During the Democratic primary I joined others in asking the Obama campaign to step up their contrasts vs. Sen. Clinton. I fell into the trap of following the narrative the media was selling at the moment (Bambi Obama To Be Steamrolled By Clinton Express) and was unable to see that the Obama campaign had a plan that they were executing to maximum impact.
We’re in that phase again, some liberals and Dems panic because they look at the polls or what Chris Matthews is talking about at the moment, and fail to see that the plan is in place. The Obama camp is clearly running a campaign targeted at winning states and not one at pleasing pundits.
Pundits don’t elect presidents.
Yeah, pundits don’t elect presidents… and that fact drives them absolutely apeshit.
I suppose I got over my own natural Democratic pessimism when I remembered that a one-vote majority is enough (it would probably get recounted, but the point is the same).
He doesn’t need to crush Sen. McCain. And this strategy of putting usual Republican mainstays in play is rather exciting.
By far the most entertaining aspect of the pundit issue has been Bill O’Reilly’s studious insistence that he doesn’t even care – not ONE LITTLE BIT – that the cool kid Barack doesn’t want to hang out with him. But, you know, if he decided he wanted to, that’d be okay too.
I was thinking the same thing, wondering why I was second-guessing Obama’s political instincts when they’ve proved so dependable
so far. But I’m still uneasy about the damn polls. And Bob Herbert of the Times (another pundit, I know) is absolutely right, I think, about the “Bradley effect”–close polls will go to McCain.
“He’s a Muslim, isn’t he?” veils something besides mere ignorance.
Hate to say I told you so…
Every time I see that picture of Hillary (on the right) out of the corner of my eye, it looks like Dr. Zaius.
How do we know what we know?
Few Americans will ever meet the candidates. Fewer still will ever have a conversation about meaningful issues with the candidates.
The press (with the internet, for some select few millions, this include bloggers) are the ONLY way people find out what is going on.
The pundits are part of the press.
An historical campaign and campaign strategies for an historic and brillant candidate. The brain pool of the people that support Obama is phenomenal.
Hillary Clinton’s speech was phenomenal, more than was ever expected. Hillary put her heart into her love of party first.
OW, your perception here is absolutely key to this election. Obama and his team have planned this out scrupulously for some years now. They clearly have it right, even to the extent that they can accommodate sudden events while sticking to the spine of the plan. Their plan revolves around two elements: 1. bring independents in; 2. register and bring out thousands and thousands of new voters. Their ground organization is superb and they don’t get rattled by trivia. National polls will have their day, but that is not yet—and by the time they do, Obama will be the same guy he is today, his vote will be huge and solid, and McSame will have completely burned out his POW card and look quite pathetic.