One-Third Of Americans Don't Know Who Obama Is
The Chicago Sun-Times digs into the most recent Gallup poll and comes up with an interesting number: Despite relentless media coverage of Barack Obama in recent days, one-third of Americans still don't know who he is. Another 14 percent say his name "sounds familiar" but haven't formed an opinion. While that's not terribly surprising given that he's a freshman Senator, it suggests another interesting layer in the equation should he and Hillary Clinton run against each other: While impressions of Clinton are pretty well established in the minds of the vast majority of voters (though they can of course change), Obama is a completely blank slate to nearly half the electorate.
Meanwhile, Obama is on vacation in Hawaii, where he will make up his mind on whether to run, the Sun-Times reports.
I don't know about "hard" opinions being established about Clinton. There has been tens of millions of dollars aimed at nothing but smearing her name and reputation. Countless books have been written. This is what I'd say a significant amount of Americans have heard. I'd be surprised if many Americans knew that she was a big supporter of microcredit years before a microcreditor won the nobel peace prize. She has a reputation of being "hard" and "fake", but on the personal, retail politics level she's actually really good--surprisingly good.
It'll be interesting to see how Obama's reputation evolves, though. On the one hand, he's got a nice narrative and is charismatic. On the other, he hasn't delivered much. Given Durbin's outspoken support, if Obama really is all that people say he is, he can produce strong legislation. Since he's got tacit approval from a great system-gamers in the Senate (Durbin), it shouldn't be hard to make a strong statement.
December 21, 2006 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
So much for how the public is "thirsting" for Barack Obama. This Obama hype is in large measure a gift to the Republicans: it helps them unite their voters. Unite them against Obama, the Democrats and the pundits hyping Obama.
December 21, 2006 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is not my first choice--there are way too many better presidential wannabes in the Democratic field. But Obama would still mop the floor with any GOP nominee. The GOP will smear whomever Dems nominate and its absurd to put too much stock in that tired argument.
I want the next president to come in running and won't have to deal solely on advisers. Wesley Clark can start cleaning up the foreign policy and military mess from day one. With a VP like Richardson, the executive branch could also deal with immigration and paper ballots. Clark already has one of the best tax reform proposals. Both would deal with global warming and have been proponents of big change.
That's where I stand. I'm critical of Obama, but only because I think there are better Democrats in the pool, not because I think he'd be beat by the GOP or isn't better than any GOP nominee.
December 21, 2006 7:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Karen444: The lesson of 2004 was: Never EVER let GOP demagogues decide who gets to be the Democratic candidate. Everyone in Iowa got it in their heads that they couldn't vote for anti war candidate because some dumbass Republican wouldn't vote for one.
Would dumbasses vote for any Democrat?
RE: lede
It's 1974: Do you know who Jimmy Carter is?
It's 1990: Do you know who Bill Clinton is?
December 22, 2006 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I really wish people would take the time to gather some information before spouting about Obama.
READ HIS BOOKS, BOTH OF THEM.
He is a truly remarkable man, who exibits a deep self knowledge and a profound commitment to honesty and decency.
Is he ready? I think so. Most people don't know that he lived in Indonesia as a child. That he majored in international affairs at Columbia. In addition to being elected the first African American to head the Harvard Law Review, he has taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago. He had a substantial record of legislative achievement in Illinois.
He is more than a handsome, charismatic guy. He is a visionary leader. He is pointing a way out of our destructive partisan gridlock. Don't buy into the Republican meme that he is short on substance. Remember Rove's first rule: attack your opponent's strength. It is precisely because he is such a substantual intellect that the conservatives are trying to make him look like a shiny lightweight. Don't be fooled. Read his books and see if you don't come away thinking that this is the guy who should be our President. I think he could do so much to heal this country and restore hope.
December 22, 2006 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't want the Democrats to win 51% to 49% in 2008. I want a tsunami for the Democrats.
It's going to be difficult to do that with a presidential candidate that has been on the national scene (as Hillary has been) or has been a previous presidential candidate. Some portion of the voting public has already decided on these folks--and changing minds is not an easy thing to do with TV ads, internet blogs, direct mail, or robocalls. Direct conversations with these types of candidates will just not happen on the national scene.
And I'm not very worried about the GOP defining these folks. The Democrats have learned some very valuable lessons about 24-hour responses to attacks as well as having a good ground operation in all 50 states (thanks, Howard Dean).
I want fresh and new, not old and stale. I want coattails to carry the Senate to 60 Democrats and enlarge the House majority.
I was impressed with Obama's keynote address at the Convention. Had listened to his speeches and his interviews, when my time allowed. Finished his first book and am halfway through the new one. This is one impressive and talented guy! Unlike Edwards' focus on "two Americas", Obama focuses on how all Americans share common American values. This is the way to get swings and independents to vote Democratic. We have huge problems and we need to come together to face them together. That is a powerful message that he articules whether speaking or writing.
December 22, 2006 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink