Obama '08?

@Cycloptichorn,

Cycloptichorn wrote:

66 million for Obama in August. The DNC supposedly did very well also. 500k new donors.

Cycloptichorn

Follow the money and you'll follow the dirt...

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@nimh,

nimh wrote:

I'm also no fan of the scenario Soz sketches - let's call it the rope-a-dope strategy (and we know how that worked out for Kerry) - but there seems little chance of Obama dropping to -10 by the 26th anymore. If anything, the race seems to have stabilised, or even closed up a bit again (McCain's convention bounce fading?)

I was probably not clear enough about this, but I was referring narrowly to Palin here. I don't think Obama should be going after HER.

I emphatically did not mean that he should not go after McCain, though. I think he should (and can, and is.)

This tangent started with how Obama can take hold of the narrative, though, how he could wrest it AWAY from Palin. I thought that the story of him going after McCain -- and becoming a breakthrough story, taking the focus off of Palin -- was likely to not really happen until the debates.

The economy news has created a slightly different landscape though. More chance of Obama breaking through with that.

Meanwhile, the "McCain's not being truthful" narrative does seem to have taken hold. Good.

And, polls seem to reflect that. Also good.

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@sozobe,

soz is right; Obama should not waste time on Pain; she's not the one running for president, nor the target with more lose ends or charisma.

McCain's "change" rhetoric is full of holes, and that should be Obama's main target.

Trying to run against Palin is a very bad idea; she's the beauty queen for the conservatives.

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@cicerone imposter,

Prettier than Hillary, thats for sure.

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Obama never ceases to impress me.

It seems like everyone wants Obama to be more aggressive. However, I think that when Obama is being himself, he does better. With the current state of the economy, this kind of direct message to voters is one that is very intimate and focused.

It seems to be working too. RCP has Obama up by 1.9 points. Gallups specifically by 4.

http://sas-origin.onstreammedia.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/lykz14kvduwtvn3uma5omq.gif

The only thing left for Obama to brave in this election is the last sprint of McCain's attack ad campaign. Nothing new to offer there. I think Obama may just be able to do this.

T
K
O

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@Diest TKO,

I go back and forth in my faith that he can come out on top. It relies a lot, I think, on the ability of white people over the age of 45 to do something they haven't had to do before (for reasons of opportunity or prediliction) - put a black man in a position of power over them.

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Did anyone else see him though, in that rally on TV yesterday - talking about how we need to "throw the whole do-nothing administration out, and put someone in there who is going to fight for you!" Man! He finally showed some of that "fired up" spirit I've been wanting to see - not angry, but just intense and pointed.

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@snood,

I didn't see him in that one but I've liked what I've heard from him over the last few days. I thought the 2 minute ad about the economy was just what the doctor ordered, and I think he has struck just the right tone against McCain.

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@FreeDuck,

I agree about the tone. Obama needs to be firm without coming off as too aggressive. There is nothing more that the GOP would like than to be able to tap into a fear of an "angry black man." I'm sure they wish they could jump in on the whole Rev Wright thing, but they know exactly how that would come off.

T
K
Obama has been very well poised.

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@Diest TKO,

Yeah, and I still think what I thought during the primary. Hillary did us all a favor by bringing that stuff out early. When it comes out now it's kind of old news and sounds like desperation. It's not going to sway any body who hasn't already been swayed any more than bringing out the Keating 5 mess would hurt McCain. Thank you, Hillary.

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I for one, feel like Hillary could be doing a lot more right now. I think she could be very helpful by channeling some of that "angry" energy that isn't convenient for Barack to display, for the reason already mentioned. I think she would be very effective at this point as a straight-talking, (for lack of better words) "attack dog". And I think at least one of the reasons why the only real forceful appearance that either of the Clintons have had was at the Convention is because their egos are too big to subjugate in the interest of something bigger.

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@snood,

So Obama can't be himself, and display that anger that he has?

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@snood,

Various places have brought up the divided vote between the 19-40 somethings and the over 40 somethings this week. On Morning Joe yesterday it was said that ...Under 40 somethings have a different understanding of race. They embrace divirsity. Older Americans see it as a change, they aren't used to diversity ... the older generation needs to get out of the way. It's their (younger generation) future. Let them decide.

I would agree with that. Not that I think older people shouldn't vote, but I wish they would see it from the younger generations point of view. The younger ones are the ones we have put the burden on, so let them decide who will clean it up for them.

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@squinney,

squinney wrote:

Not that I think older people shouldn't vote, but I....

Uh, go ahead and admit you do.

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For sozobe:

http://www.buzzflash.com/store/images/1163_100.jpg

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@squinney,

Hee!

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@squinney,

squinney wrote:

Not that I think older people shouldn't vote

that's definitely how I felt when I was younger, but now I realize that (at least among the people I know), older people tend to be less conservative in their voting habits - they're more open-minded than most young people I know - not so rigid about their ideologies

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@fishin,

fishin wrote:

Has there even been anything in the press in the last few days about what Biden is up to? Does anyone even know if he's still alive?

More about yes, Biden's alive, and yes, Biden's doing plenty, but no, the press isn't paying much attention (though the story of the press not paying attention was on the front page of the NYT -- there's irony there...)

"Meanwhile, the Other No. 2 Keeps On Punching"
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/20/us/politics/20biden.html

Quote:

As the economy reels, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. " the Other Running Mate " has been absolutely butchering Senator John McCain across the Rust Belt this week. It is not clear who has noticed.

I loved this paragraph:

Quote:

“That guy I used to know, he’s gone,” Mr. Biden said of Mr. McCain at the campaign event in Maumee, shaking his head. “It literally saddens me,” added Mr. Biden, who tends to use the word “literally” about a dozen times per speech (literally).

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OBAMA ON THE OFFENSIVE

Lambasts McCain for the flaws that the Wall Street crash has exposed in his health insurance and Social Security plans

Quote:

This morning in Daytona Beach, Florida, Barack Obama immediately picked up on Paul Krugman's key find, and in general, gave every indication that he enjoys staying on the offensive.

On McCain's support for treating healthcare like the banking industry:

Quote:
"My opponent actually wrote in the current issue of a health care magazine -- the current issue -- quote -- 'Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation.' So let me get this straight -- he wants to run health care like they've been running Wall Street. Well, senator, I know some folks on Main Street who aren't going to think that's a good idea."

On McCain's attacks regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:

Quote:
"The same day my opponent attacked me for being associated with a Fannie Mae guy I've talked to for maybe 5 minutes in my entire life -- the same day he did that -- the head of the lobbying shop at Fannie Mae turned around and said wait a minute -- 'When I see photographs of Senator McCain's staff, it looks to me like the team of lobbyists who used to report to me.' Folks, you can't make this stuff up. So when you hear John McCain talk about taking on the ol' boy network in Washington -- know this, on the McCain campaign, that's called a staff meeting."

And on Social Security:

Quote:
"[If my opponent had had his way in privatizing Social Security,] millions would've watched as the market tumbled and their nest egg disappeared before their eyes. Millions of families would've been scrambling to figure out how to give their mothers and fathers, their grandmothers and grandfathers, the secure retirement that every American deserves. So I know Senator McCain is talking about a "casino culture" on Wall Street -- but the fact is, he's the one who wants to gamble with your life savings."

Video:

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@squinney,

Yes, it's up to the younger generation to save themselves from continuing the destruction of our country and vote for Obama. McCain's change message us a fraud.

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