Sunday NYT: Obama on Offense, But Missouri "Seems Like A Longer Shot"

WITH A MONTH TO GO, ARTICLE SAYS OBAMA'S ON ELECTORAL OFFENSE

"Mr. Obama has forced Mr. McCain to spend money to hold on in what had been viewed as safe Republican states, like Indiana and Missouri, while limiting Mr. McCain’s ability to play offense on Democratic turf," write The New York Times' Adam Nagourney and Jeff Zeleny.

MISSOURI --- STILL A LONG SHOT FOR OBAMA?

The piece also lists the six states the authors believe will decide the election. They are: Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Virginia. They represent 78 electoral votes.

The Times notes that Obama's decision to opt out of public financing allowed him to greatly expand the size of his groundgame. "It seems a good bet that Mr. Obama would not be spending money in Missouri if he had an $84.1 million limit," notes the story. Still, the Times suggests that of the red states Obama is competing in, Missouri remains one of the toughest targets. "Mr. Obama is making a sustained effort to capture from the Republican column Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. He is putting effort into Missouri and Montana, and though those seem like longer shots, Mr. McCain campaigned in Missouri last week, and Republicans are buying advertising time there," according to the story.

The Times also reports that Obama advisers believe the issue of health care will resonate more than other issues for Americans who are worried about the troubled economy. As evidence of that, Sunday morning, the Obama camp plans to hold a conference call with Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius about the "impact of John McCain's health care plan" on the insurance industry.