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.
From CNN Politics
- Biden administration threatens veto on House GOP-led energy bill
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Former Fugees member faces federal trial as potential jurors are questioned about star-studded witness list
- Biden's student loan forgiveness program faces a new threat from Senate Republicans
- Why Israel's instability matters to the US
- Untitled
Denial, something McCain is very good at.
Whatever the outcome on Nov. 4th - Rick Davis will go down in history as the worst campaign manager ever.
Despite GOP hopes and cries of "socialist" or whatever the Scary Word du Jour might be, the electoral college math still doesn't favor McCain. If he wins ALL battleground states and keeps all states already leaning his way or solid for him, he still comes up short on the required 270. Obama would have to lose a few states trending his way (due to the worst polling errors in U.S. history, lots of closet racism, whatever) to not edge out a win on Tuesday.
Ha Ha! Keep the hope alive...
Obama/ Biden 08!
You are an idiot! HaHaHaHaHaHa!
Hey Davis- yeah today Obama leads in the national polls and in many of the battleground states- Davis this is the case TODAY not 10 days ago!!!!
Obama the ONLY person cpabale of uniting us!
Obama the ONLY intelligent choice!
Obama the ONLY one with great judgement!
Obama the ONLY CHOICE!
The beatutiful thing in America is EVERYONE is entitled to dream. So Rick Davis, John McCain...DREAM ON for a big win.
Hotline Poll + 7
Rasmussen Poll +4
Gallup RV + 11 LV +8
Marist Poll + 7
Zogby + 7
Battleground Poll + 4
ABC Tracking Poll + 8
TIPP Poll + 4
CBS Poll +11
Can the McLiar camp ever tell the truth?
you're toast!
I almost fell out of my chair when I read this one. Are we serious?
Aw, come on, that's a big Halloween joke, right?
VOTE VOTE VOTE. Vote early if you can. Tuesday may bring bad weather or sickness. Vote today.
NO to McCain!
Please, America, save our country! Vote for Obama!
I am scary of McCain/Palin.
the joe's have it: Joe the wall street crook, 6 pack, plumber, and now JOE McCARTHY. hate is hate and now you know why congressman lewis said what he did
It's Red, White, and Blue Time.
The McCain supporters will be seeing RED
The slate will be WHITE with new posibilities
And the electoral map will be filled with BLUE states for Obama.
America 08
They fight back alright, seems all they do is fight, mudsling, instill fear.
VOTE PEOPLE VOTE!!!!!
When this race is over, the McCain campaign staffers will have careers in writing fiction. What fantastic imaginations they all have.
He is right!!
whatever.....dream on.
I have a feeling they are planning something very very very sneaky. GET OUT THERE AND VOTE OBAMA SUPPORTERS!
Dont let these guys STEAL another election from us.
Obama/Biden '08
Face it, Republicans, McCain's choice of Palin lost you all the election!!!
The only way McCain can pull off a comeback is if WE DON'T VOTE!!! Everyone, PLEASE VOTE. Plan on waiting in long lines and do whatever it takes to make it as comfortable for yourself as possible, but VOTE!
"Well, you see, what we did was.. we polled 1000 Republicans.. and NEARLY HALF of them are voting for McCain! This race is far closer than you think it is!"
Ok, so fight and we will fight for Barack. That's of course, if they plan on stealing another election.
I wonder if this Mr. Davis supported and voted for McLiar McCain in 2000??