Poll: Obama Winning Over Groups Once Reluctant To Back Him
The new Newsweek poll, which finds Obama leading McCain by 52%-41% among registered voters, also finds some serious movement among voter groups that had been reluctant to back the Illinios Senator in the past:
He now leads McCain among both men (54 percent to 40 percent) and women (50 percent to 41 percent). He now wins every age group of voters -- including those over 65 years of age, who back him over McCain 49 to 43 percent. Supporters of Hillary Clinton, as many as a fifth of whom had at one point told pollsters they'd support McCain over Obama, now back the Democratic nominee 88 percent to 7 percent.
McCain still retains a slight edge of two points among independents, 45%-43%. But Obama is winning on the character front. His favorability ratings have actually edged up, from 57% to 60%, while his unfavorability rating has dropped a point, to 36%.
Meanwhile, McCain's favorability rating has dropped six points to 51%. And 59% say Obama shares their values, versus only 47% for McCain. So McCain's efforts to paint Obama as culturally out of touch, allied with shadowy figures, including terrorists, and different from you and me in a vaguely sinister way just may be proving to be a bust.
THIS..
October 11, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
IS...
October 11, 2008 9:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
EXCELLENT
October 11, 2008 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
NEWS!!
October 11, 2008 9:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
FOR
October 11, 2008 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
MCCAIN!!!!!
October 11, 2008 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
GREAT...
October 11, 2008 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's got a bigger lead among men than women? Either this poll is CRAY-ZEE or this is a goddamn tsunami realignment.
October 11, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I can't figure that out, nor does it make sense that Obama can be leading by so much without also leading among Independents, unless there has been a HUGE shift of people identifying as GOP now self ID'ing as Independents.
Here's the breakdown from the poll internals:
Tot RV Party
25 27 Republican
38 40 Democrat
30 30 Independent
So between Bush and McCain, it looks like the GOP brand has been destroyed. 25% is smaller than Ross Perot was polling at his peak in the Summer of 1992. The GOP has officially attained minor party status.
October 11, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Does this mean that Ralph Nader will finally shut up about the duopoly having a stranglehold on political power?
October 12, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I believe that it is not surprising that Obama now leads McCain among men. Even though we are mostly a two income household middle class, men still have primary breadwinner tattooed in their dna. They have just watched the collapse of the laizzez faire brand economic policy espoused by the Republican Party since the Gipper and they are terrified that they won't be able to provide for their children. They are going to vote for the candidate that they believe will make it easier to provide for their families during times of distress.
October 12, 2008 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is what realignment looks like.
Thanks, Greg, for highlighting the "shares my values" crosstab. That's really key, because it reveals that people are starting to think about "values" a little more broadly. The timing of this economic crisis, following on eight years of a broader moral disaster, has pushed people over the edge. They've decided that they don't really give a crap anymore whether you eat arugula, or have gay friends, or smoke your cigarette in a long cigarette-holder, as long as you're serious about respecting the Constitution and using our collective power to HELP the little guy.
Happy days are here again!
October 11, 2008 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know, I'm still a bit troubled by arugula. What's next, radicchio? Butter lettuce? Dandelion leaves!?!
What do we REALLY know about Obama's roughage intake?
October 11, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously, this is great. I love to see the polls in the high readership mags come back with these big splits. That's when I feel you can start to pull those late deciders who vote on momentum and the desire to pull the lever for the winner. A great way to start to the weekend for those of us in the reality-based community (now an apparent majority of registered voters!).
October 11, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree.
Unfortunately, however, Palin and her tribe don't read those magazines or any newspaper, so their seething hoards are sequestered from much of this ferment.
October 11, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thing is, "the shares my values"/ "understands my problems"/ "cares about people like me" number has ALWAYS been vastly in Obama's favor - this whole cycle.
Maybe the #1 underreported true fact of this campaign.
October 11, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, because Americans as so stupid that we share our values with Obama and not the wacky right.
;)
October 11, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm going to do an informal survey of mcShame signs in the neighborhood. The question being:
When do people feel embarrassed by a sign with Palin's name on it in front of their house?
This will be telling, I predict.
October 11, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I bet the five houses next to mine will have theirs up *at least* thru the election, if not for weeks afterwards...dead-enders all of them.
October 11, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Landslide a comin! Look out.
It also looks like Dems will also get 60 plus senate seats without traitor joe. The american people have their backs for two years and they better shake things up and get us back on track or they will lose that senate fillabuster proof majority in two years. Or, at least they better start getting us headed in the right direction.
We may finally be coming out of the wilderness. I really can't believe it.
October 11, 2008 9:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg,
This is an old news. We, Acamus and I, posted this yesterday.
October 11, 2008 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I too was surprised by this- just because earlier polling showed men lagging women in support for Obama.
But, hey-a lady in power who uses her position to browbeat her subordinates in a vendetta against an ex-brother-in-law? That's likely to resonate with the menfolk.
October 11, 2008 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain still retains a slight edge of two points among independents, 45%-43%.
Why, oh why?
October 11, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
It is a commonsense that no one leads by 11 points nationally if you are trailing among the independent demography. McCain's lead among the independents is a gross error unless conservatives are ashamed of calling themselves Republicans and have decided to go by independents, which is in all likelihood a possibility, looking at the well-noted record of not one prominent party member mentioning "Republican Party" at their National Convention speeches.
October 11, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
An Independent is really just a Republican obsessed with his/her own intelligence.
October 12, 2008 12:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Damn comments system.
I question their findings on independents favoring McCain over Obama. I think this is the first poll I've seen with this finding. Though the Newsweek article does go on to explain that as a tsunami victory for the Democrats takes shape, people who formerly self-identified as independent may now be self-identifying as Democrats.
By far the biggest surprise is the finding that Obama is winning in the over 65 age group. This is momentous and stupendous. My one prediction all along has been that he would not win this age group. I had assumed that racial attitudes were too ingrained with these folks for Obama to win a majority of them - but I'll be happy to be proven wrong. Perhaps watching their savings of a lifetime evaporate before their eyes has been the final push some of them needed to get beyond the bad habits of a lifetime.
October 11, 2008 10:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
This morning is the first morning where Obama leads the over 60 group in the R2K internals. I've been watching that for some time. For a while, many elders were on the fence. Now, they've moved. And Obama is ahead in those internals by a thread. I predict that thread will increase as this Palin news gets out more.
It's the makings of a landslide. The media can stir the pot all they want, but if there is no chicken in the pot, folks won't buy it! (too many are hurting financially to be swayed by the media's desire to juice the race)
October 11, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now he finds himself standing in a room full of people he doesn't respect wondering where those who respected him have gone.
October 11, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bingo! Largely similar to what I wrote to Josh last nite...
October 11, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Independents for McCain has been seen in other polls. It's because some Reps are have moved to Indepenedant, and some Inds have moved to Dem, so the makeup of the Independents is much more Rep leaning than it was before.
October 11, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
What about McCain and/or Palin's unfavorability scores? Anyone have those? I keep hearing that they have gone way up.
October 11, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Acamus posted this yesterday at 7:25 pm on the other thread, "McCain Says No Need To Fear Obama...":
Fav to Unfav
Obama +24
Biden +28
McCain +6
Palin +4
My post on the same thread at 7:58 pm yesterday highlights exactly the same as Greg does above.
October 11, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good morning - at this point I question findings showing anyone other than idiots who think Obama is an Arab favoring McLame.
October 11, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow - Bob Shrum finally asks the magic question of McLame:
Sir, have you no decency left?
I love it.
October 11, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't that spoken by a Bush who had character this one totally lacks?
October 11, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
No - it was said to Joe McCarthy in a HUAC witchhunt hearing.
I can't remember who asked him - but he said: "Do you have no decency, sir? At long last, do you have no decency?"
That was the crowning blow to HUAC and McCarthy and his hideously anti-American shit.
October 11, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was Joseph Welch, attorney for the Army in their hearings with McCarthy:
"Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"
October 11, 2008 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps that because John McCain has been Linked to 60’s ‘Erraticals’
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=3885
October 11, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
sarah palin is on msnbc right now and she just said, and I am not making this up, "john mccain will fight abuse of power." First off, do they even read this before saying it? Second, is he gonna fight her off the ticket?
October 11, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is the weirdest campaign of all time. That's all I can say - it's just surreal.
October 11, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
So she admits it?
Were it not for the financial situation, I would be celebrating early...
October 11, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
She's betting people will only read the part that says she was within her right as governor to fire anyone without reason.
October 11, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought, well, there it is. A group of 12 Alaskan legislators, you know people ELECTED by Alaskans, republicans and democrats came together, took a look at the evidence and say “Yeah she is guilty all right, she did it“. She has used here power to pick on other people, she is a bully without the common sense to know the difference between right, wrong or just plain old fairness and to top it off. She lied over and over about it to cover her own rear end.
I thought that would pretty much end the argument right there. What could they say to that? Who would be crazy enough to stand up to that and do what? This is a classic “hand in the cookie jar” moment. No arguments, I have eyes and there you are, in bed with someone else. This isn’t a hint, a tell or suggestion, these are facts now. Go on admit your guilt already.
I forgot that John McCain new this when he “vetted” her. I forgot John McCain new this when their “souls” touched and they felt each others “maverickness”. I forgot that when the presidential bug , the quest for power, has gotten this deep into a persons being that facts no longer matter. That country doesn’t matter, that the truth doesn’t matter. That nothing matters but Me, ME JOHN MCCAIN, ME SARAH PALIN, that is all that matters.
This is what the spin people, the professional talking heads, are for. From “plausible deniability” to today. This is their shining moment to make a more fantastic lie then before and then to repeat it over and over on TV and radio, in print both real and digital. To that I say with all my heart.. Damn you people, Damn you to hell for what you are doing and will do under the weakest of “its my job” excuses.
“Mavericks, change, honor, country”???
Are you friggin kidding me?
Ok then America now we really get to see just how stupid we are. Gut check America. Are we hope, are we fairness, are we truth? Or are we really the mob that McCain/Palin thinks we are? Go on take a look at the crowds that support McCain/Palin, look into those faces, listen to those words and decide who we are, decide who you are.
We are going to get what we deserve on this one, that is for sure and for certain.
October 11, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ho hum. Another Republican abuse of power. To the Republican mind, that's what power is for. To reward your friends and to crush your enemies. What's sad is how the last eight years have habituated and desensitized our culture to abuse of power.
October 11, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that the independents are leaning McCain because people who are ideologically Republican are now identifying themselves as "independent." I know people who are doing exactly this.
October 11, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're absolutely right. To the yahoos who are screaming "Traitor" and "Off with his head" at the rallies, all this legalistic arguing over ethics and limitations on power is strictly for pussies. (It doesn't help that it involves big words that they don't understand.) The Branchflower report is going to reel the diehard Kool-Aid drinkers back in, not turn them off; it's red meat for the ultra-conservatives who might otherwise sit the election out because they still think McCain is a centrist. Palin was, after all, doing it to protect her family; to quite a lot of people, that makes it noble per se. We can only hope that there aren't enough of them to win the election. Probably not.
October 12, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whoops. That was supposed to be a reply to Postxian, one post up. I clicked on the wrong reply link.
October 12, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
If 47% of Americans say McInsane shares their values, are they saying that they devoid of values and morally rudderless?
October 11, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't it sad how people believe what people tout, rather than their own eyes? We need to hammer home the inexcusable bad judgment of mcShame, whose first act as candidate was to take on board a Trojan horse of a running mate. The Trojan Trophy, as it were.
October 11, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
At this point I wonder if attacks from McCain against Obama are seen by many on the fence as an attack on their last remaining hopes for the possibility of getting through this economic crisis without major damage. They may not like Obama but if he is going to be President it doesn't help to have McCain tear him doen and be so divisive.
October 11, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey - wish CT Voter was here - I just read that Connecticut has ok'd same sex marriage.
Culture war, anyone? Hahahahahaha! Those old Vietnam era reactionaries want to refight this same war they lost once already in the 60s.
They're losing again - even worse.
October 11, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
And the good news is the decision is irreversible and cannot be challenged at the Federal Supreme Court or any other courts.
October 11, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm thrilled.
Just flat thrilled!
October 11, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
My wife is floored Palin's unethical behavior isn't being reported on more. It's like it was expected and nobody cares anymore about ethics.
October 11, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
What do you mean, Mike? The Troopergate report findings are in every paper I've looked at.
October 11, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a post of mine on that (not here, but at Oxdown):
http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/636
Background info, related to Palin, on boundary problems and ethical issues. Worth a read.
October 11, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't read it all yet, Thera, but at the outset I'm struck by how very Commander CooCoo that is - to mix up the personal a professional like that.
October 11, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's because if they did give it fair and impartial coverage, the race would be over with and there wouldn't be anything to report except Obama's transition team being formed and ready to go on election day.
October 11, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's already formed his transition team - I read a long piece on it and he's had it in place for months. I mean everything is covered - they're just going to walk right in and start governing.
McLame has not done one thing and has told his staff not to do anything about a transition team.
Ya think he knows he's lost?
October 11, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
But you're right. There's no in depth analysis into the findings, possible legal options to be played out, and what will happen to Palin if she were to get elected or defeated and return to Alaska.
October 11, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Research 2000 FL Poll: Obama 49 McCain 44
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/acrobat/2008-10/42827808.pdf
October 11, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why is Obama not able to close the deal with McCain supporters? His poll numbers among that very large minority segment is are terrible. Is Obama's "white mccainiac" problem a signal of wider doubts about whether he is a terrorist?
October 11, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
God is it slow around here this morning.
October 11, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Totally OT, but since not much else is going on, I might as well bring it up.
Has anyone been watching Chris Matthews these past few days? He has been on FIRE about the tone and tenor of the McCain campaign. He and Pat Buchanan really got into it last night: surprise, surprise,...Buchanan doesn't seem to find much wrong with the hatefests that masquerade as McCain/Palin rallies as-of-late.
October 11, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
I caught a few minutes of him yesterday and he was all over it - that's all he'd talk about.
October 11, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Schrodinger's Cat - Buchanan reminds me a great deal of a friend of mine. He's a retired surgeon and he likes to stir me up by taking a very hardline rightwing position and needle me with it just to watch me react - he doesn't believe a thing he says. I look at Buchanan and I don't believe he really believes one thing he says.
October 11, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I seem to remember hearing Buchanan in an interview say exactly that, that it was all a game for him. It was a really long time ago--during the Clinton years, I think....
October 11, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I suspect that you're right. His (Buchanan's) "tell" is that he begins to laugh....I think sometime he's even amazed at the crap that comes out of his own mouth.
October 11, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Everything about his mien says to me "I'm just bullshitting you and we both know it."
October 11, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sure he has. He has definitely shown some passion on this issue. But the problem with Matthews on this is the same problem with respect to everything he talks about. He goes into his interviews unprepared. He never quite has his facts right and he lets the personal elements of disputes override the more substantive issues at the heart of the matter.
What that means is that he will let a guest like Pat Buchanan go on some absurd screed about Ayers that is filled with errors or, more likely, lies which he never corrects. When he challenges Pat, it won't be on the issue of whether he has his facts right or whether his argument is reasonable or even plausible. It will be on the level of some meta discussion about whether these sort of politics are honorable, which of course Pat Buchanan couldn't care less about and deflects quite easily.
Now Chris Matthews is not the only major journalist guilty of this sort of thing and he is definitely not the worst. Indeed it is hard, at the moment, to think of any major tv journalist who isn't incredibly weak in exactly this way. But Matthews is really pretty bad even by those standards.
October 11, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with your criticisms of Matthews as well as the rest of the MSM. I was just happy to see someone in the media begin to take on the republican habit of labelling Democrats as "un-American."
October 11, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I couldn't agree more. Even an inept efforts are better than none.
October 11, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Na-na-na-na,
Na-na-na-na,
Hey hey!
Goodbye!
October 11, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
He'll never love you, the way that I love you
'Cause if he did, no no, he wouldn't make you cry
He might be thrillin' baby but my love (my love, my love)
So dog-gone willin'
So kiss him
Go on and kiss him goodbye, now
Na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
October 11, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
O my god, the Fat Lady sang!
October 11, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Novemeber 4th. It's the new Christmas.
October 11, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hee!
The weather here is just nasty - it's gonna be a long day if this place stays this slow.
;)
October 11, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Josh mentioned on the front page that a number of Republicans have come out with statements condemning McCain in the last few days--I'd love to see these collected in one place....
October 11, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I would too. HuffPo kind of collected them; they used them in their headline in a list, more or less.
October 11, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, he also said "By week's end that campaign narrative was all about the ferocity and recklessness of McCain's attacks," but reading those threads I found conflicting descriptions from people (i.e., some say the MSM is still dancing an equivalency dance, others say they are calling on McScum). Which is true, I wonder.
October 11, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
A little of both.
We've gotten into quite the habit of automatically bashing the press when they don't produce just exactly what we think they should and the right does it and I kind of wish we'd stop it.
They really are on our side this time - that's so obvious to me that I can't believe it isn't obvious to everyone. They tire swing and say dumb shit and makes asses of themselves - but they've always done that to one extent or another.
But some press is not going to abandon their rightwing stance because that's their audience.
They don't treat Obama the way they treated Gore and Kerry - with contempt. The press obviously admires Obama - even the rightwing press - except the loonies. Hannity, O'Lielly - they're on their way out anyway, IMO.
October 11, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Tena.
October 11, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's just my opinion.
Some find my way of stating my opinion arrogant - I rather think it's because I'm at that stage in my life where I have more confidence in my opinion and in who I am basically. There have to be some reward for the relentless march of time.
But it's still just my opinion.
;)
October 11, 2008 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
This off MSNBC:
Seems Palin isn't aware the abuse of power finding int he report has nothing to do with the firing. She's totally clueless!
October 11, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
You think she's read it? You think she understood it?
You think she's lying? LOL!
October 11, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Palin is fixated only on the firing. She actually thinks the firing is the abuse of power. It's well known she was never good at the meat and potatoes of detail info. She relies on other to digest the facts and details. She just skims the cream off the top and goes from there and takes the credit for the hard work of others.
October 11, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
O she does not get the distinction there at all.
LOL! It's a tad subtle but not that subtle. Stupid bitch.
October 11, 2008 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
And the reporter stopped there? Shame on him/her.
October 11, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course! Why Not?
If this circus packs up and leaves town, what will we all do for entertainment until the next ircus arrives? No circus = no news.
October 11, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Note to Myself:
Self...that Palin refers people to read the report to get their facts straight indicates she, herself, doesn't understand what is in the report. The first finding is not about the firing. It clearly talks about her fixation with ruining her former brother-in-law's career with the Alaska State Troopers as well as any and all local police forces in the state and using public office as the vehicle to drive public resources and state personnel as proxies to do her bidding while she remained in the shadows . That's the abuse of power.
Furthermore, move that mental acuity for perception of stated facts from a state level to a national level and begin to see how shallow observation of facts to suit a self-serving perception could snowball into serious erosion of the public trust in Washington's ability in serving personal interest over public interest.
October 11, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Intrade @ 79%...Yay!
October 11, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
NOt sure I'd put too much stock in the Newsweek Poll. It has Republican Party ID down to 25%. That must be about an historic low. It could be true, but I'd be really surprised if it was that low.
Indeed, I wonder whether either major party, even in it's worst years had such a low % of the voters identifying themselves as members of that party? I know Bush has screwed up royally, but 25% party ID seems insanely low.
October 11, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
If 25% is correct then the world has truly changed in the last 8 years, huh? Let us hope that it is correct, and that the number keeps going down over the next 8 years.
October 11, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not me - are you kidding? After this spectacular, stupendous FAIL?!
October 11, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
The question would be whether other polls find the same thing. Do all Polls find that Repugnant Party ID has plummeted? Do you know the answer to that one? If it's an across the board finding, I'd put stock in it. If the polls vary widely in their Repugnant party ID, I'd tend to trust the ones that tracked historical trends more.
October 11, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Josh has done quite a few posts on the downfall of the Republican brand. I don't have specific polls myself, no.
October 11, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
These polls are crazy good. Books will be written about the ineptitude of the McCain campaign, and conversely about the brilliance of the Obama campaign.
Incidentally, this reminds me of something David Corn wrote yesterday - a pretty funny new theory as to reason for McCain's implosion:
First paragraph:
The other day a Republican strategist shared an intriguing anecdote with me. Several years ago, he said, he was talking to Steve Schmidt, who now is the day-to-day manager of John McCain's campaign, and Schmidt said that he hated McCain to such an extent that he would vote for Hillary Clinton instead of McCain if such a choice ever presented itself. "He really said that?" I asked my source. "Beer was involved," this source replied.
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/davidcorn/2008/10/the-mccain-campaign-can-you-fe.html
October 11, 2008 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy Shit!
I've watched Palin and McLame several times in vid now and she pulls away from him - hard. They'll start out with that hug thing before one of them speaks - watch her - she pulls away hard.
I don't think she likes him either and I know he doesn't like her. People who are thinking he lusts for her - maybe, but that doesn't mean he likes her. John McCain hasn't really liked a woman in his entire life. But basically I think the two of them hate each other now.
Her career is just as finished as his is - they took each other down.
October 11, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
lol... Who knows? Maybe Schmidt secretly hates the entire GOP. Maybe he's a Dem sleeper troll?
:)
October 11, 2008 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd almost believe that based on how he's run this campaign.
It's the worst I've ever seen - down to the terrible leaks on strategy and bad shit about the boss. It's stunningly bad - it's really almost believable that Schmidt is throwing it on purpose.
Except I've listened to Schmidt enough now to know that actually he's just dumber than a bad of hammers and since McLame is as dumb as a box of nails, this is what results.
October 11, 2008 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
lol... and to extend your analogy, the GOP is as fragile as crystal pony. Bring on the hammers, I say.
October 11, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, it's already been shattered.
There is noone in charge. There is no agreement among different small factions.
I hope they nuke the whole thing, rebuild and rename the bitch, too.
October 11, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Acknowledged, but I would prefer the GOP suffer political fatality rather than just profound trauma and injury.
October 11, 2008 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I meant to reply to your Palin observation as well: I think that Palin is probably getting pissed that she hitched her star to a fast-sinking boat anchor.
October 11, 2008 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know what I think - dead serious about this - I think she's scared shitless of McLame. And I think Todd is, too.
October 11, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
In what sense do mean?
October 11, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
In general.
The man is nothing more than a seething mass of rage - that radiates from his entire being.
The Palins are in way over their heads. She is so consumed with blind ambition that she is ready to plow ahead, even though she knows, really, that she is in over her head.
Todd I've watched very closely. He knows they are in over their heads and it is scaring him to death plus McLame is not the kind of man who would make anyone feel ok about things.
October 11, 2008 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah yes, I see. I too have noticed that fear-behind-the-bravado that you're talking about. You think it's about McCain? Hm. You could be right. I just chalked it up to inexperience, and unfamiliarity with the national spotlight.
You know what it reminds me of? Bush's first speech to the nation back in 2000. He was friggin terrified - so much so that it kind of frightened me at the time. I remember thinking - oh shit, here we go.
October 11, 2008 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
A match made in Hell !
October 11, 2008 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, a really dark and fearful part of hell.
October 11, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Which video are you talking about?
Did you watch Ed Rollins on AC360 a few days ago?
http://www.jedreport.com/2008/10/top-gop-strategist-its-over-ob.html
October 11, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was the day before yesterday, not "a few days ago."
October 11, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was a very striking statement by Rollins. It surprised me that he said it out loud, and with such candor.
October 11, 2008 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Uh, wow. That's hysterical. Makes me wonder if Schmidt is doing his thing actually?
October 11, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does, doesn't it?
October 11, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I meant he does intentionally... but as Tena said, it may not be unintentional, lol.
October 11, 2008 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dr. Goodwin and Ana Marie Cox were on R. Maddow's show last night, (or the night before that?). It was my best so far covering McCain's HATE mob and history of assassinations, etc. If you missed it, you can still find it at msnbc video in the Politics with the title "Hate on Campaign Trail." Trust me it's worth watching.
October 11, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Saw it. I tell you what, Rachel Maddow's show is really well done.
The way things are going in our culture, I think she's going to catapault into major status.
October 11, 2008 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yup. I saw it too. Great piece. And I agree with you, Tena. Rachel is charming, and obviously real smart. It would not surprise me at all to see her hit the big time.
October 11, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, polling info is excellent. BUT, take a look at the Velvet Revolution Youtube videos of interviews with Stephen Spoonamore, computer security expert about voting machine security and remind yourself why we can't get complacent. There are 2 interview series from 2006 & 2008 pointing out we're vulnerable. Unless it's on paper, we can't audit results. Mike Connell, Bush/Rove expert computer "fixer" now works for Mccain. Turnout, turnout, turnout...it has to be a major blowout.
October 11, 2008 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
O do please stop.
You cannot steal an election with an 8 point spread.
And it will be a hell of a lot larger spread on Nov. 4.
October 11, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just one empirical anecdote:
Spent today touring arts and crafts festivals in deep-red rural Kentucky. While wearing a T-shirt reading "I want to feel proud again. Obama '08."
A dozen "Love your shirt!" and zero nasty remarks, rude gestures or rolling eyes.
Yeah, yeah, elitist audience, blah, blah.
It's rural Kentucky, y'all, and it's going for Obama.
October 11, 2008 8:54 PM | Reply | Permalink