Do you think this election will change a lot after the convention?

[truthN08]

I just have this feeling that after the convention everything is going to be kicked into high gear and Obama is going to go on the offensive and won't let up on John McCain enough to let him even try to run his campaign.

What is your gut feeling?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. The RNC is so close on the DNC's heels that I don't know about the effect.

We seem to be assuming a DNC bounce but no RNC bounce. Maybe that will happen, but history suggests that both sides get some bounce.

Since the RNC will be going during Obama's bounce phase it's unprecedented and unpredictable.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Good point

Especially re: the RNC convention. But - what if it the MSM actually shows all the groups planning on protesting there?

[merh]

4. The only bounce that would have an impact for the RNC is

a different candidate. The vast majority of the RNC can't stand McCain - one side thinks he is too liberal and the other side that thinks he is just plain nuts.

Sure, the MSM and the polls will show a "bounce" but that won't be more than the noise left over from the convention.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Hey truthn08

Good to see you here! :-) I don't know. I don't know what the answer to that question is. I think depending on who the attack dog is he brings in as Veep will determine whether or not we go on the offensive. :hug: I almost think that the more temperate Obama remains the better. By that - I mean he's 'cool'. He just needs to keep speaking positive and disarming the other side with the truth.

Whomever he picks needs to be able be a moral, military and arrogant monster. And not be afraid to vocalize it.

- Adrienne

[truthN08]

5. I agree JustAnotherGen

I guess that's why I would like to see Biden be VP. He's very smart and has no problem going after the other side. He's got the gravitas and the ability to go on the attack allowing Obama to stay above the fray. We shall see.

Good seeing you too :-)

-Rae

[liberalmuse]

6. I agree with others here that whomever he picks for VP...

will likely be someone who will go on the offensive (I hope, I hope!). I also agree that Obama needs to keep doing what he's doing, but he will need a running mate who is not afraid to be blunt, yet can remain, for the most part, untainted, or at the very least, is not brought down by nasty smears, and who can also weather the MSM's twisting of their words. IMO, the VP would either have to be Clark, because his opinion is highly respected, and he did weather that last backlash not so long ago with no long-lasting ill effects. The man is consistent in fighting smears against the left. He is also well-liked and respected by people across the board.

Or Clinton, because she's been through the fire and is not afraid to speak her mind and get tough when needed. There is also the fact that a lot of women my age or older tend to take it personally when she is unfairly attacked, thus explaining some of the backlashes. I'm not saying this is right or wrong, it's just the way it is. I honestly don't know why it offends me so much, because I can't say that I've ever been a die-hard Hillary supporter. It is probably because I admire strong women and have seen how appallingly they have been treated by the patriarchy at times.

Or Biden, who knows how to throw out a really good soundbite that is both humorous and highly effective in hitting its mark. His last really good one one pretty much devastated Guiliani.

I'm sure there one or two other possible candidates who are similar that I'm leaving out, but I just don't see any of the other possible choices being all that effective against the smears, which are going to get even worse before November. That's just my opinion, narrow as it is, and it really isn't worth all that much.

Oh yeah, the point of the original post. I do believe things will change in that they will be in high gear after the Conventions.

[NorthCarolina]

7. I think that after the convention the MSM will kick into high gear against Obama

eom

[AtomicKitten]

8. The convention will * finally * put the primaries behind us.

thank effin gawd ... and then it's balls-out all the way to the White House.