Candidates may actually have to compete over Indiana's votes this election for the first time since 1964. Indiana has been seeing red ever since Lyndon B. Johnson took office, so we have always been in the bag for Republican candidates. However, a new poll released by J. Ann Selzer, of Selzer & Co. suggests that we are 47 percent Obama and only 44 percent McCain. This company has proven to be very accurate this year by pinpointing the Democratic candidate from the Iowa caucuses. Not a wide margin by any means, but definitely not red either. What's more is that Obama also leads in fundraising from Indiana with $1.9 million over McCain's $1.25 million.
Political analysts attribute this sudden shift to the rapid collapse of the manufacturing industry, which is a hefty chunk of Indiana's economy. As the primaries may have indicated with Indiana's election of Hillary Clinton, the choice is most likely economic. Obama is really focusing on economic issues for Indiana, thus utilizing both calling for change and attacking the record challenger strategies.
As election day approaches, Indiana could see more courting from both candidates for our tasty votes.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Obama's Aggressive Fundraising
"Even Obama's powerful Internet fundraising machine cannot raise all the money he needs for what will be the most expensive presidential campaign in history."
In a time of economic insecurity it is difficult for the American people to understand how our presidential candidates can raise and spend so much money for this election. The Chicago Tribune reports that this will be the "most expensive presidential campaign is history," and of course it will be with prices rising on potentially everything.
How is Barak Obama going to meet his October fundraising goal of $300 million? Although he has had a large percentage of his fundraising come from small donations through the internet, Obama is in need of more aggressive fundraising. Unfortunately this aggressive fundraising will consume a great amount of his campaign time, leaving him less time to focus on the working class people and spending more time in large cities with people who can afford to donate thousands and millions of dollars. For example in the last month Obama has attended several fundraisers in Miami, to Hollywood, to Chicago that had admission prices anywhere from $1,000 to $30,000 per person.
Obviously Obama needs the extra finances to keep up with the campaign expenses, but he already has most of the "big city" votes. He needs to be careful not to let his "small town" votes slip.
Aubree Walgamuth
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-obama-fundraising_websep22,0,5110978.story
90 seconds of truth (?)
One factor to keep in mind while voting is: what happens if the president’s duties get handed down to the vice-president? In this case, the fact of the matter is that it could potentially end up as either Palin or Biden as the president. The VP debate is coming up October 2. Each candidate will have 90 seconds to respond to a topic, followed by a two minute discussion period. The format was set yesterday (9/20/08). Both parties have satisfied with how the VP debate is set. The candidates have less time than the presidential candidates to answer questions, as well as less time during the discussion period. The moderator is free to ask questions on any issue.
I think the VP debate will be as crucial to voters to watch as the presidential debates. One of either the team Obama-Biden or team McCain-Palin will most likely being running the government in the near future. We as voters need to know not only where the presidential candidate stands, but also where their running mate stands. The American people would not like to be caught off guard because of some “peer pressure” in a major decision from one of the VP candidates. By watching the debate, the country will get a feel for where both Biden and Palin stand on many different issues. Do not forget to mark your calendars for October 2!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/20/AR2008092001992.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR
I think the VP debate will be as crucial to voters to watch as the presidential debates. One of either the team Obama-Biden or team McCain-Palin will most likely being running the government in the near future. We as voters need to know not only where the presidential candidate stands, but also where their running mate stands. The American people would not like to be caught off guard because of some “peer pressure” in a major decision from one of the VP candidates. By watching the debate, the country will get a feel for where both Biden and Palin stand on many different issues. Do not forget to mark your calendars for October 2!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/20/AR2008092001992.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR
McCain Falls Behind Obama
According to CNN’s poll of polls released on Friday, Obama now leads McCain by three percentage points, 47-44. With McCain still leading in battleground states like Florida (by one point), Ohio (by one point), and Missouri (by four points), Obama is working hard to close the gaps, and succeeding.
Could it have anything to do with the economy?
McCain’s history of deregulation is not looking so hot now that the government is bailing out the financial institutions, which are now said to have needed more regulation in the first place. In Florida, Senator Obama said “There's only one candidate who's called himself 'fundamentally a deregulator' when deregulation is part of the problem." After McCain’s slip ups in the media involving the “fundamentals of the economy” at the beginning of the week, he has gone back and rethought his position, now stating that more controls are needed to prevent any more bankruptcies among major financial institutions.
According to the latest Gallup polls, last Sunday McCain was leading Obama 47-45 percent. After the economic turmoil of this week, Obama took the lead with 50 to McCain’s 44 percent. Obama has put McCain on the defensive on issues regarding the economy, and that is where he is likely to stay for some time now. Prepare to hear one major theme at the debate on Friday: The Economy
Could it have anything to do with the economy?
McCain’s history of deregulation is not looking so hot now that the government is bailing out the financial institutions, which are now said to have needed more regulation in the first place. In Florida, Senator Obama said “There's only one candidate who's called himself 'fundamentally a deregulator' when deregulation is part of the problem." After McCain’s slip ups in the media involving the “fundamentals of the economy” at the beginning of the week, he has gone back and rethought his position, now stating that more controls are needed to prevent any more bankruptcies among major financial institutions.
According to the latest Gallup polls, last Sunday McCain was leading Obama 47-45 percent. After the economic turmoil of this week, Obama took the lead with 50 to McCain’s 44 percent. Obama has put McCain on the defensive on issues regarding the economy, and that is where he is likely to stay for some time now. Prepare to hear one major theme at the debate on Friday: The Economy
Age, is it an Issue?
Is McCain to old to be President?
"I am older than dirt and have more scars than Frankenstein," John McCain likes to say.
John McCain is 72 years old. He nearly lost his life in the Vietnam War, he had war injuries, he had malignant melanoma (one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer), and there were rumors at one time that he was crazy.
All in all no matter the age of a candidate, they may have been injured at war, may get severely sick, or even die at anytime from any sort of accident. "The point being: Electing a young person to the presidency is no guarantee that he or she will be healthy or stay healthy" (Simon, CBS News). For example, John Kennedy, at 43, had been sick since he was 13 with Addison's disease, an endocrine disorder. It was just kept from the public.
If McCain wins the campaign for President, he will be the oldest to be inaugurated into office. I believe it is a bit risky to have someone of his age to run, but then again, there will be a Vice President that shares the same views to back him up.
"I am older than dirt and have more scars than Frankenstein," John McCain likes to say.
John McCain is 72 years old. He nearly lost his life in the Vietnam War, he had war injuries, he had malignant melanoma (one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer), and there were rumors at one time that he was crazy.
All in all no matter the age of a candidate, they may have been injured at war, may get severely sick, or even die at anytime from any sort of accident. "The point being: Electing a young person to the presidency is no guarantee that he or she will be healthy or stay healthy" (Simon, CBS News). For example, John Kennedy, at 43, had been sick since he was 13 with Addison's disease, an endocrine disorder. It was just kept from the public.
If McCain wins the campaign for President, he will be the oldest to be inaugurated into office. I believe it is a bit risky to have someone of his age to run, but then again, there will be a Vice President that shares the same views to back him up.
Biden a B.A.! Bush Adversary, that is
In a speech on September 15th, Senator Joe Biden let his true feelings resound in Saint Clair Shores, MI. He was not hesitant to compare G.W. Bush and John McCain. He is quoted as saying, "Just as George Herbert Walker Bush was nicknamed "Bush 41" and his son is known as "Bush 43" John McCain could easily become known as "Bush 44". He suggests that if we forget our history, we are going to have four more years repeat of the past eight years. On the other hand, Biden is quick to follow up that he considered McCain a friend, but America needs more than a great soldier, Amercia needs a wise leader.
The significance of this speech is the mudslinging is just beginning. The next month and a half are going to be cut-throat. They have all established a voting posse who thinks the opponent is wrong for our country, it's the undecided voters they are attempting to convince. Along with speeches, the attack television ads have increased in number. Obama just released another ad claiming McCain as admitted he does not understand the economy. Furthermore, it reveals who advises McCain, one of which being George Bush himself.
http://www.barackobama.com/2008/09/15/remarks)by_senator_joe_biden_t.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPUuHCHRY4g&eurl=http://www.c-span.org/Politics/
John McCain: A deregulator asking for regulation?
John McCain has stated, not only in his campaign, but also throughout his time in Congress has stressed the importance of the government staying out of the private sector has now called for market regulation. The government recently gave $85 billion to financial giant AIG, a bailout that many said was a necessary evil. Many have argued that AIG, along with Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Lehman Brothers and others, took a market risk just like any other business in the private sector does on a regular basis. The economy cannot sustain itself if AIG went under, because AIG is involved in just about anything and everything worldwide.
John McCain is sticking to the term maverick, but this particular maverick stance could have political ramifications. John McCain has stated that he is a "deregulator", wanting smaller government, and wanting the government to stay away from the private sector. However, his recent proposal is diametric from that very stance. He has now called for the creation of the Mortgage and Financial Institution trust to create an early intervention system with the hopes of helping financial institutions avoid bankruptcy. Creating a trust, in which the government would regulate these financial institutions, does not shrink the size of government; it makes government larger. This particular issue is a tough one to tackle; because one on hand, John McCain cannot allow these institutions to go under and send the economy down the drain and on the other hand, he is going to have a tough time seeming more conservative when he is making government larger. The conservative vote has been a tough one for McCain to obtain, particularly because most conservatives believe John McCain is not conservative enough to be the Republican nominee for President. Obviously, the conservatives will select John McCain over Barack Obama if they choose to vote; but the problem would exacerbate if the conservatives chose not to vote.
John McCain is sticking to the term maverick, but this particular maverick stance could have political ramifications. John McCain has stated that he is a "deregulator", wanting smaller government, and wanting the government to stay away from the private sector. However, his recent proposal is diametric from that very stance. He has now called for the creation of the Mortgage and Financial Institution trust to create an early intervention system with the hopes of helping financial institutions avoid bankruptcy. Creating a trust, in which the government would regulate these financial institutions, does not shrink the size of government; it makes government larger. This particular issue is a tough one to tackle; because one on hand, John McCain cannot allow these institutions to go under and send the economy down the drain and on the other hand, he is going to have a tough time seeming more conservative when he is making government larger. The conservative vote has been a tough one for McCain to obtain, particularly because most conservatives believe John McCain is not conservative enough to be the Republican nominee for President. Obviously, the conservatives will select John McCain over Barack Obama if they choose to vote; but the problem would exacerbate if the conservatives chose not to vote.
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