Not Sure I'm Believing This

Republican John McCain's surprise announcement that he is pulling resources out of Michigan to concentrate on defending territory elsewhere probably cheered a lot of Barack Obama supporters.

But I'm not completely buying it now that I've thought about it a little.

I wouldn't put it past Republicans to use this announcement as a voter suppression tactic, reasoning that sporadic voters or first-time voters might decide not to venture out to vote if the weather is bad on November 4.

Or they might believe that volunteers will take a few days off instead of feeling the pressure to knock on every possible door.

The tactic is especially suspicious in light of John McCain's announcement that he was "suspending" his campaign during congressional negotiations on the credit crisis bill. Turns out, he kept running ads during most of the time of this "suspension." And he had announced similar "suspensions" numerous times before in his political career.

Then comes a desperate email from Michigan Republican Party chair Saul Anuzis begging for donations to fill the gap in the GOP get-out-the-vote effort. He's seeking to raise $100,000 in the next week.

"...If we’re to remain competitive, if we’re to put the programs in place that Joe Knollenberg, Tim Walberg, Cliff Taylor and our other candidates need for victory, if we’re to show the nation that you can’t count Michigan out, your Michigan Republican Party needs to fill a significant hole."

Hmmm. Just $100,000? Seems like a small amount for helping all the candidates he listed. Either McCain wasn't spending much to begin with here or Republicans think they don't need to do much to get their vote out. And we know the nasty 527 ads are still running even if McCain's own ads are not.

Either way, it makes me think the pull-out is not as significant as they want us to believe.

Update at 1:15 p.m.

Saul's latest email asks for money once again and notes: "ALL of our victory centers were open this weekend—they’ve never closed."

In other words, Barack Obama supporters should not let up.