There's a saying that you are judged by the company you keep.

First Kinder hooks up with Karl Rove in Kansas City.  Now Kinder and Dick Cheney are going on a little hunting expedition. 

If history is guide, path to White House is through Missouri
by Michael Mathes

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (AFP) - With the 2008 presidential election boiling down to a handful of battleground states, the tightest race of all has emerged in Missouri, the most accurate political bellwether state in US history.

The campaigns of Barack Obama and John McCain are taking a no-holds-barred approach to the midwestern "Show Me" state, and with good reason; Missourians have voted for the presidential winner in all but one election since 1904.

With such imposing history dictating outsized attention for the state, Republican McCain made two stops in Missouri in late September while Democrat Obama earlier launched a bus tour of the state's Republican stronghold southwest.

Officials from both parties concede the campaigns are pouring resources into the state in a mad dash for Missouri's 11 electoral votes.

The candidates have blitzed the state with political ads, with Obama reportedly spending six million dollars on media advertising and McCain close on his heels with 5.5 million.

Missouri's vote is on a knife edge, and recent major polls have toggled back and forth; Thursday's average of recent polls by independent website Realclearpolitics.com shows McCain at 47.8 percent and Obama at 47.4 in Missouri. The previous day it was Obama 47.8, McCain 47.5.

"Missouri is in the middle of the country geographically but also the center of the country
politically," Washington University history professor Peter Kastor said. "It is a state where various regional political cultures all exist."

That could favor Obama, Kastor said, as he has the passionate oratory skills of the deep South combined with a hard-driven persona of a cosmopolitan Northeasterner.

For two weeks the McCain camp told us that the town hall style debate was McCain's favorite.  Haven't they heard of lowering expectations?  I, for one, got sick of watching grandpa waddle around on stage.  He's had a hip replaced or what?

CNN - The reaction from iReporters reflects the results of a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey that was conducted after the debate. Fifty-four percent of respondents said Obama performed better in the debate, while 30 percent said McCain fared better.

If you call yourself a 'Maverick' enough times - does that make it true?

Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.
Editor MOTO is a Maverick.

Now I'm one too.

On the Eve of the Missouri VP debate, it's only fair to Pray for Sarah Palin.

From the inbox:

The Election Protection hotline 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) went live and will be available now through Election Day with live help from trained volunteers for anyone with questions about their registration status and voting. Volunteers are available 9-5pm EST to start. 
 The NY Times did a whole editorial about what the Election Protection coalition is doing. (Makes me think folks should program 1-866-OUR-VOTE into their phones.) Anyhow, here’s an excerpt from the Times piece:
 
“Groups that are committed to the right to vote have begun to fight back. Election Protection did invaluable work in 2004. It was a powerful advocate for voters when it counted the most — while the polls were still open.
“This year, Election Protection is already working with election officials trying to eliminate obstacles to voting. In November, it plans to have 10,000 lawyers, law students and other volunteers working around the country to help voters whose names are not on the rolls when they should be, to get polls to stay open late when there are long lines and generally to see that everyone gets to cast a ballot who is entitled to.” http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/09/opinion/09sat1.html

 It looks like a great resource.

There's been some chatter this week about the "Missouri Truth Squad".

They have a good idea here, and I recommend it's taken a step further. 

Let's arm the Truth Squad.  Yes guns. 

If a Republican says, "All Democrats want to take your guns away," shoot 'em. 

It's really a two-pronged message:  Don't lie and strong pro-2nd amendment message.

If only the 'marriage' and 'abortion' issues were this easy.     

The Great Schlep aims to have Jewish grandchildren visit their grandparents in Florida, educate them about Obama, and therefore swing the crucial Florida vote in his favor. Don’t have grandparents in Florida? Not Jewish? No problem! You can still become a schlepper and make change happen in 2008, simply by talking to your relatives about Obama.

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

www.TheGreatSchlep.com

If you haven't seen this one, you are missing out.

The best part about the Biden/Palin Debate on thursday here in St. Louis is that SNL will have two days to plan out the skits.

If only...