What can McCain-Palin do in the final few days?

As we enter the final week of the 2008 US White House race newspapers right across the night are coming out for one candidate or the other. And there’s one today which will give extra pleasure to the Obama camp – from the leading publication in the state where Sarah Palin is governor, Alaska.

This is how the Anchorage Daily News sees it: “..Gov. Palin’s nomination clearly alters the landscape for Alaskans as we survey this race for the presidency — but it does not overwhelm all other judgment. The election, after all is said and done, is not about Sarah Palin, and our sober view is that her running mate, Sen. John McCain, is the wrong choice for president at this critical time for our nation..Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand. The same cannot be said of Sen. McCain…”

Alaska has just three electoral college votes and has almost always been solidly Republican – so it’s hard to see the paper making a difference. But it all will make it that much tougher for the GOP ticket as they try to keep in the race in the final phase.

US Election Betting With the main race looking like a foregone conclusion the betting firms are coming up with a range of different betting markets in order to tempt us to have a punt. PB’s spread-betting sponsor, Sporting Index, has this morning brought in a range of new markets including handicap and state betting. Everyone who opens an account with them through PB and places a bet will be given a free copy of my book “The Political Punter”.

The site’s other betting sponsor, BestBetting, continues to provide live prices on a full range of US markets. Both these firms play a key part in providing revenue to help keep PB going. Please use them for all your betting – not just politics – and use the links from here.

Mike Smithson