BBC NEWS | The Reporters

Two-pronged final approach

Matthew Price
1 Nov 08, 12:02 AM GMT

Columbus, Ohio: You would not expect anything else from the campaign in these last few days, but Rick Davis, McCain's campaign manager, has said: "We are witnessing, I believe, probably one of the greatest comebacks that you've seen since John McCain won the primary."

There hasn't really been anything to come back from since the primary, surely?

He says they're seeing gains in virtually every battleground state in the last week. He says they have also shaken off the effects of the financial collapse that suppressed McCain's numbers. He says states that make up a potential 270 electoral college votes are all actively in play for them.

In short, they still - in public at least - believe there is a way to win. That way - if McCain's schedule for the final day is anything to go by - consists of Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Mexico, and Nevada. He'll finish off in Arizona.

There seems to be a two-pronged strategy. Palin gets the base energized. McCain hangs out with his more centrist mates (Schwarzenegger and Giuliani) to try and tap into the undecided.

If this is anything to go by thoughthen those voters who haven't yet made up their minds may swing it slightly towards McCain but they won't get him close enough.

Look also at exactly what Rick Davis was saying. Polls improving in "virtually" though not "every" battleground state. Also, the statement (hope?) that states making up a "potential" of 270 votes are actively in play. There's an expression of possibility, not necessarily of confidence.

McCain's attacks against Obama's tax policies do appear to have worked, and continue to, though I feel he needs more time than he has left if they are to become a decisive factor in this election.

Comparisons are tricky, but these last few days have made me think back to the 1997 general election in the UK. In the run-up to polling day, Tony Blair's Labour Party sensed victory, but some supporters worried it might fail yet again at the polls. John Major's Conservative Party spoke of how he could win, but his supporters weren't that keen on what was on offer for them.

The day after the election Tony Blair was striding up Downing Street, all smiles. John Major went to watch the cricket. Politics moved into a new, fresh generation. For most I met that day, a country that had felt stagnant, felt alive again.

Comments

1. At 02:00am on 01 Nov 2008, StephenDerry wrote:
This election is the most exciting I have followed since 1997 (in which I was actually involved to a small degree, sitting outside a polling station checking off everyone who said they would vote for us).

New Labour was fun for their first term, but after September 11 2001 it was hard to feel so enthused.

Now once again there is a sense of change in the air, an atmosphere of hope, the promise of a washing out of the stables of a government gone bad. I may be across an ocean from where the action is, this time round, but thanks to the internet and 24-hour news I don't feel any less involved.

I'm loving these blog debates, and I'd like to thank Matthew, Gavin and Justin for hosting them!

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2. At 02:04am on 01 Nov 2008, Oxford777 wrote:
A tale of two Davises. Rick Davis's "I believe, probably one of the greatest comebacks" is hardly convincing. And as Mandy Rice-Davis said, "He would say that, wouldn't he?".

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3. At 10:13am on 01 Nov 2008, dhimmi wrote:
"Politics moved into a new, fresh generation. For most I met that day, a country that had felt stagnant, felt alive again."

And since that day, we have had 11 years of a corrupt, lying, high taxing, hypocritical, race card playing, authoritarian government.

At least the US equivalent in Obama could only last for 8 years.

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4. At 3:14pm on 01 Nov 2008, Alipooley wrote:
DHIMMI:

Whilst I agree New Labour has made many mistakes, find me one government in history that hasn't? As much as I look at the negatives I also look at the positives, Minimum Wage, record investment in NHS, 11 years of growth (granted thats over now, and we can debate what degree Labours polcies have contributed and whether if they had done things differently we would still be in the same situation: virtually EVERY country on the planet is suffering, I can't believe that they all played the game same way as us which leads me to believe that whatever New Labour did, we would still be in this financial crisis now regardless)

I see Obama not neccessary for what he will do, but more about what he won't do (invade Iran, unconditional support for Israel, unilateral unqualified action across the planet,) If having an Obama / Democrat governement in the US just stops the above I will be happy.

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5. At 5:35pm on 01 Nov 2008, jimigorilla wrote:
I keep seeing McCain desperately accusing Obama of wanting to "spread the wealth around" (his quotation marks, not mine) in front of crowds who, it seems to me, for the most part earn considerably less than the 250,000 $/y benchmark that apparently divides the rich and middle classes in America. I wonder if these people realize that the wealth Obama supposedly is going to spread is actually his (McCain's) not theirs? So he's actually up there defending his own interests, not theirs. Voters sure are strange creatures.

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6. At 8:18pm on 01 Nov 2008, aquarizonagal wrote:
McCain had financial problems during the primaries but it was almost a given that he would get the nomination because he had 'served his time in hell' by supporting Bush.

I believe that he has lost this election but we will all see by how much. His so called "come backs" are nothing more than a fiddle in the wind.

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7. At 9:39pm on 01 Nov 2008, quietlaurieann wrote:
Yes-it is exciting!!!

Haven't you heard about the PUMAS????

They are going to swing this election away from the Big Pretender. (teleprompter Jesus)

Go out and get their story;
Pumapac.org
riverdaughter,wordpress.com
justsaynodeal.com
hireheels.com
Heidi Li's potpourri

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8. At 10:17pm on 01 Nov 2008, quietlaurieann wrote:
Are you also following Sarah Palin? or only John McCain?

I note that only one of your last ten posts mention her.

Is it true that McCain is charming to journalists?

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9. At 10:23pm on 01 Nov 2008, dv1236 wrote:
ARNIE comming in from california, is not at all impressing many, remember he replaced RECALLED gov DAVIS who was getting the state in red ink,

So heres Arnie asking BUSH to i guess borrow 4 billion from CHINA to bail him out.

Well MCCAIN these are your friends that you are in line with, have you any more losers, To as a fighter pilot would say. GET ON YOUR SIX AND BLAZE YOUR TAIL.

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10. At 00:10am on 02 Nov 2008, Schwerpunkt wrote:
4. Alipooley wrote:

"I see Obama not neccessary for what he will do, but more about what he won't do"

I agree. Unfortunately I see him not standing up for the United States and applying his "cure" to the "injustice" he sees in people not working not receiving the same benefits as those who do. His support for the REMOVAL of the secret ballot in union votes shows what kind of beliefs he holds. So I voted against him and, even should he win this year, I will continue to fight against his policies.

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11. At 00:38am on 02 Nov 2008, Bobsy26 wrote:
It's odd (well, perhaps not that odd, as I was only 13 at the time and as such thoroughly in the thrall of non-voter apathy) but I didn't know that about John Major going to the cricket the day after losing the election. Somehow I find that thoroughly endearing.

I hope that if John McCain loses the election on Tuesday night, he has the good grace to do similar. Admit defeat, sigh, and just go to the ball game. It would show good grace in defeat which has been somewhat absent from the show so far, on all sides.

As for Alipooley (#4), perhaps I got the wrong end of the stick (it's entirely possible) but the impression I've been under is that Obama was extremely, vehemently pro-Israel. In fact it's the one part of his policy that bothers me.

And finally I agree with StephenDerry (#1) that this has been the most exciting election I've been privileged to witness. As I said, I was little more than an uninterested bystander in 1997, and US08 has made me wish I'd not been. Ah well, see you in May 2009.

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12. At 00:42am on 02 Nov 2008, matthewprice_us wrote:
quietlaurieann: I'm following John McCain, but have been to several rallies where Sarah Palin has appeared.

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13. At 02:07am on 02 Nov 2008, niwus00 wrote:
Obama let something slip that I think everyone should hear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2yGzHfy7s

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14. At 02:27am on 02 Nov 2008, niwus00 wrote:
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
15. At 10:25am on 02 Nov 2008, Alipooley wrote:
Bobsy26:

I must admit, I wasn't aware that Obama is so pro-israel, speaking from the country who's mismanagment and ignorance is basically responsible for starting the middle east conflict, I never quite understood why the US is so pro Israel, is it simply the number and influence of the US Jewish community?

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