Shrinking Swing State Battlefield Changes Strategies

[Thurston Howell IV]

An electoral battlefield map half its original size is prompting President Bush (news - web sites) and challenger John Kerry (news - web sites) to alter their campaign strategies and reallocate resources in the home stretch to the Nov. 2 election.

Both political parties now see as few as 10 states as truly competitive as Bush pulls ahead in places where the contest had been neck and neck, including Missouri, Wisconsin and Ohio.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=4&u=/ap/20040915/ap_on_el_pr/shifting_playing_field

[sniffa]

1. puLLing away in wisconsin?

that's odd. and ohio, i'm hearing from peopLe who actuaLLy Live there, is gonna go kerry.

[featherman]

2. the key paragraph

Always listen to Greenberg, folks. He knows what he is saying.

"There are tremendous issue opportunities. I suspect we'll see a closer race very soon," said Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg, an informal Kerry adviser.

[2Design]

3. what is interesting - even though they pulled back from Virginia

they sent out an email saying it is competitive - we will see

unfortunately even though it is high in military - most of them do not seem to be 'boots on the ground' troops - so they don't have the experience that will make them against this stupid war

[NWHarkness]

4. Completely false information

"Reflecting the changing dynamic, Bush's campaign this week increased its advertising in four states won in 2000 by Democrat Al Gore (news - web sites): Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Michigan.


It also was cutting back on ads in states that appear to be moving out of play: Arizona and Missouri, which lean Bush's way, and Maine and Washington, which slightly favor Kerry. Bush also was cutting two staff positions in Arizona.




Under pressure, Kerry moved up plans to advertise in Michigan, Oregon, Maine and Minnesota — won by Gore in 2000 — and in West Virginia, won by Bush. "

The Detroit Free Press reported this morning that both campaigns have scaled back in Michigan because Kerry is moving ahead here.

It's interesting that this story spins events in an entirely pro-Bush way. It emphasizes Bush moving ahead in some states, while downplaying those in which Kerry is increasing his lead.