Issues
A Ripple or a Wave?
With all the howling going on and the attacks being hurled back and forth on TV between the various campaigns it must be pretty hard for the last handful of undecided voters to figure out what’s true – but Elizabeth Dole may have given them one thing they are going to agree is not true.…
Read MoreThe Obama Show
Obama fans probably loved Obama’s half-hour show Wednesday night. McCain voters either hated it or turned it off. And undecided voters – who are usually low-information voters anyway – probably didn’t watch it. So it may not make any difference for all the money it cost. But I had a reaction that may be in…
Read MoreLiddy’s Gambit
Does Kay Hagan believe in God? To put it bluntly, in her new ad Senator Dole answers that question – No. Dole’s case goes like this: Something in Boston called the Godless Americans PAC held a fundraiser for Hagan. They – very clearly and outspokenly – do not believe in God. And the first twenty-five…
Read MoreClosing the Gap
One striking thing about the plethora of North Carolina polls has received little attention: There is little difference this year in the Democratic vote for President, Senator and Governor. In 2004, Mike Easley ran some 12 points ahead of John Kerry. Erskine Bowles, although he lost to Richard Burr, ran several points ahead. For years,…
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 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 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 MoreDisconnected
I recently heard a presentation by one of the best media-training professionals I’ve ever met, Don Rheem of Washington. He wasn’t talking about the presidential race, but he made a comment that summed up John McCain’s problem: “People don’t care what you think until they know that you care.” McCain has never made a fundamental…
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