YOUR COMMENTS

To my mind all the polls are useless, except to stroke the ego of one or the other candidate. It's not who does better in any given poll that really matters, and it's not the popular vote, either. It's the Electoral College numbers that "seal the deal"... or have we forgotten that peculiarity of presidential elections in America?

Greg Ballard - "The majority of the polls are done by liberal news stations and universities, so should it be that surprising that they are trying to say that McCain is losing?" Well said. And how can a poll be "fair" when in some polls there are two-thirds or three-quarters as many Democrats canvassed than there are Republicans? It works the other way, too, so let's not conclude that I am only bashing the Democrats.
Would the Sierra Club (Obama supporters) ever bother to get the opinions of McCain supporters? Or the NRA collar Obama people? Or the teachers' unions McCain? Hardly.
- Guy Plante, Manchester

I used to live in New Hampshire and I am sorry to see that the state is shifting to the left. What ever happened to our Motto, "Live Free or Die"? Maybe it should be changed to, "Take care of me till I Die".
- Sharon Pine, Atlanta, Georgia

I am so glad that I voted for Obama today in early voting.
- Juniper Decker, albuquerque nm

It's quite a laugh to read both parites debate here and on Tv.it is obvious, the smarter group is the one less inclined to be defensive and more likely to fight for their freedoms. Why isn't this obvious to the ones that support the candidate that will take their freedom away? I would venture to guess they are desperate for a change, but they cannot come up with anything to define. I have to say that if Americans do no think that in the last 8 years they were not safe with Bush they were living in a fog. Pity the fool who doesn't know what they are doing. Amen.
- Jack Zahenskie, Concord, NH

McCain must be beyond desperate if he is campaigning in New Hampshire. He should be in Ohio or Pennsylvania or Missouri or Florida, where he could actually pick up some meaningful electoral votes. It just shows you how irrational he is.
- Fran Taylor, Concord NH

In end we will have the President we deserve. If we are dumb enough to be duped into having a President who will take away our basic human rights then that is what we deserve. If we are like sheep or lemmings then we will follow our news media right off the cliff and will get what we seemingly want. When we open our eyes and see what we have gotten ourselves, it will be too late. Then we will see if you truly live up to your state motto which I have always admired, "Live Free or Die".
- Judy Williams, Florence, Alabama

Listen to these Obama bloggers. All that they are trying to do is crush the McCain supporters. Of course they are going to try and dampen our spirits and try to make us think all is lost to get Obama in office, but it is a lie. The majority of the polls are done by liberal news stations and universities, so should it be that surprising that they are trying to say that McCain is losing? However, when we get close to election day, regardless of who they support, polls want to be correct, so they are going to tighten up to what the facts are: this race is a tie. I wouldn't be too overly excited if I was Obama. I think McCain will pull out a win in the end.
- Greg Ballard, Manchester

To Carrie: If all that’s true do you actually think that both the liberal and conservative news media is engaged in a conspiracy to prevent the US Public from hearing about it? C’mon. As well, do you think we are better off now than 4 years ago? How about 8 years ago? I think you’ve been reading too many right wing conservative internet blogs which are usually someone’s opinion and laden with un-truths. If Obamma is what you think he is what do you think he might do, blow up buildings? Do you think he’ll force the Muslim religion on all of us? Islam? Launch missiles against the US itself?

Last but certainly not least, do you think that Colin Powell would endorse him if he were all the things that you described. Colin Powell, one of the most patriotic, respected, and admired men in Washington is no slouch. And he’s a republican, Carrie. What might your response be to that? Under the republican administration, how bad do things have to get before the people of the US are totally fed up. That time has arrived and we will see change in two weeks. Very welcome change. Relax; better times are only two weeks away.
- Bob Ahern, Derry

No Mark, we WON'T give up. The Obama loving media and biased polls have tried to make us give up, but WE WON'T! This race is not a blow out by any means. Polls released today by the Associated Press put the two in an essential tie. Other polls are saying the same thing, while even others are giving Obama a bigger lead. The point is that this race is dead even. I'm sick of the lying media and their fake polls trying to get us down and trying to convince us that this race is over. IT ISN'T! Don't believe the hype! McCain is still in this, so DON'T BELIEVE THE MEDIA!
- Ben Thomas, Manchester, New Hampshire

I'll never give up on him - for me it is a very basic decision based on my ideals and principles. I simply don't believe in Socialism - and that is the way we are headed with the Democratic party.
- sandy picard, thornton

Senator McCain is indeed a war hero, but he is less honorable than when New Hampshire embraced him in 2000. He was our senator when we lived in Arizona and we saw the unfortunate transition as he left his true maverick ways behind to "fit in" as the Republican standardbearer.
He has, sadly and perhaps of necessity, surrounded himself with Bush strategists and their traits have infectd him. Would an honorable man work with people who spread lies about his family in S. Carolina in 2000?
Senator Obama has enough experience in Washington to understand the game but is fresh and smart enough to be able to stay away from the money-changers. This is one reason why many folks in New Hampshire will vote for Senator Obama.
- Tom Moreau, Barrington

Well Julie/Ted or whichever one attached their spouses name,

When support comes in the form of money, and those with the money aren't giving it, it's pretty tough to come to your conclusion that you are "only thinking" your team is giving up on you.
- Jim Wilson, Manchester

Mark, do you really want to talk about how much money a campaign wastes, because Obama is certainly the winner. Lets just take what was released today: The Obama campaign spends $437,144 on food and $21,500,862 on polling according to a recent article.

Lets also factor in the fact that in Feb 2007, Obama said that he wanted to reduce public interest groups from entering into the campaign by "aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election." McCain agreed to this, but then, when Obama saw that he could make more money, he put his beliefs aside and decided to renege on this original promise and accepted private financing in hopes that he could "buy" this election.

So, if you really want to trash on the RNC for taking money to get Palin clothes and stuff to help her out in the campaign (of which she has already promised to donate to charity after the election) then have at it because Obama takes the cake with wasting money and ruining the election process even further by making it more true that its not the candidate with the best ideas that gets the best shot at the presidency, but the one with the most money. At this point, Obama WILL break the all time record for how much a candidate has ever spent on a campaign. I hope that makes you happy, but it really sickens me when money=election.
- Casey Johnes, Manchvegas

Jim Wilson/Mark Johnson: I don't know which is better: Only thinking your team gave up on you, becasue the media said so, or knowing that your fans have no need to vote since they already think you won? I would not underestimate a powerful party that succeeds quite often. I would wager that McCain pulls it off in the last inning.
- Julie & Ted Jenkins, N Andover, NH

Carrie,

It's not only the media as you put it that is not reporting what you are claiming. The GOP has been hoping for a white horse in the form of money from wealthy benefactors to start a campaign similar to the Kerry Swift Boat ads from 04 and they just simply aren't doing it this time.

Chris LaCivita, the strategist behind the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004 said yesterday that “It’s Oct. 21, and if you can’t say it by Oct. 21, then chances are you’re not going to say anything,”...“Donors just weren’t willing to give the money,” explains LaCivita. “They were hurt badly in the market crash and they were always concerned about how McCain would react.”


Republicans aren't that dumb, they won't throw good money to try to regain what they have lost, there is no edge in doing so, they have in essence given up on the Maverick.
- Jim Wilson, Manchester

John McCain can give an order "never give up," but the fact is a lot of Republicans and Independents have already given up on him. He has run a terrible campaign and his worst decision by far was his VP pick. Today we find out that Sarah Palin has been on a shopping spree with campaign contributions (funded in part with taxpayers' money). In the few weeks she has been campaigning, she has spent $150,000 on clothes and makeup. That's a lot of lipstick! I'm glad to see that McCain is earmarking his campaign money wisely.
- Mark Johnson, Concord

If the media was fair and balanced, you would hear about:

- Obama's actual connection to Ayers and his 3 different stories on that connection
- Obama's connection to Tony Rezco
- Obama's connection and relationship with Father Phleager and Rev Wrigtht (Black Liberation Theology)
- Obama's early involvement with the New Party
- The fact that there are at least two lawsuits against Obama to provide his actual birth certificate (I personally
think he probably is natural born, but the news media has not reported the fact that there are lawsuits-not
even Fox...If there was a lawsuit filed against McCain for whatever cause it would be all over the media)
- His corrupt association and funding of ACORN
- Obama has benifitted by the meltdown of the financial networks--if the media would report the rout cause of
this which Obama and his party have their fingerprints all over this--then Obama should have slid in the polls
- His utter lack of any notable accomplishment as a state and US Senator
- His lying on his record of abortion and his many, many policy reversals from the primary to the general
election


I cannot believe that America is about to elect this person. I believe with every ounce of my being that if even half of the dirt on Obama were to be reported this would be a landslide!!!
- Carrie Avery, Lee, NH

Thank You Steve Gage for speaking your heart and the truth. This campaign has been a rough one but the thing that irritated me most was the republican radio attempt to tear Colin Powell down. if you listened to the bashing that they gave Colin it would certainly depress or anger you. Colin is one of the most respected men in Washington. The Bush administration "used" him to go before the UN and state facts that were not true or verified. It's no wonder why he came out for Obamma. Colin Powell could very well become president if he chose to run but he didn't because it's such a dirty game. People do desperate things when times get desperate and that’s the mode the republicans are in now. Mud slinging and personal attacks, even suggestions (from the crowd at McCain’s rally's) ti insight violence. Sen. McCain, your going to lose and you certainly deserve it. This country needs better than your capable of, sorry.
- Bob Ahern, Derry

Steve, I find your comment kind of funny. Personally, after reading your comment, I find it pretty evident that you never did support McCain at any point and are just saying it now to try and bash McCain and convince actual McCain supporters to switch to Obama. How could you have EVER supported McCain when you falsely believe, as you said in your comment, that you believe that McCain "helped create the economic mess we are in now." Sorry bud, but if you were going to try and make up a story saying that you previously supported McCain and now back Obama, you should have at least made it more believable.
- Ryan Feltner, Manchester

As a life long Republican, I can't bring myself to vote for Senator McCain. I saw Governor Palin last week and Sen. McCain today and just don't feel comfortable with their plan to get us out of this economic mess he helped create. This along with the negative attacks on Sen. Obama have really turned me off. Sorry Senator McCain, but you're not the same man I supported in 2000. You have lost a longtime supporter in me.
- Steve Gage, Manchester

It is good to see John McCAin back in New Hampshire and especially at St Anselm where we have a tradition of political debate and the respectful exchange of ideas. New Hampshire has been kind to John McCain in the past. But that was the McCain of 2000 who was so disgracefully smeared by Karl Rove and George Bush when he went on from here to the South Carolina primary in 2000.
John McCain's big mistake is that he determined that it was in his best interests to blindly support Bush and his millionaire enablers during the last eight years while they drained the coffers of the US Treasury and wasted the taxpayers' money with subsidies to big oil and Haliburton. John McCain took the thirty pieces of silver. He is not the candidate he was in 2000. The straight talk express was abondoned long ago and is replaced with double-speak, erraticism and smear tactics. If John McCain had remained true to himself and stood up to the excesses of the Bush cleptocracy then he would not have been abndoned by the people of New Hampshire. Had he chosen his friend Joe Lieberman or Huckabee or Romney as a VP candidate then the fiscal conservatives might still be supporting him. But no, he chose instead to take the political low road. He chose a totally unqualified person for VP and he has joined the ultra conservative and intolerant Hagee, Dobson and Robertson on the far right lunatic fringe of the Republican Party. Where is the John McCain of old: honorable, heroic and independent? That is the man that New Hamspshire voters identified with in the past. He is long gone and replaced with this flailing, defeated, incoherent and in the end sad man that we see before us today.
I look forward to a day when this election is over and John McCain comes back to St. Anselm and explains to us how he managed to get himself into the situation he now finds himself in. I think he may tell us that his biggest mistake was to hire the lobbyists and enablers from the Bush campaign in a vain attempt to grab the presidency and in so doing lose his most valuable asset: his forthrightness and independence.
Jim O'Connell
- Jim O'Connell, Manchester

This may not be the time to mention it but it doesn't look good for McCain. According to most estimates even if McCain won all of the states now considered to be "toss up states" Florida,Ohio,Colorado,North Carolina,Nevada, and North Dakota he still does not have enough electoral votes to win. Even if he wins in New Hampshire, which is heavily leaning democrat right now he still falls short. Right now it would take a miracle for McCain to come back in states like Minnesota,Pennsylvania, and Virgina. His own campaign has stated that he cannot logically win the election without Pennsylvania a state that has not voted Republican since 1988. So I believe his term "underdog" is an understatement it is becoming more and more clear that "long shot" is much more fitting terminology.

Goodluck John & Sarah
- Shaun Leary, Manchester

Imagine if he gave up as a POW ... never give up hope for anything you want.

I dont know how McCain gave credit to NH yesterday if he spoke today at Saint Anselm as it says in fifth paragraph.
IF it was somewhere else there's no attribution to where and when

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Editor's note: That time reference will be fixed.
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- RG, Manchester

McCain is an honorable man, a hero that has earned deep respect with many Americans. All people must understand that he is tested, he is experianced, & he qualified to be President, and that a man such as John McCain is better suited to lead our country out of war properly, out of debt with the economy, and out of terrors ways, If you have any sense of right and wrong it is time to realize that John McCain is our only right choice.
- Mark Harris, Exeter, NH