Comments on: Is Election 2008 Over? Chickens and Eggs Edition

By: GeorgeSorwell

GeorgeSorwell — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:33:08 +0000

I must say, with sites like 538 currently projecting Obama to blow McCain out in the electoral college by a margin of 340 to 198, this is almost breathtaking to behold. I’ve rarely seen a team doing so much end zone celebrating in a game where there is still at least five minutes to go in the fourth quarter and they are barely ahead by a touchdown.

I completely agree with this.

I'm suffering from appalledness fatigue from watching this go off-and-on for a year. And not just from Obama, but from Clinton and Giulliani and Thompson and a whole bunch of candidates who--oops!!--ain't gonna win in November.

By: superdestroyer

superdestroyer — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:36:25 +0000

If you want to get ahead of the curve, people can start writing about whether the Republicans can come back from McCain's landslide loss. Given the demographics of the U.S., there is no good long term prospect for the Repulbican Party. So the next question is how will the U.S. and the Democratic party function with the Democrats being the only relevant poliltical party.

By: jkarczek

jkarczek — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:56:16 +0000

Completely agree. If one REALLY looks honestly at the primary reason for Obama's recent strength in the polls, little of it is really due to anything Obama has done proactively. He's really benefitted from a meme of discontent, where McCain seems a more fitting scapegoat for the economic problems to more voters. It's arguable whether there is merit to this view (versus there being plenty of blame on all sides), but it's pervasive. McCain hasn't helped himself with his "fundamentals are sound" comments and perhaps erratic demeanor.

For his part, Obama has mainly helped his cause by being himself. A few weeks ago, many pro-Obama pundits were saying he needed to be more angry, more aggressive in order to get back in the race. On the contrary, his calm, steady, thoughtful persona has I think been reassuring to people who see chaos, not just in McCain's discombobulated reaction to the bailout, but growing all around them. Obama does need to show passion in measured doses, but overall, he needs to project himself as unshakeable under pressure, while taking decisive positions.

However he approaches the next month, victory is FAR from a certainly. Just two weeks ago, Democratic Congressional candidates were worried about being attached to a losing Presidential ticket. There is a LONG way to go in this race, even if Obama wins the debates. These things ALWAYS swing in the last month.