Obama toughens up campaign ads as polls show McCain pulling ahead
With less than a week to go before the Democratic Party convenes in Denver to formally anoint Barack Obama their chosen candidate in the November 8 election, a Reuters-Zogby poll released on Wednesday put the Republicans' John McCain ahead of Obama for the first time - and by a stunning five points. A month ago, the same poll of likely voters gave the Illinois senator a seven-point lead over McCain.
Other polls are adding to Democratic gloom. A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg survey, which gave Obama 12-point lead in June, has now found the two candidates statistically tied. The latest survey from Pew Research Center, which had Obama ahead by eight points two months ago, shows the gap closing, with Obama leading now by only three points.
The McCain surge has surprised even his own team. "We shouldn't be in this position right now," one of his aides told the media. "We should be down by double digits so we are definitely out-performing."
But he admitted the McCain camp were not "popping the champagne" yet because the Democratic convention was bound to give Obama a bounce of "anything from 10 to 15 points".
Key issues explaining the McCain surge are that the Republican has been prepared to play hardball with a series of negative campaigning against Obama, and the race issue. The Reuters-Zogby poll found nine per cent of voters feeling "uncomfortable" about voting for a black candidate.
The latter is a matter Obama's camp will struggle to deal with. But on the issue of negative campaigning, the Illinois senator has been urged to counter McCain's attacks like for like and it now seems he's listening.
Hard-hitting ads have been launched by the Democrats, designed to tie McCain in with George W Bush's unpopularity. Some feature pictures of McCain and Bush, while others accuse McCain of ignoring the hardships of the working class, failing to protect jobs, and pandering to big business. "Can we really afford more of the same?" asks one ad, attacking McCain's tax plan as a giveaway for big corporations and oil companies.
In the meantime, Obama will be hoping for a positive media reaction to whoever he chooses as his vice-presidential running-mate. An announcement is expected before the weekend, with Joseph Biden, Tim Kaine and Evan Bayh still the favourites [see yesterday's report on The First Post].
FIRST POSTED AUGUST 21, 2008
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Will the American people be irresponsible enough to elect John McCain as our next president? Are we not fed up of a president that for 8 years, used smear, lies and fear to get elected twice? A president that for 8 years pandered to big Corporations, while ignoring the needs of 95% of the population, the Middle & Lower Class? McCain is an exact replica of Bush, using the same republican tactics. Lies, smears & attacks. McCain hopes that the American people will simply buy into his speeches and will not take the time to check his voting record in Congress,. McCain just like Bush, also pandered to Big Corporations: Big Oils, Big Finances, Big Insurances, Big Drugs, Big Telecoms, Big AgriBusinesses etc. and will give us, a Bush's 3rd term!! McCain said that he supports our valiant troops, but he has repeatedly voted against any congressional bills ...(9 out of 12 times) ... to increase the Health Benefits for our Veterans. And like Bush, he has opposed the New GI Bill providing a 4 years paid college education for our returning war vets. The bill was finally passed with a "presidential veto-proof" majority, thanks to ALL the Democrat Senators and a few conscious minded Republicans. Spend a few minutes on "youtube.com" and watch the many videos on McCain. You will soon realize how many times McCain in his "own" words, has lied to the American people. McCain now simply denies his "own" words, by saying "He doesn't recall having said this or that!! Will "We The People" be fooled again by the Republican propaganda machine of smear, lies. Have we forgot the numerous republican scandals and corruption? ... "We The People" must elect Barack HOPE Obama who will take our Nation in a new direction of positive and much needed changes, and will re-establish our standing in the world communities?
Posted by librophile at 4:08pm on August 21, 2008
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