Publicly, BC04 is all smiles. Everyone has their talking points and at the top of the list is clear declaration that Bush will, without a doubt, win.
Behind the scenes, however, it seems there’s a growing level of concern.
GOP officials who talked to Bush-Cheney campaign leaders said the leaders have grown more worried about Ohio, Florida and other key states where Bush lacks a lead with just 10 days until the election. A poll by Ohio University’s Scripps Survey Research Center, completed Thursday night, found Kerry leading 49 percent to 43 percent among registered voters, with a margin of error of five percentage points.
Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.), campaigning with Vice President Cheney in northwestern New Mexico, told the crowd that the GOP ticket will lose the state without a lopsided local victory in San Juan County, because of heavy Democratic activity elsewhere in the state. “Without a huge margin in this county . . . we can’t win this election,” he said.
One Republican official described the mood at the top of the campaign as apprehensive. ” ‘Grim’ is too strong,” the official said. “If we feel this way a week from now, that will be grim.”
Should be an interesting week.