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Political consultant Dick Morris has been credited with turning around Bill Clinton's campaign, leading to his second term as President. In ...
Read more about Dick Morris.
Political consultant Dick Morris has been credited with turning around Bill Clinton's campaign, leading to his second term as President. In ...
Read more about Dick Morris.
Democrats in Trouble
Dick Morris
The convention floor was abuzz all Thursday with the news of the CBS
poll showing a dead tie (42-42) in the presidential race. And the
poll, conducted through Wednesday, couldn't reflect the impact of John
McCain's speech, or the full impact of Sarah Palin's late Wednesday
night. It reflected opinions only after the Democrats' convention,
Barack Obama's incredible speech, the Palin selection and the early,
Gustav-depressed GOP gathering.
That augers ill for the Democrats. The next round of polling could bring evidence that the Obama candidacy is in big trouble.
First, the GOP convention managed to disprove the central premise of the Democratic assault on McCain: that he is a clone of President Bush. The Republicans wisely marginalized Bush to a non-prime-time videotaped speech, and sprinkled disappearing dust on Dick Cheney.
The speeches, and the very fact of the Palin designation, repudiated Washington and focused on how McCain is an agent of change -- this ticket is populist, reformist, anti-establishment, grass-roots and anti-corruption.
And McCain Thursday night made the point plain: "Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first-country-second Washington crowd: Change is coming."
If Bush were the nominee, this campaign wouldn't suffice to push voters away from Obama. But now that McCain has moved decisively away from the administration, Obama's lost much (at least) of his advantage on the issue of reform. Now other doubts about Obama could elect McCain.
The turning point was the designation of Palin and the personal attacks on her. By stirring up a storm, Democrats assured that Palin would speak to 37 million Americans -- just a million fewer than watched Obama's acceptance speech.
Anecdotal evidence already suggests that women may have a gut reaction to the establishment's sexist assault on a woman candidate -- and flock to McCain. They've seen him stake everything on this one big move of turning toward a woman -- in direct contrast to Obama's deliberate decision not to name a woman.
They've seen the media and Democrats gang up on her and do their worst. And they've seen Palin stand up and stuff the challenge right back down the establishment's throat. All this may have created an entirely new dynamic in the race.
Now the Republicans must battle to underscore the threats this country faces, economically and internationally, and that we can't let an ingenue take over. They must capitalize on McCain's aggressive determination to bring reform to Washington and to emphasize Obama's inexperience and failure to grasp how to change Washington.
But it was McCain's gutsy selection of Palin that opened the door to victory.
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To find out more about Dick Morris and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com. Distributed By Creators Syndicate Inc.
Copyright 2008 Dick Morris And Eileen Mcgann
This news arrived on: 09/08/2008
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Posted Comments:
09-09-2008 03:05
Sunshine49 wrote:
To Snookie
What video are you talking about??? I've never heard her say that Iraq was God's will. I heard her say it was in God's hands. Someone must be good at altering videos!
09-08-2008 22:38
Snookie wrote:
McCain/Obama/Palin
By selecting Sarah Palin for VP, McCain has clearly shown that he acts first and thinks after the fact- Who does that sound like? SCARY!!! McCain is 72 yrs old, has a volatile temper and acts without first thinking- I would be very worried if he got elected and something happened To hIm and Sarah Palin became president- Did you watch that video of her speaking in her church? She seems to think she has an open line to GOD, just like Bush did- She said this Iraq war is GODS WILL!!! SHE SOUNDED LIKE A nut case!!!
09-08-2008 21:12
Sunshine49 wrote:
To Orminon in North Carolina
Where have you been? Palin already has a reputation for going after corrupt politicians and McCain has always fought against pork barrel spending. Obama is only saying he will clean out your wallet -- not Washington. Obama won't clean up corruption because he's part of it. Nothing will help the economy unless someone stops the Democrat tax and spend mantra. The choice is clear -- either the Republic of the United States or a Socialist/Marxist dictatorship under Obama.
09-08-2008 11:28
Orminon in North Carolina wrote:
Republicans Desperate?
Heading your article "Democrats in Trouble"
and backing it up with "The next round of polling could bring evidence that the Obama candidacy is in big trouble." is bright enough to merit comments like Sassy's.
John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin reeks of political expediency and doesn't come close to "Country First" in my view.
I believe that when the Republicans start to get their facts straight (only the surge saved Iraq?), and understand WHAT to change (tax cuts for Exxon?), their troubles may diminish.
Until then the door to victory remains open for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
and backing it up with "The next round of polling could bring evidence that the Obama candidacy is in big trouble." is bright enough to merit comments like Sassy's.
John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin reeks of political expediency and doesn't come close to "Country First" in my view.
I believe that when the Republicans start to get their facts straight (only the surge saved Iraq?), and understand WHAT to change (tax cuts for Exxon?), their troubles may diminish.
Until then the door to victory remains open for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
09-08-2008 08:12
sassy wrote:
Dick Morris
The demacrats should be way behind in the polls as they chose to run Obama.Obama has a lot of bad baggage that as yet he refuses to tell the truth about.#120 years in Jeremiah Wrights American hating church.#2His 1986 and on friendship with William Ayers a known for bombing over 30 establishments.#3Tony Resko a slum lord and a covicted rackateer.With all this baggage how is it that he got this fare in the race?Answer the news and our own goverment dosn't hold him acountable for his actions as they do outhers.
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