Ok, time to go negative on McBush - lates Rasmussen poll has McBush +1 in Colorado

[Hawaii Hiker]

& Obama's lead in Minnesota down to +4....While one can argue the credibility of Rasmussen (Scott Rasmussen is a Republican) I've seen on the www.electoral-vote.com site a drop last couple weeks in Obama's poll numbers....Can't play nice w/Republicans God damn it...

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/

[Matteon]

1. Patience young grasshopper.

The last thing we need is for Obama to become what he claims he is not, and to follow the republcans example of behavior. That's what they want him to do, and the best thing he can do is not give them what they want. As soon as he caves in and behaves how they desire him to behave he is no longer in control and deserves to lose for his foolish decision to adopt republican strategy.

[depakid]

2. That's exactly what we heard during the Kerry and the Dukakis campaign

How'd that stragety work out for us?

[Matteon]

10. You're forgetting something

Kerry and Dukakis did a terrible job of it. A strategy is only as good as the execution of it. Obama has done a far better job. Also, Obama is running in a political climate much more favorable to the Democratic candidate than Dukakis and Kerry had. The Republicans are in absolute shambles. That was not true in 2004 or 1988.

Also, for a look at what might happen in today's plotical climate if Obama goes negative, look at what happened to Hillary after she went negative after Super Tuesday. It hurt her and helped Obama. People are tired of that shit.

[Hawaii Hiker]

3. I know, I shouldn't jump the gun from one poll, but the thought of a McBush

presidency makes me go bat-shit crazy, LOL....Bad enough to lose the 2000 election, even worse to lose in 2004, the thought of losing to that senile senator from Arizona just makes me go:

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[opihimoimoi]

5. For the Sake of HUMANITY...McGAFF must LOSE...too much is at stake on this one...WAY TOO MUCH

The McClaim has no real plans to further our Nation...He is not a thinker...canardly speak without a flaw/gaff...

Just listen to his enemic speeches and ya get the drift...He is a LOSER....got to where he is by his WIFE who funded all, if not most, of his campaigns....

Work your asses off guys....this can be stolen....thats all they have left in their quiver...THEFT

[Matteon]

12. I agree here as well

However, I truly believe that going negative helps McCain more than it hurts him. The McCain camp makes it quite clear they want to drag this race down into the gutter. Obama really needs to avoid that because he would otherwise be playing into their hands. Look what happened to Hillary when she went negative on Obama. It helped Obama more than it hurt him and made her look bad. Obama needs to NOT follow such an example.

[Matteon]

11. I agree

However, a lot of the shit they pulled in 2000 and 2004 are the sort of things that are hard to duplicate because the cats out of the bag now. A lot of what they pulled off to rig the 2000 election was only successful because people weren't really paying attention. That's not true anymore.

[Cosmocat]

4. It is slipping ...

I have held on to the fall back of the electoral college, but there has been a steady drop there that has matched the national polling in the last week ... We are going on almost a month now of BO losing ground, bit by bit on a daily basis ...

It sucks, we all want a better discourse, but there has been nonstop attacks on BO, 90 percent flat out nonsense, that HAS deteriorated public opinion of BO ... The Rs call it "defining" BO ...

Sorry, but if BO does not "define" McCain, he IS going to lose ...

First time I have thought/said it ...

Also, and this is important ...

BO can "define" McCain FOR WHO HE IS ... There is PLENTY of actual negative traits that the man has that have been glossed over by the media ... Also, BO DOES have some real hurdles - not the least of which is race ...

BO either defines McCain for who he is, or he loses and we and the planet will suffer for it ...

Bottom line ...

[Matteon]

13. I believe that

Obama can define McCain based on McCain's record and statements. I don't think Obama needs to "go negative" as such to do so. If Obama lets this race get dragged into the mud it helps McCain. Even if McCain is gaining ground, were Obama to adopt the republican strategy it would only make things worse, not better.

[Catch22Dem]

6. On this day in 2004

electoral-vote has: Obama 284 McCain 241

On this day in 2004 it was: Kerry 327 Bush 211

They can still steal this as easy as fuck! They're laying the groundwork right now.

[otohara]

7. Every Kid I'm Calling - Voting Obama

I had such good luck in reaching the 20+ crowd tonight - many still in college - so psyched to vote and they are on cell phones, not being polled.

[AtomicKitten]

8. He's running a great what is deemed negative ad in Indiana exclusively on the economy.

saw it on Countdown tonight

[rockymountaindem]

9. I really don't get it

Why can't our side see that negative campaigning wins? Haven't they figured it out from the campaigns of people like Kerry and Cleland that the Republicans go negative (in a big way), we don't, and we lose? It's so frustrating! We ought to be tearing McCain to shreds on all the gaffes he's made and the close ties he's had to Bush over the last 8 years.

[Matteon]

14. They realize it just fine

They also realize that the smear-campaign style of politics is a short term phenomenon. Campaigns have always included mud slinging, but the type of smear campaigning that we see from the republicans these days is a relatively new concept. It also has a short shelf life.

The Republicans came up with a formula for winning that was basically to twist facts and make flat out false accusations and insinuations (McCain's illegitimate black baby, the swiftboat ads, etc.) to destroy someone and then let the sensationalism and ratings-starved media spreadt it like wildfire. The problem is that people are catching on.

We didn't lose in 2006.

The Democratic strategy has been to forgo the short term slash-and-burn strategy and instead create a 50 state grassroots strategy that has staying power. All of these college kids who are flocking to Obama will likely stay Democrats for life. If Obama and Dean have the forsight to continue pushing this grass roots and young-voter agenda we will reap benefits for decades. Every year there are millinos of new 18 year olds that can be recruited. By the time the Republicans catch on they'll be years behind.

If the Democrats adopt Republican strategy they risk losing everything that's been gained. The republican slash-and-burn strategy worked for them for a good decade or so, and burned out. That's not something we need to use as a model. We can't go back and change the wins they got, but we can recognize that their 15 minutes are up and keep doing things a better way.

As I read a few minutes ago in another thread.....trust in the power of positive thinking.

[Awsi Dooger]

15. That was a terrific summary

I'm normally accused of being too pessimistic around here but this time I don't understand what everyone is so shook up about. It will be close. Winning close. The situational advantage puts so many permutations to 270 in play it would be bizarre for every one to fail.

Winning another 8 year block of young voters as D for life is more significant than anything Obama will accomplish in office.

[Alexander]

16. Obama will have a VP soon who will attack McCain endlessly.

It won't be long now.