Can McCain flip Pennsylvania?

John McCain appears to be making a serious play for our neighboring state of Pennsylvania.

Here’s the money quote from the New York Times:

“We need to win Pennsylvania on Nov. 4, and with your help — with your help — we’re going to win!” Mr. McCain shouted to the crowd in his first appearance of the day, at a manufacturing plant in Bensalem, north of Philadelphia, where he said that Mr. Obama would raise their taxes and was too untested to handle an international crisis.

Pennsylvania voted for Democrats in 2000 and again in 2004, when the Republican Party was at the height of its power and popularity

So…is McCain desperate – or does he know something the rest of America doesn’t know?

Most likely its desperation.

Virginia and Colorado look increasingly like long shots — so the Arizona Senator needs to strip a blue state from the Democratic column.

He seems to have decided that Pennsylvania is his best shot.

Currently, Obama has a double-digit lead, so it won’t be easy. And over the last couple of years, the Dems have built a registration advantage of 1.2 million voters.

Barack Obama also has more money to spend in Pennsylvania.

Here’s the good news for McCain.

Pennsylvania has big swaths of rural-conservative voters, who trend more like Ohio than New York. He could score bigger-than-expected margins there.

Pennsylvania’s industrial suburbs could also be a place where the Bradley factor might kick in.

Those white, blue-collar neighborhoods around Pittsburgh and Philadelphia may be more uncomfortable voting for an African American than pollsters realize.

(The McCain campaign has downplayed race as a factor and says the Republican’s appeal in Philadelphia hinges on his “maverick” image.)

According to the Times, Obama has no plans to return to Pennsylvania before Election Day. If those plans change, it could be a sign that he’s feeling McCain’s pressure.