Obama staff leaves North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Barack Obama, who has deployed more than 50 staffers in North Dakota in an attempt to become the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since 1964, is pulling out.

An Obama spokeswoman, Amy Brundage, confirmed Sunday that the campaign's North Dakota staffers were being sent to Minnesota and Wisconsin, where recent polls have shown a tight race between Obama and Republican John McCain.

She declined to say how many campaign workers were being shifted, but other Democratic activists put the number at more than 50. Obama has opened 11 North Dakota campaign offices and run television advertising in the state, which is unusual for a Democratic presidential candidate.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-21-obamanorthdakota_N.htm

Seems wise to focus resources on MN and WI.

I know it's not quite in keeping with the 50-State Strategy, but holding Wisconsin and Minnesota is much more important than trying for North Dakota.

That included Senators, Reps, state senators/reps and local races like Governors, mayors, etc.

The organizers in my county in GA left, but the volunteers now manage the office, and pay the rent for it. Once you organize the grassroots, they will work on their own. So although I think it is smart to redirect PAID organizers to more battleground states, don't think that now nothing is happening in ND.

Obama isn't a miracle worker in terms of altering philosophical tendencies. North Dakota in 2004 was 13% liberal, 33% conservative. That's a weird breakdown because more than 50% self-identify as moderates. The gap of 20% from liberal to conservative is massive, more than any Democrat can overcome unless we win the national popular vote by at least 6% and probably closer to 8%.

The 13-33-54 breakdown suggests a moderate Democrat might have a chance in North Dakota, but that's not how Obama is viewed.

This is a classic case where you ignore early state polls and default to common sense. I know one friend who loaded up on betting McCain to win North Dakota. He was laughing about it last week, saying it was far superior to the best interest rate ever at any bank.

I think Obama had a shot in North Dakota until the Palin announcement which really excited the base for McSame. North Dakota and Montana were a good play in theory because forcing to McSame to defend those states would've required him to travel more and we all know that it's a lot harder to travel more when you're 72.

Unfortunately Palin really excites those 33% you are talking about and so the state isn't in play anymore. In hindsight it was a poor choice but there was good strategic value at the time. Fortunately North Carolina, Indiana, and Florida are trending towards Obama which is really putting McSame on defense in those states.

targets for a first strike.