So, it seems that McCain is abandoning his efforts in Michigan after new polling data suggests that Obama has a double digit lead over him, the result of Michigan being perhaps the hardest hit state of the latest economic crisis. Michigan was one of the swing states that McCain was hoping to obtain and with its 14 electoral votes was a critical part of his campaign strategy. McCain’s campaign says that the money that was to be invested in the state instead will go to several others- Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Minnesota- but as this excellent Newsweek article points out, McCain does not have any better chances winning in those states than he did in Michigan. Indeed, it seems that the McCain camp has decided on a single election strategy which involves winning several swing states (all of which Obama is currently polling higher in), and then taking a certain district in Maine, a scenario which seems particularly unlikely.
Of course, a lot can happen in a month, but the McCain camp seems desperate, as indicated by it’s increasingly nasty rhetoric (such as Palin recently accusing Obama of “palling around with terrorists”- a charge both scurrilous and seemingly pandering to the false rumors of Obama being some sort of closet Muslim and/or foreigner).
The amount of money that goes into these campaigns puts a really bad taste in my mouth, especially with the economic crisis getting worse by the day. I’m glad McCain is recognizing that it’s a waste to put so much money into Michigan, but it’s not much better to put that money in other hardly-swing states.
Times are tough, and that money could be spent so much more wisely. It’s hard to believe these candidates when they talk about fighting for the working class or even making tax cuts when millions of dollars are wasted weekly on repetitive ads and
I think one of the most effective statements either candidate could make is to cut their campaign budgets in half and give their donations to health care, charities and other groups affected by the crisis. If anything, it would be a huge publicity stunt and would give the candidate a lot of praise.
The millions of dollars spent in childish attack ads could be put in better places and in more deserving hands. Country first people!