Chronicling trends in entertainment, pop culture, politics, the arts, and the uncategorized et cetera.

Shallow Nation

October 15th, 2008 at 11:58 am

Barack Obama TIME Magazine Cover October 20, 2008 “Why the Economy Is Trumping Race”

Barack Obama TIME Magazine cover October 20, 2008 - Why the Economy Is Trumping Race

Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama is on the cover of TIME Magazine October 20, 2008 issue. A series of articles examine politics, race and the economy. See article excerpts and video and photos of Barack Obama’s speech on the economy in Toledo, Ohio on October 13, 2008.

TIME Magazine’s David Von Drehle looks at how Obama has garnered support among those hard hit by the worsening economy.

I soon gathered that six of the eight adults standing in that driveway planned to vote for Obama in November. Their support ranged from enthusiastic to reluctant. And of course, there’s nothing scientific about one driveway. But I heard similar things throughout my trip. Among white voters, Obama appeared to be rising on a pile of empty wallets. Many folks in Lincoln County shared that impression.

“Who do you think will win around here?” I asked.

“Obama,” Robbie Haggard answered flatly, and several others agreed.

“But Missouri’s always been Republican,” Pyle protested.

“I think Missouri’s had about enough,” Holly Haggard said.

Barack Obama campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio, October 13, 2008

Barack Obama campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio, October 13, 2008
Barack Obama campaigning in Toledo, Ohio October 13, 2008

Some hard data support that reaction. A recent poll of 1,024 Missouri voters, sponsored by Time and CNN, found that Obama’s standing in the Show-Me State has improved significantly in the past month. A must-win state for John McCain’s campaign — once considered fairly safe — is now a virtual tie, with the momentum going in Obama’s direction. That’s not something that can be accomplished solely with the support of liberals and minorities — not in Missouri. Here in the borderland between North and South, between East and West, between rich and poor, between city and farm, any would-be President must stay competitive among white voters of modest and middle incomes.

Source: For White Working Class, Obama Rises on Empty Wallets

Here is video of Barack Obama’s speech in Toledo, Ohio, on October 13, 2008 outlining an economic rescue plan for the middle class.

The latest New York Times/CBS New poll suggests that the McCain-Palin campaigns negative campaign strategy is backfiring and partly responsible for Obama’s increasing support among voters.

After several weeks in which the McCain campaign unleashed a series of strong political attacks on Mr. Obama, trying to tie him to a former 1960s radical, among other things, the poll found that more voters see Mr. McCain as waging a negative campaign than Mr. Obama.

John McCain and Sarah Palin campaign rally in Virginia, October 13, 2008
John McCain and Sarah Palin at a campaign rally in Virginia Beach Virginia, October 13, 2008

Six in 10 voters surveyed said that Mr. McCain had spent more time attacking Mr. Obama than explaining what he would do as president; by about the same number, voters said Mr. Obama was spending more of his time explaining than attacking.

Over all, the poll found that if the election were held today, 53 percent of those determined to be probable voters said they would vote for Mr. Obama and 39 percent said they would vote for Mr. McCain.

Source: Poll Says McCain Hurts His Bid by Using Attacks

Photo credit: Getty Images North America

It’s clear that negativity does not play well when voters want answers to challenging questions about the economy. Here is a video compilation of some of the recent negative attacks from the McCain-Palin campaign and rally attendees who pick up on the negativity and label Obama a “terrorist” and worse.

via – The Real McCain

Presumably undecided voters may not want to associate themselves with a mob mentality. Clearly this is an unwise strategy, with the statistics to prove it. Nonetheless, it may not be the end of the negativity from the McCain-Palin campaign. As Politico reports, there is now talk of bringing back Rev. Jeremiah Wright. See: McCain, advisers divided over Wright attack