October 31st, 2008
01:38 PM ET
14 years ago

McCain campaign predicts 'one of the greatest comebacks'

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/31/rickdavis.jpg caption="Rick Davis says McCain is closing gaps in the polls."]

(CNN) - As late polls continue to shows Barack Obama with an edge over John McCain in key battleground states, the Arizona senator’s campaign manager told reporters Friday the Republican nominee had momentum heading into the race’s closing days.

"We fight back," campaign manager Rick Davis said on a conference call, echoing McCain’s recent stump speech. "And we are witnessing, I believe, probably one of the greatest comebacks since John McCain won the primaries."

The latest CNN national poll of polls shows that Senator Barack Obama is at 50 per cent to McCain's 43 per cent, with 7 percent undecided. But Davis said surveys are irrelevant in the race’s homstretch.

"Guess what? Polling isn't accumulative," he said. "It's whatever it is today, and we see a very, very tight race today, so it really doesn't matter where it was ten days ago."

Davis claims that the campaign is beating back the perception that Obama is better suited to handling the financial crisis.

"One thing that is clear is that we've established a momentum; we've increased our gains in virtually every one of the battleground states throughout the course of the week," Davis said. "We've had probably the best 10 days of polling since the convention. We think we've shaken off the effects of the financial collapse that suppressed our numbers prior to the last debate."

Some CNN analysts see a different story.

"Obama's lead in most of the battleground states appears to be holding steady at this point," said CNN Senior Political Researcher Alan Silverleib. "If McCain can't close the gap over the weekend in states like Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio, there is no way for him to reach 270 electoral votes on Election Night."

And the McCain campaign is pushing its ground and advertising efforts as hard as possible in those states, pouring additional resources into advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts in battleground states like New Hampshire and Ohio.

"We're banking on a very close race," said Davis. "I mean we think this is going to be a tight electoral college year. We think this is going to be a tight popular vote year. There's no indications otherwise today."

And he responded to Obama campaign manager David Plouffe’s morning announcement that the Democratic nominee was going on the air in McCain’s home state of Arizona, and back on the airwaves in traditional GOP strongholds like North Dakota and Georgia.

"We encourage them to please pick other states that we intend to win, to spend their campaign cash and spread it out as much as they can," said Davis.


Filed under: John McCain
soundoff (331 Responses)
  1. NV for Obama/Biden

    I cant wait until Nov 5th so I never again have to be subjected to the immature, moronic rhetoric of Rick Davis or Tucker Bounds!!

    Get out and VOTE!!!!

    NV WILL be BLUE!!!!!

    Obama/Biden = President Obama and V.P. Biden!!

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  2. Peter (CA)

    And I thought Tucker Bounds was the biggest liar in that campaign.

    I'm guessing he is saying this so that the Republicans can still get some of their Senate and House seats.

    For McCain to win, it would take voter fraud of the magnitude of an third world dictatorship. There would have to be National Guard troops in the streets and martial law would have to be declared.

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  3. Jason

    "I mean we think this is going to be a tight electoral college year...There's no indications otherwise today."

    Ummm...

    Other than the early voting returns showing Obama up by 10-20%?

    Other than nearly ALL of the non-partisan polling sites giving Obama a 50-125 point electoral edge?

    Other than nearly ALL polling showing that the popular vote margin hasn't changed by more than a few points in weeks?

    Other than that, no indications otherwise...

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  4. GERRY

    HELLO – AM I MISSING SOMETHING? MR. DAVIS DON'T YOU WISH!
    THIS ELECTION IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF OUR MAKER – I KNOW HE WILL MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.........GO OBAMA !!!!!!!!

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  5. claudia dick

    the last time mcCain run for president he said the same thing he is saying now.that the polls are incorrect ,in denial again.

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  6. "We're banking on a very close race,"

    I wouldn't hire this man to plan or work on my campaign for dormitory representative at my school – he's not even playing to win. They're no draws in presidential elections.

    I'll vote for the Obama/Biden ticket.

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  7. ebony

    He is talking about the Jeremiah Wright ads that the McCain Campaign surrogate pac orgs have started airing. That is thier prayer... that it will SCARE PEOPLE into voting for McCain. Laughable!

    We all know that republicans lie and will do anything (disenfranchise voters, wrig machines) to win the presidency.

    I just hope that the Jeremiah Wright ads DO NOT WORK and that McCain and his club are remembered as the shameless, immoral sellouts that they really are.

    Gee McCain, at least LOSE with HONOR!

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  8. TBT

    So much cash, so little time .... to spend it
    Well, might as well use it to get McCain to come back and try to keep up by spending his little cash where he wasn't supposed to. BRILLIANT

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  9. Mary from Sarasota FL

    Numb nut; these polls were day before yesterday, not ten days ago.
    We will see on Tues night. We will see.
    and GO VOTE, people GO Vote !! I did and it feels GOOD...

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  10. Vickie

    Obama supporters................VOTE!!!!!
    Don't take anything for granted.

    Obama/Biden '08

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  11. Phoenix

    remember davis, we have the money, you don't. By the way, thanks for all the Republican endorsements.

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  12. Parish, Cincinnati OH

    All this is meaningless if you don't get out to vote! Want to prevent the upset. get to the polls today!

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  13. NE DEM

    What else is he going to say? "We're done"?

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  14. Justin M

    Must be hard to be on the losing team...

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  15. daniel

    this sounds to me like the desperation and hopelessness of a drowning man who wants to rest of the country to take him and his campaign seriously. after talking so much about judgement look what he has for a vice presidential pick and all the negative and racially coded campaign slogans. i can't wait for election night to see the look in their faces when they deliver their concession speech or they are planning on a recount!

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  16. Jess

    Does this mean, Sarah Palin is going to be build the bridge to nowhere?

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  17. Rachel Farris

    Come on Missouri.....get out and get Obama in there. We can't afford 4 years of McCain/Palin. She was just in Cape Girardeau Missouri. Same old rhetoric from what I understand. All talk and nothing said.
    I just read the McCain healthplan. It is as screwed up as the Drug Plan for seniors. All you seniors take heed!

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  18. David Stein

    Delusional. Really, more than that, this is the sound of entitlement in a state of shock and awe. Oh, how we love it here in Canada, how indeed.

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  19. Kate, New York

    If Rick Davis says it enough, he thinks it will come TRUE! McCain/Palin are toast! He says the polls don't mean anything, but if the percentages were the other way around he would be singing a different tune!

    When the Republicans have to spend their money in traditional Red States, like Montana, North Dakota, and Arizona something is definitely wrong.

    Everyone needs to VOTE – JUST VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN

    October 31, 2008 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  20. Greg, San Francisco, CA

    Nothing should be taken for granted and all Obama supporters should be certain to vote.

    October 31, 2008 02:14 pm at 2:14 pm |
  21. Craig a Texas Democrat

    The only way McCain could comeback and win is if the GOP steal the election.

    October 31, 2008 02:14 pm at 2:14 pm |
  22. mstercor

    please god, do not let this man and woman win!

    we need hope
    we need peace
    we need

    obama/biden

    October 31, 2008 02:14 pm at 2:14 pm |
  23. Ken J

    Looking for something better in the Buckeye State. It will be close, but we need change in Ohio....not smears, not lies, not fear, not erratic leadership, and not hopelessness. Going to now to GOTV in NE Ohio for true hope and true leadership. Vote BO/JB today!

    October 31, 2008 02:14 pm at 2:14 pm |
  24. steve

    Obama is sweating now. Ha ha. Go johnny go!

    October 31, 2008 02:14 pm at 2:14 pm |
  25. asiana

    WHAT? I can't believe how republicans want to believe that Sen. McCain can still win this! They're in denial. It's so over...

    October 31, 2008 02:14 pm at 2:14 pm |
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