Two views of McCain ground operation

In the crowd awaiting McCain in Tampa:

"I've been doing the phone banks, and it's so much better for McCain than people are saying. We're calling Democrats, independents, Republicans and it's probably 95 percent for McCain, very few for Obama. ... I'm so committed to this campaign, because I'm so anti-Obama. I'm so antisocialism, anticommunism, this spread the wealth stuff. It's good versus evil, basically." --- Perry Mallory, 56, a construction worker from Tampa.

"If you can't round up 1,500 people the day before the election, you've got a serious problem. From an organizational standpoint, they've done a terrible job. ... It could be a long, ugly night tomorrow." --- Republican consultant Chris Ingram of Tampa.

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Comments

I would've taken the day off of work if Obama was in town. I really don't want to see McCain or be in the crowd of mostly uneducated racist idiots.

I got a call from a live person telling me to vote for John McCain. I'm a registered Republican. I told them I'll be voting Obama and straight Democrat this year.

McCain is rallying the I-4 corridor, most voters understand and reject the memory of the Jimmy Carter years and his version of Socialism, high unemployment and high interest rates.

McCain -Palin 2008

Country and Capitalism First!

It's amazing how the Corporations are fooling people into thinking that helping the middle class and small business is socialism, but giving Big Business massive tax breaks and bailouts isn't.

Hey Perry, you fool, Republicans destroyed the housing/construction market nationwide. Big construction companies are hiring illegal immigrants from Mexico to take your jobs. Why on earth would you want to vote for more of the McSame? Gulp, gulp, gulp.

"It could be a long, ugly night tomorrow."

It could be a short ugly night, too. Any number of states could decide this election for Obama in the early going.

When Republicans are relying on memories of Jimmy Carter to make the winning difference, we've lost. You're grasping at straws.

two views - one from a guy on the ground doing the work and making the calls and one from a "consultant" who's probably just upset he hasn't been "consulted" enough.

You mean one from a delusional construction worker and the other from a realistic political expert.

[Mark]

Here's a 60 sec political ad that says it all:

http://www.progressflorida.org/av

9:16, 9:20, 9:29, 9:34, 9:36, et al -
I do believe you are a multi-poster. Whatever. I plan to vote McCain. All the same, good luck to your billion dollar boy. Man, wouldn't that go down in the annals of history as a humongous waste of money.

Yeah - maybe we should keep the campaign going for a while longer. The way Obama is spending, that's gotta be good for the economy!!!!

The construction worker is more than likely making GOTV calls from identified supporters - hence the positive response from his perspective.

Three days out is when a well-organized campaign shifts from ID to GOTV and that's happening now. Being on the ground with a non-Presidential campaign, I can say that things are looking good for the Obama campaign in Pinellas.

Found this on Stonezone.com today- interesting....

Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer thinks he's running for RNC Chairman-but not without a forensic audit of Republican Party of Florida spending and almost one millions dollars of un-itemized American Express bills on state party filings in Tallahassee. Can you say 'gentlemen's clubs'?

[Scott]

9:20...LOL I'm a reg Repub. and I got the same call from a McCain phone bank. It was priceless. When I said I'd already voted OBAMA...click.

LOL When I got the call from Obama phone bank and I said no thanks, I'm voting pro-life....CLICK

[OBAMA supporter]

Dick Cheney's Hometown Paper Endorses Obama Today

[Patty]

10:52 - you can't be "Pro-life" and Pro-war at the same time.

[GOP hypocritical dissonance]

11:01 Bingo! Or "pro-Jesus" and "pro-racist" either.

[Charlie]

Depends on what you mean by "pro-war." In some cases, fighting a war saves lives. Take, you know, World War II.

So, yes, you can logically want to safeguard the lives of unborn children AND prevent terrorists and/or dictators from taking more lives.

10:18 - no kidding - I questioned long ago the payments to AMEX from the RPOF reports... I am a republican and I want to know what the money is spent on?

[Patty]

You are right to say..."in some cases". This war is not one of them. This war was not entered using diplomacy...as others have in the past. I think it is quite ignorant and insulting to those who served in WW II to compare it to the supposed Iraq War. My grandmother had 5 sons serve in WW II at one time and you cannot compare the mission of the 2. Sorry, but you can't.

I am in Tampa. I am politically active. Tell me again: What is a Chris Ingram?

It's ignorant and insulting to those who served overseas to accuse them of bombing villages and attacking civilians, or whatever pandering blather Obama said a while back.

It's ignorant and insulting of Obama to vote against the surge, while McCain bravely voted for the surge, which has WORKED.

Of course Dems and the media are no longer talking about Iraq, because we have achieved success there, largely because of McCain's then-unpopular leadership, pushing for the surge.

IF OBAMA WINS, WE BEGIN OUR CAMPAIGN TO TEAR HIM DOWN LIKE THE DEMOCRATS DID TO PRES. BUSH.

THE CRUCIAL VOTE IF THE U.S. SENATES SEATS. IF THE SOCIALIST DEMOCRATS, DO NOT GET 60 SEATS, WE CAN JUST FILABUSTER EVERYTHING AND BLAME OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS FOR THE COUNTRY NOT GETTING ANYTHING DONE.

[Patricia Z]

There is NO future in liberalism in a post 911 world.
Make no mistake,
Obama is not only liberal,
Obama is a Marxist.
If his voting record at the Illinois state level doesn't convince you, look at Obama's voting record in the US Senate.
Then follow the money - Obama's campaign monies.
A careful survey of the candidate Obama, from his voting record to his notorious associations which couldn't possibly have ANY influence on him, are good reasons NOT to vote for Obama.

Why would you want to tear Obama down! Who ever wins, we need to support in an effort for a stronger, safer and wealthier America! As Americans we have suffered enough through the war and the economic woes of the last 6+ years. To think you would rather make the President, if it should be Obama, look bad instead of trying to make a better America. If you are a republican, I see why McCain's campaign may be troubled. I just hope everyone does not think nor act on your statement!

[GeeGee]

Will everyone, just ask yourselves one question? Please! How can someone who was virtually unknown and with no experience come up through the ranks in such a short time?
Who backed this unknown? AS the old saying goes "Something is rotten in Denmark"

Afraid Senior in Texas

"It's good versus evil, basically."

_____________________________

That is the type of idiotic comment that results in hatred, wars, genocides.

"We're calling Democrats, independents, Republicans and it's probably 95 percent for McCain, very few for Obama. ... "

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This person is clearly delusional.

Bush 2004 -- 15,000 people at the rally. McCain 2008 -- 1,000 people at the rally... the difference is the Hillsborough County Leadership Team. Bush had a team that rocks... McCain has a team that can't motivate a crowd ... hopefully they will motivate voters. Totally worhtless in 2008. Get a leaderaship team that knows what they are doing.