Analysis: McCain Wins As Dems Bicker

U.S. News Columnist Gloria Borger Says Battle Between Clinton And Obama Has Benefited Republican Candidate

(US News)  This news analysis was written by U.S. News & World Report columnist Gloria Borger.

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By the time Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama spoke at a forum on manufacturing in Pittsburgh recently, they were still consumed by their latest food fight. This one was about some of Obama's ill-chosen words at a San Francisco fundraiser where he said that, after years of neglect, small-town voters had become bitter and "cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them ... as a way to explain their frustrations." Soon Clinton was drinking a beer and a shot of Crown Royal, full of nostalgia about how her granddaddy taught her to shoot a gun. Obama dubbed her "Annie Oakley," while Clinton started to run paid ads about Obama's elitism. Then Clinton took to the stage to tell steelworkers, yet again, that she had been "disappointed" by Obama's initial remarks.

They hissed. Some shouted, "No." This wasn't the debate they wanted. Their message: We want this election to be about us. Too bad that memo never made it to the last Clinton-Obama debate. The topics: the pressing questions about Obama's flagless suit lapels and whether he has ever socialized with radicals from the 1960s.

The winner: John McCain. He had been in Pennsylvania, too, only he was talking about the economy. Sure, his speech was late. And yes, it contained all of the appropriate bromides for Republican base voters--making the Bush tax cuts permanent, for instance. But his prescription had a populist bent, with calls for a summer gas tax moratorium and for the wealthy elderly to pay more for their prescription drugs. McCain also took offense at the "extravagant salaries and severance deals of CEOs" and their "reckless corporate conduct." Smart Nixon-going-to-China politics for a Republican, especially one who wants to attract independent voters.

So as the Democrats bicker, McCain pulls just about even in matchups in the national polls. That's closer than he has any right to be, given the unpopularity of the president and the Iraq war, not to mention that a whopping 81 percent of voters think the country is headed down the wrong track. Democrats remain the favorites to win the election, but, as former George W. Bush pollster (and now independent) Matthew Dowd tells me: "They're taking a likely Democratic victory and turning it into a probable Democratic victory that could well become a dead heat." And it's not that McCain has a brilliant political strategy. "He's gained everything," adds Dowd, "and has had to do virtually nothing for it."

The problem for these Democrats is that they don't really disagree about much. Early on, they argued about the finer points of healthcare and who is really more against trade deals. Now, it's about who hates corporate lobbyists the most. Or which top aide should be fired for doing or saying something stupid. Or which candidate made the dumbest mistake. Truth is, when you agree on the big things, the best you can do is to try to make the smaller things seem more important. Or make the case that you're more committed on the larger issues. So it becomes a matter of not where you stand but how strongly you stand for it. When intensity trumps all, get ready for an unilluminating--and annoying--fight. Which is where we are..

Lost trust. The problem for Clinton is that all of her efforts to peel away Obama's smooth facade and turn him into an unpatriotic elitist (among other things) haven't shored up her own credentials. A recent Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that she has lost trust among voters, a majority of whom now see her as dishonest. The same survey shows that Obama is now considered--by 2 to 1--to be the most electable Democrat. Clinton, when pressed publicly, had to say that "yes, yes, yes," Obama can beat McCain. But that's not what her team is whispering to superdelegates.

There are those hopeful Democratic Party leaders who say the nastiness will melt away once there's a nominee. But now fully one third of Democratic voters say they might not suport the party's pick if it is not their choice. "The more bitter this fight, supporters become harder to move and unify," says Dowd.

So it's no surprise that when you ask a top McCain adviser whom his campaign would prefer to run against, he professes ambivalence. "I don't care," he says. "Either one of them." At this point, it's hard to disagree.

[sgtrds]

The idea that McCain is somehow gaining by the dissension in the Democratic party is a GOP wet dream. This is the Democrats year and even they can''t scr*ew it up. McCain is already toast.

[ioweign]

I will not stay home (Nader is looking better and better everyday) but I agree that the Dems just don''''t get it. Howard Dean has shown himself to be quite the idiot in first coming up with the zero sum game of not allowing FL and MI delegates to be seated. Then once HE approved of this ruling, he hasn''''t had the b@lls to stand up and say this is the way it is and we have to abide by it. As an Independent I am constantly amazed at the lack of backbone and pragmatism coming out of the Democratic party. I find it hard to believe that after eight years of the worst President in my life time, that the Dems stand to loose in 2008. Incredible.

Posted by Policrypt at 04:04 PM : Apr 25, 2008

Gee - start your own political party or better yet - run for office...

[ioweign]

I can''t wait for the first Obama/McCain debate!!!!!

Posted by GreatDriveW at 07:11 PM : Apr 25, 2008


The way McCain is already flip flopping who can guess where he will be on an issue...

[ioweign]

You think winning a debate and not their ACTUAL QUALIFICATIONS makes someone fit to be the President.


Posted by DemWatcher at 09:16 PM : Apr 25, 2008

Not much to it...

Qualifications for the Office of President

Article II, Section 1
No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.

Amendment XXII, Section 1
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.

[nmsuip]

Looks like 4 more years...

[kansas1946]

Maybe John McCain''s campaign is sending Hillary''s campaign money. If not, it should be. They can just set back and let Hillary do their dirty work.

[demwatcher]

Posted by GreatDriveW at 07:11 PM : Apr 25, 2008

Another deluded dumbarse. You think winning a debate and not their ACTUAL QUALIFICATIONS makes someone fit to be the President.

How pathetic!

[greatdrivew]

The only contest McCain is winning is the Deluded Hack of the Year award.

The final analysis is that McCain won''t last five seconds in a debate with Obama.

So let''s all just wait for Hillary and Bill''s train-wreck of a campaign to end, and then, the fun begins.

I can''t wait for the first Obama/McCain debate!!!!!

[wolfi101]

I understand dinslc''s views. I''m an Independent myself and the Dems (mostly Obama) have brought out a large number of Republicans, Independents, and new voters to their one candidate. They best show a little leadership and try to resolve this matter ASAP.

Thus far, it has been quite weak. [ I do believe, that this benefits McCain at this point. ]

[truthspeake2]

THE MEDIA SENDS OUT HATE - AND YOU FOLKS LEAP ON THAT HATE AND RECYCLE IT. SHUT THE MEDIA DOWN, THEY EITHER TELL NEW OF THE DAY AND LEAVE THEIR PERSONAL SO CALLED UNBAISED OPINIONS OUT OF IT, OR THEY SHUT DOWN, THE MEDIA IS THE REASON BEHIND SO MUCH DIVISION IN AMERICA, THEY RECYCLE OLD HATE AND OLD IDEA''''S AND THEN SIT BACK AND ACT AS IF THEY DIDNT DO ANYTHING, SHUT THE MEDIA DOWN. MSNBC, FOX, CNN, ABC, CBS, ALL NEED TO HAVE THEIR SO CALLED POLITIC DISCUSSION SHUT DOWN FOR THE SAKE OF AMERICA. THEY ARE DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY.


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Posted by blackspirit3 at 03:56 PM : Apr 25, 2008


Unfortunately my friend, the media is just the visual and audible mouthpiece for approximately 43% of Americans whose feelings and opinions resonate as one. Sad that not much has changed and it appears that it never will.

[smiley676]

Regardless of which candidate is nominated, the Democratic primary system was completely unfair.

The fact that 2 states votes didn''t count and the fact that super delegates get to chose, just shows how far removed Dems are from the people.

[jy2008]

Hahahahahahahahaahahaahhaahahahha
You have got to believe this.
So much to say. Get back to it later.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/133557/page/4


Hahahahahahahahaahahaahhaahahahha
You have got to believe this.
So much to say. Let us lay it out one by one
http://www.newsweek.com/id/133557/page/4


said Davis, who was friendly with Palmer at the time.
"She went out and recruited Barack."
...................
She filed petitions to get on the ballot for the spring 1996 primary,
but Obama took steps to make sure voters wouldn''t get a chance to pick her.
...................


1. Is this so called NEW politics?
No one blames you if just say it is politics.
You call it new politics? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm


2. Good, Bad, and Ugly
Someone tells you where treasure is.
It is fine you just take all and run away.
But instead you kill that poor person.
Wow, speechless
What a character


3. Gentleman
He is really a ''nice gentleman''
fight hard with Woman with SKILLs
You follower should be very proud. LOL


More coming.....

[dinslc]

Here''s what these Dems dont'' get:
Sure, the democratic party may come together in the end, and rally around their nominee.

What about Independents?

I am an "unaffiliated" Obama supporter.

I have ZERO loyalty to the democratic party, as i am NOT a democrat.

If the DNC ends up overturning the results of all these primaries and caucuses, not only will i stay home come November, i will never again have any respect or faith in the so-called "Democratic" party.

[mrtutto]

For the next few days we will see a pleasant Hillary Clinton making jokes about her husband liking barbecue... Certainly not the warrior Hillary who said she would obliterate Iran. The press must have thought she was just kidding,because they didn''t really cover it. Maybe she was talking about barbecue on an international level. Even with such a big win in Pennsylvania... she got 10 million, Obama got 3 new superdelegates....you know the ones her and Bill have been pestering for some time to back her. If Barack blows her out with a 20 point win in North Carolina, CNN will report that it was the black vote that went for Obama. I looked in the mirror this morning after I voted for Obama and I saw a white face. The Clinton camp is working overtime to perpetuate the notion that Governor Rendell put forth... "there are some people in Pennsylvania that will not vote for a black man" this puts Obama in a though spot because he is part black and part white. Listen to Clinton''s past speeches. She panders to voters of every state with what they want to hear. She is a vision of olden day monarchies who used to travel down the street and throw money to the poor people.

[alanrobisch]

Bicker instead of debate suggested by another poster is correct. The Clintons are driving voters to McCain which guarantees us four more years of non-representative government by special interests.


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Posted by x32792 at 02:49 PM : Apr 25, 2008
+ report abuse
I guess all those large corporate interests that have supported clinton will just go away when she is elected and expect nothing in return. Give me a break. McCain is no more beholden than Hillary. IMO he is much less connected to big corporations

[alanrobisch]

When the democratic nominee is chosen, the playing field is level. That''''s when the real contest begins. To say that democratic primary debate "help" McCain is silly - at best.


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Posted by IRLiberal at 02:39 PM : Apr 25, 2008
+ report abuse

not according to the polls. People are becoming entrenched in their dislike for either hillary or Obama and this will linger in some. I have noted many times on this site people stating that they would vote for mccain or sit it out if either of the dems get nominated.

I think this is more likely if Hillary is nominated because their is a significant chance she will be nominated based solely on superdelegates not pledged delegates. This will definitely alienate many black voters who are keys to a democratic victory.

also the attacks they are making make people see McCain as more statesmanlike not just a down in the mud politician

[dbglegal]

Don''t blame the candidates. Blame ourselves for constantly dogging candidates on every single issue. Obama no matter how much he preaches for change is not good enough for the title of President. Hillary is better but has to work on her campaign and remove herslf from Bubba. People are desperate for change especially with two terms of Bush. But lets be rational and smart on picking who fits the bill. I don''t care Obama is from Mars or the son of Jesus, he has no experience. Hillary has done awesome things but constantly puts her foot in her mouth. The bottom line is this debate/bicker feast that we feed on will fizzle with one result.

[x32792]

And these are the best candidates our two parties can offer us? We are betrayed by the members of our self serving, life time office holding political class.

[paladin777-2009]

Over 1 million Ron Paul Republicans will not support McCain in the general election. To support a neo-con or a populist/socialist would be an affront to every sensible thinking anti-statist, free-market, limited government Republican/Libertarian/Constitutionalist. McCain 1 out of 4 Republican voters in Pennsylvania didn''t vote for McCain, and that is very telling of his support among the conservative base.

[x32792]

Bicker instead of debate suggested by another poster is correct. The Clintons are driving voters to McCain which guarantees us four more years of non-representative government by special interests.