Powell endorsement + Fund Raising will capture the news cycle for 20%

of the days between now and the election. There are 15 days to go - it will take the news organizations at least three days to fully digest these two stories. During those three days McCain will be lucky to be able to get a word in edgewise. Even after the first three days these two stories will have legs, and the power provided by that $150 million (plus the other $100 I chipped in this AM :-) will go even further to throttle any Republican attempt to gain traction.

I don't think it's down the the short strokes quite yet, but it's getting closer.

What other news could be released to add more juice? :-)

Seems like he's tacitly supporting Obama already, and his wife is making no secret about her support.

will come out, now that Colin Powell opened the door :-).

I would not be a bit surprised if many were holding out to see what Colin Powell was going to do.
Now, they let their breath out and the fucking flood-doors are going to BURST!
:toast:

There will be plenty of ways to milk this.

So I doubt he would.

Obama is building a lead in many of these states that will be hard to overcome even if the polls tighten up significantly (but time is running out for that too).

Today through Wednesday, October 22: Powell and fundraising storylines dominate.

Thursday (10-23) through Monday (10-27): McCain and Obama campaigns struggle for news cycle dominance. News media might focus on polling shifts if public reacts to Powell story via polls.

Tuesday (10-28) through Thursday (10-30): Obama's infomercial begins to dominate the news. Speculation about the infomercial's content begins on Tuesday. The infomercial is on Wednesday. Reaction and post-event spinning on both sides is on Thursday.

Friday (10-31) through Monday (11-3): Media shifts to final stretch mode. Pundits begin making official predictions. Lead story moves to classic "last campaign stop" storylines. Ground game stories become more abundant.

Tuesday (11-4): Time's up!

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So, to me, McCain's last chance to achieve some sort of game-shifting narrative starts around Wednesday of this week. But he runs into a brick wall next week, with Obama's infomercial garnering a ton of attention then. Not much time left for the old man.. :P

I've thought for quite a while that October would be a steady crescendo of major endorsements from Republicans and Independents.