Michi-Gone

McSame's Straight Talk Express is pulling out of Motown...for good.

John McCain is reportedly giving up attempts to swing Michigan into the Republican column in November.

The Associated Press and Politico this afternoon are both quoting unnamed Republican officials as saying that McCain has canceled a trip to the state next week, plans to stop running ads on TV after this week, and is dispatching staffers to states where he has a better chance to win.

While Democrat John F. Kerry won Michigan in 2004, McCain had targeted the state's 17 electoral votes. But the economic crisis, which hit Michigan earlier than other states, is proving to be unfriendly terrain for McCain, who trails Democrat Barack Obama in polls in voters' confidence in fixing the economy.

I expect him to do the same in Wisconsin and Iowa soon. It's all McSame can do to hold Ohio and Florida at this point, he loses those, he's done...and guess what? McSame's in serious trouble in Florida now.

Florida Republican leaders hastily convened a top secret meeting this week to grapple with Sen. John McCain's sagging performance in this must-win state.

Their fears were confirmed Wednesday when four new polls showed Sen. Barack Obama leading, a reversal from just a few weeks ago when McCain was opening up an advantage.

The polls come amid a cascade of bad news about the economy, an issue that McCain has struggled with in recent days.

With some grass roots organizers complaining about coordination problems with the campaign, Republican Party chairman Jim Greer gathered top officials at the state headquarters in Tallahassee on Tuesday afternoon. He swore the group to secrecy.

As it is, Pennsylvania's firmly Obama country now. Biden can deliver a killing blow tonight on Palin nationally and break this thing wide open like a pinata this week.