Politics
Out of context: Reply #663
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Senator Barack Obama is heading to camp next week in Florida – debate camp, that is.
Mr. Obama is going to sequester himself near Tampa Bay beginning Tuesday for intensive preparation in advance of the first presidential debate on Friday. A tight circle of key advisers will be on hand, including Greg Craig, an adviser and foreign policy specialist, who is playing the role of Senator John McCain.
The choice of Florida – particularly the critical swing region near Tampa Bay – will be announced by the campaign in the coming days. It was, of course, selected with politics in mind.
While Mr. Obama will have no rallies or town meetings next week, aides said, his mere presence (fueled by a few photo opportunities) will surely draw considerable local media attention and put to rest any suggestions that he does not intend to aggressively compete in the state with Senator John McCain.
“I’m confident that we’re going to win this thing, but can I make this point? There are easier ways to win it and harder ways to win it,” Mr. Obama told contributors at a fund-raising reception on Friday evening. “It would be really nice for us to win Florida. I’ll tell you, we can win this thing without Florida, but boy, it’s a lot easier if we win Florida. If we win Florida, it is almost impossible for John McCain to win.”