The steady trickle is turning into a flood, as more and more Republicans are distancing themselves from McCain's flailing campaign.
Also, early voting numbers and reports on GOTV operations in key battleground states.
And, Obama launches advertising in McCain's home state, as well as Georgia and North Dakota.
More Republicans jumping ship, from the Las Vegas Sun:
Nevada Sen. John Ensign has taken a slap at his party’s presidential ticket, saying Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin does not have enough experience to be president.
Ensign also said Palin’s counterpart, Democratic Sen. Joe Biden, is "much more qualified" for the post. The comments appeared in an interview on NewsONE that aired late Thursday.
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And it continues. Obama is endorsed by two former administrators of the EPA- both Republicans - William Ruckelshaus and Russell Train:
As former administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency, we have served three presidents as their principal advisers responsible for the implementation and enforcement of our nation's environmental laws. We are lifelong Republicans. Yet after much thoughtful deliberation we have decided to support Barack Obama in his bid for the White House.
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According to Mike Thomas of the Orlando Sentinel, reports on exit polls from early voting in Miami-Dade County:
Miami polling firm Bendixen & Associates did a huge exit poll during the first 9 days of early voting in Miami-Dade– almost 87-hundred interviews at 18 of the 20 early voting sites. The demographics of those interviewed–55% hispanic, 25% Anglos, 20% black– sound roughly like the county’s electorate. Bottom-line result– Obama 61%, McCain 39%.
This does look like good news, but we have to keep in mind that Democrats are putting more emphasis on early voting than the GOP. Thomas says Kerry won Miami-Dade County in 2004 with 52%.
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Obama is advertising in Arizona, according to the Los Angeles Times:
On Friday, the Obama campaign announced it would run an upbeat spot in the last four days of the race touting the Illinois senator's endorsements by former Secretary of State Colin Powell and economic giant Warren Buffett. Move On.org will run its own ads showing McCain struggling to hold on to his state.
Plouffe thinks it's going to be close in Arizona:
David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager, said Democratic turnout in early voting suggested his candidate was doing well, particularly among Latino voters and in the suburbs of Phoenix.
It is "a very, very close race," Plouffe told reporters in a conference call.
Obama is also going back up with ads in North Dakota and Georgia. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirms that Obama will air the "Rearview Mirror" ad in Georgia.
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Salon looks at the GOTV operation for both sides in Nevada:
In the end, the trouble for McCain's team is that the Obama campaign may also be exceeding its goals -- goals akin to doubling down on the ground game. Last weekend alone, Obama volunteers knocked on 150,000 doors, and they're planning to hit even more this weekend: Precinct captains are supposed to knock on the door of every supporter in their territory who hasn't voted yet three times before Tuesday. McCain could well turn out every one of his supporters in the Silver State and still find he's behind -- as Obama's massive organization may be presenting him with the kind of odds that the casinos thrive on.
Much has been made of Bush's GOTV operation in 2000 and 2004, but I think future campaigns will be studying Obama's 2008 operation for quite a long time. Way to go Nevada!
And, the Sun-Sentinel(FL) looks at GOTV in Broward County.
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Someone should send this graph to Rachel Maddow, from Charles Franklin at Pollster:
And yes, I love Rachel too.
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More reports of vote-flipping in Texas. Isn't it interesting that all the stories we've heard of vote-flipping have Obama votes going to McCain, instead of the other way around?
"Voters have reported, for example, that when they tried to vote a straight-party Democratic ticket, the machine flipped their choices to Republican candidates instead," said Jim Harrington, the organization's statewide director. "In some cases, voters reported a problem only with the presidential race. In other cases, voters reported the entire ballot being marked Republican by the machine. It's happening when people vote for Barack Obama; the machine flips the votes over to John McCain."
Complaints so far have come in from at least eight Texas counties - Collin, Dallas, El Paso, Galveston, Harris, Jefferson, Travis, and Palo Pinto. The complaints were gleaned from voters, the news media and the National Elections Hotline (sponsored by the NAACP and other nonprofits).
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Rendell maintains it is still a close race in Pennsylvania and urges Obama supporters to "crush" McCain and Palin, according to the Pocono Record (PA):
"They've run the most deplorable, despicable campaign I've seen in 31 years," Rendell said. He noted that in the 14 elections in which he's run, he always kept some empathy for the other side, knowing how bruising such contests can be.
"I'm competitive, but I've never been spiteful," Rendell said. "This time, ladies and gentlemen, I want to crush them."
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Also in Pennsylvania, Marc Ambinderreports that the Obama campaign is showing confidence in that state:
At this point, there are no plans for Sen. Obama to visit the state between now and Tuesday.
This makes me much more confident about Pennsylvania. If the Obama campaign were truly worried about losing Pennsylvania - and their internals were showing weakness - Obama would be there at least a few times before Tuesday. Of course, this could change but it gives me confidence about our chances in that state. GOTV, Pennsylvanians!
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12 of the 14 pundits on the Washington Post's Crystal Ball predict Obama will win the election.
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Obama racks up more ditorial endorsements today. He is endorsed by the Anderson Herald Bulletin (IN):
Barack Obama, for a host of reasons, is the leader the United States so desperately needs right now. More than his opponent, John McCain, Obama represents both a clean break from the failed policies of the Bush administration and a bright hope for a better future.
Also, Newsday endorses Obama.
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The wingnuts are going crazy over the AP story about Obama's aunt living illegally in the United States. These are the same people who were outraged (outraged!) at any mention of Sarah Palin's family. Just another example of the total hypocrisy of the right wing.
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So what's on your mind this morning? I'm ready for the election to get here already. Although, I will miss doing these diaries... but who knows, maybe there will still be a need for Morning Reaction after the election?