CNN’s John King reports on the increasing power of Latino voters and the efforts to mobilize their vote.

CNN’s John King looks at whether the Bradley effect is fact or fiction.

John King
CNN Chief National Correspondent

For The New Mexico Sun News it is either a major scoop or “Dewey Beats Truman” déjà vu 60 years later.

“Obama Wins!” is the headline of the edition on newsstands now, complete with “special collector’s edition” in red bold typeface.

The Sun News is a bi-monthly newspaper and its Oct 26-Nov 8 issue had to hit the streets, and the newsstands, before the election. So the editors decided to make a leap of faith and declare Democrat Barack Obama the winner.

In an article explaining their choice, the editors unabashedly wrote, “When it comes to calling the winner of a presidential election, everyone wants to be first. The New Mexico Sun News hereby claims that achievement.”

Read more

John King
Chief National Correspondent

Eight days out and some Republicans see small glimmers of progress, if not hope. But most are fairly bleak about the GOP’s chances.

“Feels like the makings of a landslide,” said one veteran GOP operative who has held top jobs in presidential campaigns and been closely involved in past congressional cycles.

Another longtime strategist who is involved in a number of congressional and state races this year said many Republicans who had run good campaigns were asking a daunting question heading into the final week: “Will all these newly registered voters go to vote for Obama and then walk out without voting for a lot of candidates they have never heard of, or will they go all the way down the ballot to create coattails?”

Somewhat more optimistic was a GOP strategist closely involved with the McCain campaign.

“Things improved,” over the weekend, was this strategist’s take. “No mystery. Lots of red states closer than last week.”

This operative said rural voters and white downscale men had moved a bit toward the Republican ticket in recent days, making the battleground states somewhat more competitive.

A second senior McCain campaign adviser said Senator McCain had taped new advertisements to be used in the final week. One, due out as early as Monday, is McCain speaking to camera about what he considers the best components of his approach to the economy, and his take on the downsides of the Obama plan.

Later in the week, this senior adviser said, the McCain campaign plans to launch what he called a strong “commander in chief for the close” ad.

Editor’s note: See John King on the Magic Map tonight on AC360 at 10PM ET.

CNN’s John King looks at Sen. John McCain’s problem with women voters and why some suburban women don’t like Sarah Palin.

Editor’s Note: The presidential election once again may hinge on what happens in key “battleground” states. CNN’s electoral map shows seven states that are too close to call. CNN’s John King has been talking with voters in those states to report what’s beneath the poll numbers. Here’s his report on what he heard from some black voters in Moussouri.

CNN’s John King reports that the black vote could be crucial in deciding which Missouri swings.

Program Note:

Sarah Palin and Joe Biden face off on the issues.
Join John King for the best analysis of the Vice Presidential debate!

The Next Vice President:
Biden-Palin Debate
Saturday and Sunday, 9p ET
 
 
__________________________________________________________________________________

John King | BIO
Chief National Correspondent

It was a rude intrusion on the morning-after analysis of the one and only debate between the vice presidential candidates: a new government report showing the US economy lost 159,000 jobs in September – the ninth month in a row of job losses.

Tough economic news just as the House opened debate, for a second time, on a $700 billion rescue plan aimed at stabilizing the financial and credit markets. This time, the House approved the plan, and by Friday afternoon President Bush had signed it into law.

Proof that in the big picture, the face-off between the running mates has a limited shelf life as the dominant political story. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

It was a big event for two very different audiences, maybe three.

First: Republicans.

Keep reading

Editor’s note: See John King’s full report on shifting polls in key battleground states on AC360° tonight at 10p ET.

John King
CNN Chief National Correspondent

John McCain has a problem with Baby Boomers - and if he doesn’t fix it, it’s hard to map out a Republican Electoral College victory.

First a national look: two weeks ago, a Pew Research Center poll showed McCain leading Obama 48 percent to 43 percent among voters in the 50 to 64 age group.

But in a new survey released Wednesday, Obama leads among those voters 51 percent to 39 percent.

One poll does not warrant panic.

But some new CNN battleground state polling shows a similar trend - as voters who are closing in on retirement, and who therefore arguably have the most immediately at stake in the financial crisis, trend toward the Democratic candidate.

Keep reading

John King      
Chief National Correspondent

Across the road and up into the hills, you can see the cattle slowly streaming down – first a few, then dozens more.

It is roundup day on the Rieder ranch, a sign of the changing season as the cattle is moved from leased federal land to the corral on a 3,000 acre ranch that has been in Dave Rieder’s family since he was four years old. A couple hundred heads in all, and as Rieder closes a gate behind them, he knows many will soon be sold for slaughter, so that he can pay the bank.

“Every legitimate rancher has to borrow $50,000, $60,000 maybe a quarter million dollars just to be able to pay your bills,” Rieder told us during a noontime visit Thursday.

The 8 percent interest he is paying this year stings, especially when you add in the rising costs of diesel fuel and fertilizer and the fact Rieder says what he gets paid for the cattle is roughly the same per pound as 30 years ago.

But what stings more are dire warnings from Washington that credit here in the breathtaking hills of Montana and across Main Street America could dry up if Congress doesn’t quickly pass a $700 billion Wall Street bailout.

Keep reading

John King | BIO
Chief National Correspondent

After decades as a Democratic organizer and activist, Ramona Martinez is convinced the moment is finally at hand.

“The sleeping giant has finally woken up,” the former Denver city councilwoman and longtime Colorado and national Democratic activist says. “They keep saying, ‘It is the year of the Latinos.’ Well – I think it is this time.”

If so, the fastest growing segment of the American population could have a decisive impact on a remarkably close presidential election, emerging as the potential swing vote in several critical electoral battlegrounds.

Colorado is just one example, and offers a fascinating “ground zero” glimpse in the battle for the Latino vote.

Twenty years ago, in the 1988 presidential elections, Hispanics accounted for 3.7 million votes. In 2004, it was more than twice that – 7.5 million votes. And that number is certain to grow this cycle. Here in Colorado, both parties believe the Latino percentage of the statewide vote will eclipse 10 percent for the first time. (It was eight percent in 2004)

Keep reading