In a report describing the electoral map facing Republican presidential candidate John McCain, CNN Chief National Correspondent John King said two top McCain strategists and advisers told him the campaign is all but writing off Iowa, New Mexico and Colorado.

“Gone,” was the word one top McCain insider used to describe those three states.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain addressing a rally in Cedar Rapids last month.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain addressing a rally in Cedar Rapids last month.

McCain has visited the Hawkeye State three times in the last month and a half, most recently holding a rally in Davenport Oct. 11. His campaign has repeatedly said the race here is still competitive despite recent polls that have shown Obama with anywhere from a nine to 16 point lead in Iowa.

Obama also has a distinct organizational advantage, with 50 campaign offices open around the state compared to 16 for McCain. The Des Moines Register reported that Obama also has four times as many paid staff in Iowa.

Wendy Rieman, McCain’s Midwest spokeswoman, told the Iowa Independent that CNN’s report was “completely inaccurate” and that internal polls show Iowa is “still within striking distance.”

“Obama’s campaign is clearly seeing the numbers as well, otherwise he wouldn’t be spending money here, opening more offices or returning to the state in the final days of the campaign after neglecting Iowans for months,” she said.

Obama will campaign in Des Moines on Thursday. It will be would have been his first visit to Iowa since before the Democratic National Convention in August. [Update: The Obama campaign canceled its Thursday event.]

According to CNN’s King, McCain’s campaign will shift its focus to Pennsylvania and its 21 electoral votes. Most polls have Obama up around 10 points in that state.