REPOST: McCain Catching up?

In light of an article from today's New York Times, which states:

"On the last Sunday before the election, the presidential candidates and their running mates kept up a relentless pace by visiting states their respective parties had lost in 2004."

I would like to restate (and clarify) the point I made in a recent post.

I was trying to make the claim that Steven made in his comment, and that is that John McCain seems to be showing his lack of confidence by pouring more money into states which President Bush won in 2004.

In light of the statement from the NYT that BOTH candidates "visited states their respective parties had lost in 2004" I would like to restate my point, especially in light of the professor's recent post.

Although it doesn't change the fact that all the states that were being visited on Sunday were lost by the respective candidates who visited them, it is important to note WHICH states they visited. Both of the candidates visited states which Nate Silver indicated would win them the election (Obama in Ohio and McCain in Pennsylvania). This indicates that both of them see the value in visiting specific states and are trying to win what was lost in 2004.

However, non of this changes the fact that John McCain is pouring more money into states that President Bush WON in 2004. When I first saw this, I was shocked and it showed a sort of "back-peddling" by the McCain campaign, and what I see as an almost desperate measure in what seems to be a lost campaign.

Although one might disagree with me, when I see someone getting defensive, whether in person or by acting the way the McCain campaign has, it indicates to me a lack of confidence (think for yourself about the last time someone started to argue with you, if you felt confident in your position you were probably on the "offensive," but if you weren't confident in your position you were probably on the "defensive" trying to make excuses for your statements or actions and "back-peddling")