National Republicans
Dole’s Numbers
Jack Betts says Senator Elizabeth Dole “missed a golden opportunity” to strengthen her chances for reelection when she waffled on the Outlying Landing Field. But Dole is much bigger. It’s her numbers. Not her poll numbers, but the numbers the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s brilliant ads have hammered into voters’ minds: 40, as in “40…
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 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 MoreStealing Signs
Ruth Sheehan’s column this morning raises a perennial campaign complaint: “The Democrats/Republicans are stealing our yard signs!” No campaign manager has ever escaped getting that call. Yard signs are the bane of a campaign. They cost money, and no political pro believes they do any good. But any candidate – as well as his or…
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…
Read MoreThe Charlie Crist Poll
Governor Charlie Crist of Florida is the weather vane of American politicians. He can sense the slightest shift in the political breeze and trim his sails as quickly as anyone I’ve ever seen. You don’t need a poll to know what’s happening in Florida. Just watch Crist. Right now, he is telling you that John…
Read MoreUndecideds: Fear and Loathing
When I was doing campaigns and it got to be mid-October, I got to where I hated undecided voters. I’d sit behind the two-way mirrors in focus groups and almost shout: “What’s wrong with you people, and why can’t you make up your minds? What else do you need to know?” I have the same…
Read MoreKilling Time
It’s come killing time in the presidential race and the Old Admiral’s in trouble – it’s the fourth quarter, he’s behind and he’s got to drive the ball down the field and score, right now, or he’s going to find himself throwing ‘Hail Mary’ passes. We Republicans keep telling ourselves Barack Obama’s not tough enough…
Read MoreNegative Election
No, I don’t mean “negative” as in negative ads. I mean that this election in North Carolina could be a perfect photographic negative of past elections. Four times in a row, North Carolina voted Republican for President (and in Senate races) and Democratic for Governor. This year the opposite may happen. Why? First there’s a…
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