Obama: Weak On The Issues
But At Least He's Got A Good Beat The Kids Love To Dance To
By Dan McLaughlin Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | John McCain | polls | rasmussen — Comments (14) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
There's a growing school of thought among Republicans that even despite his massive fundraising machine, pop culture cache and messianic aura, Barack Obama may yet turn out to be a much weaker general election opponent than Hillary Clinton. Hillary is certain to be a competitive candidate, but has enormous built-in negatives; any election involving her is likely to be very closely divided. But Obama, while he seems to have a much higher ceiling, also faces a much more significant risk of getting completely Mondaled. And a new poll from Rasmussen helps explain why - even moreso than Hillary, Obama matches up terribly against McCain on which candidate is more trusted on a host of key issues. Here's the key findings in tabular form:
| Issue | McCain | Obama |
|---|---|---|
| National Security | 52 | 31 |
| Iraq | 48 | 39 |
| Economy | 46 | 39 |
| Taxes | 41 | 38 |
| Corruption/Ethics | 33 | 44 |
Obama's inability to crack 40% against McCain on the central issues of the day makes him look less like a transformational political figure and more like the incumbent president's 34% approval rating. Note that McCain matches up so well against Obama despite "generic ballot" questions showing that the Democrats as a whole are more trusted than Republicans on a number of these issues. (Note also that McCain unsurprisingly beats Hillary handily on the ethics question).
Is Obama actually the easier target? Maybe, maybe not; any one poll is just a snapshot, and it's a long way to November. But more and more Republicans are eager to find out.
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Obama: Weak On The Issues 14 Comments (0 topical, 14 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
that is why I hate what Rush has done. To me, you stick the stake in the heart of the vampire while you have the chance.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
Obama is much, much weaker today precisely because Hillary has been pounding him. The Wright stuff in particular was much more effective because it came up during the primary.
"No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong." - Winston Churchill
she was the one behind. This could all still blow up in our face. At very least it makes her seem more like a senior (serious) candidate the longer it goes on.
That is not good, I hoped that her showing was so bad it would mean the political graveyard for this toxic couple.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
Okay, so Wright comes off the leash and finally Obama throws him under the bus with grandma ---
As I read on NRO -- Obama's numbers must be crashing for this to happen ..
Hildabeast has been hanging in here all along -- refusing to leave and giving a rather admirable fight --- never underestimate the power of the Clinton machine --
So now, Hillary closes the popular vote margins by winning Indiana and coming close in NC --- plus most of the states waiting to vote. (Time for Rush to reverse Operation Chaos voting strategy!)
Obama, with the Wright fiasco, has proven what most of us on the right, and those on the left with more than two functioning brain cells, have known since he announced -- Obama is an empty suit who is not ready for prime time.
Que to Hillary to enter from stage left extending the olive branch and offering Obama the VP slot. The blacks stay on the DNC plantation, about half of the college students stay while the rest spend Halloween weekend 2008 smashed with their substance of choice.
ahhh *^%&#(^
The last thing I want McCain running against is an Clinton/Obama ticket.
I have two words for Barry ---- Al Gore. Does Obama want to be the VP to a Clinton administration and will he be willing to wait out 4/8/12/16 years. Too much can happen during those 4 to 16 years. Certainly all of those Obama idiots swooning now may have a few recession years out of college. Jimmy Carter was a big slap in the face to reality for some of the liberals who attended undergrad with me.
M Penny
Just a typical, small town, white girl...
The Clinton's daughter will probably run in 2016 or 2020.
...a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right...
---Thomas Paine---
Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary almost daily propounded here on redstate on Obama's blemished record on personal corruption, voters still think Obama is a far better choice than McCain on this issue. That McCain far outperforms Hillary is to be expected, but also indicates this is not a party issue. Obviously Hillary will not try to make this a contest over honest government, so we need to hit Obama over the head with the housing situation, his wife's hospital promotion, the "work" in 2001, now before the Democrats coalesce behind him. Its not the most compelling argument against him, but if this stuff gets out there while its still early, it can damage his credibility on the topic.
"Many of us are quite disposed to barter [freedom] away for what we call energy, coercion, and some other terms we use as vaguely as that of liberty - There is often as great a rage for change and novelty in politics, as in amusements and fashions." ~ Federal Farmer
politics. He is still viewed as squeaky clean when there is a toxic cloud of corruption swirling around him. (which is what you should expect from any Democrat coming out of the Chicago machine).
Never underestimate the disinterest, willful ignorance, or downright stupidity of the public.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
and the VRWC Attack Machine (or was that Hillary?) hasn't zeroed in on that one yet.
____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
If voters mistrust Obama on the issues, and think he's a condescending phony who handgs out with radical racists and terrorists, but at least he's honest....that ain't gonna save him.
"No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong." - Winston Churchill
but the distance between the public image and reality regarding this issue is distressing and reveals a deficiency in our ability to brand him.
"Many of us are quite disposed to barter [freedom] away for what we call energy, coercion, and some other terms we use as vaguely as that of liberty - There is often as great a rage for change and novelty in politics, as in amusements and fashions." ~ Fed
The media has not even begun to tear McCain to pieces. If you think Obama has had a rough time, let's check back next October to see what will have been done to McCain.
It won't be pretty, and only half of it might be true.
Obama must know that he cannot compete on an issue by issue basis with John McCain and that head-to-head debates will make that perfectly clear. I still think that if the election were held today, McCain would likely lose to either Dem, but with each passing day and with each bit of scrutiny of the candidates, McCain's chances improve.
Fight On!