More and more evidence is pooring in that the Obama campaign machine is latching up and smoke is starting to rise as it stalls and begins to fade. Obama was always a very high risk choice with his political inexperience (he has never won a straight election, ever). One can argue he did not win the popular support of democrats in the primary where he had to be pulled across the finish line by Party power brokers which make up Super Delegates.

But now the Obama “Arrogance-Express” is faltering from the inside, as it ignores an defies even the Democrat power players.

The Sunday Telegraph has learned that senators, governors and union leaders who have experience of winning hard-fought races in swing states have been bombarding Obamas campaign headquarters with telephone calls offering advice. But many of those calls have not been returned.

A senior Democratic strategist, who has played a prominent role in two presidential campaigns, told The Sunday Telegraph: “These guys are on the verge of blowing the greatest gimme in the history of American politics. They’re the most arrogant bunch Ive ever seen. They won’t accept that they are losing and they won’t listen.”

…

And Mr Plouffe’s dismissal of Democratic doubts as hand-wringing and bed-wetting only served to reinforce the growing doubts about what some see as a bunker mentality among Obamas inner circle – where outside advice, even from highly experienced people, is not welcomed.

Emphasis mine. I am sure that quote is 100% accurate, and tells you how bad it is. Remember, the GOP is the opposition and the moderates are the prize that has to be won. But you don’t tell your allies off like this and then expect them to fall in line and do your bidding. The most likely response in the ego driven world of DC is a bunch of long knives appear. Obama’s campaign is at war with the Democrat Party – make no mistake about it.

The Democratic strategist told The Sunday Telegraph: “They think they know best. They don’t return calls. There are governors and senators calling them up with ideas. They don’t get back to them.

“These are senior people from the border states and the South who know how to beat Republicans, and they’re being ignored. They ignored everyone during the primaries and they came through it, so they think they can do the same again.”

Mr Obama has never won an electoral contest against a strong Republican candidate. David Axelrod, his chief strategist has been hailed as a political genius for beating the Clinton machine, but Democrats now point out that he has never run a successful campaign in the heartland states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Virginia, which will decide the election. His expertise is in mobilising young, educated and black voters in urban areas.

What is becoming scarily clear is the Obama camp has come to really believe they are the Messiah. They really think with a wave of their hands the waters will recede. The arrogance is stunning even from the outside. Recall the Obama ad belittling McCain because he can’t use a keyboard (not because he doesn’t understand how to use email)? When it hit this weekend I said this was one of those decision points which could easily sink Obama in a landslide:

Another day, another O-Bomb. Folks, this race IS over. And if Obama cannot muster the backbone and character to offer a very public apology and mea culpa (don’t go blaming your staff again) it will be a blow out instead of a close loss. Obama is responsible for his campaign – remember this is the grand experience he has earned that makes him more qualified than a sitting governor. Obama is responsible for his decisions – no copping a ‘present’ attitude on this one. Obama’s claim to being a serious contender is over.

Now we are just trying to sort out how big a loser he and his careless, heartless, power-blind followers are.

So, how cruel and arrogant is the O-Bomba campaign? We have the answer already:

Obama spokesman Dan Pfeiffer denied that the freshman Illinois senator’s ad was making an issue of McCain’s age. “It’s extraordinary,” he said, “that someone who wants to be our president and commander in chief doesn’t know how to send an e-mail.”

These kiddies helping Obama run for the President are self destructing. And that is why we see other stories like this one – where Florida is rapildy becoming a bridge to far for O-Bomba:

Barack Obama could be on the verge of falling out of contention in Florida.

Despite spending an estimated $8-million on campaign ads in America’s biggest battleground state and putting in place the largest Democratic campaign organization ever in Florida, Obama has lost ground over the summer. Florida has moved from a toss-up state to one that clearly leans toward John McCain, fueling speculation about how much longer the Democratic nominee will continue investing so heavily in the state.

It’s not just Florida. It is also Ohio, where Obama once led this summer by 7 and now trails by 2 in the RCP average. Pennsylvania is also turning purple, Obama’s one time 9 point lead is down to 2 points. Washington has gone from 11 points to 6. Missouri is turning dark red. I point these out to illustrate this is an across the country shift and it is massive. Ed Morrissey has more on the tectonic shift happening in the state polls, and RCP notes McCain is taking the lead in the Electoral College predictions.

American are being turned off, and possibly repulsed, by the Obama camp and their allies in the liberal news media. Instead of welcoming Palin to the national debate, the sleaze meisters are trying to paint her as an incompetent rube. The reason this won’t work is Palin is America outside the beltway. All attacks against her bleed over onto voters who share things in common with her.  Attacks on her (as opposed to her policies) end up being attacks on Americans – American women especially.

Obama’s crowds and venues are shrinking, as Palin – who has totally eclipsed Obama and his efforts to make the waters recede – see enormous crowds where ever she goes. And how does the Arrogant-Express respond to these challenges? With a childish emotional tirade:

Sen. Barack Obama’s spokesman on Saturday accused Sen. John McCain of “cynically running the sleaziest and least honorable campaign in modern presidential campaign history.”

After all the sleaze about Palin’s family and children, after all the mocking of McCains scars from torture and beatings, after the veiled ‘pig’ comment, the O-Bomba campaign is laughable in its claim.

Obamba’s campaign is fighting the Democrat Party. There are many democrats running from him to save their own seats. And Americans find him repulsive and childish. It seems we all have a scape goat for what’s wrong with Washington, now that Bush is not on the ballot.

Update: RCP has moved the normally blue state of Minnesota into the toss up category as Obama’s 11 point lead is now 4.6. There are fewer and fewer blue states as you look back over the history of the RCP EC map. In the summer Obama led by a huge 92 electoral college votes. Today he is behind by 20. That is an incredible shift, and it still may be growing. The SS Obama may not make it to the debates at this rate.

Michael Goodwin has a great piece out on the law of holes. Obama’s still digging his.

Update: A string of polling data showing the size and scope of the shift away from Obama. A sample:

But before the Republican convention, Galllup polling showed just 40 percent of independents favoring McCain.

Post convention, that rose to 52 percent

Yelling at Americans for being stupid for making this shift I seriously doubt will work.  Just a guess.

Update: More on the devastating poll news out of Minnesota:

A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll shows that the race is now a dead heat between Barack Obama and John McCain, each supported by 45 percent of likely voters in the state.

…

The poll found that McCain has made gains across the board since a May Minnesota Poll that showed him trailing by 13 points.

Staggering.

Tags: 2008 Election, Electoral College, McCain, Obama, Palin, Poll