Obama's Independents Problem

[NJSecularist]

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/05/22/obamas-independents-problem.html

A new focus group finds that independent voters who haven't cast ballots in the presidential primaries but who will be a crucial bloc in the general election don't know much about Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, despite his many months of campaigning.

And they don't like much of what they have heard. "Obama has been defined to a large extent by his association with Reverend Wright or a narrative of his background to which they do not relate," Democratic pollster Peter Hart said.

Seven of the 12 focus-group participants believed that 0bama is a Muslim. He is, in fact, a Christian.

Hart said Obama needs to quickly define the stakes in the general election as he tries to lock up the nomination. "More important," Hart said, "he must introduce himself to American voters, particularly independents" who are "nervous or uncertain about him and what kind of president he would be."

The focus group was conducted in Charlottesville, Va., by Hart for the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. The 12 participants split evenly in their presidential preference between Obama and Republican John McCain.

Obama is going to have problems uniting the Democratic party after his crash and burn campaign tactics of alienating Clinton supporters. Combined with his declining support among independents, that really sounds like a formula to get elected. :sarcasm:

[bluestateguy]

1. Gee a focus group of 12 people

What's the margin of error for that sample size? About 25%?

What a waste of time.

[Window]

21. LOL! Some people will post anything that fits their agenda.

:rofl:

[tabatha]

2. I heard a report on Thom Hartmann's show

that Obama was doing the best among independents - and it is something the SDs take into account.

"Obama is going to have problems uniting the Democratic party after his crash and burn campaign tactics of alienating Clinton supporters."

How did he do that? specifics please.

[Bensthename]

6. Lol, this was a 12 person focus group... Not scientific at all..

I can not believe it was even published..

[PoliticalAmazon]

15. Focus group is different than a statistical study based on polling...

The focus group should have been larger, since they are talking about a much larger population, but not by much.

Example: We recently did a focus group study on their reactions to two new public-service announcement (same theme, just two different PSAs) and a government program we are running. The population studied is probably a little less than 150,000, and we had 8 members of the focus group.

If I remember correctly, previous national election focus groups I've seen are 35 or less; this was for self-claimed undecideds, but it was a large number of undecideds they were representing.

What you would need to know is how the members of the group were chosen, who did the chosing, how they are linked to any party who could profit from the outcome of the focus group, who set up the scenarios, etc.

Focus groups can be rigged (it's done all the time).

[Bensthename]

3. 7 of 12 people think he is muslim????

I do not think that is an accurate number to use for any argument.

[PoliticalAmazon]

16. If 7/12 thought he is Muslim, then I would bet the FG was packed for a certain result. n/t

[MadBadger]

4. So like 10 percent of Americans think Obama is a Muslim, yet 58% of these Indies

Yea...that sounds like a good measure on the country :sarcasm:

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Obama Has Been Winning Independants Big Time

Should be fun in November.

[Ken Burch]

7. Why are you doing this? You know it's too late to switch to HRC

And that it would cause nothing but ugliness. You know HRC will never get the country behind her again.

I admire your loyalty, but even she's admitted it will essentially be over by June 3rd. Why fight on when you know you're only helping McCain?

Please put your energy towards something positive and progressive for a change.

[mikehiggins]

8. Obama's crash and burn tactics?

Sometimes I have to wonder what universe Clintonians inhabit. Statements like the above are so much out of synch with what most people have seen happen that I have to wonder how sincere the OP really is, or is this just some sort of troll.

[Thrill]

9. Keep trying

[independentpiney]

10. 12 independents from Charlottesville, Va, ?

What a useless story.

[Indenturedebtor]

11. OMFG you can't be serious

Did you even read what you posted?

"The focus group was conducted in Charlottesville, Va., by Hart for the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. The 12 participants split evenly in their presidential preference between Obama and Republican John McCain."


LOL 12 participants!!!!!

In Charlottesville VA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bwahahahahahahaha :rofl:

And they still went half and half for Obama and McBoosh... even after buying Clintons PR blitz calling him a Muslim Radical Black Christian... .

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH :rofl:

[ej510]

12. NJ? I assume that you come from Jersey home of this man

[Ichingcarpenter]

13. 12 people from Virginia ...... LOL ...... Focus group?

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

[neverforget]

14. The latest from the state of Denial.....

:eyes:

[DemVet]

17. Obama is a Christian? No way..........

[against all enemies]

18. How many Muslims have a Reverend Wright as their pastor?

[Forkboy]

19. LOL

[swishyfeet]

20. He's a Muslim and we don't like his Christian pastor. Really??

Let's cut the crap. They just don't want to vote for that neeegro.

Sounds like the future nominee could use your help to try and erase the racism in this country Jersey. You gonna be with us?

[frazzled]

22. Why don't we focus on McCain's problems instead--they are many

For instance:

(1) McCain's problems with independents--most prominently, for his endless war stance. Independents overwhelmingly want to end this war, soon.

(2) McCain's problems with ultra-right-wing conservatives--they think he is the devil incarnate.

(3) McCain's problems with conservative evangelicals--they wouldn't vote for him in the primaries, and now that he's had to back off on Hagee, they'll hate him again.

(4) McCain's problems with young people--he's old.

(5) McCain's problems in urban areas.

I could list endless others, but apparently no one is very interested in McCain's problems.