McCain Fights for His Electoral Life in Ohio

New Albany, Ohio -- Sen. John McCain and his campaign fully understand they simply cannot win the presidency without carrying the state of Ohio. Just yesterday in one of his rallies in Ohio, McCain told the crowd just that, saying that if he didn't carry the Buckeye State, he couldn't win the election. In fact, on Thursday, McCain made a stunning five different stops in Ohio. The now famous 'Joe the Plumber' joined McCain at a couple of the stops yesterday and was cheered on by a rowdy crowd.

Just when you thought McCain couldn't do much more to try to win over Ohioans he has ratcheted it up a little more in today's campaigning. McCain's schedule for Friday? Once again, a full day of stops in Ohio, going to Hanoverton, Steubenville, New Philadelphia, and then winding up his Ohio tour with a bang in downtown Columbus at Nationwide Arena.

The McCain campaign is calling the massive rally in Columbus his final "Road to Victory" stop in the state of Ohio, and they have decided to include a couple of special guests: Country singer Hank Williams Jr. as well as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is a particularly important guest in this area since he has a very popular annual fitness competition and seminar here in Columbus that attracts thousands from around the country.

The rally at Nationwide Arena will provide McCain a massive stage with some star guests to try to rally his faithful and get them believing he can still win this election. One of the main themes that McCain has been pushing across the state over the last couple of days is the fact that he is fighter and has come from behind before and no one should give up on him. Clearly the McCain campaign is wanting to make sure its supporters don't believe the election or the state has already been won by Sen. Barack Obama, giving them a reason to stay home on election day.

Obama and his campaign have done a great job getting voters to cast their ballots early in the key Democratic counties of Cuyahoga and Franklin, so McCain and his campaign will be working from behind on election day. The absentee ballot program that McCain has stressed will likely help some, but McCain will need a huge turnout from the Republican base which propelled President Bush to re-election in 2004.

If there was ever any doubt as to how badly the McCain campaign feels like it needs the state of Ohio, I believe the last two days have made it abundantly clear. With just four days to go, McCain is spending two full days touring the Buckeye state because he knows it is absolutely a must win for he and his campaign. Only time will tell if this last final push helped McCain enough, but no one can say he didn't try.