Clinton and Obama: Who can win?
As of late, Clinton has been attacking Obama on one key issue (an issue very important to me and most Democrats): who can beat McCain? I often hear, from like-minded members of the citizenry, that “it doesn’t matter – both of them could beat McCain.” I’m not as confident.
As you might be able to tell, from a number of my posts, I am an Obama supporter, but am I living in a “hope”ful dream? Am I experiencing the same naivety I experienced when I backed Dean in 2004? Is Clinton really more electable than Obama? Maybe.
The truth is, a large number of Americans hate Hillary, but that set of voters would never vote for a Democrat, in any case; they just really hate Hillary. Americans like centrists (e.g. Bill Clinton winning in 1992). Will Obama be too easy to paint as an out-of-touch liberal?
Obama’s voting record in the U.S. Senate — one magazine ranked him the most liberal senator in 2007 — and during his years in the Illinois state Senate will get a more thorough examination in a campaign against Republican John McCain than it has so far, he said.
Republicans are very good at taking a Democratic Senator’s voting record and then painting it a nice, dark shade of pinko.
Can Obama beat McCain on the Commander in Chief issue? Obviously, I think Obama would be a much better Commander in Chief, but will most Americans?
In addition to all this,
Republicans say the relentless Democratic nominating battle has given them new hope for November and exposed weaknesses in Obama that will play a central role in any general election campaign against the Illinois senator.
Who can beat McCain? Try to remove yourself from your passions and biases and then ask yourself that question.
I very interested in what Mc Cain has to offer on the economy. If its along the same lines as the Bush administration forget it! His recent conferences have been timid at best in outlining a plan to revive the economy. Maybe his wife the Budweiser heirist
has some solutions or should I say some easy solutions to our problems. glug glug
dm
dmoray
April 4, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Which magazine “ranked (Obama) the most liberal senator in 2007″ — National Review? I like Barack but there are many senators with a more liberal voting record than he has.
petetalbot
April 4, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Re: McCain and the economy. The answer? Not much. Pretty much the same-old-same-old. He wants to create permanent tax breaks for the rich and most economists are saying that that will do more to hurt the econ than help it.
Re: Magazine. It was The National Journal that ranked Obama “most liberal.” And the title was just in regards to 2007. The point is that I think the Republicans can easily use this against him. Will it matter? Maybe (eg Karry?).
robfunk
April 4, 2008 at 11:00 pm