First off about the Polls. It’s obvious, the economy is literally driving McCain’s campaign into the ditch. The attack ads obviously did not help, but more than anything, it is the economy, the Republican Party is just on the bad side of things. There’s no way around that or no way of spinning it at all. When the economy tanks the American people look to the opposing party to bring change. Which is what happened in 1980 with Reagan and after the stock market crash and subsequent depression in 1929, with FDR. This time the Republican Party is the Political Party that is one on the wrong side of the situation.
While I might not agree with some of Obama’s positions, I think sometimes, that Obama might just bring some jobs back to this area. I know that I could benefit from that. Obviously, Bob Barr is not going to be elected, even I understand that. While I am not going to come out as a flag waving Obama-bot. I will be the first to concede that change is needed in America and at the moment, Obama represents that. I don’t think the change will come at the speed that many are believing, but it will come, sooner or later.
As for the McCain attack ads and how it is affecting him in the polls; the issue is not what the ads said, it was how they were framed and presented to the American people. The entire problem was that John McCain was saying “Bill Ayers, Bill Ayers, Bill Ayers” and Black America and some the more uneducated on the far right, that believe everything that crosses their mailbox were hearing “He’s a black terrorist! He’s a black terrorist! He’s a black terrorist!” Needless to say this has not helped John McCain’s campaign at all. Not only that, but the picking of Sarah Palin was, as far as this writer is concerned, a tragic mistake. I say this because what McCain was trying to do, was appeal to his base. The problem is, you cannot win an election by appealing just to your base. But rather appealing to the Independent Voters or what are called “The swing voters.” They decide the election in the end, not the base of either party.
Obama on the other hand has appealed to Democrats and Independents as well, and also Conservatives as well; Chris Buckley is a prime example. I mean, Chris Buckley?!?! The son of the infamous staunch Conservative icon, William F. Buckley? Obviously, something is wrong with McCain’s campaign for Buckley to give McCain the cold shoulder. John McCain’s own brother blasted McCain’s campaign for not handling him properly.
Obama on the other hand has handled a very steady campaign, at times, in this writers opinion, playing certain “Cards” to their advantage, as they did with Hillary; much to the same effect as McCain’s campaign. This is just called good politics and good campaigning, and most shockingly it has worked.
So, the bottom line is this; John McCain while he might be great person of courage and valor, his campaign has been the Republican equivalent of Hillary Clinton’s campaign. To beat someone like Obama, you must be good, damned good, and sorry to say, but McCain just is not that; Good.
Authorities have arrested two men after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a 4-foot by 8-foot campaign sign for Republican presidential candidate John McCain in a southeast Portland yard.
