McCain vs. Obama

[renaissance]

Originally Posted by I'm Rich Bitch

I like the fact that they would balance each other. As I said before, neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have all the answers. The few times the GOP has challenged Obama on real issues he has moved to the center. He has moved to the center on some issues that I thought he was too far to the Left on. This was welcome.

Unfortunately, Obama is only challenged on stupid shit like Rev. Wright and flag pins so he is free to say stupid Leftist stuff with no challenge. Chuck Hagel would provide the proper balance. This has never happened before so it would mean a true "Change".

The far Left freaks like the ones on dailykos will vote for Obama anyway. Where else will they go? It is just like the Conservatives will vote for McCain no matter what he does or says. Independents and moderates will be happy with a Obama-Hagel ticket.

I agree with much of what you just said, except for your analysis of the electorate.

It is the democratic and left leaning portion of America that is energized this cycle. To do something like choose a running mate that is so far to the right on so many issues would do horrible damage to Obama's chances of becoming the next President.

Would Hillary Clinton's supporters (at least 17 million individuals, a majority of them female) flock to a ticket with an individual on it who believes a woman can't be trusted to make decisions concerning her own body?

Would Independents concerned with the environment flock to a candidate with such a dismal record on energy alternatives and independence?

Would Republican swing voters join in on a ticket where the VP has a record of supporting Bush-like immigration policies, and status-quo border security?

Would the Democratic base be satisfied with the choice? A man who is to the right of every major topic of importance to the party, and who could very well be the next President of the United States if the Obama legacy is a favourable one. This is a man who has voted with Bush on a very high percentage of issues besides the Iraq war.

Would Hagel deliver electoral college votes in the fall via Nebraska? Or, far more likely, kill Obama's chances in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan based on his free trade voting record? Would Georgia be totally out of play now based on his record with the NAACP? What exactly would Hagel bring to a Democratic ticket this fall besides giving 'street cred' to Obama's 'unity' rhetoric?

I personally don't think Hagel is worth the risk.

[Zora]

Poll: Obama Opens Up 15-Point Lead | Newsweek Politics: Campaign 2008 | Newsweek.com

Barack finally has his bounce. For weeks many political experts and pollsters have been wondering why the race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain had stayed so tight, even after the Illinois senator wrested the nomination from Hillary Clinton. With numbers consistently showing rock-bottom approval ratings for President Bush and a large majority of Americans unhappy with the country's direction, the opposing-party candidate should, in the normal course, have attracted more disaffected voters. Now it looks as if Obama is doing just that. A new NEWSWEEK Poll shows that he has a substantial double-digit lead, 51 percent to 36 percent, over McCain among registered voters nationwide....

[Mist]

I guess those Hillary->McCain switchers finally listened to what McCain has to say on the issues and realized their mistake.

[Burf]

Originally Posted by Zora

Poll: Obama Opens Up 15-Point Lead | Newsweek Politics: Campaign 2008 | Newsweek.com

So, do you think these polls are finally more accurate than the ones that had Hillary +30% and Giuliani +15%?

[Mimirswell]

Those were not inaccurate, they were just national polls that completely eclipsed where the campaigns were taking place (Iowa / New Hampshire).

[Kirby]

polls are not really a reliable source. Wasn't John Kerry way ahead of Bush around this time in the cycle?

[Simas]

Polls will also be off because of their sampling, that is if voter turn out is different this year as most expect it will be.

[Chips]

I just became a citizen last week and I look forward to voting for the first time in my life. I kind of feel disappointed as Georgia is a long time Republican haven and even if I don't vote McCain will still win Georgia, but I feel good knowing that I made an effort in keeping it that way.

[Simas]

Originally Posted by Chips

I kind of feel disappointed as Georgia is a long time Republican haven and even if I don't vote McCain will still win Georgia, but I feel good knowing that I made an effort in keeping it that way.

No need to be disappointed. If you dont vote McCain he might lose GA.

McCain, Obama essentially tied in Georgia, poll says | ajc.com

[Zora]

Originally Posted by Burf

So, do you think these polls are finally more accurate than the ones that had Hillary +30% and Giuliani +15%?

Nope, they're all just a snapshot of a moment in time. (I was once in research and have conducted polls myself so I know how they work, what they're good for and not.) Much can and will happen between now and November, as the article makes clear. Just passing the info. along.

[Soriak]

Election 2008: Presidential, Senate and House Races Updated Daily

Obama: 317
McCain: 194
Tied: 27 (Florida)

Great page, updates its electoral map daily with the newest poll results.

Senate Dem 56 GOP 44
House Dem 238 GOP 197

[I'm Rich Bitch]

FiveThirtyEight is an excellent poll analysis site. Current Obama v. McCain map:

[I'm Rich Bitch]

Originally Posted by Chips

I just became a citizen last week and I look forward to voting for the first time in my life. I kind of feel disappointed as Georgia is a long time Republican haven and even if I don't vote McCain will still win Georgia, but I feel good knowing that I made an effort in keeping it that way.

Too bad you will be on the wrong side of history for your first vote. At least you will remember to regret your vote for McCain for a very long time. Not only is Georgia in play but traditionally red North Carolina and Virginia also.

I think if the GOP plays Rev. Wright ads in Mississippi and South Carolina it will be in play also due to backlash. The only states that are safe for McCain are the states that make up the Axis of Ignorance. Namely,

• Tennessee
• Arkansas
• West Virginia
• Kentucky
• Oklahoma
• Alabama

In those states it is required to bring your KKK hood and robe to the polls. Luckily the rest of the US too intelligent to vote for John McCain. We all have our teeth and don't fuck our relatives. So hop in your pick-up truck and grab your can of Budweiser on November 4th and join your inbred brotheren to pull the level for McCain. The rest of us will be celebrating the beginning of a new day. Time to have a smart President not another "C" student.

This election is not just about Obama v. Mcain but intelligence v. ignorance, good v. evil, moving forward v. going backwards. Ultimately, good always wins over evil. We tried it your way for the last 8 years and it has been an epic disaster. Time for a new day Bitches. We can not afford to put another idiot in the White House. Outside of Bobby Jindal in LA and Chuck Hagel, the Republican party with chocked full with idiots. The leader of the idiots is John McCain with his boy wonder, Mitt Romney by his side who put the "ASS" in Massachusetts.

[Zora]

Maybe I'm weird but I find IRBs posts delightful--sarcastic, witty, rip-roaringly funny and they always have at least a kernel of truth in them. I LOL'd at the last one. Never mind that they sometimes don't make complete sense. I always enjoy them.

[Ancalagon]

Originally Posted by Zora

Maybe I'm weird but I find IRBs posts delightful--sarcastic, witty, rip-roaringly funny and they always have at least a kernel of truth in them. I LOL'd at the last one. Never mind that they sometimes don't make complete sense. I always enjoy them.

No.