Stoddard baselessly asserted Obama "doesn't think he's going to win Ohio and Florida"

Summary: During The Hill's online video segment "Ask A.B.," A.B. Stoddard asserted: "[Sen.] Barack Obama has pretty much conceded that he doesn't think that he's going to win Ohio and Florida, two states that are necessary to becoming president of the United States -- usually." Stoddard offered no evidence to support this claim. In fact, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel recently quoted Rep. Robert Wexler, co-chairman of Obama's Florida campaign, as saying Obama "is confident he will win Florida," and a recent SurveyUSA poll shows Obama leading Sen. John McCain by nine percentage points in Ohio.

During the June 2 edition of The Hill's online video segment "Ask A.B.," Hill associate editor and frequent MSNBC commentator A.B. Stoddard asserted: "[Sen.] Barack Obama has pretty much conceded that he doesn't think that he's going to win Ohio and Florida, two states that are necessary to becoming president of the United States -- usually." Stoddard offered no evidence to support this claim. In fact, Obama spent three consecutive days campaigning in Florida starting on May 21, a schedule that Obama spokesman Bill Burton reportedly said "reflects the fact that we are still fighting for votes and delegates in the remaining contests but also that we are going to places that are going to be competitive in the fall." Moreover, a May 24 South Florida Sun-Sentinel report, which reported that an estimated 16,000 people attended an Obama campaign rally at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, quoted Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), co-chairman of Obama's Florida campaign, as saying: "[Obama] believes he will win Florida. He is confident he will win Florida."

In addition, Stoddard did not explain her claim that Obama "doesn't think he's going to win Ohio." A SurveyUSA poll conducted from May 16 to May 18 showed Obama leading Sen. John McCain 48 percent to 39 percent in that state.

From the June 2 edition of "Ask A.B.," posted on The Hill's website:

STODDARD: Shawn from Virginia had a good question that I saved for this week. It is a forward-looking question about the general election, and I think it's a fascinating one. We don't -- Barack Obama has pretty much conceded that he doesn't think that he's going to win Ohio and Florida, two states that are necessary to becoming president of the United States -- usually. Excuse me, for having a George Bush moment and tripping over my tongue.

In a non-Ohio and Florida strategy, Senator Obama is going to have to pick up all of the reliable blue states, plus Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington. He's going to have to hold or keep those states. He's going to have to win Iowa, which looks good for him. Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and then he's going to have to hope to win Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.

—T.A.