Echoes of 1998
This year’s presidential race reminds me of John Edwards’ Senate race 10 years ago.
You have a fresh – but inexperienced – face (Edwards, Obama) running against an old – but experienced – face (McCain, Lauch Faircloth).
As we did in Edwards’ campaign, Obama sees his chance in the public’s disgust for
As Faircloth’s campaign did, McCain’s advisers see their chance in persistent doubts and questions about their challenges.
Faircloth targeted Edwards’ past as a trial lawyer. But we learned from focus groups that voters saw being a courtroom advocate as good training for the Senate.
Faircloth tied Edwards to Bill Clinton, then in the clutches of Monica-gate. But the Republicans overplayed that hand, and voters saw it as more
Faircloth eventually tried to paint Edwards as a Liberal Lying Lawyer. We tried to paint Faircloth as Old Politics.
But we had an advantage Obama lacks: Edwards was – and looked like – the All-American Boy.
Obama, unfortunately, has to counter the persistent perceptions that he’s some kind of Muslim Manchurian Candidate.
Like Obama, Edwards needed a huge black turnout. Democratic consultant Brad Crone of
It’s one reason Democrats retook the state House.
Ultimately, the best frame for the choice voters made that year – and face this year – came from our pollster, Harrison Hickman. He gave Edwards the first line of his victory speech:
“Tonight the people of
That’s the same choice Obama and McCain offer.
Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.
Echoes of 1998
This year’s presidential race reminds me of John Edwards’ Senate race 10 years ago.
You have a fresh – but inexperienced – face (Edwards, Obama) running against an old – but experienced – face (McCain, Lauch Faircloth).
As we did in Edwards’ campaign, Obama sees his chance in the public’s disgust for
As Faircloth’s campaign did, McCain’s advisers see their chance in persistent doubts and questions about their challenges.
Faircloth targeted Edwards’ past as a trial lawyer. But we learned from focus groups that voters saw being a courtroom advocate as good training for the Senate.
Faircloth tied Edwards to Bill Clinton, then in the clutches of Monica-gate. But the Republicans overplayed that hand, and voters saw it as more
Faircloth eventually tried to paint Edwards as a Liberal Lying Lawyer. We tried to paint Faircloth as Old Politics.
But we had an advantage Obama lacks: Edwards was – and looked like – the All-American Boy.
Obama, unfortunately, has to counter the persistent perceptions that he’s some kind of Muslim Manchurian Candidate.
Like Obama, Edwards needed a huge black turnout. Democratic consultant Brad Crone of
It’s one reason Democrats retook the state House.
Ultimately, the best frame for the choice voters made that year – and face this year – came from our pollster, Harrison Hickman. He gave Edwards the first line of his victory speech:
“Tonight the people of
That’s the same choice Obama and McCain offer.
Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.