McCain Really Thinks He Can Win California

I've always thought that the repeated assertions by the McCain campaign that California is somehow in play, despite all polling to the contrary, was just bluster, an effort to get Democrats to throw money at a perceived problem, reminiscent of George Bush campaigning in the state in 2000 as a way to unnerve Al Gore. And the Huffington Post has obtained a Power Point presentation from the McCain campaign that suggests this is exactly what they're going to try. This slide includes the states McCain thinks he can contest in November.



The fine print reads: "McCain's unique appeal to independent voters creates opportunity in CA."

Those must be the independent voters that have a 42/48 favorable/unfavorable rating of McCain, compared to 72/19 for Obama in the latest Field Poll. The independents who preferred Obama by 30 points in the last LA Times poll.

This is a common trick by the Republicans, trying to bait Democrats into spending money here. All I can say is, please, please, John McCain, come campaign in the Golden State early and often. I'll do the advance work for you. And be sure you go up with a week or two of commercials at about $3 million per. I can think of no better way for you to waste your money back up your bold statements about victory in California than to focus all your efforts on this electoral prize.

And while you're at it, pay a little attention to your own home state of Arizona, which you acknolwedge might be a loss.