Obama/Biden vs. McCain/Palin

[ghostrunner]

The movement over the last couple weeks has been particularly acute with independent voters. 56% of them say that the Palin choice makes them less likely to support McCain and what was a 49-38 lead for Obama with that group is now a 58-31 advantage.

But that's not right! Going after Palin is supposed to make her MORE popular!

They essentially did stop going after her. My contention was not that doing so made her popular, but that it gave fuel and free press to McCain's side while making Obama's camp look uneasy. I think they've recovered nicely, helped somewhat by recent events.

[cardsfansince82]

I follow the news somewhat closely and I can honestly say I haven't heard a single thing about Biden in weeks. It's all Palin, Obama and McCain in that order.

[Michael]

Palin energized the conservative base, which allows McCain to move more to the center. That's her benefit.

[JL21]

Palin energized the conservative base, which allows McCain to move more to the center. That's her benefit.

That's sort of what I've started to realize in the past few weeks. Maybe the GOP's intent in adding Palin wasn't the insulting intention of stealing Hillary voters. It would appear that their main intention was firming up/shoring up Republican voters who were put off by McCain. If they happen to steal some Hillary votes in the process, it's just icing on the cake.

[PujolJunkie]

Nobody wants me going into specifics. I doubt anyone needs me to. I'll refrain from offending anyone on the left by showing what a bad day Biden's having.

Uhh.. what?

Because he called the Obama ad against McCain for his computer illiteracy terrible? I'm trying to figure out what you're talking about.

[PujolJunkie]

Biden will even it out.

And Biden has actually been popular in every single national poll I've seen. Everyone either says he's made them more likely to vote for Obama or it hasn't really had any effect. Palin, when it comes to independents, has a 30 point Likely/Less Likely rating.

[Leroy]

Nobody wants me going into specifics. I doubt anyone needs me to. I'll refrain from offending anyone on the left by showing what a bad day Biden's having.

Uhh.. what?

Because he called the Obama ad against McCain for his computer illiteracy terrible? I'm trying to figure out what you're talking about.

No, he said something to the effect that if was Roosevelt during the great depression Roosevelt would have been on TV talking about it. Probably not a biggie, but he does say some things...

[cpebbles]

Biden got out ahead of himself and opposed the AIG bailout initially, and Obama said he should have waited to get the facts before speaking out. I'm guessing this is the huge controversy BW is referring to, since FoxNews is trying to give it legs, but I'm a little curious how this is going to cost Obama votes.

[PujolJunkie]

Nobody wants me going into specifics. I doubt anyone needs me to. I'll refrain from offending anyone on the left by showing what a bad day Biden's having.

Uhh.. what?

Because he called the Obama ad against McCain for his computer illiteracy terrible? I'm trying to figure out what you're talking about.

No, he said something to the effect that if was Roosevelt during the great depression Roosevelt would have been on TV talking about it. Probably not a biggie, but he does say some things...

Nobody is gonna deny that Biden lets his mouth overload his ass sometimes. But this gaffe is really no different than the Obama 57 states gaffe. It happens. If I was getting 3 hours of sleep a night, prepping for a nationally televised debate and giving 3 or 4 speeches a day, I'd be exhausted, too.

Nobody denies that people make mistakes. But a mistake like that is a mental lapse. Not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is? That's just being uneducated. I've never attacked McCain for making a slip like that. I'll happily attack him if he says the fundamentals of the economy are strong, however. That's not a slip. That's a statement he's made repeatedly and stands by.

[Michael]

Palin energized the conservative base, which allows McCain to move more to the center. That's her benefit.

That's sort of what I've started to realize in the past few weeks. Maybe the GOP's intent in adding Palin wasn't the insulting intention of stealing Hillary voters. It would appear that their main intention was firming up/shoring up Republican voters who were put off by McCain. If they happen to steal some Hillary votes in the process, it's just icing on the cake.

I think their goal was to try both, and only one outcome really stuck.