(CNN) – Democrats are making a late play for Arizona as new polls show home-state Senator John McCain with a shrinking single-digit edge over Barack Obama.
A CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation poll released this week suggested McCain holds a 53 percent to 46 percent advantage. Other new surveys have indicated an even tighter race.
Earlier this week, the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee paid for negative robo-calls in the state, telling voters Obama’s election “invites a major international crisis he will be unprepared to handle alone.
“If Democrats win full control of government, they will want to give civil rights to terrorists and talk unconditionally to dictators and state sponsors of terror. Barack Obama and his Democratic allies lack the experience and judgment to lead America,” said the calls.
MoveOn.org said Thursday it was launching its ‘Obamacan’ ad statewide on broadcast and cable in response. The ad features a life-long Republican who supports Obama.
The Obama campaign sent its supporters in the state a message from national field director Jon Carson calling for volunteers, and pointing to reports McCain was "struggling in his own backyard."
“Supporters like you have put us within striking distance. Now it's time to pull off what no one expected,” said Carson.
The fresh effort forces the Arizona senator to direct late-campaign spending to his home state. Democratic officials - who say the state would likely have gone blue if McCain were not on the ballot - concede it's unlikely Obama will beat the Arizona senator there. But they say the move signals their confidence is more than symbolic - Democrats can afford to keep Arizona volunteers in their home state in the race's final days this cycle instead of directing them to neighboring New Mexico and Nevada, perennial battlegrounds.
From CNN Politics
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Wow, if McCain's having to actually campaign in his OWN state, then this race would seem to be kinda' like....well, over?
"Civil rights to terrorists"? Because Obama wants to extend basic due process to captured, suspected terrorists? I would think that John McCain, after his experiences as a prisoner of war, would appreciate and support the humane treatment of prisoners when we haven't even established their guilt or innocence yet. If they're found to be guilty, then by all means, punish them accordingly. But to arrest what amounts to nothing more than a suspect and give them no basic rights to defend their possible innocence is disgusting. We've already had proven cases of people who've been wrongly detained at Guantanamo for years, and we should do what we can to ensure that we don't let it happen again. How would any of us like to be wrongly detained and given absolutely no opportunity to defend ourselves for literally years?
I cannot believe McCain is sending out robocalls like that. That is a disgrace. He should be ashamed of himself and how he has conducted himself. These are not the actions of a leader.
Does anyone else think as I do that there may be a group more powerful than even our elected government that may just give McCain the election by telling the government to tell we, the people that early voting didn't, in fact, count. These would be the same people that put that executive warmonger in charge when he clearly lost the election in 2000.
not as loved as he thought in AZ.
can't just be palin. i suspect it's they're sending him a message about the disgusting way he's run his campaign.
he may not get reelected to senate if the buzz i hear is correct. he could get a democratic challenge and actually be out of office.
that would be very odd indeed.
Please, please come back to AZ Obama! We have many here waiting to usher you into the White House. If only there was one more campaign stop on your schedule...Phoenix would come out for you!!!
Still fired up and still ready to go...
OBAMA '08
This gets crazier every day. Thanks for planting hate seeds McCain. You and your kind create hate and intolerance. It's too bad we have to tolerate you.
That shows how low a most respected war hero can go to win the election. He is running a very cheap and divisive campaign. It is about time, we should retire Republicans for the next 4 years.
We turned blue in 96 and will again, already voted now helping get others to the polls along with my granddaughter an very excited first time voter. She'll be on the radio tomorrow on a "first time voter" interview program. So there is two more for Obama.
VOTE that is the most important thing, they were having tips on the Phoenix TV telling voters to bring a book, water and a snack when they come to vote. Some waits are up to 7 hours! Early voting ends tomorrow but would say the same if you are waiting or cannot vote until Tuesday.
VOTE
I think this article is absurd and Arizona is one of the most republican states in the country. Home of the state that believes in low taxes and supports John McCain.
My advice: Don't vote out of fear or propangada. The fear of anything is a killer. We need hope, believe and faith in our ability change things. Barrack Obama inspires hope for a better and great future.
Only way for Obama to win is to get out and Vote!!! It isn't over until its over. So Lets give Obama a blue victory in AZ.
Obama/Biden '08-12
I am from Arizona and I voted already for Obama
Dr. King would be so proud of Barock Obama if he was alive today.
Well, I voted for Obama here in AZ by mail-in ballot. The only thing McCain has done is collect a senator's salary. And I have my Obama bumper sticker on the back windshield! And I'm certainly not the only one here! I've even been educating my co-workers about Obama as well – one asked me a couple of weeks ago if he was really a muslim. I pointed out that 1) No, he isn't, but more importantly 2) Article VI of the US Constitution prohibits a religious test for any candidate for any public office in the country. But then, when do the neo-cons ever pay attention to the Constitution?
CNN – post please.
I HAVE TO TYPE THIS IN UPPERCASE. EAGLEBURGER, YES MCCAIN'S EAGLEBURGER, STATED ON THE RADIO THAT PALIN IS NOT QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB. MCCAIN JUST STATED LAST NIGHT HOW PROUD HE IS TO HAVE EAGLEBURGER'S SUPPORT.
WOW.......WOW......WOW
McCain is playing lowest of the low tactics in desperation. Like his speeches, his allegations are hollow and baseless.
Go Obama Go....people are behind you.
YES YOU CAN AZ!! Shake things up and turn your state BLUE!!!
If obama wins arizona then that is just flat out pathetic. I think tuesday will be an early election night. Obama will get at least 330 electoral votes. Go out and vote obama november 4th
I voted early today. The lines were long and there was clapping for first time voters every 10 minutes. There were young, old, black, white, yellow men and women. The buzz in the room was palpable.
This is the most important election of my life time and it appears that Obama (and the imploding economy) have been the catalyst.
Voted for Obama in '08!
Hmmmm! This Obama flavored kool-aid sure taste good, goes great with the sweet smell of victory! Sarah Palin can order her Eskimo driver to take her back to Alaska and Mc Cain can make an appointment to get his teeth whitened. If Mc Same cared about this country, his choice for VP would not have been "that one."
McCain/Palin invited the fake plumber on their campaign
VS
Obama/Biden invited the Clinton's
What a difference in strategy?!
IF ONLY ARE FOUNDING FATHERS COULD SEE WHAT OUR
COUNTRY HAS COME TOO. THEE AMERICAN WAY IS THE ONLY
WAY- MCCAIN/PALIN!!!! Wake up AMERICA!
This is awesome!!!!! The fact that McCain is fighting for his own home state is hilarious! I think that Obama winning AZ is a longshot, but the fact that it is even a possibility at this point is amazing.
Obama-Biden '08!!!!!
I predict the electoral college will go down as ...
Obama: 418
McCain:120
That should be the biggest landslide in U.S. History.