Thursday, August 28, 2008

Enthusiasm Gap - take 14

WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

One standard GOP tactic, which they're good at getting the media to bite on, is to attack a Democrat's strength and try and turn it into a weakness. The Swiftboat attacks against Kerry and the Celebrity attacks against Obama are cut from the exact same cloth. For Obama, they're trying to use one of his advantages, the ability to attract large crowds with great enthusiasm, and turn it into a negative. The crazy comments about the set at Invesco are the same thing.

But when it comes down to it, Obama will have 75,000 people in Invesco tonight. McCain is trying to counter that with 10,000 people in Ohio tomorrow to announce his VP pick. Only one problem. They can't even get 10,000:

Tickets are still available for Sen. John McCain's Friday, Aug. 29, rally at Wright State University's Nutter Center in Fairborn. - Dayton Daily News

They're giving away free tickets in several states and plan to bus in supporters. The VP announcement can't be overshadowed by a less-than-capacity crowd. - Marc Ambinder

One other thing: I will give the GOP great credit on stringing along the press on the VP rollout. Last night, they leak that McCain has decided. Today, McCain says, no I haven't. It's all nonsense, but the press laps it up.

Update from Doc Jess: I'm not saying I know where these Republicans are, but Ron Paul has officially sold 9,721 tickets to the Rally for the Republic, and if you wanted to take a leisurely drive from Ohio to Minnesota, see some sights on the way, and get there by Sunday.....