Can McCain really win Pennsylvania?? The McCain campaign says it is a "must win" but it seems impossible (Lansdale: gated, suburbs)

[Icy Tea]

It all comes down to October suprise.

[toobusytoday]

FactCheck.org: Born in the U.S.A.

"In June, the Obama campaign released a digitally scanned image of his birth certificate to quell speculative charges that he might not be a natural-born citizen. But the image prompted more blog-based skepticism about the document's authenticity. And recently, author Jerome Corsi, whose book attacks Obama, said in a TV interview that the birth certificate the campaign has is "fake."

We beg to differ. FactCheck.org staffers have now seen, touched, examined and photographed the original birth certificate. We conclude that it meets all of the requirements from the State Department for proving U.S. citizenship. Claims that the document lacks a raised seal or a signature are false. We have posted high-resolution photographs of the document as "supporting documents" to this article. Our conclusion: Obama was born in the U.S.A. just as he has always said."

I don't think the yard signs are any indication. I don't know if the McCain sings cost anything but the Obama signs cost $8 each. I've been told that it's been proven that signs do not make people vote more for one person or another so there's not a real compelling reason for them to be given away. It's better to use that money to run offices. Can McCain take PA? My guess is no. I just hope the newly registered voters that have never had an interest (or felt an obligation before) will take the time to vote. Will people that never voted really stand in line for over an hour?

[danwxman]

Originally Posted by BackToTheCityMouse

Why can't McCain win PA?

There are a couple (2) Obama lawn signs on my street, but they have been there since midway thru the primary season. But McCain signs are much more plentiful. As are the biggest huge-@55ed SUVs and pick-ups parked in like every other driveway...all new in the last 24 months or so (when gasoline prices were high). I mean, I feel like Goldilocks looking for Baby Bear's chair when I walk by these vehicles! By the way, this is a townhouse subdivision in suburban East Shore Harrisburg, with single car garages too small for these vehicles -- when we moved in it was like 90% cars in the neighborhood, instead of maybe 50% today. A lot of folks are doing really well due to military spending for the war. Who could better assure 8 more years of steady prosperity for them than McCain?

McCain's signs are EVERYWHERE across the Harrisburg area, their campaign has literally flooded every major roadway and intersection. Thing is...in the city anyway, I've only seen ONE McCain sign on an actual house (the rest are along roadways like Forster st and State st). Lots of Obama though where people actually live.

[HappyRider]

One can write a thesis on the use of campaign signs and their impact. We live in a subdivision and there are no signs here. I am not sure if its use is banned the bylaws somewhere but I don't think so. We don't have one either because I think it just creates unnecessary tension with the neighbors. I fly the flag several times a year and even that I feel may create some tension because I don't see anyone else do it. Then there are those huge signs on the side of the road, which are exclusively McCain's. I wonder what regulates their use and who actually put them up? I am surprised township has not objected. I don't agree that signs have no impact. The preponderance of one candidate's sign has a dispiriting impact on the other side. It will not deter the committed to voter for their candidate but it creates a winning aura for the other.

[phoenix_talons]

Whoever came up with the idea for the McCain campaign to "must win" PA needs to have his head examined. First, Obama is leading by a big margin, and PA has voted Democrat in the last 4 elections. Second, one state alone isn't enough. Why not FL? 27 electorals to PA's 21. Why not include traditionally Republican states NC, IN, MO, OH and NV where Obama is leading by a tiny margin? McCain can make them solid red. Their combined electoral (including FL) is 89. More than enough to win. Focusing on PA alone is foolish.

[wanneroo]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

FactCheck.org: Born in the U.S.A.

"In June, the Obama campaign released a digitally scanned image of his birth certificate to quell speculative charges that he might not be a natural-born citizen. But the image prompted more blog-based skepticism about the document's authenticity. And recently, author Jerome Corsi, whose book attacks Obama, said in a TV interview that the birth certificate the campaign has is "fake."

We beg to differ. FactCheck.org staffers have now seen, touched, examined and photographed the original birth certificate. We conclude that it meets all of the requirements from the State Department for proving U.S. citizenship. Claims that the document lacks a raised seal or a signature are false. We have posted high-resolution photographs of the document as "supporting documents" to this article. Our conclusion: Obama was born in the U.S.A. just as he has always said."

Apparently that document is not the original birth certificate but one from 2007.

Democrat: Obama's grandma confirms Kenyan birth

I read elsewhere some one in Kenya found a Barack Obama Jr. birth certificate in records in Kenya.

Could be interesting if the lawsuit goes ahead.

[wanneroo]

Originally Posted by phoenix_talons

Whoever came up with the idea for the McCain campaign to "must win" PA needs to have his head examined. First, Obama is leading by a big margin, and PA has voted Democrat in the last 4 elections. Second, one state alone isn't enough. Why not FL? 27 electorals to PA's 21. Why not include traditionally Republican states NC, IN, MO, OH and NV where Obama is leading by a tiny margin? McCain can make them solid red. Their combined electoral (including FL) is 89. More than enough to win. Focusing on PA alone is foolish.

I'll be at the McCain/Palin rally in Hershey on Tuesday so it will be interesting to gauge local reaction.

[phoenix_talons]

Originally Posted by wanneroo

Apparently that document is not the original birth certificate but one from 2007.

Democrat: Obama's grandma confirms Kenyan birth

I read elsewhere some one in Kenya found a Barack Obama Jr. birth certificate in records in Kenya.

Could be interesting if the lawsuit goes ahead.

I wouldn't worry one bit about that. The allegation of forgery was proven false. Photo of Obama US Birth Certificate. If it was true, Obama would have been disqualified a long time ago.

For all we know, Berg could have falsified the interview with grandma. Anyway, it's hearsay until we see actual facts.

[BackToTheCityMouse]

I don't have any feel for whether seeing campaign signs influences voting.

But I did think it was interesting this year to see how my subdivision had changed since we moved here in 2000.

There was an excellent series of articles on SLATE about why (most) neighborhoods tend to go very blue or very red...and then stay that way even as people sell their homes to new families. Apparently people move in to a neighborhood because of subtle cues that the folks already there share certain preferences with them.

Since I am always looking at local real estate listings, I am not surprised that Harrisburg city is blue. You can tell a lot about a neighborhood based on home decor. All the homes I've seen listed in my subdivision had interiors that were decorated in typical Central PA white-blue-brown. I think I know how they are voting.

I wouldn't be happy to see McCain get it. Except for Palin. She would provide an endless supply of twisted humor entertainment. Anyone remember the character Darlene MacBride from MADTV?

[toobusytoday]

Give me a break. Worldnetdaily is the fox news of on-line media. Factcheck.org is an unbiased organization. You'll see things on there regarding both candidates and how they both bend the truth. factcheck.org will tell you the truthiness of whatever they are saying. Here's another unbiased site: snopes.com: Is Barack Obama a natural-born citizen of the U.S.?

Back on topic?

Interesting theory ^ backtothecity, surely not true in my neighborhood. We had a real divide at my last Bunco game when one of the women was talking about how McCain and Palin stopped by her company and some were saying how interesting that must have been and my other neighbor said, "I'm sorry, but that woman is an idiot." Some of us agreed and some disagreed but there was surely no unanimous opinion.