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September 5, 2008 3:39 PM

McCain's Acceptance Speech Draws Bigger Audience Than Obama's

Barack Obama may have had a much larger crowd watching his acceptance at Invesco Field in Denver than John McCain did inside the Republican Convention hall in St. Paul, but according to Neilsen ratings released today, more people watched McCain's speech on TV.

38.9 million people viewed McCain's address to his convention in St. Paul, while 38.4 million watched Obama's speech in Denver, according to the Neilsen ratings.

Significantly more men than women watched McCain's speech, while more women than men watched Obama's speech.

More than 5 million more white viewers watched McCain's speech, but more than 4.5 million African-Americans tuned into to watch Obama accept his party's nomination.
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by rktsci3127 September 5, 2008 4:18 PM PDT
Well, McCain had a past and future to talk about so it was more interesting. On the other hand, Obama had the Greek Temple (or whatever it was)back drop so it was at least funny.
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by fastporsche September 5, 2008 4:18 PM PDT
It''s over Left-Wing and elite media.

Obama needs to start explaining some things, too. Namely his association with people wanting to bring harm to our Country.
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by fastporsche September 5, 2008 4:19 PM PDT
It''s over Left-Wing and elite media.

Obama needs to start explaining some things, too. Namely his association with people wanting to bring harm to our Country.
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by twocanpete September 5, 2008 4:36 PM PDT
People tuned in to watch McCain for the same reason they watch NASCAR, they want to see a good wreck!
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by September 5, 2008 4:36 PM PDT
Because most of us tuned in to see the train wreck. We know we should turn away and not look but we just couldn''t help ourselves.
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by demsts September 5, 2008 5:05 PM PDT
It is a good sign that the American people are making the effort to make the right choice for President.
McCain benefited from the extraordinary questionable publicity generated by his running mate and because more people were home from the summer holidays.
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by jone775 September 5, 2008 5:05 PM PDT
texaslib: "you hit it on the nail" buddy...hahaha
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by lanawonders September 5, 2008 5:17 PM PDT
Maybe that''s why more people were disappointed.
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by ipublius September 5, 2008 5:25 PM PDT
I was struck by the fact that not even John McCain wants to be a Republican this year.
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by caryherrman September 5, 2008 5:31 PM PDT
An enlightening speech with substance and precision. I want to thank you Senator McCain, even when we gave up on ourselves- you never did, and you''re bring us back together to fight together to be the America God intended for us to be. God bless you, Senator McCain- God bless America. You have my vote, my loyalty and my support. Profound enlightenment through courage. You truly will be, America''s next greatest leader.
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by caryherrman September 5, 2008 5:33 PM PDT
To 8 prolific, glorious years in the White House McCain!
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by kight67i September 5, 2008 5:36 PM PDT
I WONDER IF ANY OF YOU POSTING TRAINWRECKS,DISAPPOINTMENT AND SO ON HAVE EVER WORN A MILITARY UNIFORM,BEEN HELD CAPTIVE,BEATEN,WONDERING IF YOU WERE EVER GOING TO SEE HOME AGAIN. HAVE YOU EVER GIVEN ANYTHING EXCEPT WORDS THAT YOU PECK OUT ON A KEYBOARD? MUST BE NICE TO SIT WARM AND SAFE BEHIND SOMEONE ELSE''S SHIELD. WHETHER YOU LIKE THE POLITICS OR NOT, THAT MAN HAS MORE CHARACTER AND STRENGTH THAN YOU COULD POSSIBLY KNOW.
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by caryherrman September 5, 2008 5:40 PM PDT
Train wreck? My God, that was one of the greatest speeches of all times. I love having a candidate that we can all get behind, regardless of political parties or ideals. For once, we have an opportunity to ALSO ELECT CHARACTER, as opposed to ONLY CHARISMA. McCain is the heartbeat of this country right now, make no mistake about it. Train wrecks don''t KEEP viewers watching for an hour... an amazing moment in history. Thank you Senator McCain, and God bless you.
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by rosieod4prez September 5, 2008 5:58 PM PDT
AND as many of our loser Far left pundits pointed out before last night''s speech, McCain had to compete with the NFL. Ha ha ha ha

They thought more people would be watching the NFL than McCain, and it turns out in spite of the Footbal game - McCain does better than Obama.


Obama is TOAST, baby.

Obama
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by September 5, 2008 6:06 PM PDT
Knight67, being in the military is not one of the qualifications for being President of the U.S. Is it something positive on your resume, of course, but does it automatically qualify you to be President absolutely not. McCain doesn''t have the judgement nor the temperment to be President of the U.S. Also, he''s been part of the problem in Washington and now he wants us to reward him with four more. I think not.
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by September 5, 2008 6:08 PM PDT
caryhermann...greatest speeches of all time? Sheesh, what speech were listening to certainly not McCain''s.
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by September 5, 2008 6:11 PM PDT
RosieOD4Prez...name calling is the first clue of having nothing of substance to say.
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by obungler September 5, 2008 6:20 PM PDT
Go McCain/Palin!!!

ROH! ROH! ROH!
Reply to this comment
by maliben September 5, 2008 6:33 PM PDT
I have a feeling that more people watched McCain last night than Obama''s speech, because they wanted to hear if he was finally, after months of campaining, going to unleash his radical new strategies for fixing the economy, healthcare, and education. You know, those boring subjects that 95 % of Americans actually care about? The fact that he spent 70% of his speech focusing on his personal story about being a patriotic POW and 30% reiterating failed Bush policies speaks volumes about what kind of change he will bring to our country. That speech he gave last night, while placating the few thousand that showed up at the convention, showed that he had nothing new to attract the vast majority of moderates, independents, and disaffected Bush supporters that they need to bolster the Republican Party. Now that we all know his position, it will be that much easier for Americans to make an informed decision. Thank you, McCain.
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by ordisi1 September 5, 2008 6:34 PM PDT
Wow. John McCain''s story is amazing. I would be honored to have John S. McCain as my President. After his speech, I see him in a completely different light. What an blazing hot convention for Republicans. EVERYONE hit a home run.
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by kight67i September 5, 2008 6:35 PM PDT
TEXASLIB, OKAY THEN DOES COMMUNITY ORGANIZER?, REMEBER OBAMA HAS BEEN A SENATOR ALSO. OBVIOUSLY, WHEN I SAID REGARDLESS OF POLITICS, YOU NOR OBAMA UNDERSTAND THE STRENGTH OF CHARACHTER, COURAGE THAT IT TAKES TO VOLUNTEER TO SERVE, WE HAVE MANY WHO DO. SARAH''S SON DOES TOO. THOSE WHO DO NOT ONLY ENJOY THE COMFORT IT PROVIDES. THE FAMILIES OF 9/11 ALSO KNOW WHAT IT PROTECTS US FROM. PRAY THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CALL ON THAT PROTECTION BEFORE YOU STRIKE AGAINST SOMEONE WITH THE INTEGRITY TO WEAR ONE
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by ordisi1 September 5, 2008 6:37 PM PDT
Candidates don''t release their detailed plans during their one-hour acceptance speech. Come on...you all know this. The meat comes in the debates. You also can log on to the McCain website to get more details if you so desire.
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by maliben September 5, 2008 7:01 PM PDT
Ordis, I don''t think we expect candidates to release every detail of their plan to fix the problems in our country, but surely you would agree that the issues should be the main focus, and not the candidate''s life story.

P.S. And believe you me, I''m looking forward to those debates.
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by caryherrman September 5, 2008 7:08 PM PDT
An enlightening speech with substance and precision. I want to thank you Senator McCain, even when we gave up on ourselves- you never did, and you''''re bring us back together to fight together to be the America God intended for us to be. God bless you, Senator McCain- God bless America. You have my vote, my loyalty and my support. Profound enlightenment through courage. You truly will be, America''''s next greatest President. -Cary Herrman
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by September 5, 2008 7:24 PM PDT
Night671...My husband was a Marine. I was a Marine wife so please spare me the military argument. I am not going to vote for McCain because he was a POW. He served his country and I find that admirable. However, he is not fit to be President. Why don''t you google what many veterans think of McCain. Obama has been a better advocate for veterans than McCain has been. Google Obama and the GI Bill. Google Obama and Walter Reed. Google McCain and POW families to see how they have been treated by McCain.
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by September 5, 2008 7:25 PM PDT
ordisi1...yea right, we all believe you just made up your mind last night...sheesh.
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by September 5, 2008 7:29 PM PDT
McCain has no substance. He is running on being a POW and denigrating Obama. That worked the last eight years but it won''t work this year. He''s been part of the problem for the last 8 years and now he claims he will be the solution for the next four years. He''s already sold his soul to the devil.
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by mandalay-bay September 5, 2008 7:38 PM PDT
Those "speeches" at the RNC were cr.ap. I didn''''t know if i was watching a political party convention or some kind of a painfully long and unfunny attempt at a stand up comedy routine. They barely even mentioned the issues facing this country that were caused by THEIR leadership (if you can call it that). Of course, who would want to? That would just remind the voters of what an horrendous failure this republican administration has been. It was speaker after speaker getting up there acting like a 3 year old and making fun of community organizers.....yeah I guess they wouldn''''t know much about that considering they think if you make 4 million a year you are middle class. He11, Palin admitted she doesn''t know what the Vice President even does! and she''s trying to be elected as one in 2 months!!

For those who missed it:

No discussion of the issues
Distractions
Lies
Terrorists
9/11
War, War, War
McSame was a POW.

That pretty much sums up the RNC.

Republicans hope you''''re too stupid or lazy to fact check.

Palins speech and McSame''''s speeches in particular were so sprinkled with lies it was hard to find a true statement wedged between all the BS.

Palin stood there, read a teleprompter, and threw out insults. Dave Chappelle could have done that, And at least he could have made it funny.
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by September 5, 2008 7:47 PM PDT
CaryHermann...Leaders are born, they are not made. McCain cannot make himself into a leader no matter how hard he tries to hoodwink us into thinking he is. He''s already sold himself to the Bush/Cheney operatives into recreating him into something we''ve already heard, already done, and has already been proven to be a failure.
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by mandalay-bay September 5, 2008 7:50 PM PDT
01/20/2009. End of an Error.
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by pooglywoogly September 5, 2008 7:54 PM PDT
McCain speech was OK for the 3/4, but the final ten minutes were quite good. I haven''t been much of a McCain fan, but I do believe that of the two candidates he is the most likely to bring reform. McCain has a history of seeking reform, whereas Obama just talks about it. Obama has never been properly vetted and likely won''t be until after the election (if then). No other person could count an unrepentant terrorist (Bill Ayers) as both a friend and a financial contributor and get away with it. Afterall, what does it say about the judgment of Obama? Additionally, no other candidate could attend a racist church for 20 years and claim he had no knowledge of it. No one would such a ridiculous claim seriously from any other candidate, and again what does that say about Obama''s judgment? Either he agrees with rev wright''s racist antisemetic views or he''s afraid to stand up to him. Does that sound like someone strong enough to bring reform? Of course he distanced himself from wright when he had no other choice, but again that speaks to Obama''s character. He was not a reformer in the Illinios state senate, but he did fight against reform when it would hurt his party. And Obama often hijacked legislation written by others and claimed it as his own. Bill Clinton was right about Obama when he said "this is the biggest fairytale ever." Obama is all fluff and his lack of legislative accomplishments prove that more than anything McCain could ever say.
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by ljb6599 September 5, 2008 7:56 PM PDT
That''s good!!!Then many got to watch a boring speech with no details as to how he is going to help the middle class.
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by pooglywoogly September 5, 2008 7:59 PM PDT
I fear for our nation if Obama is elected. We''ve tried on the job training with Bush and that didn''t work. Now we have Obama who is even less qualified than Bush was. I know, Obama is going to surround himself with advisors so his screwups won''t be too bad, but isn''t a little nerve racking after what we just went through with Bush. I don''t want someone whose not qualified to be president, so I cannot vote for Obama.
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by whitemale08 September 5, 2008 8:09 PM PDT
The fact that McCain might croak and heaven forbid some Miss Congeniality were to have to step in his shoes and run the country frieghtens me more then I can describe.

But on top of that, the very fact that you have John McCain who throughout his life has shown poor judgement and relied on connections from rich people like his wife freightens me even more.

McCain admits he knows little about the economy which needs the attention of a smart and sound decision maker like Barrack Obama who has the guts to raise taxes on the rich to pay for the wars Republicans insisted on carrying out but more importantly to shore up our fiat-currency the "dollar" to curb the hyper-inflaton caused "defecit spending".

I hope we see Obama as President. We simply cannot afford more George Bush''s policies from John McCain.
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by September 5, 2008 8:11 PM PDT
PooglyWoogly...everything you just said was a bunch poppycock. We could all get into guilt by association. McCain''s campaign is full of lobbyists. Lobbyists for foreign dictators, the banking industry responsible for Enron and oil speculators. Ayers donated $200 to Obama''s campaign and sat on a non-profit organization for the poor. Ayers is a professor at the University of Illinois. Why would Obama not sit on a non-profit organization board for the poor just because Ayers, a professor, was also on that board? Regarding Rev. Wright, there are many people who go to church who''s pastor says some whacky things. Rev. Wright came from an era of blatant racism however, he did and does many great things for the poor in his community in which Obama was directly involved as a community organizer. You judge him on a few seconds out of 30 something years. Rev. Wright threw Obama under the bus which is why Obama had to disassociate himself. Obama has never done anything in his career to suggest that he is racist or anything but above board. Has he made mistakes, of course, just as we all have had and he''s admitted them. Are you holding the same judgement toward Palin because she has a whacky pastor also and she has involvement in the whacky Alaska Independence Party? Obama has a history of searching for knowledge from all sides, listening to all points of views. That''s an attribute not a detriment.
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by whitemale08 September 5, 2008 8:13 PM PDT
Can you picture a John McCain cabinet? Miss Congeniality, Archie Bunker as Homeland Security, the Cable Guy as Treasury head, Bob Hope to run the State Dept.
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by greenfun September 5, 2008 8:18 PM PDT
Caucus fraud by team BO anyone?
http://victoriakos.blogspot.com/2008/04/obama-accused-of-cheating-in-caucuses.html
http://politizine.blogspot.com/2008/01/update-more-on-iowa-vote-fraud.html
http://alt.nntp2http.com/politics/socialism/2008/05/34f6cf6741a17669e4d1ac648c6ab1b5.html
http://annienyc.blogspot.com/2008/08/12-of-reports-of-texas-caucus-fraud-in.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/524991/how_obama_and_richardson_cheated_in.html?cat=9
http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/5/2/22818/72392
Iowa caucus

http://www.observer.com/2008/clinton-volunteer-thinks-obama-cheated
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by September 5, 2008 8:24 PM PDT
greenfun...if you can''t post from reputable sites then don''t bother posting at all. I could sit here and post all kinds of things from kooky websites as proof against McCain or Palin or whomever is in the public but it doesn''t make it true.
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by chika6 September 5, 2008 8:34 PM PDT
CBS in your wildest imagination. They left their tele on not to listen to Mccain. A student who listens to Mccain will fail his exams.
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by September 5, 2008 8:34 PM PDT
PooglyWoogly...Bush makes decisions regarding his gut feelings, which is almost always wrong. I hate to tell you this but I''m pretty sure McCain has the exact same philosophy. Obama makes decisions on knowledge. Listening to all points of view and has the good judgement of follow through. Obama isn''t even President yet but has already influenced policy...such as a timeline in Iraq, sending more troops to Afghanistan (which he said in 2007) and going into the caves of Pakistan (which he also said in 2007) to flush out Al Qaeda which is happening right now. I know change is hard for some folks but relying on the ways of the past is much more dangerous. It''s time for new leadership, new ideas and a new direction because the past is driving our country into the abyss. The history of our country and what has made our country great is taking risks, moving into new directions, not relying on and living in the past. McCain is the past and Obama is the future. He is the 21st century and he has the vision to move our country forward.
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by observantx September 5, 2008 8:51 PM PDT
I tried very hard to listen to John McCain , hoping that he would really be a maverick. Sadly, about half way through the speeech I turned the channel. The reason: Same old Repugnican Krap wrapped in a new slogan, "reform"

REFORM! Who the h*ll is he kidding?" He''s up to his ears in Karl Turdblossom and the same lobbyists and special interests that that have nearly ruined this nation and killed so many of our brave sons and daughters in Iraq.

I''m not buying it. Not one. single. solitary. word.

John: Just give it up. Stop dirtying yourself in the hog''s slop pit. You used to be so much better.
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by September 5, 2008 8:52 PM PDT
Great leaders inspire us to be the best that we can be. McCain couldn''t have drawn 85,000 people to Invesco Field. I keep hearing McCain followers compare the masses that Obama draws to Hitler and that is ridiculous. Hitler was about nationalism, wrapping himself in the flag, hatred, us vs. them...sound familiar, that is what right-wingers do, divide and conquer. What about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King? They inspired us to make change, to get involved, to change our country from the bottom up, to be the best that she can be, to be the shining beacon for the world to follow. That is Obama, he is the leader of our generation. We cannot let this opportunity slip through our hands because our country is at stake.
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by jongood56 September 5, 2008 9:10 PM PDT
It''''s no wonder John had a much larger audience share than NObama....After all, the 50%-Amerifrican puppet''''s whole campaign is constructed of nothing more solid than that styrofoam Greek Toga House he stood before.

Any promises this character offers is founded in a real world resume that consists of one blank sheet.

ROTFLMGTBO!!!

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by franknyc2 September 5, 2008 11:07 PM PDT
McCain dislodged Obama of some 500,000 viewerships seing their acceptance speech it proved the magnanimity and effectivenes of the American Flag against the fake
ObamaAcropolis made of styrofoam!
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by franknyc2 September 5, 2008 11:12 PM PDT
Media zealots favoring Obama will feel sorry ifor we Sarah Palin supporters are waging campaign to boycott their media outlets, moreso during the rating period.

I am the father of a child with special needs, i have received hundreds of email all over the country from parents of children with needs, to go out and campaign for Sarah. We are hundreds of thousands all over America.

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by heybone111 September 5, 2008 11:28 PM PDT
"John McCain unleashed electrifying speech last night".

John McCain''s speech at the republican convention, and his political record show resolve, and diligence in his determination to bring integrity, and ethical principles, into his the White House. He has proven himself to be a man of moral character, and tenacity, bringing honor back into the political arena. While inviting the Nation to join him is the fight to rebuild a strong America. "How refreshing"!

I would like to speak to the endless rhetoric, and undue use of exaggeration in contemptuous and condescending remarks from the %u201CObama supporting public%u201D. %u201CIt is bad for politics, and it%u2019s bad for your candidate%u201D. You can be civil to make your point, "even if it%u2019s a bad point".
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by heybone111 September 5, 2008 11:37 PM PDT
DON''T BE FOOLED - jongood56
OBAMAS BERLIN %u201CSMOKE AND MIRRORS SPEECH%u201D

The American and European mainstream media reported Mr. Obama%u2019s Berlin speech in hagiographic terms. They repeatedly referenced the thousands of people who attended Mr. Obama%u2019s speech in Berlin.

Then Obama gave a impressive speech in the tradition of great U.S. presidents such as Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy %u2026%u201D

Yet, in all the reporting about Mr. Obama%u2019s speech in Berlin, not once was it reported ANY media outlets in America or Europe that Obama%u2019s appearance was preceded by two free concerts by Reggae artist Patrice and rock artist Reamonn. Both of whom are very popular performers in Germany.

With all the comparisons with Kennedy%u2019s %u201CIch bin ein Berliner%u201D speech and Reagan%u2019s %u201CMr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall%u201D speech, I do not recall either of those speeches being preceded by free reggae and rock concerts. I do not think Kennedy or Reagan needed the cheap publicity stunt of a free concert by a popular singing star to be able to attract a crowd.

This is not the first time Mr. Obama has used a marquis name singer to draw a crowd and make it seem that the crowd was there for him. To sight another%u2026 During Mr. Obama%u2019s May speech in Portland, he was preceded by a free concert given by The Decemberists. %u201CSmoke and mirrors%u201D.
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by amnstymccain September 6, 2008 12:11 AM PDT
Media zealots favoring Obama will feel sorry ifor we Sarah Palin supporters are waging campaign to boycott their media outlets, moreso during the rating period.

I am the father of a child with special needs, i have received hundreds of email all over the country from parents of children with needs, to go out and campaign for Sarah. We are hundreds of thousands all over America.
Posted by franknyc2 at 11:12 PM : Sep 05, 2008
*** Just because Amnesty Mccain has special needs, doesn''t mean you should support the oil company executives and Amnesty Mccain! Do you really think republicans should be allowed to get away with anything? Like the have the last 8 years? just to be rewarded with 4 more years of destroying the middle class! Why not vote for someone who uses intelligence, rather than supporting whatever the oil company execs and walmart execs tell him to do! I hate Amnesty mccain!
Reply to this comment
by amnstymccain September 6, 2008 12:13 AM PDT
It''''''''s no wonder John had a much larger audience share than NObama....After all, the 50%-Amerifrican puppet''''''''s whole campaign is constructed of nothing more solid than that styrofoam Greek Toga House he stood before.
Any promises this character offers is founded in a real world resume that consists of one blank sheet.
ROTFLMGTBO!!!
Posted by jongood56 at 09:10 PM : Sep 05, 2008
*** You talk about african-american puppets, yet you are a puppet of corporate america and the oil companies! How can you sleep at night knowing you support Amnesty Mccain who wants to let over 20 million illegal immigrants get amnesty to become citizens and take away american jobs!
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by erichsh September 6, 2008 12:25 AM PDT
I suspect one reason McCain did better in the ratings because almost every journalist and pundit not forced to cover the Republican convention went to bed early that night.
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