NBC's Andrea Mitchell devoted virtually her entire story, on Wednesday's "Today" show, to jotting down all the negatives going against the McCain campaign including Obama's advantages in fundraising, ad time, the polls and even the weather as she passed along this omen:
Still at a time when everything can be viewed as a sign of how things are going, they [McCain campaign] called off their midday rally outside Philadelphia because of stormy weather.
First up, Mitchell started her piece by tallying up all the Obama media appearances:
John McCain is trying to get his message out as Barack Obama tries to dominate the airwaves with a prime time infomercial just before the World Series game, a late night rally with Bill Clinton and an appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Now Mitchell did air a clip of McCain quipping to Philadelphia voters that at least he's not going to delay their chance to watch the Phillies in the World Series, but she countered:
John McCain took a shot at Barack Obama's planned TV blitz, but he struck out when Fox, broadcasting the rain-delayed fifth game, said that wasn't the plan. Fox is simply bumping its pre-game show for Obama's program. The Series will start on time.
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Mitchell then moved on to a McCain attack on Joe Biden, "McCain ripped into Obama after Joe Biden seemed to lower the $250,000 a year ceiling for those who would get tax cuts under the Democratic plan," However Mitchell couldn't let that Biden gaffe stand as she pointed out: "Biden aides called that, 'desperate.'"
Mitchell quickly turned to yet another Obama talking point, his lead in a new poll. "In the latest sign of trouble for the Republicans a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/myspace survey of new voters and those who didn't vote last time had Obama leading McCain by more than 2 to 1."
After noting that negative poll result for McCain/Palin, Mitchell stressed another hurdle, alleged GOP backbiting: "Facing an uphill climb McCain and Sarah Palin disputed reports of infighting between their staffs."
Mitchell did show a clip of McCain and Palin dismissing the allegations of infighting but then switched to one last GOP stumbling block - the weather:
MITCHELL: Still at a time when everything can be viewed as a sign of how things are going, they called off their midday rally outside Philadelphia because of stormy weather, while 50 miles away Obama plowed ahead.
The following is a complete transcript of the Mitchell story as it was aired on the October 29, "Today" show:
MEREDITH VIEIRA: But let's begin with the presidential election. Like I said it's now six days away and the candidates are giving it their all on the ground and on the air. NBC's Andrea Mitchell is keeping an eye on all of it. Good morning to you, Andrea.
ANDREA MITCHELL: Good morning, Meredith. The candidates are battling each other in Florida today. John McCain is trying to get his message out as Barack Obama tries to dominate the airwaves with a prime time infomercial just before the World Series game, a late night rally with Bill Clinton and an appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
JOHN MCCAIN: No one will delay the World Series with an infomercial when I'm president.
MITCHELL: In battleground Pennsylvania, where the Phillies lead in the World Series, John McCain took a shot at Barack Obama's planned TV blitz, but he struck out when Fox, broadcasting the rain-delayed fifth game, said that wasn't the plan. Fox is simply bumping its pre-game show for Obama's program. The Series will start on time. With a $100 million advantage in TV dollars, Obama hopes to reach millions of prime time viewers tonight with his economic plan.
BARACK OBAMA: John McCain has ridden shotgun as George Bush has driven our economy towards a cliff. And now he wants to take the wheel and step on the gas.
MITCHELL: McCain counters that Obama is not being candid about his tax cuts.
MCCAIN: Senator Obama is running to be redistributionist in chief. I'm running to be commander-in-chief.
MITCHELL: McCain ripped into Obama after Joe Biden seemed to lower the $250,000 a year ceiling for those who would get tax cuts under the Democratic plan.
JOSEPH BIDEN: Which should go to middle class people, people making under $150,000 a year.
MCCAIN: You getting an idea what's on their mind? Huh? A little sneak peak. It's interesting how their definition of rich has a way of creeping down.
MITCHELL: Biden aides called that, "desperate," saying Biden was just giving an example, not setting a limit on who would get a tax break. In the latest sign of trouble for the Republicans a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/myspace survey of new voters and those who didn't vote last time had Obama leading McCain by more than 2 to 1. And 64 percent of those voters viewed Obama positively. Only 24 percent were negative. McCain's positives were 29 percent. 52 percent, a majority, were negative. All of this suggests a big turnout of new voters would help Obama. Facing an uphill climb McCain and Sarah Palin disputed reports of infighting between their staffs in an interview with CNBC's Maria Bartiromo.
SARAH PALIN: It, it came down, the way it was supposed to, when it's all good. And it is very good. The partnership is very good. And, and John McCain he, he is a true leader.
JOHN MCCAIN: I couldn't be happier. I couldn't be happier. The enthusiasm, the support, the people who come to, and look, here's two mavericks. Here's two mavericks. Did anybody expect us to agree, to agree on every issue? We're not gonna agree on every issue but that's the fun of our relationship.
MITCHELL: Still at a time when everything can be viewed as a sign of how things are going, they called off their midday rally outside Philadelphia because of stormy weather, while 50 miles away Obama plowed ahead.
OBAMA: Whether it's rain or sleet or snow, we are going to go out and we are gonna vote, because it's too much at stake. There is too much at stake right now for us to back off.
MITCHELL: To combat discouraging independent polls, the McCain campaign has released its own internal polling. They claim that the race has narrowed significantly in the last few days and is now tied across the key battleground states. If they're right this will be a very close election despite all other predictions. Meredith?
VIEIRA: Andrea Mitchell, thank you.
—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.



















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Comments Policy
Madame The Puppet?
October 29, 2008 - 11:28 ET by BigSpoon65BigSpoon65
Who cares what 'Madame the puppet' has to say. She is just another Obamunist. The polls are proving that Americans are much smarter than these lefty journalists who have been guzzling the Obama kool-aid. As Sean Hannity says, "this will be known as the year the main stream media died". R.I.P
Thomas Jefferson~ "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not!"
Mitchell
October 29, 2008 - 11:41 ET by allanfAndrea is the Cindy Adams of Washington. As a leading society diva she is well situated to pick up actual gossip and report it on NBC "News". Given these credentials, why does she reduce herself to spouting anti-McCain pablum?
So Andrea,
October 29, 2008 - 11:33 ET by NorthCoasterDoes Al Gore know about the inclement weather and how activities were postponed? I thought things were supposed to be getting warmer.
Soooooo, help me out here.
October 29, 2008 - 11:34 ET by ThisnThatSoooooo, help me out here. Would this be one more in a long line of negative articles against McCain vs. the long list of positive ones for Obama, or just the opposite? Just wondering when all the negativity in this campaign was going to stop?
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
A McCain win will be great
October 29, 2008 - 11:43 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarfor all the right reasons ... pro-life, taxes, checks and balances against the Libs, etc., but ...
The true icing on the cake will be the shear joy I'll have pointing at the TV screen when these hacks are on and letting out a true Nelsonesque "Ha Ha!"
"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain
The Nattering Nabobs of Negativity ...
October 29, 2008 - 11:43 ET by drewinmass61... will stop nattering on November 5th when their Anointed One has safely got the election in-hand.
Obama on TV
October 29, 2008 - 11:49 ET by HoosierEmI would have to say at this point in the campaign, everyone should be tired and even irritated at seeing Barack Obama on TV spewing the same old talking points, especially for 30 minutes. I can only hope this display of arrogance would turn undecideds off.
I might have actually developed some respect for the man if his campaign had taken part of the money they have collected and donated it to a worthwhile charity - perhaps health care costs for some needy children, food for the hungry, or a nice Christmas for several needy families. What a waste of $$$.
I forgot - we are the ones who are supposed to be helping out those less fortunate than us.
I'm sure the diehard Obamamaniacs will hang on his every word tonight for 30 minutes but even some of them have to be tired of hearing him.
Democrats never met a tax dollar they didn't like.
"but even some of them have
October 29, 2008 - 13:43 ET by SickofLibs"but even some of them have to be tired of hearing him."
I'll go even further than that - I believe that yet another over-the-top-extravaganza like this is really going to piss off voters that have been on the fence about him. The World Tour. The Acceptance Spectacular. This infomercial. The upcoming Victory Spectacle.
He is behaving like one the worst Roman Emperors (Nero comes to mind). I predict it will blow up in his face at just the right time for McCain.
NBC: Nuttiest Broadcasting Company
October 29, 2008 - 11:54 ET by Mary Louise TurnerNBC has been, by far, the nuttiest of the "nutworks" in this election season with its lineup of Olbermann, Matthews, Maddow, Mitchell, Brokaw and Williams. To top it off, they are getting more nauseating in their Obama-worship as the election draws nearer.
"I can hear the cuckoos singing in the cuckooberry tree..."
-Man of La Mancha
Palin
October 29, 2008 - 16:01 ET by MrModerateYeah. .but they do a great job of making fun of Palin.
Tax and spend is bad but borrow and spend is worse.
I don't recall
October 29, 2008 - 12:18 ET by 10ksnookerI don't recall McCain out in a snowstorm with supporters who had the "stop global warming now" signs. Even The naive One realized that the signs were only for warmer weather.
Barack Hussein used the term
October 29, 2008 - 12:30 ET by cocodrieBarack Hussein used the term "riding shotgun". In Chicago you need someone to ride shotgun for you at all times. What he didn't say is that he wants to take our shotguns away from all of us. I believe our bibles are next on the confiscation list.
Shotguns stay at home.. and so do your bibles
October 29, 2008 - 16:01 ET by MrModerateGeez.. the paranoia. The supremes have ruled on the 2nd amendment, your guns are staying.. you can relax. Remember, Obama is a liberal, he will let you read whatever you want.. just not in a public school.
Tax and spend is bad but borrow and spend is worse.
Ms Mitchell
October 29, 2008 - 12:49 ET by bschoomI'd really like to see Ms. Mitchell get animated about something, just once. I really feel there's a real tigress in there somewhere, but alas, the sedatives are in control.
Is this all that lberalism is all about
October 29, 2008 - 14:28 ET by KTs this all that liberalism is all about? Failure? It must be.
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.- George Santayana