The New Nation - Internet Edition

In the most intensive barrage of media publicity the Obama campaign unleashed three Tv infomercials across the nation on Wednesday. Costing $6m these have been the most expensive use of electronic media so far. The infomercial underlined Obama’s dominance of the airwave. His extraordinary advantage in fund raising has been used to flood key states with Tv advertising. The Tv ads are focusing on a few key issues: taxes and jobs; energy and environment.

Barack Obama now leads in four states won by President Bush in 2004 and is tied in two other Republican red states. Polls show Obama winning among early voters, favoured almost on every issue, banefitting from the country’s sour mood and overriding view in the eight states that are considered as crucial. Despite discouraging indicators, McCain aides insist their internal surveys show victory is still within reach. According to some polls, racial tensions and the number of late deciding voters leave room for doubt about a landslide victory for Obama. The bottom line for McCain at this states appears to be : he must overtake Obama in the red states where he is trailing or tied. Or he needs to gain some breathing space by wining Pennsylvania where he trails by 12 percentage points. The majority of polls say Obama is favoured almost on every issue in each of the eight battle ground states. To reverse this trend will be a tall order for McCain, according to many.