Changes

McCain chose to suspend his campaign until a deal on the bailout was reached, a mistake.  The Democrats could add pork to the plan and make it even more unpalatable to the Republicans, and they did.  As the first debate loomed and no deal had been reached, McCain was in a quandary.  He chose to attend the debate under the view that the plan was well under way to being passed.  After the debate the plan was actually defeated and wouldn't be adopted, with more changes, until the following week.

McCain chose to suspend his campaign until a deal on the bailout was reached, a mistake.  The Democrats could add pork to the plan and make it even more unpalatable to the Republicans, and they did.  As the first debate loomed and no deal had been reached, McCain was in a quandary.  He chose to attend the debate under the view that the plan was well under way to being passed.  After the debate the plan was actually defeated and wouldn't be adopted, with more changes, until the following week.

McCain's debate with Obama went well and he was viewed as having done better than expected.  Unfortunately for him, Obama was also viewed as doing better than expected and was seen as looking Presidential, further cementing his standing and locking in a lead in the polls that had become rather substantial.  The Vice Presidential debate was the most watched in history and Palin was given high marks for her performance, but unfortunately for the Republican ticket, Biden was also on his game that night and also came across well.  There were no changes in the polling numbers and the number of undecided voters began to quickly dwindle.

McCain's debate with Obama went well and he was viewed as having done better than expected.  Unfortunately for him, Obama was also viewed as doing better than expected and was seen as looking Presidential, further cementing his standing and locking in a lead in the polls that had become rather substantial.  The Vice Presidential debate was the most watched in history and Palin was given high marks for her performance, but unfortunately for the Republican ticket, Biden was also on his game that night and also came across well.  There were no changes in the polling numbers and the number of undecided voters began to quickly dwindle.  The second and third debates caused little change as well.

 

With Obama spending 110 million dollars on TV advertising in October alone, including 30 minute specials on each of the major networks, McCain will be hard pressed to make up the necessary ground to win the election after being outspent by 3 to 1 for TV adds over that time period.  He can't count on regular TV to help put in a good word for him either, as late night political jokes are running at a pace of 7 jokes against McCain/Palin for every 1 joke against Obama/Biden.

== State by State Breakdown ==

== State by State Breakdown ==