Jersey Up For Grabs? (Updated)
Whoa!
The contest between Barack Obama and John McCain in New Jersey is too close to call, with a new Quinnipiac University poll showing the battle for the state’s fifteen electoral votes at 48%-45% among likely voters. Obama led McCain by ten percentage points, 51%-41% in an August Quinnipiac poll.
This is the fourth independent poll within the last week to show New Jersey as an emerging battleground state in the presidential campaign. (Link)
One would never know that New Jersey voters are so evenly split from my admittedly unscientific bumper sticker and lawn sign count. I see lots of Obama stickers and lawn signs and virtually no McCain campaign stuff. The thing is that, in this state (at least in my part of the state), a McCain bumper sticker might well result in one’s car being keyed in a parking lot, and a lawn sign might well be torn up by the state’s progressives.
I would love to think that McCain has a shot in Jersey, but I’ve lived here all my life, so I fully expect that the massive Democrat Machine will do whatever is necessary to “take care of business†on election day.
Still, hope springs eternal. Maybe this year will be different. After all, Garden Staters are over-taxed, businesses large and small are over-taxed and-over-regulated, the majority of citizens have finally come to realize that Jon Corzine is a walking (lucky for him) disaster, and people are fleeing to other states to escape the madness.
We’ll keep our fingers crossed here in the state where the only people who carry guns are the cops and robbers.
Update: This state may be terminal.
I’m begining to believe there is a “silent majority” out there that, while supporting McCain/Palin over the Obama/Biden ticket, will not be putting signs up or sporting bumber stickers. They will, however, be showing up on November 4.
Why won’t they wear their believes on their lawns or cars? They have witnessed the unhinged behavior of the O crowd and do not wish to be on the receiving end of that wacko bunch.
Intesting times, indeed.
Comment by joated — September 17, 2008 @ 10:00 am
Does anyone ever change their mind regarding who to vote for based on a bumper sticker or lawn sign? What’s the point of putting them on display? I know I’ve never looked at a lawn sign and then based on the house it’s in front of or the neighborhood decided I should support THAT candidate. So maybe all the Obama supporters have another highly intelligent reason for letting everyone know who they support.
Comment by Zagfan — September 17, 2008 @ 10:56 am
My theory on yard signs etc. is that it’s advertising. It’s effective on some; not on others. It can create an impression, I think, of groundswell. Or popularity. Or whatever that bullshit is.
I mean, you should hear some of the idiots I’ve been talking to during my daily rounds in our area. They’re proof that there are apparently a LOT of people out there who vote based on vague – even strange — impressions and not policy or facts.
Comment by dogette — September 17, 2008 @ 11:31 am
I’ve covered a lot of miles during the last few weeks and seen a lot more McCain bumper stickers and signs around then there are in NJ. It’s time for me to take a stand against the prog bullies – I put my bumpersticker on today.
Comment by Suzette — September 17, 2008 @ 11:44 am
tough to get lawn signs or bumper stickers for McCain/Palen out here in California, the land of fruits and nuts. The only time Republican candidates come here is when the plane needs gas. We who support the Grand Old Party have to fend for ourselves. I am surrounded by Obama signs but I did win over one neighbor who was pissed beyond comprehension when Osama picked Biden (not a Washington insider)(said Osama was not qualified) (go figure)
My local Republican central committee people said they will get me a lawn sign as soon as they get them.
Comment by Brian "Proud Air Force Veteran" — September 17, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
It’ll never happen, but it’s a nice thought.
Comment by dick — September 17, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
“a McCain bumper sticker might well result in one’s car being keyed in a parking lot, and a lawn sign might well be torn up by the state’s progressives.”
If not worse, I got into a discussion with a Liberal a while back on how “tolerant” the Progressive Left was
I pointed out to them that during the last Presidential election 2006 I could source TWO incidents of drive by shooting at Republican Campaign offices and challenged them to find ANY incidents of drive by shootings at Democratic offices,
Now I did make one stipulaiton
Primary Elections did not count LOL
Comment by Dan Kauffman — September 18, 2008 @ 10:43 am
My guesstimate is that there’s a – 0 – chance, with paperless ballots.
Comment by Fausta — September 21, 2008 @ 11:35 am