OK, so I’m reading this article and I was stunned to learn that Obama had 11 campaign offices in North Dakota! North Dakota which only has 3 electoral votes. He had 50 staffers in North Dakota!! What the heck was he thinking? What did he get for his 50 staffers and 11 campaign offices? McCain is up by the 13 points. As of July 30 he has spent $160,000 for ads in a state that Bush won by 27 points.
No wonder Obama doesn’t have any money for Reid or for black voter turnout, he’s using it pursuing states he doesn’t have a shot at winning (even Dole won ND in 1996).
Obama is moving the 50 campaign staffers from ND to Wisconsin and Minnesota because they’ve become battleground states. The last time both those states went for a Republican wasn’t Reagan because Mondale won his home state (unlike Gore), the last time was in 1972 when Nixon defeated McGovern by a landslide. Seems appropriate that they are up for grabs this year, doesn’t it? 
BTW, the point of the article was that McCain-Palin outdrew Obama in Green Bay and of course the reporter had to note there was a good reason for that:
In their defense, Obama’s backers note their rally was held on Monday at noon, compared to a Thursday night rally for McCain and Palin.
But Obama’s rally was open to the public and it was at lunchtime. You had to get tickets to the McCain-Palin rally in advance.
posted September 23, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Read `em and weep. Michele:
Poll: Obama, McCain deadlocked in Minn.
Poll: Obama apparently leading McCain in Michigan
Poll: Obama maintains slight lead in Wisconsin
The Quinnipiac University poll shows Obama leading McCain by seven percentage points.
McCain tours heartland as new polls show Obama economic edge
AFP – 4 hours ago
New Poll: Obama holds edge on McCain in state
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI – 7 hours ago
Has Palin helped McCain close the gap in Wisconsin? Obama leads …
Kansas City Star, MO – 5 hours ago
Obama still leads McCain among likely voters by 7 percentage points in the Quinnipiac University poll.
Poll: Obama increases edge over McCain in Colorado
cbs4denver.com, CO – 3 hours ago
In Michigan, Obama leads McCain 48 percent to 44 percent compared to 46-42 percent in July.
Poll: Race tight in swing states; Obama up in 3
The Associated Press – 3 hours ago
THE NUMBERS: Barack Obama 49 percent, John McCain 42 percent
Poll: Obama apparently leading McCain in Michigan
Obama ahead in four key states as voters fret over the economy
AFP – 4 hours ago
In Colorado, Obama leads McCain by 49 to 45 percent. Last month, McCain was ahead one percentage point in Colorado, 47-46 percent.
OBAMA HOLDS A 15-PERCENTAGE POINT LEAD AMONG COLORADO WOMEN . . .
Obama Ahead in Key Battleground States
Wall Street Journal – 9 hours ago
New LA Times/Bloomberg poll finds deep-seated worries over the economy
Los Angeles Times, CA – 6 hours ago
OLD RELIABLE REPUBLICAN INDIANA with its 11 electoral votes HAS SLIPPED FROM THE JOHN MCCAIN COLUMN into toss-up since the last map.
In Colorado, Obama leads John McCain 49-45. He had trailed in the last survey there before the conventions; In Michigan, Obama leads 48-44. …
New poll might show post-DNC bounce for Obama
PolitickerCO, Colorado – 4 hours ago
It’s raining polls:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI – 1 hour ago
This one, by American Research Group, has Democrat Barack Obama leading Republican John McCain 50% to 45%. The survey of 600 likely voters was taken …
posted September 23, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Well, Michelle, obviously Obama expects such a tremendous landslide of support in North Dakota he’s shutting down his offices to avoid embarrassing his friend and colleague John McCain by winning every last vote.
posted September 24, 2008 at 2:32 am
I didn’t know that there were even eleven people in North Dakota.
posted September 24, 2008 at 3:45 am
i’m sorry michele… what was your point again? i assume that you had one.
posted September 24, 2008 at 12:10 pm
North Dakota has the same number of Electoral College votes (and almost as many people) as.. say… Alaska.
posted September 24, 2008 at 5:24 pm
i like the 50-state strategy, in theory. democrats should be out there listening to people from every state. but in crunch time, put resources where they make a difference. that’s clearly strategic thinking on obama’s part. he’s making a difference in ohio and in florida and colorado.