Comments on: Memo Shows Obama Camp Planned To Hit McCain On Being "So Old"

[jsilver2th]

The article above: "Republicans have accused the Obama campaign of alluding to McCain%u2019s age by using words like %u201Cerratic,%u201D %u201Cstubborn,%u201D and %u201Clurching.%u201D

Well it probably wouldn''t be very effective except the fact that he is erratic, subborn and lurching and too old as well.

[ttmo2]

Nate Silver, fivethirtyeight.com on that Zogby one day poll:

Matt Drudge is touting the results of a one-day sample in a Zogby poll, which apparently showed John McCain ahead by 1 point.

There are a couple of significant problems with this.

Firstly, there is a reason that pollsters include multiple days of interviewing in their tracking polls; a one-day sample is extremely volatile, and have very high margins for error.

Secondly, the Zogby polls have been particularly volatile, because he uses nonsensical party ID weightings, which mean that his weighting process involves making numbers doing naughty things that they usually don''t like to do.

Thirdly, Zogby polls are generally a lagging rather than a leading indicator. This is because he splits his interviewing period over two days; most of the interviews that were conducted in this sample took place on Thursday night, with a few this afternoon. The reason this is significant is because lots of other pollsters were in the field on Thursday night, and most of them evidently showed good numbers for Obama, as he improved his standing in 6 of the 7 non-Zogby trackers.

Finally, there was no favorable news for McCain to drive these numbers. Polls don''t move without a reason (or at least they don''t move much).

[ttmo2]

This is silly. First off, Obama obviously nixed this since there have been no ads and no major campaigns to emphasize his age. Secondly, his age is actually a legitimate issue. Just being 72 doesn''t disqualify you from being a good president. But McCain has had stage 2 melanoma removed in 2000. One out of 3 patients die within 10 years after having a stage 2 melanoma. If McCain had made a responsible pick for VP, maybe we could accept that risk. But, the thought of a Palin presidency is ... well, unthinkable. If you don''t beleive me about Palin, how about both Bush 1 and Bush 2''s Secretary of States?

[guerino4]

PAY ATTENTION EVERYBODY
go see that video at this adress
http://www.reopen911.info/video/hacking-democracy.html

This is a reporting concerning the automatic voting machine. The web site is french but the reporting is in english and please share this adress as much as you can because the biggest problem is that peoples forget. Be aware when you go to the poll.

FOR A REAL DEMOCRATY

[freedom_2008]

Age would not have been an issue in this election if he hadn''t chosen such an incompetent running mate. The fact that he has makes it a HUGE issue and reflects very poor judgement on McCain''s behalf. His choice of running mate was perhaps the worst choice of his career. It is likely what has cost him this election.

[neederbaur]

ZOGBY SATURDAY: Republican John McCain has pulled back within the margin of error... The three-day average holds steady, but McCain outpolled Obama 48% to 47% in Friday, one day, polling. He is beginning to cut into Obama''s lead among independents, is now leading among blue collar voters, has strengthened his lead among investors and among men, and is walloping Obama among NASCAR voters. Joe the Plumber may get his license after all..

[stevemccoy7]

Don''t give Obama/Pelosi/Reid/Barney Frank and possibly Al Franken a blank check...

It will be a NIGTMARE!!!

[piercetheval]

JACK LaLANNE FOR PRESIDENT!!!!

[anokie]

This is a terrible article. A sinister title implying Obama was going to run with some major ageism theme. And then we find out it is a little parenthetical point in some unattributed memo that never got any light of day. You obviously wrote this with the knowledge that some people just skim headlines. Do you really feel such a strong need to add to the divisiveness of this race?

[tannerbird]

jimi1956 this may be a good thing.