The tilt in key states such as OH, PA, and VA (regardless of whether or not it has been called yet) augers a significant, but not overwhelming Democratic advantage nationally.
The truly exceptionally nature of our Governor's race makes for a political environment that should not be construed as being the same as that elsewhere. Nonetheless, Rossi is dependent on a lot of Obama-Rossi voters. That and a uniquely motivated GOP base and GOTV operation, are the keys to a potential Rossi victory.
And any victory, or even a very close ultimate finish, will have been in spite of running against a very challenging national picture, which includes a national ticket that was fatally wounded by late September.
Posted by Eric Earling at November 04, 2008 06:41 PM | Email ThisEven if McCain-Palin were to run the table and win EVERY ONE of the 11 states still in the ''Too Close 2 call'' category:
WA, OR, CA, and HI have a total of 77 EVs.
200 EVs have now been called by all the networks plus the AP for Obama; and only the AP has not called NM for him. Give Obama NM and he has 205 EVs (he'll probably take the 2 MA Cong. Districts too, but forget them for now).
Add 77 and Obama has 282. Sooo...:
UNLESS one of the bigger states that everybody has called for Obama turns out to be a massive mistake by all those callers; AND McCain-Palin run the table on ALL the ''too close'' states:
It's over at the Presidential level.
Which means:
The outcome of the race 4 Gov in WA is even MORE important; i.e.:
It is hard to overestimate how critical it will be to have Governor Rossi as a firebreak against the looming and pervasive Federal lurch to the left. If the (D)s were to take everything at both the State and Federal level...... well, among other things it may be time to read again Edward Gibbon's classic 6-volume 18th-century work ''The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire''.
FOOTNOTE on above comment by Scott; on prospective GOP national leaders:
How about Gov. Bobby Jindal of LA ??
Perhaps they have more.
Posted by: BA on November 4, 2008 07:56 PM