Some Pre-Debate Data

I thought it would be good to look at a broad swath of data to digest before watching tonight's debate. Because most news outlets only report on their individual data, you don't always get the full spectrum.

The following data comes from this website. In terms of election data compilation, it is, in my opinion, the best place to go for info on the 'horse race.'

As you can see from the most recent data, McCain is basically screwed. His campaign announced last week they wanted to "turn the page" on the economic news, and instead spend the rest of the election going full negative against Obama. As you can see from the link, Obama quickly capitalized on this bizarre announcement. As Karl Rove said this weekend, you don't announce to the public you are going to quit talking about issues and instead will do nothing but attack the character of your opponent, you just do it!

I feel sorry for McCain in that respect, he is running one of the most poorly executed campaigns I can remember. Whether his gambit will work remains to be seen. In my estimation, times are too perilous for that kind of home-stretch tactic to work. That kind of thing would probably have been effective in 1996 or 2000, but this year it might just put the nail in McCain's coffin faster than ever.

There is already speculation that the RNC has effectively given up hope on the Presidential campaign, and will instead divert funds to hotly contested Congressional races. In essence, McCain would then be forced to fight on two fronts; attempting to gain ground on Obama in formerly Republican-safe states, while simultaneously fighting the RNC to keep sufficient funding flowing into the states the McCain campaign still wants to contest.