# McCain not as forked as the McCain Forked thread, but still forked **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 8, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951 "2008-10-08T03:49:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 37
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/721 "2008-10-29T04:21:27Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > I don’t think so. [Crist just extended Florida’s early voting hours](http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/10/28/early-voting-update-governor-extends-early-voting-in-florida/), which has been criticized by republicans as giving the election to Obama. I think most politicians know that Obama is going to win this thing no matter what they do, and they won’t risk being caught cheating for a hopeless cause. But he’s just buttering up the media for when he deploys his vote-suppressing weasels! “How can you say these weasels are sent to suppress votes? They are harmless creatures who care only for frolicking and devouring the blood and bones of Democrats. Oops! I mean, remember the late voting I allowed?” ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/722 "2008-10-29T06:15:13Z")
Obama within the margin of error in…[ARIFUCKINZONA!!!](http://www.azpbs.org/horizon/poll/2008/10-28-08.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/723 "2008-10-29T09:38:24Z")
[Reportedly the McCain campaign also warned them to “stay the hell off their lawn.”](http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2008/10/28/news/local_news/doc49068f6ccce49245010961.txt) From the article. > [@](#): > > She said McCain staffers wouldn’t tell her why she was being asked to leave and when she got outside, she saw “a group of about 20 people” who had all been asked to leave. > > Elborno said after seeing the people who were asked to leave, she was concerned that McCain’s staffers were profiling people on appearance to determine who might be a potential protester. > > “When I started talking to them, it kind of became clear that they were kind of just telling people to leave that they thought maybe would be disruptive, but based on what? Based on how they looked,” Elborno said. “It was pretty much all young people, the college demographic.” On the snakebit side of things… > [@](#): > > Elborno said even McCain supporters were among those being asked to leave. > > “I saw a couple that had been escorted out and they were confused as well, and the girl was crying, so I said ‘Why are you crying? and she said ‘I already voted for McCain, I’m a Republican, and they said we had to leave because we didn’t look right,’” Elborno said. “They were handpicking these people and they had nothing to go off of, besides the way the people looked.” McCain is truly and honestly running the perfect campaign. It’s a wonder Obama can even drag himself out of bed in the face of such excellence. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/724 "2008-10-29T11:39:10Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > Obama within the margin of error in…[ARIFUCKINZONA!!!](http://www.azpbs.org/horizon/poll/2008/10-28-08.htm) Taking the war to your opponent’s doorstep. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/725 "2008-10-29T12:03:55Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Elborno said even McCain supporters were among those being asked to leave. > > “I saw a couple that had been escorted out and they were confused as well, and the girl was crying, so I said ‘Why are you crying? and she said ‘I already voted for McCain, I’m a Republican, and they said we had to leave because we didn’t look right,’” Elborno said. “They were handpicking these people and they had nothing to go off of, besides the way the people looked.” And the sign said long haired freaky people need not apply. -Jod ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/726 "2008-10-29T12:12:34Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > And by the way, I have found, officially, the wingnuttiest of the wingnutty right-wing blogs. > > Behold the majesty that is [Victoria Jackson](http://www.victoriajackson.com/) (of SNL fame): > > Okay, maybe not the wingnuttiest, but pretty nutty. What a hoot! Since the names and telephone numbers for her bookings folks are posted so prominently on the front-page of her mawkish, low-budget website, I would guess that Ms. Jackson is probably hurting for some play, any way she can get it, and this celebrity endorsement will be highly unlikely to sway any voters except for perhaps any stalkers she has left. ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/727 "2008-10-29T12:29:32Z")
The Joplin Globe, in heavily republican Jasper Co., MO, has endorsed Obama: [http://www.joplinglobe.com/editorial/local\_story\_302211616.html?keyword=topstory](http://www.joplinglobe.com/editorial/local_story_302211616.html?keyword=topstory) I don’t know what the Globe’s prior endorsement records are, but here are some Joplin area voting patterns from the last couple of elections: [http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/politicalInfo.php?locIndex=20395](http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/politicalInfo.php?locIndex=20395) I strongly, strongly doubt Obama can win Jasper county, but he may peel off enough votes in republican SW Missouri to put him over the top in the state. Obama has a Jasper Co. field office and a good ground game. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/728 "2008-10-29T12:40:59Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > And by the way, I have found, officially, the wingnuttiest of the wingnutty right-wing blogs. > > Behold the majesty that is [Victoria Jackson](http://www.victoriajackson.com/) (of SNL fame): > > Okay, maybe not the wingnuttiest, but pretty nutty. Wow. I can’t believe I used to want to have sex with that lunatic. That’s it! Victoria Jackson is officially off my fantasy list. Actually, she hasn’t played a role in my fantasies in years, but now she’s CUT OFF!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/729 "2008-10-29T13:22:35Z")
She’s not really a Republican. She’s just a nut. She always has been. This is about a conspiracy theory for her. Now Cliffy, Cliffy I am dissapointed in. If John Ratzenberger is your high-wattage star, your commercial has problems. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/730 "2008-10-29T14:07:12Z")
The latest Rasmussen poll shows a 3 point race. The long dreaded tightening may finally be happening. If so it definitely raises the stakes for the big Obama commercial. Can’t wait to see what Silver has to say about it his daily roundup. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/731 "2008-10-29T14:16:02Z")
I would imagine it would take a day or so to see the effect, just in time for the weekend…hopefully a reasonable hedge against McCain creep. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/732 "2008-10-29T14:38:21Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > In fairness, remember William Henry Harrison? **McCain does**. You mean, like, personally? Also, if Sarah Palin has bothered to read up on presidential history at all in the past two months, the story of ol’ WHH got her attention, you betcha. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/733 "2008-10-29T14:43:11Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > The latest Rasmussen poll shows a 3 point race. The long dreaded tightening may finally be happening. If so it definitely raises the stakes for the big Obama commercial. Can’t wait to see what Silver has to say about it his daily roundup. Silver’s been saying for quite a while that there has been no tightening, and things have been steady for several weeks. I did see him write yesterday that things usually get a little closer right before the election and he’s actively looking for that. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/734 "2008-10-29T15:00:50Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > I don’t think so. [Crist just extended Florida’s early voting hours](http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/10/28/early-voting-update-governor-extends-early-voting-in-florida/), which has been criticized by republicans as giving the election to Obama. I think most politicians know that Obama is going to win this thing no matter what they do, and they won’t risk being caught cheating for a hopeless cause. Can we out here in reality-based land also interpret this as, not so directly working in Obama’s favor, but working to enfranchise a greater number of voters, in response to projections of much greater voter turn-out in this highly exciting election year? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/735 "2008-10-29T15:13:12Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Obama holds a **53% to 34** % lead among the sizable minority of voters (15%) who say they have already voted. Did the other 13% vote for Undecided? ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/736 "2008-10-29T15:47:18Z")
I don’t think there is any doubt that the race has tightened in the last few days in the national polls. The trend is clear across several polls and also in the polling averages. The RCP average shows an Obama margin of 8.0, 7.6, 7.0, 6.7 and 5.9 in the last five days. There was a similar trend just after the third debate though that one reversed pretty fast. This one may too but it’s at least possible that McCain’s “socialism” attacks are hitting the mark with some undecided voters. Overall the tax issue is a good one for Obama and he has a far better plan for the average tax payer. As I mentioned earlier I think he needs to go on the attack more and explain how the average taxpayer is going to get a bigger tax cut under him than under McCain. Also he needs to do a better job of tying the McCain cuts with the Bush tax cuts explain how sharply tilted they are towards the wealthy. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/737 "2008-10-29T15:49:43Z")
According to a secondhand source, Gallup has Obama +2, Rassmussen Obama +3. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/738 "2008-10-29T15:59:45Z")
Gallup has two polls: one with a traditional model and the other with an expanded model. The first poll is indeed +2 points for Obama, the other is +7. Both have tightened over the last couple of days. > **[Gallup Daily: Presidential Race Narrows Slightly](https://news.gallup.com/poll/111568/Gallup-Daily-Presidential-Race-Narrows-Slightly.aspx)** > > The gap between Barack Obama and John McCain in Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Saturday through Monday has narrowed slightly, and Obama is now at 49% of the vote to 47% for McCain among likely voters using Gallup's traditional model, and at 51% to... ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/739 "2008-10-29T16:11:30Z")
Oh wait. The link in my previous post is for yesterday’s polls. Gallup is among the last to release their daily poll numbers and they haven’t done so for today yet. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/740 "2008-10-29T16:14:03Z")
The details are the interesting bits at Rasmussen. > [@](#): > > Among those who “always” vote in general elections, Obama leads by just a single point. Obama does better among more casual voters. However, among those with a high degree of interest in this year’s campaign, Obama leads by four. Among those who say they are following the race closely on a daily basis, Obama leads by five. > > Among those who have already voted, it’s Obama 54% McCain 45% with other candidates picking up a single percentage point. > > As for those who have not yet voted but are “certain” they will do so, the race is tied at 48%. Two percent (2%) of these “certain” voters plan to vote for a third party option while 2% say they are undecided. > > Obama has a five-point advantage among those who plan to vote but say that something might come up. Hispanic voters are more likely than others to say that something might come up to prevent them from voting. So among those who have already voted a sizable lead. But only tied among “certain” voters that have not yet voted. Yet leading more among those who plan to vote but might not and those with a high interest in the campaign … Interesting. Seems like it’s still an overall Obama lead by any measure. The magnitude to be determined by who actually comes out on election day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951.md?page=36) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951.md?page=38)