So, expect negative ads in the droves from the McCain Campaign this weekend. This is their ground game.
Sen. John McCain and the Republican National Committee will unleash a barrage of spending on television advertising that will allow him to keep pace with Sen. Barack Obama's ad blitz during the campaign's final days, but the expenditures will impact McCain's get-out-the-vote efforts, according to Republican strategists.
I have seen up front and close the Obama Ground Game from the primaries, as I will see it this weekend, up close, again.
An effective ground game can be worth 1-3 points on election day, if driven correctly and ferociously.
Many thought that Kerry would win in 2004, but Kerry did a lot of things in error that Obama took notice. For one, the Democrats "contracted out" their GOTV, which means they had no control as to what was actually happening on the ground, because Kerry was not running it. They also did not have the demographics of this country straight. This means that Kerry 2004 was surprised by the evangelical vote, which put Bush over the top in Ohio. Kerry Campaign were totally clueless. If Kerry had built and run his GOTV from the start, touching voters early vs. later, he would have become aware of this demographic.
The vaunted, 72-hour plan that President Bush used to mobilize voters in 2000 and 2004 has been scaled back for McCain. He has spent half as much as Obama on staffing and has opened far fewer field offices. This week, a number of veteran GOP operatives who orchestrate door-to-door efforts to get voters to the polls were told they should not expect to receive plane tickets, rental cars or hotel rooms from the campaign.
"The desire for parity on television comes at the expense of investment in paid boots on the ground," said one top Republican strategist who has been privy to McCain's plans. "The folks who will oversee the volunteer operation have been told to get out into the field on their own nickel."
Obama has maintained a substantial financial advantage during the general election campaign, forcing McCain to make tough decisions when locking down a final spending plan about two weeks ago. continue
Right now polls mean nothing. Really the polls don't. What is important is getting people to the polls on November 4th or to Early Vote if warranted this late date. North Carolina ends tomorrow, November 1st and Florida ends Sunday, November 2nd.
If you have not given to the Obama Campaign, now is the time. He needs money, because the barrage of the McCain ads will be hard and swift, 24/7. Also, an independent group has purchased ad time, nationally, to run a Reverend Wright ad. This ad is up now and if you have not viewed the ad, yet, you will.
The time to donate and GOTV for this campaign is now.
This election is not in the bag, anything can happen, but if we lose many have to look at themselves and ask the question, "Did I do everything I possibly could to ensure an Obama Victory?" If you did not, you are part of the problem.
Let's get busy.
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