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.
This may be close.... have to wait two weeks before this gets figure out... which is always a bummer...
That or the polls are way off... (likley)... and Obama gets a landslide...
And McCain said he was going to whip Obama's you-know-what in the final debate. That didn't happen either
Yea, the Republicans are fighting back with the most disgusting, slimy lies. I have absolutely no respect for McCain and Palin and the despicable campaign they are running.
Honesty and integrity will will the day. Looking forward to President Obama's win on Tuesday.
Getting prepared to cause some chaos there Davis with DOJ?!
Well, positive thinking is an attribute... ^_^
Whatever the McCain campaign says, the latest Gallup tracking poll shows that Obama's lead nationwide is actually widening in all categories (registered voters, likely voters traditional and expanded).
The latest polling in North Carolina by CNN shows quite clearly that NC is turning blue.
And yet another poll of Arizona released today by Reaserch 2000 (for DailyKOS) shows McCain up by one single point in his own home state.
It doesn't really look like "one of the greatest comebacks".
After eight years of Bush, does this guy think anyone with a mind is believing Republican spin?
Hey, Rick, your influence as a big time lobbyist is slipping away!
Rick Davis- You look like Jar Jar Binks.
Enjoy obscurity and your lobbyist money after Obama wins. It'll be great NOT seeing you after November 4th
You CNN people are living in a fantasy land if you think your liberal, muslim messiah is taking this election.
Yeah – a comeback and try again in 2012!!!!
OB/JB 08-12
Whatever makes you feel useful, Rick. It's over.
THE ONLY WAY FOR MCCAIN TO WIN THIS ELECTION IS IF THE GOP STEALS IT AGAIN!!!
I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS SEEING TIGHTENING BUT HE IS DELUSIONAL...WE ARE NOT GOING TO IGNORE THE POLLING BECAUSE THE POLLING WAS CORRECT IN 2000 AND 2004 ALSO!
ALL DAILY TRACKING POLLS SHOW OBAMA WITH A SUBSTANTIAL LEAD TODAY! EVEN RAS HAS HIM AT 51%...THEY WANT A TIGHT RACE SO THEY CAN STEAL IT! WE NEED TO BE UNITED...WE NEED TO VOTE!
Hopefully Rick Davis is still getting his payola from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, 'cause he's going to be out of a job real soon. Do you want fries with that?
. . . and the moon is made of green cheese. McCain can only DREAM of a victory. He sealed his fate when he showed what kind of decisions he's capable of – naming Palin as his V.P. choice. SHE IS A JOKE!
John McCain of 2008 and Al Gore of 2000 have something "critical" in common – they both picked the two MOST INCREDIBLY BAD Vice Presidental running-mates (and Bush 43's decision on running mates was equally bad).
There was SOME chance that I voted for McCain – but now, I will definitely not – and we can thank his moronic pick of Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Good luck...throw in the towel now and save your dignity....oh wait, that's right...you gave up your dignity when you brought Caribou Barbie on the ticket. Pathetic campaign for the right.
Oh, so i guess the McCain camp knows something every single reputable independant poll doesnt.
AMERICA: LETS STOP THESE CLOWNS. VOTE O/B 08
Possible , if you run an honest and sincere campaign with out telling lies and going for personnel attacks .Also please do not bring Joe (Plumber and Leiberman) into the campaign . If possible , try not to present Sarah Palin also
Rick Davis is a weasel and can't wait for him to eat his words come election day.
Come on give a person a break. I've heard it all.
Bah, don't believe Rick Davis. He said early today that the race in Iowa is quote "dead even." He is light-years separated from reality.
LIER!!!!!!!!!!!!! After this is over Rick Davis will be the laughing stock of the party and the country.
I already voted!!! For Barack Hussein Obama!!1
What else can they say? "We're going to get walloped?"
One can only wish ... LOL