Flashback: Walberg said McCain would help him win 7th district race

Last month, Tim Walberg said John McCain's active Michigan campaign would help him beat Mark Schauer in the 7th district. Here he is from an article published in the Ann Arbor News on September 7, 2008:

"We'll help him and he'll help us, there's no doubt about it,'' said U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, referring to GOP presidential nominee John McCain.

[...]

Walberg said he hopes McCain's success in Michigan and Washtenaw County in the 2000 election, particularly among moderate Democrats and independents, can help offset the anticipated support countywide for his Democratic challenger, Mark Schauer.

Votes will be at a premium, as the battle for the Michigan's 7th Congressional District is believed to be among the most competitive and expensive House races in the country.

And here's the news today, from Politico:

John McCain is pulling out of Michigan, according to two Republicans, a stunning move a month away from Election Day that indicates the difficulty Republicans are having in finding blue states to put in play.

McCain will go off TV in Michigan, stop dropping mail there and send most of his staff to more competitive states, including Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida. Wisconsin went for Kerry in 2004, Ohio and Florida for Bush.

[...]

A McCain event planned for next week in Plymouth, Mich., has been canceled.