Why PA push by mccain? One possible answer

[radfringe]

NO EARLY VOTING and big ELECTORAL STATE

gives him 10-11 days to campaign and not worry about votes being "locked in" for Obama

[faithfulcitizen]

1. absolutely, plus they HAVE to win PA. They have no other path really.

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. IF...big IF. McCain .they takes Pa

Can he win?

[faithfulcitizen]

16. not likely. He would also have to win every other "battlestate" left, including CO.

[dixiegrrrrl]

22. That's what I thought...

I musta read something bass ackwards.

[hlthe2b]

2. What are their requirements for absentee voting, though?

and wht are the trends in absentee ballot requests?

[radfringe]

4. from local papers - absentee ballot requests are

up slightly, but no red flags, and increase isn't unexpected due to the number of new registered voters

they are expecting RECORD numbers of voters on 11/2

[TahitiNut]

17. "they are expecting RECORD numbers of voters on 11/2"??? On SUNDAY?

I don't get it. :shrug:

[radfringe]

18. typo...

had trouble sleeping last night, work has been jumping from one project to another.. so today I have "the stupid"

[TahitiNut]

20. Ah! OK ... It's just that this is the 2nd or 3rd time I've seen "11/2" on DU.

Each time I have to do a "wtf" and check my calendar. At MY age, you can't be too careful. :silly:

[BReisen]

11. PA Absentee Voting Rules

Here is a link to the PA DOS information regarding absentee and alternative voting options. My impression (as a PA voter) is that it's not something I can do unless I meet one of the listed criteria.

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/cwp/view.asp?a=1193&q=442991

[randr]

3. Start election day off with multiple problems at the polls.

Set the stage for a continuing barrage of challenges as election day unfolds. Neocon goonies disrupting polling places across the nation. Large state contests so beset by protest no winner is declared.
Chaos as a campaign tactic.
I pray this is not going to happen.
VOTE EARLY!!!!!
Encourage everyone you know to VOTE EARLY!!!!

[kath]

5. Also, per another thread here, almost the entire state has black box or "faith-based" voting - those

awful machines, with no way to audit or recount. Lovely, huh??

[moondust]

8. My concern as well.

I can just hear the MSM crowing on Nov. 5 how McCain gave it all he had in PA in the final days and it paid off BIG for him! (when in fact it was stolen)

[kansasblue]

10. I expressed similar concerns but a DUer from PA said...

to temper my worries because the Governor and the Sec of State are both Dems and would keep the machines safe..

[thecrow]

13. The tabulator is the problem, not necessarily the machines

It's a network and as we well know, networks are... hackable.

[Junkdrawer]

23. Read this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7574304

[kansasblue]

25. excellent info on PA

thanks

[bullimiami]

6. another mistake by the mccain campaign

pa is probably out of reach and they are putting the close states at risk.

[nerddem]

12. i wouldn't be so quick to judge

they've been fairly cautious of their resource allocation. public polls are good and all, but campaigns don't run on public polls, they trust their internals. mccain's internals showed mighigan was truly lost, so they conceded and pulled out. i bet both obama's and mccain's internals show pa a lot closer than the public polls which is why there's so much attention from both campaigns here both in advertising and appearances.

my best guess is that in all reality right now, pa is for obama but under 50 and by less than five

[hlthe2b]

7. Well, at least they have a Dem SOS and Governor...

Hopefully, they can check the black box shenanigans...

[DarthDem]

9. Low Potential For Voter Disruption in PA

Before anyone asks, I live in Philadelphia, so I have a somewhat (okay, slightly!) informed opinion about this.

Pennsylvania is simply NOT very ripe for voter suppression tactics a la Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004. In those previous cycles, with the possible exception of Jacksonville/Duval County, FL in 2000, the suppression efforts were largely aimed at rural areas with African American populations. This is NOT REALLY POSSIBLE in Pennsylvania. Why not? Because the local government apparata in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, where most of the black vote is originating, is firmly in the grip of Democratic politicians like Rendell and Nutter. The Philly police will not be out turning people back from the polls like the Florida Highway Patrol (at the behest of the despicable Jeb) was. It just isn't going to happen. Plus, any suppression tactics in urban areas are far less likely to succeed because, by definition, they are far more obvious to a greater number of people, and the media is immediately available to report on the situation - - in contrast to a small town, rural area like the FL panhandle.

In addition, in all Democratic-leaning areas like Philly and Pittsburgh where voter suppression could have any favorable impact for the Rethugs, the local (mostly or entirely Democratic) judiciary would not even blink before issuing orders to extend poll closing times.

I know many of you are worried about the touch screens. Rendell and his excellent Secretary of the Commonwealth, Pedro Cortes, a brilliant politician on the rise in this state, have that firmly under control. Rendell's recent comments were meant to guard against complacency - - I do not believe he has ANY intention of allowing voter suppression or fraud.

This is simply not the Banana Republics of Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004.

[dorkulon]

14. Another answer: They plan to get all ACORN-registered voters thrown out.

That's 20% of the vote.

[EFerrari]

19. They have a good cover story in PA for whatever tricks they try to pull.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

21. They have the other states they need locked up via fraud?

There are some disturbing things out of Colorado and Michigan........

[Stinky The Clown]

24. Here is the ONLY answer. PA is McCain's .......

He's pulled his advertising money from a number of states, the total of which is 21 electoral votes .... identical to Last Chance Pennsylvania's electoral count.