Archive for 2008
Behind the Curtain
Who knows how this election will turn out in the end? There are about 500 polls out there, but now I’ve just seen one that makes sense to me (Not one of these automated dialing wonders by a machine that can’t tell if it’s talking to a sixty-year old man or a six year old…
Read MoreSwinging Polls
I enjoy reading Public Policy Polling’s polls, and they were on the money in the primaries. But I question whether PPP is reading more movement in voter opinion than is really happening. This week, PPP’s Tom Jensen said the “Yankee trash” issue has moved Eastern North Carolina voters toward Perdue and given her a 48-44…
Read MoreBehind the Curtain – The Governors Race
Itâs like déjà vu all over again. The same thread runs through the Governorâs race that runs through the Presidential race. If you like President Bush you vote for McCrory. If you dislike President Bush you vote for Perdue â except for the Republicans who are unfavorable to the President, but who come home and…
Read MoreDole’s Numbers
Jack Betts says Senator Elizabeth Dole “missed a golden opportunity” to strengthen her chances for reelection when she waffled on the Outlying Landing Field. But Dole is much bigger. It’s her numbers. Not her poll numbers, but the numbers the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s brilliant ads have hammered into voters’ minds: 40, as in “40…
Read MoreSpreading the Word
John McCain has come up with the one Hail Mary issue that can snatch victory: spread the wealth. And the one image: Joe the Plumber. Attacking on “spread the wealth” pulls together all the attacks McCain makes against Obama: he’ll raise taxes, he’s an elitist who doesn’t understand “real people” and – most of all…
Read MoreHold the Victory Dance
Democrats are giddy about North Carolina. That’s understandable. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a year that looks this good. But this election is not over. My best read on the polls is that Obama, Perdue and Hagan all are close to – but not yet at – where they need to be…
Read MoreCampaigns and Home Truths
One thing about campaigns: They do have a way of getting down to home truths – though most times they try pretty hard to hide it. One home truth is the candidate’s character. Or, occasionally, the character of whoever is behind the candidate pulling the strings. Another is the external forces beyond the candidate’s control…
Read MoreThe Counterpunch
Well, last night I watched the Great Debate and a couple of things struck me. When the smoke cleared there were three different groups all pursuing different goals: The Obama supporters. The McCain supporters. And the press. The goals of the Obama and McCain supporters were simple: To pound their chests and holler they’d won.…
Read MoreWhy McCain Lost the Debate
John McCain could beat Barack Obama. But he can’t beat the combination of Obama, George Bush, Dow Jones and, most of all, John McCain himself. McCain came out swinging last night. And he connected repeatedly. Unfortunately, most of his punches landed squarely on his own jaw. The media and talking heads have spewed out millions…
Read MoreWith Friends Like These
If there were a Nobel Prize for Being Stupid, it would be shared this year by the 3,200 academics who signed an on-line petition defending William Ayers. Thereby guaranteeing continued news coverage of Obama and Ayers. It makes you wonder why we save all this money to send our kids to college. Click Here to…
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