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Well, it's finally here: Election Day. After what seems like an eternity of debates, primaries, caucuses, conventions, more debates, more speeches, a landslide of ads, and some great material On Saturday Night Live, we go to the polls.
At this point, John McCain will need a miracle to avoid humiliating defeat. In many quarters, the talk has been not "Will Barack Obama win?" but "How big will Obama win?" Some people are even wondering if the networks will wait until the west coast's polls close to declare a winner. From what I see, we will know very early on.
The key early states to watch are Indiana, Georgia, and Virginia. All of these states will have their polls close at 7pm. Most of Indiana closes at 6pm Eastern Time, but the western areas of the state are on Central Time. Traditionally, all three of these states go red within a few minutes of the polls closing. Tonight will be different. If any of these states turn blue, McCain probably has no realistic path to 270 electoral votes. Obama has enjoyed a slim lead in Virginia for some time now, but Indiana and Georgia appear too close to call at this point.
At 7:30pm Eastern Time, the polls close in North Carolina. This is another state that usually goes red fairly quickly, yet the polls here are also too close to call. While we will most likely wait for some time for North Carolina, a quick Obama victory here would be the death knell for McCain.
On the Senate side, the Democrats stand poised to make dramatic gains. Within a few minutes after the polls close, former governor Mark Warner will be declared the winner of the open Virginia race. Warner has lead his predecessor as governor, Jim Gilmore, by about twenty percent all year so this will be no surprise. Conversely, the Senate race in North Carolina could be another good indicator. Elizabeth Dole was supposed to cruise to an easy victory, but a combination of her badly run campaign, the national economic crisis, and challenger Kay Hagen's near perfect political pitch have made this a battle. An early Hagen win could bode very well for Obama in the Tarheel State.
At 8pm, the polls will close in many eastern states, most importantly Pennsylvania. A quick call of Pennsylvania may happen tonight. If it goes Obama, as all polls have indicated, there is no real way McCain gets to 270 without some HUGE upset. If Viginia and then Pennsylvania go blue, stick a fork in McCain 'cause he's DONE.
For me, a presidential election night is like watching the World Series. i prefer to avoid the big parties so I can watch the coverage uninterrupted and without having to strain to hear what's being said. I think tonight will be a night for the ages!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
What's going on in Indiana????
If this presidential race hadn't produced enough surprises, on of the biggest is still very much in the forefront. With less than 48 hours until the polls close, Indiana is still up for grabs, according to several polls. Normally, Hoosiers are used to the networks turning Indiana red within minutes of the polls closing. This year, we may have to wait a while. The folks I talk to are all asking "What's going on with Indiana?"
First, Hoosiers are very engaged in this election, especially Democrats. This year's Democratic Primary for president was something we haven't seen in Indiana since 1968: relevant. Normally, our may primary comes long after both parties have wrapped up their nominations and we see almost no campaigning here. This year, not only was the Democratic race still very much alive in May, but Indiana proved to be a hard-fought battle. In the end, Hillary Clinton squeaked out a thin victory here.
The primary allowed the Obama forces to do two things: recruit volunteers and develop a state-wide game plan. These Obama volunteers descended on Indiana like an army in the spring, and they have come back in the fall. The Obama forces have to be the best-organized ground game that I have ever seen. They seem to be anywhere and everywhere. They have also registered tens of thousands of new voters around the state. Now, they are following up with those voters to make sure they get to the polls. In contrast, there is no McCain ground game in Indiana. McCain has one field office to cover the entire state. I have yet to encounter one McCain volunteer.
Even the candidates' schedules reflect different takes on Indiana. Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and Joe Biden have each made campaign stops here since the Democratic Convention. Obama's crowds have been huge, culminating in a rally earlier this fall in Indianapolis where police estimate a turn-out of 20,000 on a weekday morning. In contrast, John McCain has yet to visit Indiana this fall. Sarah Palin has been here twice. It's almost as if the McCain forces are just counting on Hoosiers to vote Republican because they always do so. I'm not sure if I'd place that much faith in traditions.
This Obama-driven desire for change has filtered down to the Congressional races. In Indiana 2, freshman Congressman Joe Donnelly is cruising to an easy re-election over a completely inept Republican opponent. Donnelly has served his constituents well in his first term, but could not take his hard work for granted. Indiana 2 is very much a toss-up district, having had three different representatives in the House since 2000. Donnelly's opponent was apparently counting on being swept in by a McCain wave, as his yard signs even mimic the McCain design. Looks like the tidal wave is coming from the opposite direction.
While Donnelly cruises, Congressman Mark Souder is fighting for his political life. Souder is a Republican who represents Indian 3, a solidly Republican district in northeast Indiana. Normally, this would be a cake-walk for Souder, who routinely crushes all Democratic challengers in this very conservative district. Yet, this year is different. Souder has not done anything kooky (a la Michelle Bachmann) or corrupt to endanger his seat, yer he is finding himself locked in a tight battle with Mike Montagano, an attorney and first-time candidate. Polls are showing this race to be very close and both national parties are pouring money into it. on Election Night, Souder could be our "canary in the coal mine". All polls in this district close at 6pm Eastern Time. if Souder is defeated quickly or the race remains too close to call for some time, it may be a very bad omen for Republicans. If a scandal-free incumbent with a history of easy wins in a solidly Republican district goes down, the Republicans may look at losing more than thirty House seats.
it would seem that the only bright spot for Republicans is the almost assured re-election of Governor Mitch Daniels. Democrats had high hopes of knocking off Daniels, who had previously served as Budget Director in the Bush administration. After a very close primary, former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson won the Democratic nomination and seemingly fell off the face of the earth. With a huge cash advantage, Daniels was able to run positive ads all summer and many of these ads were very well-done. In contrast, Long Thompson seemingly was nowhere to be seen. When she did resurface this fall, it was to call a press conference claiming that Daniels billed the state for political travels. Nobody cared. Long Thompson's campaign has been a major disappointment to Democrats, some of whom have referred to it in conversations with me as "non-existent" and "amateurish".
The big question now is this: will all of the efforts of the Obama campaign be enough to tip this ruby-red state blue? They key will be who can get their supporters to the polls. On this, the Obama campaign's GOTV efforts are light-years ahead of McCain's "lets hope they vote like they always do" strategy. Still, Indiana is a conservative state where Republican loyalties run deep. Early voting has exceeded all predictions and turn out is expected to shatter records.
I don't know if Indiana will turn blue or not. if it doesn't, it will surely be decided by a narrow margin. Considering that Indiana usually gives the GOP standard bearer a margin of twenty points or more, a close loss for the Obama folks will be a major victory. if they win Indiana, it will be earth-shattering.
First, Hoosiers are very engaged in this election, especially Democrats. This year's Democratic Primary for president was something we haven't seen in Indiana since 1968: relevant. Normally, our may primary comes long after both parties have wrapped up their nominations and we see almost no campaigning here. This year, not only was the Democratic race still very much alive in May, but Indiana proved to be a hard-fought battle. In the end, Hillary Clinton squeaked out a thin victory here.
The primary allowed the Obama forces to do two things: recruit volunteers and develop a state-wide game plan. These Obama volunteers descended on Indiana like an army in the spring, and they have come back in the fall. The Obama forces have to be the best-organized ground game that I have ever seen. They seem to be anywhere and everywhere. They have also registered tens of thousands of new voters around the state. Now, they are following up with those voters to make sure they get to the polls. In contrast, there is no McCain ground game in Indiana. McCain has one field office to cover the entire state. I have yet to encounter one McCain volunteer.
Even the candidates' schedules reflect different takes on Indiana. Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and Joe Biden have each made campaign stops here since the Democratic Convention. Obama's crowds have been huge, culminating in a rally earlier this fall in Indianapolis where police estimate a turn-out of 20,000 on a weekday morning. In contrast, John McCain has yet to visit Indiana this fall. Sarah Palin has been here twice. It's almost as if the McCain forces are just counting on Hoosiers to vote Republican because they always do so. I'm not sure if I'd place that much faith in traditions.
This Obama-driven desire for change has filtered down to the Congressional races. In Indiana 2, freshman Congressman Joe Donnelly is cruising to an easy re-election over a completely inept Republican opponent. Donnelly has served his constituents well in his first term, but could not take his hard work for granted. Indiana 2 is very much a toss-up district, having had three different representatives in the House since 2000. Donnelly's opponent was apparently counting on being swept in by a McCain wave, as his yard signs even mimic the McCain design. Looks like the tidal wave is coming from the opposite direction.
While Donnelly cruises, Congressman Mark Souder is fighting for his political life. Souder is a Republican who represents Indian 3, a solidly Republican district in northeast Indiana. Normally, this would be a cake-walk for Souder, who routinely crushes all Democratic challengers in this very conservative district. Yet, this year is different. Souder has not done anything kooky (a la Michelle Bachmann) or corrupt to endanger his seat, yer he is finding himself locked in a tight battle with Mike Montagano, an attorney and first-time candidate. Polls are showing this race to be very close and both national parties are pouring money into it. on Election Night, Souder could be our "canary in the coal mine". All polls in this district close at 6pm Eastern Time. if Souder is defeated quickly or the race remains too close to call for some time, it may be a very bad omen for Republicans. If a scandal-free incumbent with a history of easy wins in a solidly Republican district goes down, the Republicans may look at losing more than thirty House seats.
it would seem that the only bright spot for Republicans is the almost assured re-election of Governor Mitch Daniels. Democrats had high hopes of knocking off Daniels, who had previously served as Budget Director in the Bush administration. After a very close primary, former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson won the Democratic nomination and seemingly fell off the face of the earth. With a huge cash advantage, Daniels was able to run positive ads all summer and many of these ads were very well-done. In contrast, Long Thompson seemingly was nowhere to be seen. When she did resurface this fall, it was to call a press conference claiming that Daniels billed the state for political travels. Nobody cared. Long Thompson's campaign has been a major disappointment to Democrats, some of whom have referred to it in conversations with me as "non-existent" and "amateurish".
The big question now is this: will all of the efforts of the Obama campaign be enough to tip this ruby-red state blue? They key will be who can get their supporters to the polls. On this, the Obama campaign's GOTV efforts are light-years ahead of McCain's "lets hope they vote like they always do" strategy. Still, Indiana is a conservative state where Republican loyalties run deep. Early voting has exceeded all predictions and turn out is expected to shatter records.
I don't know if Indiana will turn blue or not. if it doesn't, it will surely be decided by a narrow margin. Considering that Indiana usually gives the GOP standard bearer a margin of twenty points or more, a close loss for the Obama folks will be a major victory. if they win Indiana, it will be earth-shattering.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
1928 and 1988: My Perspective
As the 2008 campaign enters its final week, I've had a lot of time to reflect on what this race has meant. With Barack Obama holding a lead in the polls and a commanding lead in the Electoral College, the historical implications of this election are staggering. America seems poised to tear down the "white men only" sign on the White House gate.
As I have thought about this election, the historian in me has also thought a lot about the election of 1928. It was in 1928 that the Democratic party also nominated a person who represented a dramatic break from the status quo. Alfred E. Smith was the four-term Governor of New York and a noted reformer when he was nominated by the Democratic national Convention in 1928. Smith was also a Catholic, the first Catholic to be nominated by a major political party for president. Like Barack Obama's race this year, Smith's religion saw his political opponent unleash a campaign of smear an innuendo almost beyond belief.
Growing up Catholic in a town with a large Catholic population, the idea that Catholics would be targets for bigotry simply never occurred to me. My friends and I never really talked about religion. They never asked me why we went to mass on Saturday evening or why we gave up certain things during Lent. Even in the public schools, Catholicism was no big deal.
Of course, 1928 was a far different time than the 1970's and 80's. Smith's nomination began a torrent of lies and misinformation designed to scare large segments of the population into not wanting Al Smith in the White House. Scurrilous tracts appeared claiming that President Smith would annul all Protestant marriages and that the pope would come to America to preside over cabinet meetings. Voters were warned that parochial school attendance would become mandatory for all American children. Even campaign buttons appeared that read "Keep a Christian in the White House". As Smith rode his campaign train west, the Klan and other hate groups burned crosses along the railroad tracks for Smith and his wife to see. In the end, Smith was defeated in a landslide. Historians still debate how much Smith's Catholicism hurt him. Clearly, it didn't help him as half of the Democrat's "Solid South" went Republican for the fdirst time in many memories. Outside of six Southern states, Smith only carried the heavily Catholic states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In any event, the campaign of 1928 was a shameful reminder of the ugly divisions in American society.
Now, eighty years later, we stand at another crossroads. The Democratic party has nominated the first major party African-American candidate for president. Like the campaign of 1928, the candidacy of Barack Obama has unleashed some examples of hate and bigotry that seem almost unimaginable. For most Americans of good conscience, these attacks read like a laundry list of absurdities: Obama is a secret Muslim, Obama is in league with terrorists, Mrs. Obama is a black militant who refers to whites as "Whitey", etc.
Here in northern Indiana, a large Obama sign in an African-American family's yard was defaced with the vile "N Word". An Obama staffer entered a Speedway gas station in Three Oaks, Michigan, and was confronted by a store employee who noticed his Obama hat and told him "You're a N----- Lover". At some mcCain rallies, persons have been spotted wearing shirts depicting Obama as a monkey.
The ultimate race-based attack of the 2008 campaign, however, came out of Pennsylvania. Ashley Todd, a McCain volunteer reported to police that she had been assaulted by a large black man while at her bank's ATM. When the man saw the McCain sticker on her car, she claimed that he pulled out a knife and carved a "B" for "Barack" into her cheek. Right wing sleaze-merchants like The Drudge Report and Faux News quickly jumped on the story and seemed to take glee in describing how the big, scary black man assaulted (Drudge said "mutilated") the helpless white woman.
While the Republican Ministry of Propoganda began working overtime on this story, the Pennsylvania police were investigating carefully. Well, it turns out that Miss Todd fabricated the entire story and scratched the "B" into her own cheek, even scratching it in backwards. I'm sure it was no coincidence that Miss Todd's fictional attacker was black. Just as I'm sure it was no coincidence that Republican sleaze merchants like Sean Hannity jumped on the story before any facts were checked. (oops! I'm sorry, since when does Faux News ever check their facts?)
What bothers me the most about the whole Ashley Todd fraud is that there has been no repudiation from the McCain campaign. Not one word has been uttered. Given the publicity surrounding this disgusting act, I'm sure even Governor Plain has heard about it. To me, their refusal to repudiate Ashley Todd only lends tacit approval to the next hate-fueled lunatic who wants to stage their own stunt.
America is faced with a momentous opportunity in one week. In giving Senator Obama an overwhelming victory on November 4, we can fully repudiate the tactics of the McCain campaign, their surrogates (both official and unofficial), and the motley crew of bigots and race-baiters who have latched onto the McCain campaign. in sending a strong message, we can show how far we, as a nation, have come from 1928. Like 1928, the 2008 campaign has exposed an ugly element in American society. We have the chance to drive it back under the rock where it belongs.
As I have thought about this election, the historian in me has also thought a lot about the election of 1928. It was in 1928 that the Democratic party also nominated a person who represented a dramatic break from the status quo. Alfred E. Smith was the four-term Governor of New York and a noted reformer when he was nominated by the Democratic national Convention in 1928. Smith was also a Catholic, the first Catholic to be nominated by a major political party for president. Like Barack Obama's race this year, Smith's religion saw his political opponent unleash a campaign of smear an innuendo almost beyond belief.
Growing up Catholic in a town with a large Catholic population, the idea that Catholics would be targets for bigotry simply never occurred to me. My friends and I never really talked about religion. They never asked me why we went to mass on Saturday evening or why we gave up certain things during Lent. Even in the public schools, Catholicism was no big deal.
Of course, 1928 was a far different time than the 1970's and 80's. Smith's nomination began a torrent of lies and misinformation designed to scare large segments of the population into not wanting Al Smith in the White House. Scurrilous tracts appeared claiming that President Smith would annul all Protestant marriages and that the pope would come to America to preside over cabinet meetings. Voters were warned that parochial school attendance would become mandatory for all American children. Even campaign buttons appeared that read "Keep a Christian in the White House". As Smith rode his campaign train west, the Klan and other hate groups burned crosses along the railroad tracks for Smith and his wife to see. In the end, Smith was defeated in a landslide. Historians still debate how much Smith's Catholicism hurt him. Clearly, it didn't help him as half of the Democrat's "Solid South" went Republican for the fdirst time in many memories. Outside of six Southern states, Smith only carried the heavily Catholic states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In any event, the campaign of 1928 was a shameful reminder of the ugly divisions in American society.
Now, eighty years later, we stand at another crossroads. The Democratic party has nominated the first major party African-American candidate for president. Like the campaign of 1928, the candidacy of Barack Obama has unleashed some examples of hate and bigotry that seem almost unimaginable. For most Americans of good conscience, these attacks read like a laundry list of absurdities: Obama is a secret Muslim, Obama is in league with terrorists, Mrs. Obama is a black militant who refers to whites as "Whitey", etc.
Here in northern Indiana, a large Obama sign in an African-American family's yard was defaced with the vile "N Word". An Obama staffer entered a Speedway gas station in Three Oaks, Michigan, and was confronted by a store employee who noticed his Obama hat and told him "You're a N----- Lover". At some mcCain rallies, persons have been spotted wearing shirts depicting Obama as a monkey.
The ultimate race-based attack of the 2008 campaign, however, came out of Pennsylvania. Ashley Todd, a McCain volunteer reported to police that she had been assaulted by a large black man while at her bank's ATM. When the man saw the McCain sticker on her car, she claimed that he pulled out a knife and carved a "B" for "Barack" into her cheek. Right wing sleaze-merchants like The Drudge Report and Faux News quickly jumped on the story and seemed to take glee in describing how the big, scary black man assaulted (Drudge said "mutilated") the helpless white woman.
While the Republican Ministry of Propoganda began working overtime on this story, the Pennsylvania police were investigating carefully. Well, it turns out that Miss Todd fabricated the entire story and scratched the "B" into her own cheek, even scratching it in backwards. I'm sure it was no coincidence that Miss Todd's fictional attacker was black. Just as I'm sure it was no coincidence that Republican sleaze merchants like Sean Hannity jumped on the story before any facts were checked. (oops! I'm sorry, since when does Faux News ever check their facts?)
What bothers me the most about the whole Ashley Todd fraud is that there has been no repudiation from the McCain campaign. Not one word has been uttered. Given the publicity surrounding this disgusting act, I'm sure even Governor Plain has heard about it. To me, their refusal to repudiate Ashley Todd only lends tacit approval to the next hate-fueled lunatic who wants to stage their own stunt.
America is faced with a momentous opportunity in one week. In giving Senator Obama an overwhelming victory on November 4, we can fully repudiate the tactics of the McCain campaign, their surrogates (both official and unofficial), and the motley crew of bigots and race-baiters who have latched onto the McCain campaign. in sending a strong message, we can show how far we, as a nation, have come from 1928. Like 1928, the 2008 campaign has exposed an ugly element in American society. We have the chance to drive it back under the rock where it belongs.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Best One-Liner in a While
While I really don't have much use for Jim Carville after the way he carried on during the primary season, I give credit where credit is due. Carville needs to have this line about "Joe the Plumber" etched in gold:
"The reason the Republicans found Joe the Plumber was to find someone hanging around a toilet other than Larry Craig."
"The reason the Republicans found Joe the Plumber was to find someone hanging around a toilet other than Larry Craig."
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Governor has New Clothes and the Congresswoman Has No Friends
Just when you thought you'd heard it all about Governor Barbie Palin, the newest scandal to hit is almost beyond belief. Remember way back in August (when Palin still had credibility and McCain still had a chance) and Sarah Palin was foisted upon the nation with all the down-home spin the McCain camp could spin: hockey mom, Wal-Mart mom, girl next door, moose hunter, etc.? Well, it turned out that Sarah prefers things a little more elitist when it comes to her fashion.
It has been revealed that the Republican national Committee has shelled out $150,000 for clothing and accessories for Governor Barbie since August! Let me repeat that number: $150,000!! Of course, it seems that our faux Wal-Mart mom prefers to shop at Nieman Marcus and Sacks Fifth Avenue, including one spree at Nieman Marcus to the tune of $75,000. This is absolutely appalling! It reminds me of another clothes-horse/political joke: Imelda Marcos. If I were a donor to the RNC, I think I'd be asking for my money back!! Here is a campaign that is being forced to scale back on advertising in some swing states while the Obama camp is able to outspend them in many markets by 4:1, and they're spending $150,000 on their right-wing Barbie doll. I would say that Senator McCain is probably ashamed of this but, as this campaign has proved, Senator McCain HAS NO SHAME!
If the whole Imelda Palin affair wasn't bad enough, we have a great update on a story we brought to you earlier this week. After i posted about the disgusting rant of Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann on "Hardball" Friday, I also noted how donations to her opponent, El Tinklenberg, have skyrocketed. Tinklenberg is continuing to raise money at a break-neck pace and the Democratic Party's Congressional Campaign Committee has just kicked in $1,000,000 to his efforts!! Now, today, it was revealed that the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee has cancelled all of its ad buys for the beleaguered Congresswoman. I like to think that her McCarthyist screed even turned off the NRCC, but more likely they realize that she's now a sure-fire loser and they have too man other endangered incumbents to prop up. To see a great article on the delightful implosion of Bachmann, check out our friends over at Daily Kos Also, you can still help El Tinklenberg beat this vile creature by visiting his campaign site at Tinklenberg for Congress. Beating Michelle Bachmann is not about replacing a right-wing loon of a Republican with a good Democrat, it's about standing up to the hysterical bullying by the far right and their "Democrats hate America" nonsense.
It has been revealed that the Republican national Committee has shelled out $150,000 for clothing and accessories for Governor Barbie since August! Let me repeat that number: $150,000!! Of course, it seems that our faux Wal-Mart mom prefers to shop at Nieman Marcus and Sacks Fifth Avenue, including one spree at Nieman Marcus to the tune of $75,000. This is absolutely appalling! It reminds me of another clothes-horse/political joke: Imelda Marcos. If I were a donor to the RNC, I think I'd be asking for my money back!! Here is a campaign that is being forced to scale back on advertising in some swing states while the Obama camp is able to outspend them in many markets by 4:1, and they're spending $150,000 on their right-wing Barbie doll. I would say that Senator McCain is probably ashamed of this but, as this campaign has proved, Senator McCain HAS NO SHAME!
If the whole Imelda Palin affair wasn't bad enough, we have a great update on a story we brought to you earlier this week. After i posted about the disgusting rant of Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann on "Hardball" Friday, I also noted how donations to her opponent, El Tinklenberg, have skyrocketed. Tinklenberg is continuing to raise money at a break-neck pace and the Democratic Party's Congressional Campaign Committee has just kicked in $1,000,000 to his efforts!! Now, today, it was revealed that the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee has cancelled all of its ad buys for the beleaguered Congresswoman. I like to think that her McCarthyist screed even turned off the NRCC, but more likely they realize that she's now a sure-fire loser and they have too man other endangered incumbents to prop up. To see a great article on the delightful implosion of Bachmann, check out our friends over at Daily Kos Also, you can still help El Tinklenberg beat this vile creature by visiting his campaign site at Tinklenberg for Congress. Beating Michelle Bachmann is not about replacing a right-wing loon of a Republican with a good Democrat, it's about standing up to the hysterical bullying by the far right and their "Democrats hate America" nonsense.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
We're coming together..and coming apart
Over the past few days, I've been able to take some time to cruise the back roads here in Northern Indiana as well as Southwestern Michigan and I have been very surprised by what I've come across. I have never seen the level of support in this area that I am seeing for Senator Obama. While much of it is in the form of yard signs and bumper stickers, some of it is more personalized.
Near the South Bend Regional Airport, a family has turned their entire chainlink fence into one big billboard proclaiming support for Obama. Homemade letters stretch the length of the sign, making it very easy to spot from the highway. In Niles, Michigan, a young lady ringing up my purchases at an antique mall noticed my Obama button and said "He has to win. He just has to!" In Three oaks, Michigan, one yard boasted a black-and-white sign which read "Hey, You!! Bring back my Obama sign!!"
One of the real highlights of my trip was a stop at the "Harbor Country for Obama" headquarters in Union Pier, Michigan. Stopping in, I was greeted by two wonderful volunteers who made me feel so welcome. The asked where I was from, how long I had supported Senator Obama, and what things were looking like in Indiana. They also had one of the best selections of Obama buttons and T-shirts that I had ever seen locally. While I was there, a young couple from Los Angeles who were vacationing in the area stopped in. We were also joined by a lady from Chicago as well as a woman who had come to volunteer after dropping her daughter off at kindergarten. We all chatted for a few minutes. We all commented on how this campaign has given people a reason to hope again. There is a real excitement in the air.
At the same time, the open sewer that is the McCain/Palin campaign has found new ways of trying to distract the voting public from what their party has done to our nation and our economy. Now, they are using loaded words like "Un-American", "Pro-Amercia", and "Real America". As I have said before, America is so much better than what the McSlime/Palin campaign want us to think.
Last Friday, I watched "Hardball" on MSNBC and was horrified by Chris Matthews's interview with Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann. In addition to impugning Senator Obama's patriotism, Congresswoman Bachmann went on to say that the media should investigate all Democratic members of Congress to see who is Anti-American. These kind of McCarthy tactics are reprehensible. No matter how much I may disagree with a right-wing loon like Bachmann, I would never insinuate that she is somehow Anti-American.
We need to stand up to wingnuts like Bachmann. It seems a lot of people share my feelings. Since her tirade on Friday, money has poured in to her (previously) under-funded challenger, El Tinklenberg. If anyone can spare a few dollars to try to defeat this right-wing harpy, please go to Tinklenberg for Congress to make a donation. We can call it "Dollars for Decency".
Near the South Bend Regional Airport, a family has turned their entire chainlink fence into one big billboard proclaiming support for Obama. Homemade letters stretch the length of the sign, making it very easy to spot from the highway. In Niles, Michigan, a young lady ringing up my purchases at an antique mall noticed my Obama button and said "He has to win. He just has to!" In Three oaks, Michigan, one yard boasted a black-and-white sign which read "Hey, You!! Bring back my Obama sign!!"
One of the real highlights of my trip was a stop at the "Harbor Country for Obama" headquarters in Union Pier, Michigan. Stopping in, I was greeted by two wonderful volunteers who made me feel so welcome. The asked where I was from, how long I had supported Senator Obama, and what things were looking like in Indiana. They also had one of the best selections of Obama buttons and T-shirts that I had ever seen locally. While I was there, a young couple from Los Angeles who were vacationing in the area stopped in. We were also joined by a lady from Chicago as well as a woman who had come to volunteer after dropping her daughter off at kindergarten. We all chatted for a few minutes. We all commented on how this campaign has given people a reason to hope again. There is a real excitement in the air.
At the same time, the open sewer that is the McCain/Palin campaign has found new ways of trying to distract the voting public from what their party has done to our nation and our economy. Now, they are using loaded words like "Un-American", "Pro-Amercia", and "Real America". As I have said before, America is so much better than what the McSlime/Palin campaign want us to think.
Last Friday, I watched "Hardball" on MSNBC and was horrified by Chris Matthews's interview with Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann. In addition to impugning Senator Obama's patriotism, Congresswoman Bachmann went on to say that the media should investigate all Democratic members of Congress to see who is Anti-American. These kind of McCarthy tactics are reprehensible. No matter how much I may disagree with a right-wing loon like Bachmann, I would never insinuate that she is somehow Anti-American.
We need to stand up to wingnuts like Bachmann. It seems a lot of people share my feelings. Since her tirade on Friday, money has poured in to her (previously) under-funded challenger, El Tinklenberg. If anyone can spare a few dollars to try to defeat this right-wing harpy, please go to Tinklenberg for Congress to make a donation. We can call it "Dollars for Decency".
Monday, October 13, 2008
A Tale of Two Campaigns...
Here we stand, three weeks away from the most critical election in a generation. What was supposed to be another nail-biter is looking more and more like a landslide in the making. Much of this can be traced to the very different ways that Senators Obama and McCain have conducted their campaign.
Almost from the start, the Obama campaign embraced the "50 State Strategy" espoused by Howard Dean. Dean's idea was to take the fight to the Republicans in traditionally red states rather than simply trying to hold the traditionally blue states and hope for one or two pick-ups. This strategy is playing out quite nicely, with Senator Obama currently enjoying leads in the crucial states of Ohio and Florida and even showing leads in (formerly) GOP bastions like Virginia and North Carolina. Even today, Pollster.com posted a poll taken by Minnesota State University that shows Obama with a small lead in NORTH DAKOTA! While this poll may very well be an outlier, it still makes a point: the Obama surge is now permeating into traditionally safe Rpublican states.
Of course, Obama is also being aided greatly by a variety of factors. The current economic crisis has made household across the income spectrum quite nervous, while the public long ago grew tired of a seemingly endless war in Iraq. An unexpected benefit for Obama has been the total ineptitude of the McCain campaign, which seemingly has no idea what to do. Do we "suspend" our campaign to fly back to Washington to pretend to tackle the bailout? Do we just declare that we are going to "turn the page" on the economy? Or do we turn our campaign rallies into vile hate-fests resembling a Klan meeting more than a campaign rally?
Throughout this process, Barack Obama has remained a study in class. He has never stooped to McCain's level, but he also has not been afraid to defend himself from McCain and Palin's twisted distortions. Obama has stayed on message and the polls show the voters approve. Many polls currently show a double-digit lead for Obama.
For the McCain campaign, on the other hand, the news just isn't as good. For starters, there has been a notable exodus of moderate Republicans from Team McCain since McCain and Plain decided to behave more like George Wallace and less like George Washington. Last week, former Governor William Milliken of Michigan withdrew his endorsement of McCain based on the campaign's tone and Sarah Palin's complete ineptitude. Milliken called the idea of Sarah Palin becoming President "disturbing, if not appalling". Former Senator Lincoln Chaffee of Rhode Island has been stumping the country on behalf of Senator Obama. Even popular Florida Governor Charlie Crist chose to spend a day at Disneyworld rather than campaign with McCain in Florida. (This is especially ironic considering that Crist's endorsement of McCain sealed McCain's victory in the crucial Florida primary , thus ending the presidential hopes of former mayor and professional 9/11 ghoul Rudy Guiliani.
If moderate Republicans are deserting McCain, they have some conservative company. Recently, conservative heavyweight Bill Kristol said that McCain's campaign was "doomed" unless he took major steps, including firing his entire campaign staff. Newt Gingrich is predicting a McCain loss unless he dramatically shakes things up. Mitt Romney and former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson both are predicting that a toxic McCain effect could lead the party to significant losses down-ballot this November.
My first experience in working on a presidential campaign was volunteering for Michael Dukakis in 1988. As badly run as that campaign was, the 2008 McCain campaign is worse. it is a campaign devoid of ideas or real strategy. it is a campaign with no real grasp of resource allocation. For example, recently McCain spent a day campaigning in Iowa. Obama boasts a commanding lead in Iowa (a nearly12% advantage according to Real Clear Politics. Likewise, it had to be embarrassing when Sarah Palin was dispatched to Philadelphia (Obama advantage in Pennsylvania, 13%) to drop the puck at a hockey game only to be greeted by a chorus of boos from the crowd. While the McCain/Palin team continues its "victory lap" of solid Obama states, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have allocated their time to more fruitful pastures: Ohio, Florida, Missouri, New Hampshire, and North Carolina.
John McCain has only himself to blame for his standing in the polls. It was he who made the disastrous choice of Sarah Palin to be his running mate and he has had to watch as the moose-hunting maverick hockey mom was proven to be a dimwit with ethical problems who can only read from prepared texts. It was McCain who tried the stunt of "suspending" his campaign and hinted at cancelling the first debate only to realize that voters wanted a debate and they wanted answers. It was McCain who let the crowds at his rallies degenerate into hateful, racist mobs without (until recently) even bothering to ask for decorum. And it will be McCain who will be on the receiving end of 9potentially) the greatest electoral landslide since George Herbert Walker buried Michael Dukakis in 1988.
Almost from the start, the Obama campaign embraced the "50 State Strategy" espoused by Howard Dean. Dean's idea was to take the fight to the Republicans in traditionally red states rather than simply trying to hold the traditionally blue states and hope for one or two pick-ups. This strategy is playing out quite nicely, with Senator Obama currently enjoying leads in the crucial states of Ohio and Florida and even showing leads in (formerly) GOP bastions like Virginia and North Carolina. Even today, Pollster.com posted a poll taken by Minnesota State University that shows Obama with a small lead in NORTH DAKOTA! While this poll may very well be an outlier, it still makes a point: the Obama surge is now permeating into traditionally safe Rpublican states.
Of course, Obama is also being aided greatly by a variety of factors. The current economic crisis has made household across the income spectrum quite nervous, while the public long ago grew tired of a seemingly endless war in Iraq. An unexpected benefit for Obama has been the total ineptitude of the McCain campaign, which seemingly has no idea what to do. Do we "suspend" our campaign to fly back to Washington to pretend to tackle the bailout? Do we just declare that we are going to "turn the page" on the economy? Or do we turn our campaign rallies into vile hate-fests resembling a Klan meeting more than a campaign rally?
Throughout this process, Barack Obama has remained a study in class. He has never stooped to McCain's level, but he also has not been afraid to defend himself from McCain and Palin's twisted distortions. Obama has stayed on message and the polls show the voters approve. Many polls currently show a double-digit lead for Obama.
For the McCain campaign, on the other hand, the news just isn't as good. For starters, there has been a notable exodus of moderate Republicans from Team McCain since McCain and Plain decided to behave more like George Wallace and less like George Washington. Last week, former Governor William Milliken of Michigan withdrew his endorsement of McCain based on the campaign's tone and Sarah Palin's complete ineptitude. Milliken called the idea of Sarah Palin becoming President "disturbing, if not appalling". Former Senator Lincoln Chaffee of Rhode Island has been stumping the country on behalf of Senator Obama. Even popular Florida Governor Charlie Crist chose to spend a day at Disneyworld rather than campaign with McCain in Florida. (This is especially ironic considering that Crist's endorsement of McCain sealed McCain's victory in the crucial Florida primary , thus ending the presidential hopes of former mayor and professional 9/11 ghoul Rudy Guiliani.
If moderate Republicans are deserting McCain, they have some conservative company. Recently, conservative heavyweight Bill Kristol said that McCain's campaign was "doomed" unless he took major steps, including firing his entire campaign staff. Newt Gingrich is predicting a McCain loss unless he dramatically shakes things up. Mitt Romney and former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson both are predicting that a toxic McCain effect could lead the party to significant losses down-ballot this November.
My first experience in working on a presidential campaign was volunteering for Michael Dukakis in 1988. As badly run as that campaign was, the 2008 McCain campaign is worse. it is a campaign devoid of ideas or real strategy. it is a campaign with no real grasp of resource allocation. For example, recently McCain spent a day campaigning in Iowa. Obama boasts a commanding lead in Iowa (a nearly12% advantage according to Real Clear Politics. Likewise, it had to be embarrassing when Sarah Palin was dispatched to Philadelphia (Obama advantage in Pennsylvania, 13%) to drop the puck at a hockey game only to be greeted by a chorus of boos from the crowd. While the McCain/Palin team continues its "victory lap" of solid Obama states, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have allocated their time to more fruitful pastures: Ohio, Florida, Missouri, New Hampshire, and North Carolina.
John McCain has only himself to blame for his standing in the polls. It was he who made the disastrous choice of Sarah Palin to be his running mate and he has had to watch as the moose-hunting maverick hockey mom was proven to be a dimwit with ethical problems who can only read from prepared texts. It was McCain who tried the stunt of "suspending" his campaign and hinted at cancelling the first debate only to realize that voters wanted a debate and they wanted answers. It was McCain who let the crowds at his rallies degenerate into hateful, racist mobs without (until recently) even bothering to ask for decorum. And it will be McCain who will be on the receiving end of 9potentially) the greatest electoral landslide since George Herbert Walker buried Michael Dukakis in 1988.
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