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What's Up with Dick Morris' Electoral Map?
Dick Morris, former Republican aide to Bill Clinton, architect of the infamously successful approach to governance known as Triangulation, was manager of Clinon's 1996 re-election campaign until he was publicy cast off for letting a prosititute listen in on the President's calls. Most in the Clinton team were happy to see him go - viewing Morris as a kind of Dark Lord of the Sith who whispered seductive things about the power of the Dark Side to a President that seemed mysteriously swayed by them.
Fast forwarding to 2008, Morris was curiously mildy pro Obama during the primaries - just long enough to see his old boss Bill's wife Hillary shut out. Now he spends his time on Fox and NewsMax bashing Obama - spouting the McCain party line about the Senator from Illinois' radical past and his sinister associations - expressing concern for the dangers these pose to the Republic were Barack to win.
So with that background in mind, I ask you, fellow TPM'ers, what is up with Dick Morris' assessment of the current electoral map:
http://w3.newsmax.com/a/morrismap/?promo_code=6BD7-1
He is granting Obama 396 electoral votes to 110 for McCain, a landslide of Reaganesque proportions, ceding not only swing states like OH, NC and VA to Barack, but also conceding West Virginia - and catch this - Tennesse and Arizona?
All this, Morris claims, is based on his reading of the polls.
Three questions:
Fast forwarding to 2008, Morris was curiously mildy pro Obama during the primaries - just long enough to see his old boss Bill's wife Hillary shut out. Now he spends his time on Fox and NewsMax bashing Obama - spouting the McCain party line about the Senator from Illinois' radical past and his sinister associations - expressing concern for the dangers these pose to the Republic were Barack to win.
So with that background in mind, I ask you, fellow TPM'ers, what is up with Dick Morris' assessment of the current electoral map:
http://w3.newsmax.com/a/morrismap/?promo_code=6BD7-1
He is granting Obama 396 electoral votes to 110 for McCain, a landslide of Reaganesque proportions, ceding not only swing states like OH, NC and VA to Barack, but also conceding West Virginia - and catch this - Tennesse and Arizona?
...Republican bastions like South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana are now no better than tossups. If the election took place this week, it would be a wipeout of major proportions. Even McCain's home state of Arizona has to be classified as leaning toward Obama. McCain, as of now, can be certain of carrying just eight states with a combined total of only 36 electoral votes.
All this, Morris claims, is based on his reading of the polls.
Three questions:
- Are there really polls that would in anway justify this GOP - End of Days scenario?
- Assuming no to Question 1, is there any other data base from which Morris can extrapolate to get this forecast?
- Assuming no to Question 2, what is this guy's angle? Is he trying to scare out the vote?
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I hadn't seen his map. I used to watch him on Faux before I banned the station from my house, and hadn't seen anything he's written or said lately.
The only thing I can come up with is that he is messing with our minds, trying to get us to let up and get complacent...Maybe even hoping we'll stay home and not vote since it looks like such a blowout. Or possibly trying to get the right riled up so they'll work harder and donate more.
I want to believe that what he's saying is true, but he's a conniver and I don't trust him as far as I can throw him.
October 14, 2008 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with you. There must be a reverse psychology play here hoping that a blowout will both scare Republicans into getting to the polls lest this horrible Muslim-terrorist-socialist guy get into the White House while simultaneously luring the Dems into a false sense of security - perhaps even a bit of stay home it's all over laziness come election day. If he thinks his stupid map will keep us away, he is a a lot to learn about the New Politics.
October 14, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about 'what is he smoking'?
October 14, 2008 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink