So much for a 50-state Obama campaign. Now down to 46 max

Exactly 44 years after Lyndon B. Johnson became the last Democrat to capture the state of North Dakota in a presidential election, it looks like Barack Obama won't be the next.

The Associated Press reported this evening and an Obama spokeswoman confirmed that the Chicago-based campaign is pulling its 50-some staffers out of the heavily Republican state full of embittered small towns and shipping the workers east to Minnesota and Wisconsin, where the Democrat's prospects seem brighter and closer.

John Kerry did the best of recent Democrats there, getting 36% of the North Dakota vote in 2004 -- 3 percentage points more than Al Gore in 2000.

The abandonment of at least one Midwestern state by Obama comes as a new AP poll indicates that race could play a significant role in deciding a close national election. (See video.) Some experts

estimate the first African American candidate of a major party might be as much as 6 percentage points more ahead if he wasn't black.

Obama supporters hope that their months of work, 11 closing North Dakota field offices and widespread television advertising in the rural state may benefit down-ticket Democrats on Nov. 4. The Obama staff evacuation comes as early balloting is about to start there.

According to the AP, the McCain campaign has no staff or offices in North Dakota, another of those high Plains states where the livestock population far outnumbers the humans.

Few campaigns ever openly admit abandoning any state and some, like George W. Bush in 2000 and McCain this year, openly talk of competing in a state like California, as a feint to force their opposition to defend it unnecessarily.

Earlier, Obama halted television advertising in Georgia. Idaho was conceded a Democratic write-off early on, as is Alaska now, given the presence of its popular Republican Gov. Sarah Palin as the vice presidential running mate on the GOP ticket.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[RE: Politicus Finch]

"Looks like the son of Democrat in the Tennessee state legislature was a part of Palin's e-mail being hacked (a felony, btw.) Coincidence that it just happened to come from a congressman's family? I think not. How many times does Obama have to be linked to criminal activity before people start looking seriously his past and his connections?"

I'm no Obamabot, but assuming that he is responsible for the hacking - aside from the Anon being an Obamabot - is just plain Silly!

Also, am I the only Anon that is thinking about McGovern's win in 1972?

[Nan]

I find it fascinating that the MSM is begining to blame "race" for a probable Obama loss in November. Rather than simply focusing on blaming whites for their attitude, perhaps they should spend a little time reflecting on the aspects of black culture and behavior that have created the negative image that the MSM is reporting. Acceptance of negative aspects of 'black' culture is being seen as helping to create a coarsened mainstream American culture. This combined with special preferences as a substitute for the earlier vision of equality has created an extremely divisive situation that is creating even more damage to our country.

[Allen]

Hey, don't give up on Georgia yet, we're still fighting here!

As to why...does anyone really have to ask? Any white candidate should be able to beat McCain or just about any other Republican for the office.

[Joanne600]

Actually Obama would probably be up by 15 percentage points if he had some genuine executive experience and could form an opinion without conferring with his 300 foreign policy advisors first. Alas, there is no there there.

[Darlin]

Is it possible that people could leave race out of this? I am so sick of hearing about it! Suddenly I belive that America does have racial issues and they aren't against blacks, they are against whites. Just because I am a white American who sincerely dislikes Obama as a candidate. He lies, contradicts himself, has no respect for our flag or our national anthem and is inexperienced and arrogant, all reasons not to vote for him. I wouldn't not care if he were purple and was descended from parents on Mars. I want the man to win who knows our country and isn't so arrogant and vile. Obama is a gifted speaker but that alone cannot run the White House. Quit whining people. If you care so much about Obama why don't you try to sell us on the issues and quit worrying about color. 10 to 1 Toni who made the post about racism is black and is a racist. He has not recovered from slavery yet! Slavery is dead. Almost everybody who was involved in it is now dead. Martin Luther King's dream has come through. When I see a man I do not judge him by his skin but by his character. Get over yourself. See Obama for what he is - NOTHING! Stop making excuses and take your sweet little self to the polls and vote Obama. You are lucky to be an American and have that option.

[Matthew Vincent]

"...the first African American candidate of a major party might be as much as 6 percentage points more ahead if he wasn't black.'

I wonder if the AP did a poll and figured out how many people wouldn't be voting for him BECAUSE he is black?

[Trav]

What? No, "I was a lifelong Republican but now I just can't vote for McCain" posts yet?

Mr. Axelrod, you're slipping sir. How much money is Obama paying you to just sit on your hands??? Get your astroturfers over here quick! Turn these comments in Obama's favor!

Play the racism card when you have no other convincing arguments, smear that Palin girl, do whatever it takes to win!

'Cause that's what we Dems are about, winning at all costs!

[JackieE]

"embittered small towns"????

Shouldn't that be "embittered small town where they cling to their guns and religions and reject the message of hopey changiness offered by his Holiness, the LIghtworking Messiah, Barack H. Obama."

He heals the sick, raises the dead, and can turn water into fine French wine, but he can't carry North Dakota?

Truly, His ways are mysterious.

[Redhead Infidel]

Oh Jill, Jill, Jilll...

You've bought into the race-mongers' propaganda. Even my own kids have seen through that - and they are KIDS.

Please follow Tony Howdle's example and don't vote - it's just too hard for people like you and you might hurt your simple self.

[fgmorley]

What's with the characterization of North Dakota's "embittered small towns"? With this attitude, either from the author of the article, or from the Obama campaign, it's not hard to see why many Americans don't buy into the Obama mystique. Obama and his MSM cheerleaders don't have a clue about how to appeal to average voters, but they can surely insert foot into mouth.

[Phil]

"heavily Republican state full of embittered small towns"

Embittered?

Do you have any comprehension of how condescending this sounds?

[goon]

I live in North Dakota and to think that he was going to win in a very red state is pretty over confident, while a lot of us seen it coming, it doesn't mean we are racist in North Dakota, it means we reject marxism.

[Mary Hartigan]

Where are the facts? I realize that you don't have actual reporters anymore, but if you can't report the facts, put it on the editorial page(s).

How come he's pulling out? What are the poll numbers? What are the breakdowns?

Where's the explaination of where the people are going and the policy behind how campaign resources are being used.

Or you could interview people in North Dakota about the impact the offices and staff had, and then the impact of their leaving.

Perhaps you're just bitter that you can't cover the field offices in North Dakota anymore. Oops, I guess you never did that. Perhaps it's because you're just a hometown paper with state-wide pretentions and a national campaign is outside your coverage area.

[Jerry]

What happened to Obama's fifty-SEVEN state campaign?

[Aaron]

"embittered small towns." Maybe that should describe all of the urban areas that voted Kerry and did not win.

[steve]

OBAMA / BIDEN:

THE LEAST QUALIFIED PRESIDENTIAL TICKET IN AMERICAN HISTORY. HANDS DOWN. COMBINED THEY HAVE:

NO EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE

NO MILITARY EXPERIENCE

NO BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

[SukieTawdry]

Obama is abandoning a state in which Democrats are seldom competitive so naturally we're going to blame it on racism because you know how those small town embittered folks are--always voting against their own interests and afraid of people who don't look like the other presidents on the dollar bill. They probably don't like his funny name either. And I bet they think he's a Muslim. Let's face it, small town Americans in red states suck canal water and should be disenfranchised. What a shame the first post-racial candidate isn't able to unite them with their educated betters who judge people solely on the content of their characters and have not a prejudiced nor biased bone in their bodies. What a tragedy that these poor self-deluded folks don't recognize the best educated, wisest, most qualified, most experienced, most intelligent, most fantabulous presidential candidate ever! Poor fools, we should pity, not censure them.

[Laura]

Why is the poll on race discussed in this post about North Dakota? Is it meant to imply that Obama is doing poorly in North Dakota because the people there are racist? Although I am not from North Dakota, if I were I would be offended by this insinuation.

Oddly enough, the same poll finds Obama ahead of McCain! It would seem that if race is impacting the election it is not actually damaging Obama much.

I recommend reading the following blog post to put the poll and its findings in context:

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/ap%E2%80%99s-ron-fournier-racial-arsonist-and-unethical-journalist

[Jacob]

Tony H, You said, " I'm one of those Canadians that would give up my vote in our upcoming election to vote in the U.S. election. I have never even bothered to vote before, but I would vote for Obama. "

I assume you are aware of all of Obama's associations with people like Rev. Wright, Ayers, Soros, Rezko, etc. I am wondering why you choose to dismiss those associations and how those people helped to influence Obama.

[Archie haase]

Like South Dakota and southern United States North Dakota has a history of racism against people of color in this case indians. (North Dakoa is a racist state). Only progressive politically when it comes to family farm money from uncle sugar. To their credit they have good senators from that state.

[john's son]

Barach Oboma was a follower of the Reverend Wright for a number of years and has talked on the good things the minister has done (in his opinion) but not much about the false accusations made by him and his church concerning their concern for the egregious acts they claim were committed by the U.S. Govt.

Now Barrach is affiliated with George Soros -his second and current mentor- whose views about our society and politics are well known by the liberal community. The latest speech made by Barach closely reflect George's views on his political science views namely the validity of our constitutional rights including- the right to bear arms and freedom of religion. Both of these are basic rights and not up for debate by anybody including junior senators.

I remember the Communists used to refer to our freedom of religion as a narcotic of the masses' .I am concerned that Barach's reference to religeon was a trial balloon to see how the public will react to Barach's/ George Soros political science opinions and the direction they want the United States to go. From what I have heard, the response hasn't been favorable to Oboma remarks and has instead resulted in a greater scrutiny by the citizens of the United States of his views, and his mentors namely the Reverend Wright-advisor on anti American views and George Soros- financial support, Tony Rezo- indited fixer and William Ayers- unrepentant terrorist.

[indga]

So the Dems' first African American candidate would do 6% better if he were white? In fact, he'd do 100% worse.

If he were white, then he'd not be the Dems' first African American candidate. He'd just be the junior senator from IL busy doing nothing in the Senate, and HRC would be the Dems' nominee for president. She's white, but not African American white and so would not benefit from the 6%.

I'm just following your logic.

[Eric Yendall]

Why is it that stupid people tend to be concentrated in rural areas and small towns? Is it genetic: their forebears weren't too bright and had to move into the remote and marginal areas because the best land had already been taken-up by the smart people. Or is that that they truly believe the myth of the rugged individual making his own way through life (with a little help from agricultural subsidies, cheap water, and import restrictions); or do they just not get out much and mix only with their own ignorant kind? The world is a much bigger and more complex place than you seem to think and you need people with brains and talent to lead you. It is a no-brainer to vote for Obama for President.

[Bill]

I am a college student and resident of North Dakota and someone who is very very liberal. I live in Fargo which is our biggest city, small by a lot of your standards I am sure, but bigger for our region. Anyway, blogs like this is why some people in the midwest have problems with some of the coast-bias. Fargo and ND for that matter overall is not a very racist state. Our senators and congressman are all Democrats not to mention the 2 senators are probably some of the best in the country and are good friends of Obamas. Obama is doing well in ND and the polls here are actually neck and neck. I know, I worked for the campaign doing voter identification. Just take a look at the map on Politico.comhttp://www.politico.com/convention/swingstate.html Yes, for presidential elections we do tend to vote Republican as it is documented, but this year there is more a chance then ever, its still a longshot but theres still a shot. Any political scientist could tell you why he is pulling out. I am a political science major. We have 3 electoral votes, its not racism, Fargo is a pretty liberal city as far as cities in this state go. The fact this election is very close everywhere means Obama needs to divert his resources to the obvious "swing states". Its simple election strategy. You divert your resources to where you need them most. Right now its in key midwestern swing states. ND is close, but its not going to be hugely important with just 3 electoral votes. If ND does go to Obama it will just demonstrate the strength of his message as well as the dissatisfaction with the current administration. Bush also has very low approval rating here. A lot of rural people in this state don't support McCain because he has a terrible farm bill record.

[Liz]

did you really just describe north dakota as a state of embittered small towns? and you wonder why they dislike you? huh. for the life of me, i just can't figure it out..