The Obama campaign did not campaign in any of the five states yet to cast votes for the Democratic nominee today (a morning event in Kentucky was cancelled due to Senate votes), opting to visit Missouri and Michigan, states that will be key for a Democratic victory in November. “I’ll be back because we’re gonna be competing in Missouri,” Obama promised voters in Cape Girardeau, MO, while taking aim at John McCain on issues ranging from the economy to Iraq to the environment. Surely signs of a campaign confident of a victory, despite getting creamed by Senator Clinton in West Virginia today.

But when asked by a voter at his Missouri town hall if Hillary Clinton might be his running mate, a more emure Obama replied, “It’s too early. Senator Clinton is still competing; we haven’t resolved this nomination - I haven’t won the nomination yet.” He added, “It would be presumptuous of me to pretend like I’ve already won and start talking about who my vice president’s going to be. I’ve still got more work to do.”

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Obama phoned Senator Clinton before taking off for Michigan (the first time the candidate has been there since speaking at an NAACP dinner there last June) to congratulate her on her WV victory. The frontrunner didn’t get through to tonight’s victor, however, and left her a voice mail.

While Hillary Clinton will embrace her West Virginia victory, Barack Obama headed to a state he already won in this Democratic endurance match. The candidate visited Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he gave a speech on the economy. In his prepared remarks, there was no reference to the Mountain State’s primary and no mention of Hillary Clinton - another sign the campaign is preparing itself for the general election before he has actually secured the nomination.

Today the Obama camp sent out a memo to reporters, where they admitted “there is no question that Senator Clinton is going to win by huge margins in the upcoming primaries in West Virginia today and Kentucky next week.” But the memo went on to say, “With 49 contests behind us and only six to go — including several states where we expect to do well — Barack Obama leads in pledged delegates, contests won, and superdelegates. And for perspective, while 28 pledged delegates are up for grabs this evening, Obama has won the support of 27 superdelegates in the course of just the last week putting him less than 150 total delegates away from clinching the Democratic nomination.”

Despite the campaign’s growing confidence in an Obama nomination, in today’s memo they are still trying to assure  some in the Democratic Party who are skittish about Barack Obama’s chances in the general election as he has not been able to win states made up of white, working class voters such as West Virginia. The lengthy memo then debunks what the campaign described as “five myths about Obama’s support.”

1. The race for the nomination has left the Democratic Party divided

2. The primary has hurt Obama with swing voters and Republicans

3. Obama will not get the support of white voters

4. The campaign has hurt Obama’s standing with women voters

5. Obama cannot win working class voters

Read the full memo below.

TO: Interested Parties

FR: The Obama Campaign

RE: West Virginia and Obama’s Strong Position in the Race Ahead

DA: 5/13/08

West Virginia

There is no question that Senator Clinton is going to win by huge margins in the upcoming primaries in West Virginia today and Kentucky next weeks. She has poured resources into both states and she, former President Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton have all campaigned extraordinarily hard there.

The Clinton campaign has already been touting their margins in these states – In fact, Bill Clinton said that Hillary can win West Virginia with 80 percent—and the West Virginia Senate Majority Leader said Clinton needs to win by “80-20 or 90-10.”  And in keeping large margins in perspective, it is worth noting that, while Senator Clinton will win big in West Virginia, Barack Obama won neighboring Virginia by 29 points.

But with 49 contests behind us and only six to go — including several states where we expect to do well — Barack Obama leads in pledged delegates, contests won, and superdelegates. And for perspective, while 28 pledged delegates are up for grabs this evening, Obama has won the support of 27 superdelegates in the course of just the last week putting him less than 150 total delegates away from clinching the Democratic nomination.

(more…)

John McCain today said he was “entertained” that Barack Obama is flirting with the idea of opting out of public financing should he win the Democratic nomination. “He didn’t talk about having discussions about third parties and all that when he committed to saying that he would take public financing if the Republican nominee did. I am the presumptive Republican nominee. I will take public financing. Keep your word to the American people. He’s always talking in his speeches about how we need to keep our word to the American people. Please keep your word to the American people on the commitment you made in writing,” McCain said forcefully, adding later that Obama had flip-flopped on the issue.

McCain was referring to the pledge the two candidates signed and submitted to the Federal Elections Commission last March, that would limit their funds to $85 million as general election candidates. But at a fundraiser the Tuesday night in Washington, DC, Obama referred to a “parallel public financing system” and called the current system “creaky” today at a press avail.

If Obama continues his record shattering fundraising prowess, McCain would face a huge financial handicap in the general election, which is why should Obama go forward and reject public funds, McCain admitted he would have to examine his options. “It is possible that I still will [accept public funds] and it’s possible that I won’t.” How will he decide? “Actually, a little straight talk, how we most benefit. I mean, you know, really how it is most beneficial to us,” McCain told reporters today.

Watch some of his comments from his Dallas press conference here:

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When asked if he agreed with Obama’s assessment that the current system is “creaky” and needs to be reformed, McCain shot back, “I have a record on reform, Senator Obama has rhetoric on reform. But I think it needs further reform and I’d be glad to join him in efforts to reform, but that doesn’t change the fact that he committed, a year ago, to public financing if I would.”

Waco, TX — Though he recognizes the fiscal difficulties and political challenges associated with competing in California in November, Sen. John McCain said Monday he will “insist” on campaigning in the Golden State.

“It’s the biggest state in America. I think as a Western Senator I understand their issues. I think the environmental issues are very important in California. I think I can appeal to the Hispanic vote, I think I can appeal to the Asian vote, I think I can appeal to the independent voter–which is a larger and larger percentage of registered voters,” McCain said aboard his “Straight Talk” bus after a townhall meeting in Waco, TX. “I just want to compete in California, and I understand the drawbacks of that, the cost of media, and all of those aspects of it…I don’t think, as a candidate, that I want to say that we’re not going to compete in the largest state in America, which is next door to my home state of Arizona.”

McCain also suggested yesterday he would try to compete in New Jersey. (audio from bus below)

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While a Republican has failed to win California since 1988, GOPers have long wanted to paint the state red again. Most recently, Karl Rove advised then-Governor George W. Bush to make a significant effort there in 2000 and received some backlash after Dubya still lost by 12 percent and more than 1.2 million votes in the state.

While senior campaign advisers said they believe they will start with an edge among Golden State Hispanic voters because of McCain’s leadership on the immigration compromise (and will also have an advantage within the group if Obama is their Democratic rival), they also acknowledge privately that winning California will be challenging.

At worst, they say a McCain push in the state would force the Democrats to defend what should be safe territory.

However among other issues, the presumptive GOP nominee will be at a severe financial disadvantage (outraised almost 4:1 by Clinton and nearly 5:1 by Obama in February alone) and California is a very expensive paid media state. Given that McCain will likely have to play defense in some of his own red states as Obama and Clinton have said they are intent on competing in the south and mountain west, the AZ Senator’s financial resources will be limited.