Goin' to California

I note this news item about John McCain with some interest.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, who has promised a serious bid to win California in the fall presidential election, bulked up his dream team of Silicon Valley managers and advisers on Friday by naming California billionaire and outgoing eBay chief executive Meg Whitman co-chair of his national campaign.

[...]

[Former California GOP Chairman Duf] Sundheim said California's independent and swing voters -- who make up 1 out of 5 voters in the state -- might consider McCain if they became disenchanted by the fighting between Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama in their battle for the party nomination.

OK, McCain thinks he has a shot in California. Dream big, I say. Let's see what the current polls say:

• Mar 14 Rasmussen Obama (D) 53%, McCain (R) 38%



• Mar 14 Rasmussen Clinton (D) 46%, McCain (R) 39%



• Mar 6 SurveyUSA Obama (D) 51%, McCain (R) 40%



• Mar 6 SurveyUSA Clinton (D) 50%, McCain 40%

One not-too-bad result, three double-digits deficits. Now let's check out the Texas matchups:

• Mar 6 SurveyUSA McCain (R) 47%, Obama (D) 46%



• Mar 6 SurveyUSA McCain (R) 49%, Clinton (D) 42%



• Mar 3 Public Strategies McCain (R) 51%, Obama (D) 42%



• Mar 3 Public Strategies< McCain (R) 50%, Clinton (D) 46%



• Mar 3 Pub. Strategies McCain (R) 49%, Obama (D) 42%



• Mar 3 Pub. Strategies< McCain (R) 50%, Clinton (D) 46%

With one exception, every single result is at least as favorable to the Dems than the California results were to McCain. And yet I've seen people suggest that the Dems shouldn't bother to contest Texas, because it's just not within reach for them. Go figure.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on March 17, 2008 to The making of the President