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December 2, 2008 8:18:25 AM CST



States That Matter track this thread

Started by H Needles; Last updated by D Lim | View history

States That Matter

"Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody." -Franklin P. Adams

Super Tuesday was once viewed as the day that would likely determine the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees. But Feb. 5th voting only added uncertainty to the race. Which states matter most now?

Stories

Stories 21 - 40 of 157

  • October 2008
    • McCain Running in Place: Polls

      McCain Running in Place: Polls

      (Newser) - John McCain isn’t gaining any ground in the polls, according to FiveThirtyEight, which pegs Obama’s odds of victory at 96.7% to McCain’s 3.3%. As of yesterday, polls predict a final electoral score of 351-187, numbers unchanged from the day before. National tracking polls showed minuscule moves in McCain’s direction, but that hasn’t shown up in state-by-state polling. More »

    • 'Perfect Storm' of Problems Forecast for Missouri Polls

      'Perfect Storm' of Problems Forecast for Missouri Polls

      (Newser) - Missouri is one of several states anticipated to have voting problems next week, but nobody is sure just how big they might be, the Boston Globe reports. The potential is huge, though, in a sharply divided state where John McCain and Barack Obama are polling dead even and a legion of new voting laws and machines await testing. More »

    • As Mac Defends Turf, Obama Preps Closing Argument

      As Mac Defends Turf, Obama Preps Closing Argument

      (Newser) - Barack Obama is closing out the campaign fighting for Republican ground, the New York Times reports, with the Democrat aiming to seal the deal by giving still-unsold voters a final chance to size him up. His final message will hit broader, less partisan themes, and his strategy is forcing John McCain’s beleaguered campaign to defend once deep-red states such as North Carolina and Indiana. More »

    • Obama Speech Draws 100,000 in Denver

      Obama Speech Draws 100,000 in Denver

      (Newser) - John McCain insists his campaign is “doing fine” even as his rallies in key states pull a fraction of the crowds turning out for Barack Obama, the Chicago Tribune reports. The Republican drew about 2,000 supporters at each of his recent events in Iowa and Ohio. Obama, meanwhile, spoke to tens of thousands at rallies in Colorado. More »

    • Obama Pulls Ahead in Montana

      Obama Pulls Ahead in Montana

      (Newser) - For the first time, Barack Obama is leading John McCain in Montana, 44% to 40%, a poll suggests. Obama is seen as stronger on the economy by 48% to McCain’s 42%, though voters prefer McCain on foreign policy, 52% to 42%. Obama’s overall lead is within the MSU-Billings poll’s margin of error, KULR-8 TV reports. More »

    • Early Fla. Voters Hit Hours-Long Lines

      Early Fla. Voters Hit Hours-Long Lines

      (Newser) - Early voters in Florida, where polling places opened Monday, endured daunting lines and 2- to 5-hour waits to cast their ballots, reports the Miami Herald . Democrats contend that the blame goes to a law passed in 2005 cutting the number of hours per day that early voting is available from 12 to 8. Early voters tend to tilt Democratic, and the law was passed by Florida's Republican legislature and governor. More »

    • McCain Bets the Farm on Pa.

      McCain Bets the Farm on Pa.

      (Newser) - John McCain is going full throttle in Pennsylvania, but his work is cut out for him: He’s behind 12-15 points in state polls, and Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans in the state, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. McCain, wife Cindy, and Sarah Palin have stumped heavily there all week. “We will win Pennsylvania,” said a rep. “We wouldn't be here unless we were 100% confident of that." More »

    • Hillary, Obama Blitz Fla. for Early Votes

      Hillary, Obama Blitz Fla. for Early Votes

      (Newser) - Hillary Clinton threw herself into the battle for Florida as early voters packed polling places yesterday, the Washington Post reports. Barack Obama, pulling out all stops in an effort to flip the state to the Democratic side, led a crowd of 50,000 in chants of "Hil-lar-y" as the pair made their first public appearance together since July. More »

    • Democrats See On-Edge Exurbs as Election Key

      Democrats See On-Edge Exurbs as Election Key

      (Newser) - Economic anxiety may give Democrats a chance to advance into traditionally Republican outer suburbs this year, the Washington Post reports. In many key states, especially Virginia, the downturn and housing-market meltdown have severed the outer edges of metropolitan areas from the GOP. Largely centrist voters in exurban Virginia have driven recent Democratic victories there, and are key to Barack Obama’s chances. More »

    • Obama Forces Battle for Va.

      Obama Forces Battle for Va.

      (Newser) - Virginia hasn’t swung Democrats’ way since Lyndon Johnson, but suddenly it’s a battleground, the Washington Post reports, and Obama appears to have all the tactical advantages. The Dem has three times as many campaign offices, and his army of volunteers has registered almost a half-million new voters. More »

    • Working-Class Anger May Boil Over Soon

      Working-Class Anger May Boil Over Soon

      (Newser) - For a while now, the divide between rich and poor has gotten bigger, but it "hasn't sparked an outright political revolt," writes Reihan Salam in the Atlantic . That could change soon. Our fragile, 20-year "consumption compromise"—the era of cheap goods and cheap credit keeping economic discontent at bay among the working class—has come undone. With the cost of living rising and workers feeling the pinch, a frustrated electorate is looking for a man with a plan—and coming up short. More »

    • Obama Ad Blitz Stifles McCain

      Obama Ad Blitz Stifles McCain

      (Newser) - Over the past three weeks, Northern Virginia TV viewers have seen 1,342 commercials from Barack Obama … and eight from John McCain. Obama is dominating the airwaves, Politico reports, outspending McCain and the Republican National Committee as much as 8-1 in some markets, blunting GOP attacks with a sustained presence. “McCain is virtually invisible in the commercial breaks,” said one station executive. More »

    • Worried Florida Seniors Waver on McCain

      Worried Florida Seniors Waver on McCain

      (Newser) - Florida's seniors aren’t looking like such a sure thing for John McCain, the Washington Post reports, casting a big shadow for the GOP over the Sunshine State. Blocks of retirees once solidly behind the GOP are now wavering, fraught with worry about disappearing pensions and climbing health care prices. “Who isn't afraid of getting a 'Dear John' letter from GM saying your pension is in danger?” asks one senior. More »

    • Ohio Must Check Voter Registrations: Court

      Ohio Must Check Voter Registrations: Court

      (Newser) - A federal appeals court has sided with the GOP and ordered Ohio to set up a computer system by Friday to verify new voter registrations, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Registrations must now be cross-checked with other government information. Ohio's secretary of state, accused of partisan bias by Republicans, had argued that the existing system was sufficient. More »