republican

it shows on the city council votes and even in the last Presidential race.

I have not seen one McCain bumper sticker or yard sign but see a few
Obama bumper stickers. The local democratic office said they had run out of Obama
stickers weeks ago. I don't have one myself so I but an Obama Button on the back of
my car with hot glue.

[VADem11]

15. Hahaha

I would advise he spend heavily and follow up California with attempts to win New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. Go McCain, spend that money!

[Occam Bandage]

16. Yes! He certainly can--if he dumps tens of millions of dollars there! Go! Go, Johnny Mac!

Dump bucket after bucket, right into the black hole!