So Far, Obama's Campaign Has Been Dukakis-esque

[Yavin4]

The Obama campaign has been a major, major disappointment. They have allowed this campaign to be about Obama instead of the 8 years of miserable failure of the Bush admin. No mention of the horrible economy. No mention of the lying to get us into war. No mention of the Katrina incompetence. Instead, it's been all oil drilling and celebrity.

Now, you can stick your heads in the sand all you want, but the Obama campaign right now is losing this election because it's been weak and ineffective against McCain. No amount of donations nor volunteer work can overcome a lackluster candidate and campaign. It's up to Obama and his campaign to make the case to the American people on why he should be president, not some door to door canvasser.

Hillary was a deeply flawed candidate, but at least she knows how to fight. So far, this campaign is nothting more than a replay of Dukakis'88 and Kerry '04.

[flamingdem]

1. You are out of touch, attend an Obama meeting and you will feel differently nt

[mountainvue]

75. That's the thing though. How much of middle America

is going to attend an Obama meeting?

[flamingdem]

79. The point is this is about WORK, do the WORK get the votes, enuf whining imo nt

[book_worm]

2. They are losing the election because one poll says they are?

I agree they have to be more agressive against McCain, but they are not losing the election according to the vast majority of polls.

[my3boyz]

9. It is not just one poll. Obama is up 1% pt when the polls are averaged. nt

[Brotherjohn]

38. Citation please? Here's mine:

http://pollingreport.com/wh08gen.htm

Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll. Aug. 15-18, 2008
45% Obama - 43% McCain
Gallup Poll daily tracking Aug. 18, 2008
45-44
Quinnipiac University Poll. Aug. 12-17, 2008
47-42
Gallup Poll. Aug. 7-10, 2008
45-38
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey. July 31-Aug. 10, 2008
46-43
Investor's Business Daily/TIPP poll conducted by TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence. Aug. 4-9, 2008
43-38

Those are the latest polls and the only ones (posted on pollingreport.com, which is pretty inclusive) conducted completely in August. The average Obama lead is about 4%. And the Gallup daily tracking poll, by it's nature, wobbles more between the MOE. It has consistently wobbled between a tie and an Obama 8-9 pt lead (for about the same average, ~4-5%).

Obama has a handsome lead which, translated to an election, would equate to an electoral landslide. People latch onto the odd tied poll or narrow Obama lead when, in reality, Obama has generally (on average) had a consistent 4-5% lead.

[Brotherjohn]

59. To update for new info, I see the Reuters poll with McCain up by 5...

... and here's a citation you may have been referring to for an Obama 1pt average lead: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html

I maintain, though, that this Reuters poll is an outlier (and it is largely why the average lead is 1% by that calculation). While the race may have tightened since the heydey of Obama clinching the nomination (and why would one have expected otherwise?), it has still hovered between a 3-5% Obama lead.

Is there a downward trend that's worrisome? If the Reuters poll repeats in others, yes. If other polls keep showing what they have (few pt Obama lead), no. Obama hasn't had his Convention yet, either (nor of course has McCain). And I for one believe he'll tear McCain to shreds in the debates.

[my3boyz]

62. Poll average

Real Clear Politics has him with a 1% lead when averaging all the polls.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com

[Doctor_J]

115. 1%, compared to where he was a monthago? This is good news?

:shrug:

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

3. Huh?

Have you actually watched any of Obama's speeches?

[TexasObserver]

4. He's not losing, so you're either misinformed or misstating.

[babylonsister]

5. Can you BE anymore negative? Get over it, wouldya? Look around!

And get a grip! :grr:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6673024

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=171746&mesg_id=171746

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6672082&mesg_id=6672082

[psychopomp]

6. Kick

Kick the complacency right the f outta you..

[zulchzulu]

7. If you aren't paying attention, you'd probably get that assessment

Perhaps you are not familiar with the ads Obama has been playing as well as the speeches he has been giving...

:shrug:

[Barack_America]

8. You need a source of information other than the MSM.

Of course Obama is going to be "losing" if you allow them to frame the information you receive.

[marylanddem]

10. Wrong.

[Tim4319]

11. Have you not seen the ads the the Obama Champaign used to

connect Bush and McLame? It talked about the economy, the failure, and the disappointment. Have you not listen to any of Barack Obama's speeches? He does all of that! He is making a huge effort at making that connection.

[geek tragedy]

15. Not. working.

They need to attack McCain's character.

[still_one]

22. Let's see, mccain has big money behind him, and Obama still doubled in contributions

The Conventions have not even been held. After the Conventions, that is when the fighting will start

People will not pay attention until then

[jerryster]

114. No, people are paying attention now.

If no one was paying attention Obama would still have a commanding lead. The fact is his lead has been shrinking on a daily basis because people are paying attention to McCain's aggressive, negative campaigning. And if anyone hasn't been paying attention, it's the Obama campaign.

[DuaneBidoux]

86. Exactly: abandoning his disfigured wife; fighting against MLK holiday, etc

[Rockholm]

132. The ads I am seeing are all McCain....IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Every night on NESN (New England Sports Network) during the Red Sox games, McCain is running anti-Obama ads. My hunch is that Red Sox baseball games are the highest rated program on TV in New England during the 7-10 time slot. Not very good even if you are supporting Obama. I am sure there are plenty of undecideds that need to see what Obama is going to do for them....or maybe an good frigging attack ad against McCain. SOMETHING!!!!!!

[Name removed]

12. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[still_one]

14. You have no idea what the Obama campaign is about if you are making the statement

that "Obama is making this a campaign about Obama instead of the failure of bush"

[LaurenG]

16. I don't see it that way in the least but I wasn't a Clinton supporter either.

Maybe just email the campaign and let them know. I know they are always open to suggestions.

[jerryster]

116. I just did. n/t

[ericgtr]

17. The grass roots portion of Obama's campaign is unprecedented

I don't agree that the canvassers work is in vein. I do agree however that he is allowing himself to be swiftboated but is starting to show signs that he's grown a set. If he doesn't hit back hard and fast beginning in Sept he could very well end up like a Kerry or Dukakis. Watch for the media to start asking "will going negative hurt Obama?" instead of the current meme "why isn't Obama fighting back?" as it is the MSM and they don't give a fuck what it is as long as it's anti-Obama.

[elkston]

33. He's ALWAYS had a set. He can be ruthless when he wants as evidenced ...

by his rise in Chicago. Obama is not a pushover.

[Avalux]

18. Good heavens. There's really no need for panic at this point.

If you still feel that way once the convention is over and we're in the thick of things - maybe then. There's plenty of time left and I have full confidence in the strategic plan of Obama's campaign.

[No Elephants]

24. Don't panic.. Donate more; volunteer more, though.

[flamingdem]

80. We think alike! It is an indulgence to whine when people are pounding the pavement

for Obama for very little financial reward... there is a lot of passion that will see us through, young people, Latinos, women and of course blacks and dems, we're a fabulous coalition but we must reach new voters and the uninformed, with work.

[WeDidIt]

19. Yeah, you're right. It's over. We've lost

:eyes:

[Thrill]

20. I think you're way off board. As usual a few polls and people go to eating their own

[Moochy]

25. The same usual people

ignored is such a choad.

[WeDidIt]

28. Happened all the way through the primaries, too

Then Obama would outperform the pre-primary polls and everybody would go nuts.

[tekisui]

21. Obama isn't losing anything. Get your head out of the sand called the M$M.

You are falling for it.

[kennetha]

23. In some ways yes; in other ways no

Dukakis tried to sell himself as a more competent manager. "THis election isn't about ideology; it's about competence." Silly thought. Truly Silly thought, as if running for president was just a bigger version of running for city manager or something.


Obama is doing the very opposite of selling himself as a competent manager. He's selling bold and inspirational leadership. Problem is that like Dukakis he isn't so good at visceral politics. But he ain't nearly so bad at it as Dukakis was. That man was a passionless robot drone thingie. HOw he made it as far as he did in American politics is something of a mystery to me.

[bunkerbuster1]

102. Let's not forget, though, that the Duke was WAY up in the polls in the summer.

heck, let him tell the story, he was on Maddow not long ago...

http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/SANFRANCISCO-CA/KKGN-AM/Rachel%20Maddow%208-15-08%20Hour%201.mp3

[mrreowwr_kittty]

26. Right. And you honestly think the campaign wouldn't be about the Clintons,

If Hillary were the nominee. :eyes:

And the reason that the race is about Obama is because the MSM is in the tank for McCain, dutifully reporting every smear against Obama while treating the war hero with kid gloves.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

27. Me so agree.

[stray cat]

29. Dukakis was always considered a rockstar!

[GoesTo11]

30. Obama's more of a competitor than he lets on

Dukakis really didn't like competition. He wanted to be of service.

Obama plays to win. You can look back at the primary and say "why didn't he go for the kill" but he did exactly what he had to in order to win. He doesn't make a big show of it, but he is focused on doing exactly what he thinks he needs to. If it appears that he's being too nice, that's because he thinks that's what it will take to win, not because he is just accidentally being nice.

A lot of posters think this ought to be an easy election. No such thing against the across-the-board Republican machine that has been built up over the last 30 years. It's not a TV ratings contest. There are so many elements to the strategy here. Timing is a big part. Knowing what can and cannot be accomplished with the MSM is a big part. Multiple frames, building enthusiasm and damping hostility for various constituencies. And of course ground game, GOTV and counter-suppression. It's complicated, and who knows if it will work. But this fellow is no Dukakis*.

* I like Dukakis a lot. Wonderful man and public servant. Just don't think he ran a very effective campaign.

[Irishonly]

31. I Refuse To Let The MSM or Polls Scare Me

My anger is not directed at the Obama campaign although at times I wish he would call McCain a wubfambitz. My anger is directed at the MSM which gives McCain a free pass on everything. At times I believe McCain should just give them pins to wear during their shows. McCain cheats, lies and is generally an awful person but the MSM paints him as St John along with his wife as St Cindy. It's an affront to people with any intelligence at all.

The MSM is shocked how ignorant Americans are. People informed watch BBC, PBS and a precious few cable shows. It is a joke that McCain is being painted as a better manager of the economy when one of his "advisers" helped the mortgage bankers ruin the economy. No one writes about it in the MSM. Once in a great while a negative story about McCain erupts, Then he whines and it goes away.

It is up to Obama supporters to educate and work harder. There's purging going on again and Obama will get no help from the MSM. The five or six corporations owning the media don't want change. No one helps by giving into fear. Fear has ruled this country for far too long.

[Upton]

32. I agree and I supported Obama against Clinton

this campaign is going downhill fast. I really thought with the people Obama had in place this year was going to be different, perhaps I was wrong.

[sharesunited]

109. Just had a sub-thread deleted for expressing this same sentiment.

But then, I did go a little further in advocating what should be changed.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blogslut]

35. meh

And yet, somehow, I am not worried. Nice try though.

[dionysus]

85. .

[jerryster]

118. Sorry, but you should be. n/t

[NYCGirl]

36. Yeah, I remember when Dukakis drew 200,000 in Germany...

and was cheered by the troops...

:eyes:

[brentspeak]

39. Do Germans vote in U.S. elections?

Kerry had plenty of standing-room-only rallies around the USA in 2004. Didn't win him the election, though.

[yardwork]

83. Well, actually Kerry did win in 2004 but never mind...

[DefenseLawyer]

37. I am convinced that the Hillary people will never let it go.

They will never be on board. They will say they are, because they know it is the right thing to say, but they are never going to be on board. It is just sad that someone would put personalities before the good of the country. That someone would honestly conclude that they want the rest of us to suffer under 4 more years of this disaster just to vindicate the Clinton campaign just seems crazy. But that's where they are.

[Yavin4]

43. I'm Not A Hillary Supporter. I Supported Obama in the Primaries

I'm old enough to have lived through Dukakis in '88, Gore in 2000, and Kerry in 2004, and the Obama campaign is mirroring those failed efforts because the focus of those campaigns became the Dem candidate, not the issues.

Clinton won in '92 and '96 by focusing the campaign on the issues, not himself. That's why he won.

[DefenseLawyer]

54. Some would argue that Clinton won

because George Bush's sky high approval ratings in 90-91 kept all the A listers out of the race and then Ross Perot showed up to get 19% of the vote and allow Clinton to win while only garnering 43% of the vote. Obama isn't going to win with 43%, so maybe your model is flawed. But hey, you are entitled to your opinion.

[onenote]

97. i'm old enough to remeber the dukakis campaign as well (and a bunch before that)

And there is no similarity. But thanks for playing.

[Marrah_G]

47. Which Hillary people are you talking about?

It's sort of a broad group unless you specify.

[DefenseLawyer]

58. They know who they are.

It is a very small yet vocal subset and not representative of most democrats that preferred Sen. Clinton in the primaries. A small group yes, but they are certainly over-represented here.

[Marrah_G]

61. Oh bullshit- I don't know ANYONE left on DU who wants Obama to lose

And you bullshit line of " they know who they are" smacks of more of the pathetic bullying behavior that has been going on here for months.

If you have a concern about someone then alert on them. Otherwise STFU about what you think their political views are. As if someone how only YOU know the truth about what they think, despite what they may say, you know better !

I am really sick and tired of this shit.

Oh, and one more thing..... the OP was a fucking Obama supporter in the Primaries.

Edit:I won't respond to anything you might have to say in the future. Off you go with the rest of those unwilling to put the primaries behind them.

[DefenseLawyer]

67. I will let actions speak for themselves.

Talk is cheap.

[LostinVA]

89. Please list what actions Marrah has taken to prove this to you?

You can't find ONE. She is a long-time DUer, known for her progressive views. YOU talk about "talk is cheap"? Yeah, it is, when people make accusations as hollow as a souffle against a fine DUer.

[DefenseLawyer]

90. Why would you ever presume I was referring to Marrah?

I was responding to the original post, I have no beef with Marrah, I have no idea who she is or what she believes or doesn't believe. She attacked my suggestion that there are Hillary supporters that can't let go. If that fits her I wouldn't know. I didn't make any claim or suggestion about her one way or the other. I will however stand by my original thought. I don't believe I am the only one to come to this conclusion.

[LostinVA]

88. You tell them -- I'm damned tired of it, too

[LostinVA]

87. "they are certainly over-represented here" -- oh brother

:eyes:

[DefenseLawyer]

91. You don't agree?

Do you think that most Hillary Clinton supporters feel the same the handful of potstirrers on DU feel? I don't. I think it is a few people who can't let go. I don't think they are at all representative of most Democrats that supported Sen. Clinton in the primaries.

[Yavin4]

40. You Can Blame The MSM All You Want

The facts are the facts. At the moment, Obama is losing this campaign.

[Inuca]

42. And your "facts" are based

on what exactly?

[Moochy]

70. "this campaign"

Oh noes, Obama is losing the campaign to win over the fickle internet citizen "Yavin4".

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: ZOMG!!! Down in one poll and he's Dukakis!!!!!!!11111111

[NatBurner]

41. this post powerful sucks

[Moochy]

71. Heap big

It's Yavin-esque even.

[Yavin4]

117. How Old Are You?

How many Dem campaigns have you seen in your lifetime? I've seen Mondale in 1984, Dukakis in 1988, Clinton in 1992 and 1996, Gore in 2000, and Kerry in 2004.

The ONLY successes were Clinton's in 1992 and '96. Why? Because he focused his campaigns on the issues and he fought back hard EVERY DAY.

None of this "let's take the High Road" bullshit. None of this we're not stooping to McCain's level.

If you cannot see that Obama is pissing away this campaign, then you're in for a nasty lesson in politics.

[Moochy]

127. In my day, I had to walk up hill to see the dem campaigns!

both ways!

[AspenRose]

44. Hahahahahahahahaha!

*gasp*

ah-hahahahahahahaha!

:rofl:

[blondeatlast]

45. This is a poor, thinly-veiled attempt to rehash the primaries. Do your DUty as a good

DU citizen.

[MarjorieG]

49. Crashed overnight? Let's not circular firing squad, as always.

Maybe to stir discontent before the convention, announcing our VP, etc.

[Marrah_G]

51. The poster was an Obama supporter in the primaries.

Still I agree that posts like these cause division and flamefests.

[Virginia Dare]

46. And McCain's has been Macaca-esque...n/t

[ProSense]

48. Yeah, being in the lead and raising a record $51 million is disappointing as hell.

Get a grip.

[jerryster]

121. In response, 2 things.

First, the point is that Obama's lead has eroded at an alarming rate. Secondly, it's not enough to just raise the money. The question is whether it's being spent wisely and effectively.

[democrat2thecore]

50. We don't need a Corporate Democrat who masqueraded as a populist on the ticket.

A Clinton is a Clinton is a Clinton. Her record spoke for itself. Her campaign was Clintonian in that she ran as a populist, but her record is as a corporate Democrat. Bill's economic policies set this country up for long-term disaster. Five letters: N. A. F. T. A.

No thanks, Hillary. We know the record and we're ready for REAL change.

[mopinko]

52. TURN OFF THE TEEVEE. it rots your brain.

get out of your chair and talk to live voters. not only will it change your mind, it might actually make a difference.
ok, well, talking to you won't be all that persuasive, but you would still be getting something useful done.

[SeaLyons]

53. I think when a VP is picked,,,

we will see new energy, and a huge kick in the polls. I trust Obama is going to make a smart choice.
I think he will choose an ass kicking bulldog. That's what we need.

Go Obama!!!!

[blm]

55. Clintons trashed the WH story lasted HOW long? Clintons didn't fight it. Or the 9-11 lies.

They let those lies fester for years because if they did defend the truth, then Bush wouldn't look so good, and they needed Bush to stay in office.

BTW - why would YOU of all people protect the corporate media and spread their lie that Kerry never fought back in 2004? Did you see Kerry lose to Bush's superiority in the debates or Bush's superior speaking skills on the campaign trail? Or....did you see a complicit media protecting Bush just as Dan Rather and Scott McClellan admitted? Did you see RNC and GOP officials work for four years to gain control of the election process at every level where the votes are allowed, cast and counted while the DNC run by Clinton loyalists LET THEM DO IT?

Kerry ran a winning campaign - the corporate media, and weak Dem lawmakers afraid to cross Bush at his strongest, and a nonexistent left media, and a DNC uninterested in securing the election process in the four years after 2000s theft helped Bush steal that election.

[islandmkl]

56. flawed assessment of the situation...

having read further posts, it is apparent where the motivation for this post comes from...

let me see if i have this right:

kerry was ahead in august, but lost...

obama is either slightly ahead in august, so Barack will lose OR...

mccain is slightly ahead in august so m.c.johnny WILL WIN?



i don't buy into your analysis (opinion, really) but that is why we all participate in these discussions...your concern for the august election is noted...and now, why don't you present the campaign strategy you would employ? Give us all some plan, some background, some proven results...

oh, you're going to remind us that Rovian tactics work every time, is that it? Fight Rove with Rove, so to speak? Let me ask you one more question:

How did that work out for HRC?

I would suggest that we are a long way from the election, and early shots (which appear to be devastating to Obama in your mind) are often wasted as their 'gotcha' wears off...
Obama seems to be conducting his campaign on a pace that is planned and executed accordingly...

our impatience has no track record of victory in the past, and to compare Obama's campaign to '88 or '04 (you left a couple out, by the way) is just to find something negative to compare to merely to state your case.

[Yavin4]

60. Dukakis Had A 17-point Lead Over Bush in July 1988

And he was trounced in the Fall election. Why? Because the campaign became about him and his weaknesses, not the issues.

That's the heart of the Karl Rove strategy. Make the campaign about your opponent, not the issues.

[marmar]

57. Is it August or October?

Polls fluctuate many times before November. ..... Was Bill Clinton leading in '92 before the convention?
You get the drama queen award for the day.

[AZ Criminal JD]

129. Clinton had a lead of 55% to 31% for Bush at this point.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election,_1992

[Occam Bandage]

63. Agreed.

[Stop Cornyn]

64. If Obama picks a running mate who makes him look weak (like Dukakis did), I will agree. I still hope

Obama will knock the VP choice out of the park.

[polichick]

95. Who would make him look weak?

[Stop Cornyn]

103. I think if Obama picks someone who doesn't fit with the "judgment is more important than experience"

theme or if he picks someone who holds herself (or himself) out as an "expert" in an area where Obama has already claimed expertise of his own, I think either of those running mates would make Obama look weak.

[natrat]

65. designated party of failure-hello

[Colobo]

66. Relax. He'll be fine.

[islandmkl]

68. please line up Obama versus Dukakis in terms of campaigns....

define the exact similarities and differences, then make your point, again...

you state: "Hillary was a deeply flawed candidate, but at least she knows how to fight."

uhh...whose campaign knocked her out??

you forgot to explain just how that happened...

[Mother Of Four]

69. Omgreeeeee the sky is falling!

http://bp2.blogger.com/_7n3V7bnR9eI/Rrq1fMSCiyI/AAAAAAAAARo/SmbArR_tT4A/s400/drama+queen.jpg

[Lorien]

72. I agree, in part

I don't think Hillary would have been any better. The problem is that we're running Right of center candidates with no clear policy positions and asking left or center voters to get excited about them. In one or two sentences each can you or anyone else here name FIVE Obama platforms that you strongly agree with? I can name two: no more tax breaks for Big Oil, bigger tax breaks for the middle class. My major issue is the environment, so Obama has nothing for me there. McCain's voters can go with 1). He wants to be in Iraq for 100 more years, and he'll bomb Iran 2). He'll give tax breaks to the rich 3). He'll give trickle down economics "time to work", 4). He's a "pro-life candidate", 5). He believes that we can drill our way to energy independence.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

73. I see the GOP are out in force here?

[COLGATE4]

74. You're absolutely right!!!!!!

I can't believe it's happening to us again!!!! Running against the most unpopular president/party in the last century and against a candidate who's weak spots are absolutely legendary, Obama continues to play the role of the gentile, ephemeral punching bag that Dukakis immortalized. McCain goes nasty and vicious, and Obama counters with rosy platitudes. McCain basically calls Obama a traitor in his speech at the VFW and Obama comes in the next day to counter - his response?
"Nah nah nah that's not fair - In wouldn't say that about you and I HOPE you won't say it about me". When in the name of God are we ever going to get even a semblance of a spine?????!!!!! As one who supported Obama from the very earliest stages of his campain, I have to say that I really wish our nominee was Hillary. Say what you will about her, at the least she would be tearing McSame a new one daily. The polls don't lie, as much as we won't to use wishful thinking about their results - Obama has gone from a pretty commanding lead to a 5 point defecit as of today's Reuters poll. The Rethug negative ads and campaign focusing everything on Obama are working, and he seems powerless to understand and/or do anything about it. I hope events prove me wrong, but I'm really beginning to believe that we will have another 4 ot 8 years to sit and bitch about another Rethug presidency unless Obama does something drastic and fast!

[JeffR]

78. Yeah, uh huh.

Sure thing.

[Robeson]

84. Hmmnn....

...interesting.

[Milo_Bloom]

76. Despite the naysayers, you are actually correct...

He is currently playing as the front runner who is trying not to lose... something both Kerry and Dukakis did.

The reason is because most people believe he will win. I am hoping these latest polls change that perception and turn him into the fighter he was during the primaries, when even when he was ahead, he was seen as the underdog to Clinton.

[GCP]

77. I agree with the OP completely

This train is going off the tracks, if he doesn't get decisive and combative, you say hello to 4 more yrs of puke rule.

[flamingdem]

81. Obama is fighting while his base SITS AROUND twiddling thumbs and critisizing him, VPs, work people!

This is OUR election to loose.

[yardwork]

82. Do you remember the Dukakis campaign?

Remember his little head sticking out of a tank? Contrast that to the rock star photos of Obama everywhere.

It would be hard for me to imagine a greater contrast between the Dukakis '88 campaign and Obama '08. No contest.

[DefenseLawyer]

93. Might as well compare it to the Alton Parker campaign

Even though 88 is still fresh in the minds of those of us old enough to have been there, it was a long time ago politically. Communications are different, the news cycle is different, fund-raising is different, so much is different it doesn't make much sense to really compare.

[Name removed]

92. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[polichick]

94. Tolerating what? Dissent?

[GCP]

96. God forbid people express worries about a campaign in trouble

Keep up the happy talk, if you want, but I've been through far too many losing dem presidential campaigns to feel in any way happy about what's going on.

[Yavin4]

98. Yeah, You're Right

Let's ignore the polls. Let's all stick our heads in the sand while McCain is tearing us up on a daily basis.

Yeah, that works. Just ask President Dukakis and President Kerry.

[cliffordu]

99. I'll be SOOOOO glad when the primaries are over.

[hexola]

100. BULL: The word DUKAKIS was mentioned at all during his trip to the mid-east

No Dukakis moment...

That - or the pundits are on vacation...Im sure someone would have pounced on it.

[Carrieyazel]

101. You're right on target. Obama's gone "Kerry and Dukakis" on us.

And he said that wasn't going to happen this time. He said he knew what was coming and he would stuff it back in their faces. He hasn't done it.

[inthebrain]

104. He just changed gears yesterday

[Skidmore]

105. Bullshit.

[cynatnite]

106. Didn't seem like Kerry's was going as badly as Obama's is right now...

Here's crossing my fingers Obama's campaign can get a shot of energy.

Agree with you on Hillary. She was always a fighter.

[Politics_Guy25]

128. John Kerry ran a much better campaign in 2004 than Senator Obama has in 2008-n/t

[Yavin4]

107. Obama's Campaign Strategists Need To Study This Film

They need to study and learn. Right now, they're doing what Warren Christopher did:

http://www.amazon.com/Recount-Kevin-Spacey/dp/B001AMHNKW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1219257377&sr=1-1

[TheWraith]

108. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN TROLLING.

However, you'll forgive the rest of us for living in the real world, where Obama's winning and we're not going to throw a temper tantrum because he's not up by 20 points.

[GCP]

120. He damn well SHOULD be up by 20 points

Why the hell isn't he?

[jerryster]

122. Trolling?

In defense of the OP it's not trolling. It's genuine concern that we can lose this election. Trolling? Please.

[jerryster]

110. Sadly, you may be right.

After believing that there was NO WAY Obama would make the same mistakes as Kerry in 2004, here we go. McCain now has Bush advisers who know how to run an effective, aggressive and mean spirited campaign. Obama is not hitting back soon enough and hard enough. I know it's only one poll, but here is a link to a disturbing one.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26308429

What we need to do is bombard Obama's handlers with emails telling them that we are in danger of losing this election and that they need to admit that there are problems and FIX them. Right now Obama's campaign staff is so busy congratulating themselves on a daily basis about how "disciplined" they are that they can't see the forest for the trees. The email address for Axelrod's office is: [e-mail].

For those of you who are getting ready to tell me to "relax, don't worry, it's still early, we'll make a comeback, blah, blah, blah", consider this: McCain has been gaining ground EVERY DAY. His negative campaign is WORKING. Obama has been letting his opponent set the agenda and that is a classic way to lose. As far as it being too early, when losing campaigns look back in retrospect they always point to something early that tripped them up. Obama may already be there.

[Max_powers94]

111. Come down Obama will get mid evil on McCain's old ass after the convention.

[JackORoses]

112. as the last days of Clintonism fade, the devoted try to take the Democratic Party with them

I'll be so happy when you can't even discuss this as a remote possibility anymore.

Act like a Democrat and support the Nominee, or don't.

[Yavin4]

119. I AM NOT A CLINTON SUPPORTER!!!!!

I supported Obama in the primaries, but his presidential campaign has been tepid.

Look at the damn polls, Obama is losing because he's been weak.

[LittleClarkie]

113. We're not losing the election til we've lost the election.

And most polls have us ahead, don't they?

[StuffyJones]

123. Obama's campaign has been excellent....

He's battling racism. And he has hit back.

The media sucks is all. Not his fault.

Someone on HuffPost pointed out that the normal media narrative is that Obama can change everything just by changing his campaign. He doesn't have magical powers. The media loves McCain and are keeping what should be a blow out close... That's all.

[David Zephyr]

124. Agree.

Of course, you will be crucified for saying this, even though your intention is to win in November.

I agree with you, Yavin4.

[Erin Elizabeth]

125. Oh my.

Actually I hear a lot of people saying they like the fact that Obama is letting people know who HE is and what HE would do and not constantly making the whole thing about the last eight years.

Do you think there's anyone alive in this country who doesn't know how bad things are right now? Really?

So now the Hillary people are starting some sort of Dukakis meme, huh?

[tigereye]

126. no, I don't think so -

there is really no comparison. Obama is a much more charismatic candidate than Dukakis or Kerry.

[quakerboy]

130. Or perhaps

the polls this last week have more to do with trying to drive a wedge between dems. I find it slightly odd that suddenly he drops numbers in Media related polls right before the convention. And the big push for the past while is "he must have Clinton".

It seems odd to me. It has been my belief for some time that Hillary was McCains only chance to win. And now, when push comes to shove, convention time, we have a confluence of a malevolent few pushing for a last minute Hillary nomination, a well meaning group pushing for a Hillary VP slot, a media pushing a Obama's questionable meme, and some people buying it.

I, for one, am not Buying.

[Name removed]

131. Deleted message

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