National Republicans
Blowing Yourself Up
Since Obama disposed of Hillary it’s become clear that in order to crush him McCain must resort to The Big Negative. Obama’s got too much momentum and money and charisma for McCain to waltz into office by way of a friendly popularity contest. Well, Wednesday the old admiral – or the old crowd that’s moved…
Read MoreObama Gets the Willies?
I’m not sure what’s worse: ‘International Celebrity’ Barack Obama not visiting wounded soldiers in Germany – or watching John McCain jump up and down and howl about it. This saga in American politics started bad and went downhill. Obama tripped over his own feet, then tripped again getting up, then McCain leaped on his back…
Read More‘PUMAs’ Bear Their Claws
You may have heard of “cougars” – older women who pursue younger men. Now meet “Pumas.” It stands for “Party Unity, My Ass.” They are Hillary Clinton supporters who are still angry. Sign-wielding Pumas confronted DNC Chair Howard Dean when he was in North Carolina last week. They have a website: www.puma08.com. In North Carolina,…
Read MoreTurning Point?
When the histories of the 2008 presidential race are written, last week may be seen as the turning point. No, the polls won’t show it yet. They may look more like 1980, which was a dead heat between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter until everything broke Reagan’s way the final weekend. Then, as now, voters…
Read MoreWill the Real Politician Please Stand Up?
Gary, I’m going to agree. John McCain’s a flip-flopper. The old admiral is zigging and zagging. But a bit of the shine’s rubbing off Obama’s apple too. After a year of telling everyone who’d listen how he’s going to get us out of the war, His Nimbleness just said – in Baghdad, no less –…
Read MoreSurging
Unless he trips coming around third base, Barack Obama has hit a grand slam with his grand tour. The pictures are the story. Obama conferring with foreign leaders. Getting off a presidential-looking jet. Carrying a flak jacket. Riding in military helicopters. Listening to military commanders. Greeting troops. Sinking three-pointers. Obama looked like a President. Meanwhile,…
Read MoreWho Flip-Flops?
The only card McCain and the GOP have to play against Obama is the flip-flop charge that Carter & Co. used so effectively against Jim Hunt in 1984. The irony is laughable. McCain could give lessons in flip-flopping. The Bush challenger of 2000 is the Bush lackey of 2008. The opponent of Bush’s tax cuts…
Read MoreObama-McCain Poll
WRAL’s poll last week showed that John McCain is irrelevant to this election – and Barack Obama still faces a challenge. The poll showed McCain leading only 45-42. The good news for Democrats: McCain is weak, weak, weak. His problems: He’s old, and he represents George Bush’s third term. The bad news: Obama is still…
Read MoreDrill We Must?
Dick Morris can be slimy and smarmy, but he’s smart. This week he put his finger on an issue that Democrats need to think hard about: offshore – or, as the Republicans call it – “deep-sea” drilling for oil. Clearly the Republicans have drilled down on this issue with some heavy-duty polling. Almost simultaneously, John…
Read MoreObama’s Helmet
There’s a big new CBS News/New York Times poll out and Obama’s popularity has dropped. Which sounds good. Until you look at McCain’s numbers. He dropped too. Now, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. Let’s put this as bluntly as possible: McCain needs to defeat Obama roughly 56% to 44% among white voters to…
Read More