# 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:** 42
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/821 "2008-10-30T18:40:11Z")
[Nevada looks to be close.](http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=ReviewJournal.com+-+News+-+300%2C000+in+state+cast+early+ballots+so+far&expire=&urlID=32013595&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lvrj.com%2Fnews%2F33433079.html&partnerID=192612) > [@](#): > > Exit polling of early voters conducted by a local political consultant suggests a close presidential contest in the Silver State: Democratic nominee Barack Obama had the votes of 50 percent who had voted, while Republican nominee John McCain had 48 percent of the early vote. > > The poll, conducted by Las Vegas-based consultant Steve Nathan’s firm Dialing Nationwide Automatically, or DNA, was conducted by automatically dialing everyone who had voted through Friday, based on statewide voter records, and weighting responses to reflect the composition of the electorate so far. > > Nathan said the statewide numbers were based on 7,147 responses to the survey. He said McCain was getting much of his support from rural and Northern Nevada. [Florida is much the same.](http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YWI0M2FiNDJmMTcxNGNiMDU2OTcxZDI1Yzk0MDMwZDM=) > [@](#): > > Democrats are beaming that their party is outperforming the Republicans in early voting, releasing numbers Wednesday that show registrants of their party ahead 54 percent to 30 percent among the 1.4 million voters who have gone to the polls early. > > A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll gave McCain a 49-45 lead over Democrat Barack Obama among Floridians who have already voted. > > And Republicans continued to show a traditional strength, leading 50 percent to the Democrats’ 30 percent in the 1.2 million absentee ballots already returned. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/822 "2008-10-30T18:42:58Z")
> [@HelloNinja](#): > > [The Economist magazine has endorsed Barack Obama for president.](http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12516666&source=features_box_main) This seems significant considering the chief issue in this campaign right now. Wow, that was a good endorsement. I liked that they carefully laid out their reservations but argued that Obama was the right man anyway. Do they have a history of endorsing US presidential candidates? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/823 "2008-10-30T18:43:54Z")
> [@mabes10](#): > > Maybe Chris Berman can do it. McCain and Obama will be on Monday Night Football. Will he give them nicknames? That deserves a Cafe Society thread! ---
**Author:** ![misshannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@misshannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misshannah)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/824 "2008-10-30T18:48:10Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Wow, that was a good endorsement. I liked that they carefully laid out their reservations but argued that Obama was the right man anyway. Do they have a history of endorsing US presidential candidates? Here is their roundup: [Economist endorsements back to 1980](http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12499760) ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/825 "2008-10-30T18:52:27Z")
[http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2008/10/economist\_endorsements.php](http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2008/10/economist_endorsements.php) As it happens I was just reading this Yglesias post and comments on past Economist endorsements. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/826 "2008-10-30T18:57:47Z")
> [@misshannah](#): > > Here is their roundup: > [Economist endorsements back to 1980](http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12499760) Cool, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/827 "2008-10-30T18:59:11Z")
Apparently the Economist really hates incumbents. They’re the ultimate Tuesday morning quarterbacks: either the other party would’ve done a better job, or they both stink so much nobody is worth endorsing. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/828 "2008-10-30T19:07:22Z")
I was just about to post what **Marley23** did. They also only avoid endorsing on such occasions as that the election is going to be a blowout (for the incumbent party) anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/829 "2008-10-30T19:14:06Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > [Florida is much the same.](http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YWI0M2FiNDJmMTcxNGNiMDU2OTcxZDI1Yzk0MDMwZDM=) > > > [@](#): > > > > Democrats are beaming that their party is outperforming the Republicans in early voting, releasing numbers Wednesday that show registrants of their party ahead 54 percent to 30 percent among the 1.4 million voters who have gone to the polls early. > > > > A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll gave McCain a 49-45 lead over Democrat Barack Obama among Floridians who have already voted. What’s wrong with this picture? Either the pollsters are missing a lot of Democratic voters, or a lot of Democrats are voting for McCain. You be the judge. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/830 "2008-10-30T19:17:57Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > What’s wrong with this picture? Either the pollsters are missing a lot of Democratic voters, or a lot of Democrats are voting for McCain. You be the judge. Sounds like another case of missing young and/or “unlikely” voters - although the Democratic crow-ers could be off, too. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/831 "2008-10-30T19:19:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe Chris Berman can do it. McCain and Obama will be on Monday Night Football. Will he give them nicknames? I can’t see any possible way that could hurt Obama, nor any possible way that it could help McCain. The biggest demographic left for Obama to pick up votes is the so-called “Joe Sixpack” bunch, and Joe watches football. Seeing a young, healthy, optimistic guy who follows sports on Monday Night Football will do a lot to helping folks identify with him. Meanwhile, McCain’s an old out-of-shape fuddy-duddy who doesn’t even know the difference between the Packers and the Steelers. What’s he going to do, recount how when he was a POW, he told his interrogators the names of the Redskins starting lineup? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/832 "2008-10-30T19:25:33Z")
He’ll ask how the Cleveland Rams are doing. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/833 "2008-10-30T19:27:32Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > What’s wrong with this picture? Either the pollsters are missing a lot of Democratic voters, or a lot of Democrats are voting for McCain. You be the judge. Here’s the whole article: [http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20081029/BREAKINGNEWS/81029048/1006/news01](http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20081029/BREAKINGNEWS/81029048/1006/news01) Allow me to quote the very next paragraph: > [@](#): > > Conducted Oct. 25-27, the Los Angeles Times poll gave Obama a 50-47 lead overall in Florida. Only a tiny fraction of the Florida respondents reported voting early, leaving McCain’s lead subject to a wide margin of error. A Quinnipiac University poll, released Wednesday, showed early voters favoring Obama 58-34, another small sample with a potentially wide margin of error. ---
**Author:** ![mabes10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@mabes10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mabes10)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/834 "2008-10-30T19:39:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I can’t see any possible way that could hurt Obama, nor any possible way that it could help McCain. The biggest demographic left for Obama to pick up votes is the so-called “Joe Sixpack” bunch, and Joe watches football. Seeing a young, healthy, optimistic guy who follows sports on Monday Night Football will do a lot to helping folks identify with him. Meanwhile, McCain’s an old out-of-shape fuddy-duddy who doesn’t even know the difference between the Packers and the Steelers. What’s he going to do, recount how when he was a POW, he told his interrogators the names of the Redskins starting lineup? I meant it sarcastically, sorry. It will make no difference at all, either way, and I think it’s a weird comment on our society that the last person interviewing both with be Chris Frickin’ Berman. Barrack “Hussein Doesn’t Mean I’m an Arab” Obama vs John [fill in a nickname]. As suggested, maybe a Cafe Socitey thread. And I’ll bet you he brings up when he was a POW, or at least his military service. “The Rediskins are fighting hard out there and they’ve got the scars to prove it, oh and by the way…” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/835 "2008-10-30T19:47:12Z")
“For 5 1/2 years, I couldn’t watch the Redskins.” ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/836 "2008-10-30T19:49:37Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > What’s wrong with this picture? Either the pollsters are missing a lot of Democratic voters, or a lot of Democrats are voting for McCain. You be the judge. Florida (particularly in the panhandle) still has a lot of Dixiecrats (or did in 2000, last time I really looked at this) who are registered Democrats but vote Republican all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/837 "2008-10-30T20:15:50Z")
> [@](#): > > I meant it sarcastically, sorry. It will make no difference at all, either way, and I think it’s a weird comment on our society that the last person interviewing both with be Chris Frickin’ Berman. I wasn’t commenting so much on what you said, as on the fact itself. I do find it a bit amusing how many last appearances together before the election they’re having, though. The final debate was their last appearance together before the election. Then they had that charity dinner thing, and that was their last appearance together before the election. Now they’re both going to be on Monday Night Football together, their last appearance before the election. Presumably, this one will stick. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/838 "2008-10-30T20:49:26Z")
Apparently, things are so bad, McCain can’t even pay for [spell-checkers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmZ3o0Di7Go) any more! See if you can catch it ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/839 "2008-10-30T20:53:28Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Apparently, things are so bad, McCain can’t even pay for [spell-checkers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmZ3o0Di7Go) any more! See if you can catch it I hope everbody spots it! ---
**Author:** ![mabes10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@mabes10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mabes10)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951/840 "2008-10-30T21:00:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I wasn’t commenting so much on what you said, as on the fact itself. > > I do find it a bit amusing how many last appearances together before the election they’re having, though. The final debate was their last appearance together before the election. Then they had that charity dinner thing, and that was their last appearance together before the election. Now they’re both going to be on Monday Night Football together, their last appearance before the election. Presumably, this one will stick. I see now they are going to be interviewed by satellite, earlier in the day, and it will be shown at halftime. So Berman doesn’t have the last word. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951.md?page=41) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-not-as-forked-as-the-mccain-forked-thread-but-still-forked/466951.md?page=43)