McCain dismisses poll numbers; insists he will win

Monday 27th October, 06:52 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 172 Total Comments Show All

sailwind at 11:53 AM JST - 28th October

The lesson here for the candidates is make sure every person is vetted beforehand so s/he will say, "Gee, great plan."

True, it is after all how they business in North Korea when the leaders do take questions from the "press" there also.

Have you really thought through your defense of making sure every person that asks a candidate is "vetted"? Don't you find that just a bit problematic that it might stop people from asking any questions?

I have some things in my past that I'm not to proud of but they are part of my life. Now if I have a chance to ask Obama or McCain a hard question that just on the off chance might be used to prove their respective positions, I have to worry that maybe some parts of my life that I'd rather not be public is now going to be? Think I'm going to ask the question?

This encourages debate and civil discourse?????????

Think this through Betzee, really think this through for a moment and then you might be start to see why folks might just be a wee upset that the media went after Joe the way they did.
Lieutenant at 11:58 AM JST - 28th October

Don't you find that just a bit problematic that it might stop people from asking any questions?

It's not that difficult. Just ask the GOP how they keep Sarah, you know - the supposed Vice President, away from it.
Lieutenant at 11:59 AM JST - 28th October

Wham double wham, take that twice.

I rest my case.
sailwind at 12:03 PM JST - 28th October

It's not that difficult. Just ask the GOP how they keep Sarah, you know - the supposed Vice President, away from it.

When was the last time Joe Biden had a press conference? Hint, it was over two months ago. Can't have anymore Hillary would have been a better pick gaffes.

Media has been pretty quite on Biden lately dont you think after the Dems muzzled him. They don't seem to complain about it though, funny that.
Lieutenant at 12:07 PM JST - 28th October

Media has been pretty quite on Biden lately dont you think after the Dems muzzled him. They don't seem to complain about it though, funny that.

He's done 170-odd interviews since selection, how many more do you need to get a feeling for what he stands for? Would you like more of this so-called biased coverage? Please whinge for the next four years, and revel in your misery at what the majority of voting Americans want.
Betzee at 12:10 PM JST - 28th October

Have you really thought through your defense of making sure every person that asks a candidate is "vetted"?

As a matter of fact, I have a relative who was vetted to meet GWB (as a reward for her work in his reelection campaign). It was the equivalent of getting a security clearance frankly. They even sent a van to pick her up at her home almost 100 miles away.

Now granted he is president so there were security considerations. But it went far beyond that; it was orchestrated in a way that would do any dictator proud.

By contrast, Obama was out answering the questions of whomever he encountered. Even then, it is a big deal and many people are probably intimidated by all the secret service and not necessarily at their most coherent (which could explain Joe's responses).

I met Senator Eugene McCarthy as a kid in 1968 when he ran against LBJ unsuccessfully. My grandmother, who never voted for a Democrat in her life, was very respectful (as was everyone else). But these are different times and candidates may feel, in light of this, they can't take the risk. I mean if you can win with stage-managed events, why bother?
frontandcentre at 12:18 PM JST - 28th October

usaexpat: "you better believe there will be higher taxes with a Pelosi, Reed, and Obama controlled government."

After the USA has blown hundreds of billions on the Iraq 'liberation' and the response to the recent banking crisis, which candidate WON'T - in all honesty - have to put up taxes?

Neither is going to be honest and admit it at this stage, but whoever's elected, they will have been left with no choice whatsoever.

I seem to remember you're a businessman - so you should understand basic accounting...
sailwind at 12:18 PM JST - 28th October

Betzee,

You avoided the issue like a true champ that you are, and were able to tie in Bush in every which way in your convoluted defense.

Mission accomplished on your part.
Sarge at 02:54 PM JST - 28th October

Obama understands very well how much money $700 billion is. It would take at least three Hollywood fundraisers to raise that much money.
smithinjapan at 11:21 PM JST - 28th October

"Obama understands very well how much money $700 billion is. It would take at least three Hollywood fundraisers to raise that much money."

and Palin might be able to buy a few more wardrobes to wear to them!

Anyway, what are you saying, sarge, that Obama raises a hell of a lot more money than McCain, and attracts heaps more people? Fine, point taken.
usaexpat at 11:47 PM JST - 28th October

frontandcentre: I think you are probably correct but erasing the national debt is not what the democrats have proposed. I have heard a hand out for everyone and everything with no way to pay for it. Obama promises a tax cut for 95% of the populace and that's just plain dishoneset. The government is broke and there is no way that new spending can be contemplated while offering tax cuts. You see it's the same on both sides of the isle. With Bush he offered a tax cut while engaging in a needless war that has cost billions. With Obama you have promises of tax cuts with credits for tuition, health care et al. My point is that neither party has any fiscal responsibility and with the democrats controlling all 3 branches of government there will be plenty of new social spending that has to be paid for somehow. The prosposal has been raising the capital gains tax (great way to hit the middle class on the sale of their biggest asset, their homes. Of course that won't really raise revenue nor hurt the middle class since no one has gains on their homes or investments these days. A non-starter for raising revenue until the economy picks up including the housing market.) I have also heard about raising taxes on the top 5% of the population to which I say again a non-starter. The wealthy shelter their money in ways the middle class can't and that's why the middle class continually get to pay for the poor while the rich send their money to the Cayman islands. If either party were honest they would address the deficit and tell the middle class to bend over but that doesn't really attract votes nearly as well as a vague promise of change or being a maverick in Washington. I have no faith in either party, I just tend to dump more on the guy who's running ahead because I can't see the magic some other believers apparently can.
Taka313 at 01:38 AM JST - 29th October

I seriously doubt candidate mccain has any hope of winning this election. According to RCP.com, Arizona has gone from solid mccain to leaning. If candidate mccain's campaign isn't organized enough and/or good enough to dominate the candidate's home state, there's no amount of whining about the media that will make a difference. The problem with mccain's campaign is NOT the media, it's Sen. McCain's decline into candidate mccain and the fact that his campaign has been bungled ever since he won the GOP nomination. Picking a running mate that can't handle a softball interview, panicking in the wake of the financial disaster, claiming a desire to maintain a noble campaign followed up by hiring the same people that smeared him in 2000 in order to smear Sen. Obama, claiming to be anti-lobbyist while employing several and a voting record that shows him for more of a bush lap-dog than a maverick is what has sunk candidate mccain, NOT the media. Sen. Obama may not be the best candidate ever, but the other guy (not "that one" mind you) ran out of feet to shoot some time ago and the press wasn't the one squeezing the trigger.

Taka
Proffessor at 10:52 AM JST - 29th October

Fox News will be mourning on Nov.5
taniwha at 07:30 AM JST - 31st October

Interesting how Obama at least on the topic of foreign policies virtually steals the Republican traditional right wing policies from under the feet of McCain.

John McCain as a result has been left with virtually only the energy versus environment debate in which to establish his own right wing creds, as he calls out on the podium "drill baby drill".

If the ruling elite had wanted to mollify the voting population with a Democratic president after two terms of the neo-cons while ensuring there was no change in policy direction which is to ensure American hegemony over world energy supplies and control over local dissent to the coming wars that will entail, then what better way would there be to do it then to place a charismatic, eloquent speaker such as Obama as the frontsman.
zurcronium at 06:09 AM JST - 3rd November

Cheney endorses McCain. The prince of darkness emerged from his undisclosed location to give McCain the final kiss of death. McCain didnt even allow Cheney to come to the failed repub convention in Minnesota. His ratings are below bush's record lows but yet he wants to help push McCain to a more dramatic defeat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyMDe9jj8X8

Polls are surging for Obama now. If the election were in December the repubs would only hold Utah and Wyoming.