McCain's debate delays - imo, a key factor is the early voting going on in some 'red' states

[blm]

and they fear the Independent and centrist Dem voters who like McCain NOW and are comfortable voting for him NOW....are likely to BOLT after the debates. And so will a few Republicans.

The longer they can delay both McCain's and Palin's debates, the MORE votes they can get from those voters inclined to vote early.

[wishlist]

1. And it makes him, not Obama appear to be the strong leader in crisis

McCain is now trying to seize on the bailout mess in the same way he would have tried to capitalize on a national security/terrorism incident- make him look like the seasoned leader who is going to keep America safe and by doing so play on voter 'fear' of handing over reins to newcomer Obama.

[blm]

4. and he has failed in that task....now when he attempts to do it again over some terror issue he'll

be perceived as Ronnie Reagan once said... "There you go again."

[beachmom]

8. No, it doesn't!!! It makes him look like an idiot. If you have read

any of the accounts of yesterday's meeting at the WH, you would know that McCain showed NO LEADERSHIP whatsoever!! Obama ran the meeting! Obama is a clever chap. Now the Republicans in the House and John McCain are on the hook for the deal blowing up. I just read a Politico account and it was Obama who boxed them in. This was ingenius.

[SaveAmerica]

2. I think you're on to something there!

[blm]

5. Thanks....I do believe they've factored this into their calculations re the timing of the debates.

Independents have been very much against Bush's war agenda the last two years.

McCain has been popular with them mainly BECAUSE he has been sold in the media for years as a critic of Bush and the GOP agenda. In a foreign policy debate, he has himself cornered with nowhere to go other than side by side with Bush and the Independents will NOT like his responses.

[SaveAmerica]

6. Your topic isn't getting much air time but I saw yesterday how true it could be

Part of what I do in NC is phone banking and I spoke with a lady who is registered unaffiliated. She said she doesn't talk about who she votes for but spent a couple minutes talking in code. Her voice was full of turmoil (does that make sense? You could hear her confusion) and she kept saying she thought she knew who she was voting for, had her mind made up but recent events are making her think again. She is just very uncertain. It sounded like someone who never votes outside of her party but is now being faced with idiots on the ballot that they can't even put lipstick on any more. I this is an example of how they're going beyond the loss of the independent voters, they're also losing their base.

[blm]

7. My topics RARELY get broadcast attention...heh...no corpmedia would dare bring up BCCI

and CIA drugrunning and the funding of global terrorism. Fascism is not a subject media will cover since it's fascists who now control most of the US media.

I'm in NC, too, and this morning with no gas for the working stiffs, was a very weird atmosphere on the road....the fear in the air is so thick it is tangible. At my grocery store in Charlotte, some workers didn't even show up because they had no gas for their cars and did not live near a bus line - and with the rain, one can only walk so far to catch the bus.

[SaveAmerica]

9. I only filled my tank half-way thinking that parents need to get kids to school or older people to

the Dr., etc but now I wonder if I made a mistake. I can walk to the store if needed but if there's an emergency situation and we have to get out of dodge we're SOL. I think that's part of the fear in the air. Plus the financial crisis, Charlotte's going to feel that in a big way. I was told there were fights at gas stations in Charlotte last night, I think people are reaching a desperate place.

[blm]

10. I'm in Charlotte, too.

.

[VeraAgnes]

3. Very good point.

I think mostly the die-hard voters are voting early anyways. Democrats are more motivated to vote early due to wanting our frequently lost vote be counted. It will really pick-up mid-Oct. I think.