Jul 31 2008

Why McNasty Has No Chance (again)

Much commentary today on the increasingly “nasty” turn of McShame’s candidacy.

Several bloggers have suggested that Obama must strike back hard against this negative campaign, citing Dukakis’ and Kerry’s failure to do so in prior campaigns.  I disagree.

This candidacy is distinguishable from the others.  Here, the electorate is already energized based on the economy and the war (which, leaving aside morality issues, are ultimately the same issue–the economy is bad because of the war).  McShame is turning to a nasty campaign very early.  Why?  Because he doesn’t have much to run on:  any time he is asked to detail his plans he falls apart in a shambles because his plans are unreal and unrealistic.  Continued spending with no source, no workable plan on the economy.

The problem with an early nasty campaign is that, after awhile, it is ineffective and makes the party doing it appear to be just nasty.  At some point, someone’s going to ask:  “well and good, Sir, but what is your plan?”  Even more scary:  “how will work?”

McShame’s campaign is egregiously bad and laughable.  As it is a joke, Obama is correct to laugh it off, at least until some substantive attack is made.

2 comments

    • robodd on July 31, 2008 at 23:52
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    • Edger on August 1, 2008 at 00:32
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    July 30, 2008

    Gallup Daily: Presidential Race Tightens to 4 Points

    PRINCETON, NJ — After moving into a nine percentage point lead over John McCain in Gallup Poll Daily tracking of national registered voters this past weekend, Barack Obama now leads by just four points, 46% to 42%.

    July 31, 2008

    Foreign tour gives Obama no lasting bounce in polls

    McClatchy Newspapers

    Many experts caution, however, that polls in the summers of presidential election years seldom mean much, and they warn voters not to take them seriously.

    “It’s my strong personal opinion that nothing (in politics) between the primaries and the end of the political conventions means anything,” said Brad Coker, the managing partner of Mason-Dixon Polling & Research.

    Gallup’s daily sampling of 2,682 registered voters found Obama with a 46-42 percent lead over McCain on Sunday through Tuesday. At the start of the trip, Obama led McCain by nearly an identical margin.

    New Quinnipiac Polling Institute surveys Thursday found that Obama’s lead in three key swing states has dropped in recent weeks. McCain spent last week in key states promoting his energy plan, particularly his proposal to lift the ban on offshore oil drilling.

    That message may have resonated with voters, said Peter Brown, Quinnipiac assistant director.

    “While Obama was on tour, trying to show voters he could handle world affairs, voters were home trying to fill their gas tanks,” Brown said.

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