Just as the title points out ladies and gentlemen, the 2008 race apparently looks to be a dog fight ’til Election Day.
As I was watching CNN, Wolf Blitzer reported upon a new post-Obama Bronco speech and post-Palin poll which shows en Barack Obama (D-IL) attracting 49% of the vote while Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) attracts 48% of the vote.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/31/cnn-poll-obama-49-mccain-48/
This polls finds something very interesting that I’m not sure a lot of people are talking about. Partisans on both sides are diluting both his 80,000 crowd speech and McCain’s selection of Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK).
What this poll shows is that Sen. Obama’s speech in Denver did EXACTLY what it needed to do for him as a candidate. Take it for what it’s worth, there were some independents who connected to his message and there were some independents who didn’t. Sen. McCain’s announcement of Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate did EXACTLY what it needed to do for his campaign as well. Some independents connected very well to it, obviously conservative Republicans responded VERY well to it while there were some independents who questioned it.
However, I’m in the mindset that Sen. McCain’s pick for VP did more for his campaign than Sen. Obama’s speech in Denver did for his, and here’s why: Obama — in a very difficult, or what should be a difficult year for Republicans, needed to make the case to the American people about his candidacy. If he was overly successful at that, the Senator from Illinois should be as much as 10-12points ahead of the Senator from Arizona… ESPECIALLY in a political climate where President Bush is only viewed favorably by 30% of Americans.
This poll, and granted there will be other polls soon that show the race similarly close, but this poll showing McCain 1 point behind Obama clearly means that independent voters are waking up to these candidates. Clearly, Obama is attracting one of his highest percentage of support since the campaign really got under way, but McCain has rallied his base with his pick and — should Gov. Palin prove to be a smart pick to McCain in the minds and eyes of voters who have doubted his selection, McCain could find a larger bounce in the polls after the RNC. This assumption only prevails should all five Gulf Coast GOP governors (Perry, Jindal, Barbour, Reily, and Crist) prove to have a successful handling of Hurricane Gustav.
But, like this election has already proven, ANYTHING… is possible. I could be entirely wrong or dead-on. With 65 days and counting, time will of course soon tell.
The bigger question is; “Did John McCain undermine his candidacy by impulsively choosing Sarah Palin, just to prevent Obama’s convention bump?” Sure seems like it. Three themes from his campaign shot to hell; 1)experience [or Obama’s lack of it ] Palin has been Gov. for about 18 months in a state with a pop. less than many cities. 2) His foreign policy credentials, he must NOT think these are DANGEROUS times if he thinks that Palin, who’s on RECORD saying in 2007 that she” hadn’t thought about the WAR IN IRAQ MUCH”! Many VP’s become President! and 3)Country First- his new slogan. Sarah Palin is the poster child for POLITICAL CALCULATION. They should include her name in Webster’s under TOKENISM. Does ANYBODY out there think that McCain would have chosen a man with the same resume? Did he EVEN BOTHER to vet this woman? Not only is she being investigated for abuse of power but there is an interesting rumor about her personal life all over the blogosphere [ possible Nat. Enquirer story]
*in Comic Book Guy voice* :
I love that name. Wolf Blitzer. Coolest news name ever.
SMS
Where else would they spend the primary funds?
It’s Labor Day and neither candidate has broken the 50% goal post for attracting voters. Time and again, Obama has demonstrated he cannot close the deal.
On the other hand, McCain believes he had to resurrect his maverick mantle. Selecting another “old white male” reeked business as usual and conceded the C-factor to Obama. Besides, I don’t believe most folks vote for a VP; they vote for the head of the ticket.
Sometimes the greatest risks bear the greatest rewards.
Um Yeah “CNN” and other mainstream media outlets like to brainwash take it easy on “stats” and polls
please.
Time and again, Obama has demonstrated he cannot close the deal.
OK, I know it was one of Hillary’s useful idiots – possibly that fat fart Mark Penn – who coined that attack line…
But this has GOTTA be the first time EVER that a candidate is trashed for regularly winning polls but not quite breaking – what? – 60%?
How does my candidate “close the deal” for you, anon? No, wait, don’t answer, because I don’t care what you have to say. Concern trolling at its apex.
Vern, its ok. We need to be sensitive to our Republican brethern right now. Make them feel the welcome that Democrats have for those Libertarian and Independent leaning camps.
Our Constitutional Scholar knows that we need all factions in America to make this grand experiment in democracy work like it was intended to.
To all those disafected on the other side of the aisle, Welcome Home! Bring your ideas obout how to make government work for the American people with you and we will incorporate them into the rich tapestry of ideas that is the Democratic Party.
It takes a village.
vern only cares about far left folks . that is why he is far left vern . nobama got a real small bump in the polls wich tells you america dose not think you can close the deal . he is planning on giving 95%of the people a tax break . yet only 5% is going to pay for ALL HIS PROGRAMS . the other day at his speech he had at least 20 programs he talked about . yelled out we will be free of forgein oil in 10 years but didnt tell us how . ?? NOBAMA 08