Rein

Chicago Machine

Tied in Minnesota

Minnesota has been a reliably Democratic state for a long, long time. They were the only state to vote for Walter Mondale in 1984. The have voted for a Republican candidate only four times in the last eighty years.

But, according to the latest Star Tribune poll, those days could be coming to an end.

A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll shows that the race is now a dead heat between Barack Obama and John McCain, each supported by 45 percent of likely voters in the state.

The new poll likely will stoke both sides' efforts during the final 51 days until the election, triggering a barrage of advertising, grass-roots politicking and, potentially, stepped-up visits by the candidates.

The poll found that McCain has made gains across the board since a May Minnesota Poll that showed him trailing by 13 points. He has picked up considerable support among men and to a lesser degree among women. He also has boosted his standing with whites, young voters and all levels of household income and education.

If Senator McCain and Governor Palin can continue to make gains in states like Minnesota, Washington, Michigan and Pennsylvania, this could turn into an electoral college landslide.

Time To Bounce

The new USA Today/Gallup Poll is out, and well, its quite good.

McCain leads Democrat Barack Obama by 50%-46% among registered voters, the Republican's biggest advantage since January and a turnaround from the USA TODAY poll taken just before the convention opened in St. Paul. Then, he lagged by 7 percentage points.

That by itself is good news, but the really important poll data is and always has been likely voters.

In the new poll, taken Friday through Sunday, McCain leads Obama by 54%-44% among those seen as most likely to vote.

Now obviously, no one, not even the most partisan McCain backer expects a ten percentage point victory. Convention bounces always dissipate somewhat over the following several months. But a lead this big is encouraging, especially heading into the debates, which I think we can all agree are Obama's biggest weakness.

Sarah Hurt Barack's Feelings

Barack Obama is mad as heck, and he's gonna...

Pout.

This is work I did three [sic] years ago They haven't talked about the fact that I was a civil rights lawyer. They haven't talked about the fact that I taught constitutional law. They haven't talked about my work in the state legislature or the United States Senate. They're talking about the three years of work that I did right out of college, as if I'm making the leap from 2 or 3 years out of college into the presidency.

First of all, I distinctly remember Rudy Giuliani bringing up last night Obama's tenure in the Illinois legislature, so I have no idea what Obama's talking about.

More importantly, this kind of whining coming from the man that refuses to acknowledge Sarah Palin as the Governor of Alaska is laughable.

Barack Obama, and, for that matter, Joe Biden get kicks out of mocking Palin's experience and refusing to acknowledge her title. Sarah Palin responds by verbally eviscerating both men (and Harry Reid for that matter) in front of 37 million people.

The Republicans fail to worship at the altar of the Great Community Organizer, and Obama sulks about it.

Maybe he's just upset that the lowly mayor of "Wasilly" made him look so bad last night.

Republican National Convention Cancels Program for First Day

Thanks to the Wall Street Journal.

Ohio Rep. John Boehner, the House minority leader and chairman of the convention, said the legally required business, including approval of the rules and the platform, would take place but "there would not be much beyond that."

Its the right thing to do. It would be improper and insensitive to have a giant party (which is essentially what a national convention is) until we know the scope and scale of this storm.

Real Change

3 AM

Hmmm

Will you also go with McCain?

BT: I am. Thirty-five years I voted Democrat, I'm voting for John McCain. I'd rather have four years of John McCain and the same and have a chance that Hillary will come back and win than have Barack Obama, who talked about change and hope with no substance. I'd just rather have McCain in. I think we have a better chance with McCain on terrorism.

From TAPPED

Black Republicans PAC

The New Black Republicans PAC ad on Obama. I have a feeling infanticide will strike alot of moderate voters this year.

Biden

Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden in his own words

A Whole New Ballgame

After weeks of Barack Obama's gaffes, flip flops, out of control surrogates and just his awful policy in general, the polls are starting to close in. The glow of the poat nomination win seems to have warn off, and the bloom seems to be off the Obama rose, as evidenced by the RCP poll average, which was near a seven point difference just a couple weeks ago, moving all the way down to four, including a flatfooted tie in today's Rasmussen Daily Tracker.

As the American people learn more about both candidates, including how dishonest and utterly unqualified Barack Obama is, I expect this to continue to shrink, leading up to the Republican National Convention in September.

Dr. No of Energy Policy

Hmm

Credit to Green Mountain Politics

Obama and McConnell on Gas PSerices

Senator Barack Obama on why he wants higher gas prices.



Senator Mitch McConnell in response.

Strategy Briefing with Rick Davis

Mario Cuomo

It's pretty bottom of the barrel when your taking your material from the "esteemed" Governor Cuomo.

Congratulations Senator Obama

I'd like to offer my congratulations to Senator Barack Obama on winning the nomination of the Democratic Party. It is a massive accomplishment to be the first African-American to be nominated by a major political party, and regardless of what you may think of the man, he deserves plenty of credit for defeating the seemingly unbeatable Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

I look forward to a spirited general election, hopefully one where Senator Obama is more open, honest and forthright with the American people than he has been up until this point.

McCain Embarasses Hecklers

Senator McCain quite simply made fools of these people. He pointed out that if they wanted a real debate, they would come to his townhall meetings and debate the subject with him. Since these people clearly have trouble just holding a banner, let alone formulating an argument that goes beyond a mindless chant, I can see why they chose not to debate the topic intelligently.

Without Preconditions

The new RNC web ad that states Barack Obama's foreign policy, with everyone from Harold Ford to Joe Biden to Tom Daschle pointing out how stupid it is.