Hillary May Cost Obama The Election

[Sanslines]

Hillary refuses to give up. She will be on the ticket at the Democratic National COnvention. She may yet split the ticket. If she continues to undermine Obama, she will cost Obama the election as more people will get disguisted and chose to either not vote or vote for McCain. If Obama can not find a way to control Hillary, then his chance at being President will be ruined.

Clinton backers plan noise at Dem convention

Group plans fliers, a video on nominating irregularities and blogging


http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Sources/Art/APTRANS.gif
updated 3:52 p.m. ET, Thurs., Aug. 14, 2008

WASHINGTON - Still sore from an epic primary battle, some of Hillary Rodham Clinton's supporters aren't buying the unity theme planned for the Democratic National Convention.

They weren't mollified when nominee-in-waiting Barack Obama (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16438329/) gave prime-time speaking slots to Clinton and her husband, the former president. Instead, they're itching for a fight and plan to wage one in Denver.

One group intends to paper the city with fliers, promote a video detailing what they contend were irregularities in the nominating process and unleash bloggers to give their take on the proceedings. Another group has purchased newspaper advertisements demanding that Clinton be included in a roll-call vote for the nomination. Obama and Clinton announced Thursday that there will be such a vote.

"I am a very realistic woman," said Diane Mantouvalos, co-founder of the Just Say No Deal Coalition (http://justsaynodeal.com/). "I don't think that anything is going to change, but I do think it is important to be heard, and this is our way of doing it."
Some of the disaffected Clinton supporters are open to supporting Obama; many are not.

Obama needs Clinton's supporters to beat Republican John McCain. Polls show that he has won over most of them. But some simply don't like Obama or still feel Clinton was treated unfairly during the primaries.
These groups are not affiliated with Clinton, who has endorsed Obama and campaigned for him. Representatives from the Clinton and Obama campaigns said they are working to unify the party because Obama will champion issues important to Clinton supporters, such as reforming health care, improving the economy and ending the war in Iraq.

"Senator Clinton understands and appreciates that there are supporters who remain passionate, but she has repeatedly urged her supporters to vote for Senator Obama," Clinton spokeswoman Kathleen Strand said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took a swipe at the Clinton diehards Wednesday.

"I think Hillary Clinton has been very gracious," the San Francisco Democrat told Bay Area talk show host Ronn Owens. "I think some of her supporters have been less than gracious."

Nevertheless, many Clinton activists plan to voice their discontent in Denver.

Mantouvalos, a Miami public relations consultant, said her network is renting a 5,000-square-foot loft in Denver for its bloggers. Another outfit called The Denver Group (http://thedenvergroup.blogspot.com/) is planning a reception the evening Hillary Clinton speaks at the convention. The group has been pushing for Clinton's name to be placed in nomination.

In announcing that her name will be placed in nomination, Clinton said she hopes the vote will unite the party and lead to an Obama victory in November.

Heidi Li Feldman, co-founder of The Denver Group, said the roll call vote is necessary for Obama to get her support. But, she said, it's insufficient.
"The only way a Democratic Party will have the credibility to elect a Democrat in November is if the party uses a legitimate process to choose its nominee," said Heidi Li Feldman, co-founder of The Denver Group. "We are not per se a Clinton support group, we are a Democratic Party get-your-act-together support group."

The movement has grown on the Internet, where bloggers and readers complain that Clinton was cheated out of the party's nomination. The Web site for Just Say No Deal links to dozens of other sites criticizing Obama or supporting Clinton.

Some accuse Obama of manipulating party caucuses for extra delegates while others complain that Clinton was the victim of sexist party leaders or was mistreated by the media. Many vent over the way the party divvied up delegates from the Florida and Michigan primaries, two states that were punished for violating national rules and holding their contests early.
With the agreement of all Democratic candidates, the states were initially stripped of all their delegates for violating party rules by holding early primaries. None of the candidates campaigned in the two states, but Clinton won the two primaries and thereafter tried to get all the delegates seated.

The national party reinstated the delegates in May, but gave each a half vote. And it awarded Obama some Michigan delegates, although he had taken his name off that ballot because of the party's initial decision.
With the nomination clinched, Obama said this month that he would seek to give both delegations full voting rights.

At the very least, the activists want Clinton's name put in nomination, with a full roll-call vote. Some won't be satisfied unless Clinton is declared the nominee — an unlikely prospect. Others would be happy if Clinton were asked to run for vice president — also unlikely.

Feldman, a Georgetown University law professor, said she is a loyal Democrat who won't vote for McCain, but Obama hasn't won her support. Will Bower, co-founder of the Just Say No Deal Coalition, said he would only support the Democratic candidate if her name is Clinton.

"I have been voting Democratic for 18 years. I only voted for Democrats, from dog catcher to president and everything in between," said Bower, who lives in Washington. "I will be voting for someone other than Barack Obama come November."

[Qikdraw]

How much of that is actually Republican backed though? We know they've been online posting all kinds of things to 'support' Hillary, this sounds like trouble brewed up by them.

Of course that isn't to say that there are not some truely pissed off women who will not accept Obama, but they are in the minority. Polling is showing women planning on voting for Obama in droves.

I am nervous about having Hillary's name avalable for roll call, but I think pepole know Obama's the nominee and even people who prefer Hillary will, at the convention, be pulling for Obama.

But then again... Who knows, we'll find out soon enough.

[Croydon]

What amazes me is how COMPLETELY irrational these people are. They are so in denial and they can't accept the real reason why Hillary lost.

Although, I don't doubt that sexism played a role in her loss but it isn't the reason why she was unable to win the nomination. Believe me, any sexism played by the media didn't deter people from voting for Hillary. People who didn't vote for her were already prejudice against Hillary b/c of her gender. The media didn't create new breed of people who hate Hillary because she is a woman.

Hillary lost because she ran a poorly managed campaign. Her campaign took caucuses for granted, they took Iowa for granted, they took African Americans for granted and she didn't care much for small states. Her strategy was to win big states: PA, OH, TX, CA to secure the nomination. In addition, she and her campaign doubted the abilities of Obama. They dismissed Obama and his campaign as inexperienced losers who would NEVER win. Hillary thought she would have the whole thing wrapped up by super Tuesday and did not plan for what would happen afterwards. Her arrogance and her self righteousness is what hurt her.

In addition, she surrounded herself with inexperienced campaigners (Wolfson) and an advisor who gave her bad advice, Mark Penn.

Shee ran out of money and instead of coming to her senses and putting a stop to all of this, she kept going when it was clear that she wouldn't win.

The division within the party is largely her fault. When things were not looking good for her, she changed her story and led her supporters on. She kept telling her supporters that she will and can win when all the polls, media commentators, political advisors were telling her it was over.

When things were not looking good for her, she started to accuse media of sexism. In addition, she wanted FL and MI seated. Keep in mind that she originally AGREED and I repeat AGREED to punish MI & FL for changing their primary date. You can NOT change the rules of the game when you are losing.

In doing all this, she egged her supporters on. When it was clear that she was done, she egged her supporters by crying wolf and making it appear that she was being treated unfairly and that the democrat party was against her. Her supporters fully bought into it.

These so called Hillary supporters are so caught up in their emotions that they can not see the bigger picture. I even question their loyalty to Hillary. If Hillary, their nominee, said to gather around and support Obama, why are you not doing that? If you are so much a Hillary supporter, you think you are doing her service by protesting against Obama and possibly voting for McCain? That is the ultimate disrespect to Hillary. Hillary and Obama aren't that different in political policies. Voting for McCain is working AGAINST everything she has worked hard for.

What also amazes me is that these people want to punish Obama for running a clean, organized campaign. As it is his fault that Hillary lost and how DARE he run a good campaign. This doesn't make sense. In the end, talk about sore losers.

[Naturist Mark]

There is a lot of scuttlebutt that some of these so called "pro-Hillary" groups, specifically the Just Say No Deal Coalition and PUMA are actually backed by Republican groups - which they deny.

But the simple truth is that Clinton's name being put into nomination is NOT Hillary trying for another swing at the nomination. It is the opposite. Hillary didn't want her name to be put in, but the Obama campaign persuaded her to go along with it in the hope that it would convince her remaining hold out supporters that she is being given her proper due, and will go along with Hillary when she officially releases her delegates at the end of the roll call and casts her own ballot for Obama.

That may just be silly theatrics, we'll see. It seems to me that most of the pro Hillary/anti Obama holdouts are just as dismissive of Hillary Clinton's plain statements and wishes. They may not be reachable, but in truth I don't think there are really that many of them either.

In this case Hillary is absolutely being a team player fully backing Obama, this is not an example of conniving or sour grapes. Hillary is fully onboard the Obama express. ... Bill Clinton may be another story ...

-Mark

[usmc1]

This election is being won by Obama on the ground and in cyberspace. We can't control everything, but we can respond, and are prepared, as no came before ever has, to do just that.

There is a reason Obama won the primary, and it will be one major reason he will win the election. We are organized and mobilized down to the street and household level in virtually every precinct in the country.

Hillary will have her moment, Obama will get his "bounce", and MCain will get his!

[Sanslines]

But the simple truth is that Clinton's name being put into nomination is NOT Hillary trying for another swing at the nomination.
-Mark

You make it sound as if Hillary is some kind of 'victim' who can not even control whether her name is or is not on the ticket. Of course Hillary can make a decision not to have her name on the ticket. She says she supports Obama and this may be true to an extent. However, Hillary (being Hillary) can not and will not ever stop promoting herself to the next level. This is how she gets ahead in politics. She may not become the next president but she clearly is demonstrating that she is far from irrelevent and that she does indeed still have power and control. She is using this opportunity to promote herself - perhaps not to the presidential level (yet) but perhaps to the vice presidential level.

Obama is in an awkward position because he knows that he needs Hillary supporters to become his supporters. If Hillary was serious about being 100 percent behind Obama, then she needs to make very clear that her name will not be on the ticket as she is no longer running for president. She needs to speak out and make clear that to offer false hope to Hillary supporters does nothing more then to undermine Obama's chance to become President. She then needs to graciously step aside and give Obama a chance to win. That is only if she can put the good of the party ahead of her own aspirations.

[usmc1]

You make it sound as if Hillary is some kind of 'victim' who can not even control whether her name is or is not on the ticket. Of course Hillary can make a decision not to have her name on the ticket. She says she supports Obama and this may be true to an extent. However, Hillary (being Hillary) can not and will not ever stop promoting herself to the next level. This is how she gets ahead in politics. She may not become the next president but she clearly is demonstrating that she is far from irrelevent and that she does indeed still have power and control. She is using this opportunity to promote herself - perhaps not to the presidential level (yet) but perhaps to the vice presidential level.

Obama is in an awkward position because he knows that he needs Hillary supporters to become his supporters. If Hillary was serious about being 100 percent behind Obama, then she needs to make very clear that her name will not be on the ticket as she is no longer running for president. She needs to speak out and make clear that to offer false hope to Hillary supporters does nothing more then to undermine Obama's chance to become President. She then needs to graciously step aside and give Obama a chance to win. That is only if she can put the good of the party ahead of her own aspirations.

Uninformed pundrity aside, this is not the first convention in which a close runner-up got headliner treatment. Mo Udall by Carter back in the 70s comes immediately to mind.

What I find interesting in your remarks, and remarks by others on this topic, is how closely they follow and echo the Corporate Media narrative. I suppose it is a vivid and telling anlysis of how the media has shifted from inofrmation gatherers and providers to opinion shapers. The media establishes the narrative, so that must be what it is about, right?

The simple truth is this: Senator Clinton is a very unique and incredibly important part of the Democratic party and as such deserves headliner status. There's no denying that many of her supporters are unhappy with the primary results--I've seen that first hand down at the precinct, county and state levels--and she must exercise her influence in such a way to keep the party united. The burden in all this is on her, not Senator Obama.

Democrats are in no mood to self-destruct, they taste an opportunity to take it all.

None of that detracts from candidate Obama, who, in the final analysis, will have to win on his own merits, the ability to build an organization, and be able to mobilize his voters on election day.

I think the definitive book on this election will include Senator Clinton as a footnote, and the real narrative will be about a grassroots and cyber campaign which rendered the Corporate Media all but irrelevant, and the old pols, unwilling to grasp the new dichotomy, scratching their butts in wonderment.

[Qikdraw]

Watch the video found at the bottom of this great (http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/15/31818/6878/241/568256) artcile. (video below)


<iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26208124#26208124" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>

I donno who that guy is, but he laid the smackdown on them. heh

[LamontCranston]

"Hillary May Cost Obama The Election"

Already trotting out the excuses are we? :D

[Naturist Mark]

You make it sound as if Hillary is some kind of 'victim' who can not even control whether her name is or is not on the ticket. Of course Hillary can make a decision not to have her name on the ticket.

LOL. Of course Hillary still has control of her bodily functions and can make her own decisions.

But she was persuaded by Obama's people to go forward with having her name put into nomination even though she was disinclined to do so. That doesn't mean she is a victim or under someone else's control. It means she has made the decision to be on Obama's team and do everything within her power to ensure his election - which is exactly what she has publicly stated on numerous occasions.

-Mark

[Sanslines]

LOL. Of course Hillary still has control of her bodily functions and can make her own decisions.

But she was persuaded by Obama's people to go forward with having her name put into nomination even though she was disinclined to do so. That doesn't mean she is a victim or under someone else's control. It means she has made the decision to be on Obama's team and do everything within her power to ensure his election - which is exactly what she has publicly stated on numerous occasions.

-Mark

Lets then assume tha Obama convinced her to put her name on the ballot for the convention. What is the purpose of this other then to create a non unified atmosphere. Obama is the candidate of choice now. Hillary's followers are not going to see the 'light' and suddenly vote for Obama during the convention. If anything, they will protest and demand that Hillary be the nominee. How on earth can this help Obama? He will have to watch helplessly while a bunch of protestors scream, yell, and demand that Hillary be nominated.

This whole circus stunt may very well backfire and harm Obama when he needs all the help that he can get. If he is responsible for this decision, then he may yet come to regret it big time.

BTW, I am not convinced that Hillary was 'convinced' of anything. Hillary did not get to be where she is today by not doing anything that either directly or indirectly helps to advance her and her causes.

[jon71]

Don't forget that Hillary Clinton herself is a super-delegate. When she casts her vote for Senator Obama that will be very moving and very encouraging for her supporters. That's the unity that we're looking for.

[usmc1]

Watch the video found at the bottom of this great (http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/15/31818/6878/241/568256) artcile. (video below)
I donno who that guy is, but he laid the smackdown on them. heh

Talk about a dope slap! These little safety-valve groups serve a purpose in that they give the lunatic fringe something to do with all their spite and negative energy.

Inconsequential lunacy unless one of them lays their hand on weapon and sets out to make things "right".

But, it is still interesting, and worthy of someone writing a book, on how much the MSM and cable drives the narrative. You see it in the comments in these threads. Sure Bill is pissed, sure Hillary is bitter--they lost! And they do not like to lose.

Hillary lost me on the Iraq vote. But, I would have helped get her elected if she had made it through the primary process. She didn't.

Now she gets some homage, and then after Labor Day, things will get right proper busy and the narrative will change. No big deal, just the media filling air around their interminable commercials.

So now my efforts are devoted to Obama and Noriega and sending "Crony" Cornyn back home, along with his master, that little dry-drunk sociopath currently squatting in the White House.

Obama is quietly helping her pay off her campaign debt and she'll work for him, and all, but the right-wing poseurs, will vote for him.

[ki4kxq]

Surely you all are not this naive. Do you actually believe that Hillary wants Obama to win this election?

From the moment that it became clear that Obama would win the nomination, the Clinton's immediately became almost passive-agressive. Here's the deal, Hillary said all along that Obama couldn't win the general election. If Obama wins, Hillary's chances of becoming president are over completely. If however Obama loses the general election, Hillary can then proclaim that she
was truly the only one that could've beaten McCain. That puts her in the perfect spot to run and win in 2012.

Look for an October surprise that knocks Obama's knees out from under him. It probably won't be from the republicans, but from Hillarys camp.

[Sanslines]

Surely you all are not this naive. Do you actually believe that Hillary wants Obama to win this election?

From the moment that it became clear that Obama would win the nomination, the Clinton's immediately became almost passive-agressive. Here's the deal, Hillary said all along that Obama couldn't win the general election. If Obama wins, Hillary's chances of becoming president are over completely. If however Obama loses the general election, Hillary can then proclaim that she
was truly the only one that could've beaten McCain. That puts her in the perfect spot to run and win in 2012.

Look for an October surprise that knocks Obama's knees out from under him. It probably won't be from the republicans, but from Hillarys camp.

Very true. Hillary will do whatever she can to position herself to run in 2012 and her real supporters would expect nothing less.

[Boreas]

After seeing how Hillary handled being second in line to Obama, I can see she is not good at losing. Actually, I was disappointed that she did not handle the situation better. Yes, I know that anyone who runs for president is someone who is a fighter and probably used to winning.

I imagine she and Bill will do anything to position her as next president. I hope they can find some good manners and grace along the way.

[Home Nudist]

I hope they can find some good manners and grace along the way.

I just wish they would GO AWAY!

[MoonShadow]

It is only beginning, Home Nudist. Sighhhh!

I will be glad when the elections are over.

Everyone please vote!!! Don't care who you vote for, just get out and vote!!!

What leads the land is up to us and our vote

[Boreas]

I just wish they would GO AWAY!

LOL. Well that is an option too!

[Sanslines]

It is only beginning, Home Nudist. Sighhhh!

I will be glad when the elections are over.

Everyone please vote!!! Don't care who you vote for, just get out and vote!!!

What leads the land is up to us and our vote

I vote for............umm.......err........I vote for Moonshadow for President! Yes, Moonshadow, I CAN write your name on the ballot and my vote DOES count! That's ONE vote for MOONSHADOW FOR PRESIDENT!!!

[Naturist Mark]

Surely you all are not this naive. Do you actually believe that Hillary wants Obama to win this election?

yep.

Because Hillary knows that her future in the Democratic party depends on them believing that she has given her all for a Democratic victory in November. And we've all seen what a fighter she is, so half measures won't sell it.

Plus - since she isn't going to be president at least for the next 4 years, she has to set herself up for a meaningful role in the meantime. I don't believe that is going to be as vice-president, I think she is setting herself up for a more important role - as the indispensable Senator. I'm unsure if she will try to unseat Sen. Reid as majority leader, but I expect her to eclipse him in importance. She will call the shots when important bills are constructed - particularly National Health Care. In a McCain administration she would become the defacto opposition leader - but that isn't a role that will set her up for another run at the White House, or alternately for her 'legacy'. To really achieve something of lasting noteworthiness she needs Obama to win.

I think Hillary and Barack have both signed onto this scenario. I don't know it, but that's what the tea leaves are telling me.

-Mark

[ki4kxq]

Sorry, my tea leaves are reading a little differently than yours. I don't think that Hillary and Barack have worked anything out. I stand by my theory, Hillary does not want to see Obama as president, period. She will outwardly feign support, but will work behind the scenes to make sure it doesn't happen.

[nuovonudo]

"Hillary May Cost Obama The Election"

'tis a thing devoutly to be wished. but in fact, obama will cost himself the election. the recent saddleback forum revealed as starkly as anything else in this campaign how woefully unsuited this gentleman is for the office of president and commander-and-chief. he will lose big to mccain in november -- with or without mrs. clinton's help.

Already trotting out the excuses are we? :D

yes, and let's hope they continue to do so. the longer the lefty libs keep deluding themselves about why their extreme-left candidates lose national elections, the better for the right, i.m.n.s.h.o.

[Boreas]

yes, and let's hope they continue to do so. the longer the lefty libs keep deluding themselves about why their extreme-left candidates lose national elections, the better for the right, i.m.n.s.h.o.

Extreme left candidates?????? shocked

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

BTW, it is good to see you back nuovonudo.

<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[jon71]

This "theory" just doesn't hold water. First of all America desperately needs Barack Obama to do some heavy lifting to get us back on track. Secondly Sen. Clinton will still be in perfectly good shape to run in 2016. Heck she could run in 2020, 2024, 2028 and still be younger than McCain is now. There is no real time pressure here.

[usmc1]

This "theory" just doesn't hold water. First of all America desperately needs Barack Obama to do some heavy lifting to get us back on track. Secondly Sen. Clinton will still be in perfectly good shape to run in 2016. Heck she could run in 2020, 2024, 2028 and still be younger than McCain is now. There is no real time pressure here.

Yep, and the Dems are just not in a self-destruct mode this cycle. The whole notion of Hillary intentionally spoiling things for Obama is absurd and reflects wishful thinking on the part of conservatives whose thinking has not evolved from middle-school levels.

Hell, she nor anyone else can realistically forecast what things will be like four years from now--it would be ridiculous to even posit taht she would scourge the party on such a roll of the dice. The Dems are hungry for victory here and now and anticipate having the White House, Congress and the Senate, with some significant recovery in a number of red state legislatures...she ain't gonna whizz on that.

If someone needs a narrative, here's one that is real. The Dems are stunned, and somewhat overwhelmed by the number of new voters, many of them African-American, that Obama has brought into the party, and are challenged by getting them excited about the whole ticket, not just the top of the ticket.

My hope is the convention, in addition to defining Obama to the nation & building party unity, will organize the delegates to come back to their states and precincts to work for the entire ticket.

[Croydon]

'tis a thing devoutly to be wished. but in fact, obama will cost himself the election. the recent saddleback forum revealed as starkly as anything else in this campaign how woefully unsuited this gentleman is for the office of president and commander-and-chief. he will lose big to mccain in november -- with or without mrs. clinton's help.



yes, and let's hope they continue to do so. the longer the lefty libs keep deluding themselves about why their extreme-left candidates lose national elections, the better for the right, i.m.n.s.h.o.
You make it appear that the Saddleback forum is one of great importance that will determine the outcome of the elections. As if every voter was paying attention to it. Not to mention that the audience at the forum is representative of many American voters and even Christians.

Senator Obama's performance at the forum was absolutely great. He answered every question well and was on point. You have to understand the audience to understand Obama's performance. He was speaking to a room full of evangelicals. Majority of them were already dismissive of him. Even before the forum, they already decided they will NOT vote for him based on prejudgements, many I am sure are false. These are the same people who are repeating false rumors about him (i.e. he is muslim, infanticide). Obama knew that this would be an important opportunity to set the record straight: to show people that he is a Christian man, and to reiterate his stand on abortion, gay marriage and the like.

On the flip side, you have John McCain. He is a man who doesn't wish to discuss religion, does not have a firm stand on abortion or other social issues. This man is SO FAR removed from what is going on in this country.

But back to the forum...Majority of Americans (little over half) are pro-choice. Many Christians are NOT evangelicals and are quite moderate when it comes to issues such as gay rights, abortion, women's rights etc etc.

What annoys is this catering of evangelicals as if they are important people who will make or break the election. Equally annoying is how Christianity is being bought into politics and government. If people wish to praise "God", that is quite ok with me but do it on your own time, property (church or home) and away from everyone else.

[Sanslines]

NBC/WSJ Poll: McCain halves Obama's lead

Obama up three points; still hasn’t convinced some Clinton backers


By Mark Murray
Deputy political director
NBC News

WASHINGTON - With just days before the vice-presidential announcements, the political conventions and the final sprint to Election Day, Republican Sen. John McCain (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16438320/) has cut Democrat Sen. Barack Obama (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16438329/)’s national lead in half, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

“Whatever momentum that Obama took into the summer, he really appears to have lost it,” says Republican pollster Neil Newhouse, who conducted the survey with Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart. “It is not a dead heat, but it is close.”

The survey also shows that both presidential candidates face their share of challenges. For Obama, he receives the support of just one in two voters who backed Hillary Clinton in the primaries, and he trails his Republican rival on handling terrorism, the war in Iraq and international crises like the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia.


As for McCain, nearly eight in 10 voters believe that the Arizona senator would closely follow President Bush’s policies if elected, and respondents view him as the weaker candidate on the issues of the economy and health care — which rank among the public’s top concerns in the poll.
Overall, Obama holds a three-point lead over McCain, 45-42 percent, which is within the survey’s margin of error. That’s down from Obama’s six-point advantage last month, 47-41 percent.

“There has been a tad [of a] change here,” Hart says. “The question is: Why is this taking place?”

The tightening race

Hart lists three reasons. First, the conflict in Georgia as well as the Olympics have moved the news focus from the economy to foreign affairs, terrain that McCain finds more comfortable. Indeed, the poll shows McCain holding advantages over Obama in handling terrorism (51 to 23 percent), international crises (52 to 27 percent) and the war in Iraq (46 to 36 percent).

By comparison, Obama leads on health care (48 to 27 percent), the environment and global warming (47 to 21 percent), jobs and unemployment (47 to 25 percent), and improving the economy (42 to 30 percent).

Second, Hart explains that McCain’s barrage of negative TV ads against Obama — which began after the Democrat’s highly publicized overseas trip — seems to have worked so far. (Yet according to the poll, 29 percent believe McCain has been running a negative campaign, compared with just 5 percent who say that about Obama.)

And third, there are still doubts about Obama’s ability to be commander-in-chief. In the poll, 50 percent say they have confidence in McCain in that position. But just 39 percent say the same of the Illinois senator.

The Clinton factor

Yet perhaps the biggest factor keeping the presidential race close has been Obama’s inability to close the deal with some of Hillary Clinton’s supporters. According to the poll, 52 percent of them say they will vote for Obama, but 21 percent are backing McCain, with an additional 27 percent who are undecided or want to vote for someone else.
What’s more, those who backed Clinton in the primaries — but aren’t supporting Obama right now — tend to view McCain in a better light than Obama and have more confidence in McCain’s ability to be commander-in-chief.

For these reasons, Hart believes that Clinton’s speech on the Tuesday night of the Democratic convention will be a significant event. “The Democratic convention is more than a coronation,” he says. “It is an event where the words of Hillary Clinton are probably going to be exceptionally important.”

Hart adds, “The Hillary Clinton campaign may be over, but the Clinton factor remains an important part of the election.”

It’s also worth noting that while Obama leads McCain by three points in the poll, Clinton edges the Republican by six points in a hypothetical match up, 49 to 43 percent. But she remains a polarizing figure: 49 percent say they don’t want to see her as president someday, and 42 percent view her favorably versus 41 percent who see her in a negative light.

McCain’s challenges

Although McCain has cut into Obama’s poll lead, the Arizona senator faces some steep challenges that his campaign has yet to fully address. For starters, 77 percent of respondents believe that McCain — if elected — would closely follow the policies of President Bush, whose approval rating remains mired in the low 30s.

Strikingly, the number believing this about McCain is unchanged since March. Newhouse, the GOP pollster, says that if one of the McCain campaign’s goals this summer was to create some distance from Bush, “that wasn’t achieved.”

In addition, November is still shaping up to be a change election. A whopping 60 percent say it’s time to have a president who will focus on progress and moving America forward, compared with 35 percent who would rather have a president who focuses on protecting what has made America great.

Also in the poll — which was conducted of 1,005 registered voters from Aug. 15-18, and which has an overall margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points — just 18 percent think the country is headed in the right direction.

Focusing on the economy also underscored the theme of another poll, where voters said neither candidate had identified what he would do as president, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/us/politics/21poll.html?hp) poll. Voters also stressed that both candidates needed to use their conventions to give Americans a better sense of their plans with the faltering economy, high energy costs, health care and national security.

For next week’s Democratic convention to be a success, Hart says that not only does Hillary Clinton have to make the case to her supporters that Obama is the right choice for president, but Obama and the Democrats must expose McCain’s record and his ties to Bush.

“If McCain continues to be on the offensive and the Obama people do not put out the McCain record, that will be a huge mistake.”

[usmc1]

Once again we're witnessing the wishful thinking of conservatives regarding the latest polls. As, in the past, the polls move a few points it generally alight drawback from Obama rather than a surge toward McCain.

A shift was expected, as Obama took a week off with his family and McCain bombed some states with more negative ads. He spent a ton of money, while his opponent was vacating, and world events were in his favor and all he got was a slight jiggle in the polls. Hardly a good omen.

Someone on KOS today had a great line about Fox's claims that McCain keeping Obama's lead close, was like saying that Liston used his face to stop all of Ali's punches.

I haven't gotten my text message yet--whoa!, phone's off in the bedroom, should I go check? but, when Obama announces his VEEP, and the convention defines him, and the after Labor Day, politicking really starts, the polls will begin to mean more than they do today.

[usmc1]

Sometimes in this media driven age of ours, where routine pilots are billed as television events, we get caught up in moments where we sense something “bigger than life” has happened and we engage in some form of hyperbole to describe something as being bigger than it really was. There’s nothing wrong with that. It is normal. We all want to be a part of something larger than ourselves, something beyond the routine of daily existence.

For weeks the online forums and right–wing screech-monkeys of TV and Radio talk-shows have had slobber running down their chins as they gleefully postulated how Hillary and Bill would yank the rug out from under Obama. How Hillary would send subtle signals to the faithful that they should wait until 2012, and that Bill would deliver some sort of by-the-numbers tepid speech and then leave the hall.
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Right! What I saw, was several of thosehonest-to-goodness, no hyperbole, bigger-than-life defining moments of history. The moment that Hillary called for nomination by acclamation, I knew I was witnessing a moment for posterity. There are words for that moment. French words, actually, which really do not translate into English with the full import of their meaning: “Beau Geste", a beautiful gesture. But, oh so much more, it was a gesture of courage, of hope, of spirit, and of transcendent political unity and loyalty for the future good of all.
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And Bill’s speech. Dang, the boy’s a hound, but probably the best president in my lifetime. What a telent he has for putting it out there in ways it's easy to understand to make you fell he's with you in the struggle. What a gifted leader!
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Here’re two of the best lines from the convention, so far. Both are true zingers.
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Remember Ann Richards when she accused Daddy Bush of being born on third base and believing he’d hit a triple? Well, Ohio Governor, Ted Strickland gave us the corollary to the joke. When Bill Clinton left office leaving 22-million new jobs and a budget surplus, Dubya came into office on third base, and immediately stole second! And John McCain cheered him every step of the way.:laugh:
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And Speaking of McCain, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, said that the nation can’t meet its energy needs merely by drilling for oil even if we drilled in every one of McCain’s Backyards.:D