Smart Move: Obama pulling resources out of ND, moving them to MN and WI.

[darius15]

Barack Obama, who has deployed more than 50 staffers in North Dakota in an attempt to become the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since 1964, is pulling out.

An Obama spokeswoman, Amy Brundage, confirmed Sunday that the campaign's North Dakota staffers were being sent to Minnesota and Wisconsin, where recent polls have shown a tight race between Obama and Republican John McCain.

She declined to say how many campaign workers were being shifted, but other Democratic activists put the number at more than 50. Obama has opened 11 North Dakota campaign offices and run television advertising in the state, which is unusual for a Democratic presidential candidate.

McCain's campaign has no paid staff or offices in North Dakota.

The Obama campaign's decision comes just before North Dakotans will begin marking early ballots for the Nov. 4 election. Absentee voting may start as early as Thursday, and county auditors have reported getting thousands of ballot applications.

Democrats say the Obama campaign employees have been working to identify sympathetic voters, a task that is more difficult in North Dakota because the state does not have voter registration.

more....

http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D93BBG8O0



This is why Obama will win the election. He is smart, and knows where to use his resources. Meanwhile, McCain JUST TODAY decided to put resources into NC, a state which has been pretty close for months now.

[blondeatlast]

1. AZers are being recruited to go to New Mexico, I may just do it.

The campaign opened an office here mostly to help with downticket races. This bunch is savvy, indeed.

[AzNick]

5. But... we could win in AZ....!

Really, we could. 4/8 congressmen, soon to be 5/8, and the governor.

We need to kick out the 2 senators (including McSame) next time around, and right now elect Obama.

Arizona is not a red state. At least not as read as Utah.

[blondeatlast]

9. The campaign is recruiting people to go to New Mexico.

I'm calling New Mexico Democrats and I may visit them too. Do as you will; I think they are being wise and I'll follow their lead.

[AzNick]

10. I know, I got the email n/t

[BlooInBloo]

2. I think he should put (more) resources into Montana...

(he says, as if he's a campaign expert)

[earthside]

3. Maybe the Work is Done?

If early voting is starting in North Dakota perhaps the hardest work has been completed.

So, it make sense to move staff ... but Obama wins North Dakota.

Right?

[darius15]

4. Well, I dunno about Obama winning ND

Pre-Palin, Obama was polling pretty well out there. But Palin rallied the base and now it looks pretty red, unfortunately.

[FVZA_Colonel]

6. At this point that seems unlikely.

Given the much greater liklihood of victory in MI and WI, this does seem like a smart strategic move (though I doubt he'll leave the state completely.)

[BlooInBloo]

8. There's approximately zero chance of Obama winning ND.

[rgbecker]

7. What do you mean, ND does not have voter registration?

Can I show up on election day and cast a vote anywhere in the state? WTF?

[Statistical]

12. ND has registration just not registration BY PARTY.

This make GOTV effort twice as hard. Also the entire state is more conservative than the nation is makes targetting difficult among usualy geo-social methods.

Basically it is time consuming and expensive to separate the red from blue in ND. If you don't do a good job you could end up registering, motivating, and GOTV for other side.

I never thought ND was in play. If ND went blue likely Obama won by landslide anyways. I can't think of any scnerario where the election is close and ND is the deciding vote.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

11. Wisconsin is in deep trouble this time...

Our state Atty General (conveniently also the Wisconsin chairman of the McCain campaign!!) is the new Blackwell/ Katherine Harris, with his lawsuit against the State Election Board guaranteed to disenfranchise 1000s, as many as 1,000,000 voters

[Statistical]

13. Got any links? Is anything being done to stop it? (nt)