For Swing States, The Watchword Is "Worry"

Washington Post: Democratic Delegates Express Anxiety About Obama’s Standing

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Alec MacGillis and Paul Kane.

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The anxiety comes in several forms, but particularly common is the pained look, followed by the quick glance away and the lengthy pause, in the face of a simple question: How is Barack Obama doing?

"Ahhh . . .," said Barry Bogarde, political director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in Pennsylvania, a battleground state that the senator from Illinois needs to win. "Better," he finally said. "He's doing better."

Asked how things are going for Democrats in New Hampshire, another swing state that the party carried in 2004, the state party chairman, Ray Buckley, did not even mention Obama's race against Sen. John McCain.
He talked instead about efforts to win a Senate race and hold two congressional seats.

Jim Beasley, the commissioner of Ohio's Department of Transportation, did not have high hopes for Obama in his area of southern Ohio. "Ahhh, well. Rural Ohio will be difficult," he said. "Rural areas are difficult for him."

As the Democrats kicked off a convention designed to unite support behind Obama, interviews with several dozen delegates pointed to an undercurrent of anxiety among many from key swing states who will be charged with leading the push in their communities. They expressed doubts bordering on bewilderment: Why, in a year that had been shaping up as a watershed for Democrats, amid an economic downturn and an unpopular Republican presidency, is the race so tight?

The sentiment is strongest among former supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, though it is not limited to them. While many say they now back Obama -- a New York Times-CBS poll of delegates showed widespread support -- they are candid about the challenges they say he faces in their states.

Some have also shown signs of still being focused on the Democratic primaries and not being fully invested in the general-election effort. On Sunday night, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland echoed recent comments by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell that media coverage during the primaries had been biased in Obama's favor. And several top Clinton advisers will not be staying in Denver to see Obama accept the nomination, according to sources familiar with their schedules.

A CNN-Opinion Research Corp. poll of registered voters released Sunday found that roughly two-thirds of self-identified Clinton supporters are now backing Obama, while 27 percent said they will vote for McCain. Other polls have shown Obama receiving less support from Clinton backers.

To be sure, many delegates here confidently shared the campaign's assurance that all is going according to plan. They argued that polls understate Obama's strength because they miss many of his younger supporters who use cell phones, and that many voters are only now tuning in to the election. Judy Byrne Riley, a delegate from Niceville, Fla., said she is impressed by the excitement about Obama in her mostly Republican area. "He can carry the state," she said.

Delegates were interviewed at state get-togethers, at targeted events such as rural and African American caucuses, and on the street. They largely represented the swing states where the last few elections were decided -- Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida, as well as New Hampshire and others.

The delegates offered plenty of advice, such as urging Obama to deliver a more visceral message on the economy to win over stressed working-class voters.

"He's got to kick [butt] a little more about it," said Bill George, a former steelworker from western Pennsylvania who is the president of the state chapter of the AFL-CIO. Acknowledging that Obama's style may be too cerebral for that, George said Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., Obama's pick for running mate, could serve that role. "He's going to go run across this state and kick John McCain from one side to the other," George said.

But for some delegates, the concern is a more fundamental one: They do not share Obama's confidence that he can overcome the resistance many voters may have to electing a black president with an unusual background and name.

Some, such as Rendell, worry aloud about the "Bradley effect" -- the theory, disputed by some political scientists, that voters are likely to tell pollsters they will support a black candidate even though they don't intend to. With a little more than two months to go until Election Day, some of these most ardent and veteran Democrats have not bought into the idealism that has driven the campaign from the start and are unsure whether their neighbors and co-workers are ready for Obama.

[forevertru-2009]

I just noticed on my tv that White people appear to be getting more white and Black people are getting more black......oh well, what did they expect.

[forevertru-2009]

obama 8====)~~~~~0: The Democratic Party

[semperfi2008]

For Swing States, The Watchword Is "Worry"
Washington Post: Democratic Delegates Express Anxiety About Obama%u2019s Standing

I think the real phrase should read: "Be afraid, be very afraid". Hillary told ya so. The tide is now turning in McCain''s favor.

[republic1776]

I think when a Government worker runs for an Ofiice they should have to resign from the current position with NO future pay.
My employer won''t pay for me to take off a 1 1/2 years on while the payroll to get another job.
Why should us taxpayers have to.

[republic1776]

Obama can kiss off any of the states that Hillary won.
They will go with McCain.

[dogsoul]

"Ted Strickland echoed recent comments by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell that media coverage during the primaries had been biased in Obama''s favor. And several top Clinton advisers will not be staying in Denver to see Obama accept the nomination, according to sources familiar with their schedules. "

You know it''s funny.... liberals are simply NOT used to a world without the media beating a drum to THEIR tune... but when a liberal faces off against another liberal who''s got more favor with the media - they get juuuuuuust a taste of what it''s like to have media bias work AGAINST them for once... I gotta say, it''s been refreshing to say the least. And I gotta agree with the Clintons, the media DID favor Obama - but I don''t feel TOO badly for them.... after all, the MSM is so incredibly lopsided in favor of the liberal agenda it''s laughable - and yet all liberals can do is throw tantrums about little ol'' FoxNews or try to revive some outdated ''Fairness Doctrine'' to drown out conservative talk radio... fairness... psha, liberals don''t want fairness in media, THAT would REALLY do a number on them.... they NEED a massively biased mass media machine to keep thier socialist, treasonous, wholly unAmerican ideals in the mix...

Liberals - enemies of these United States of America

[docpeter-2009]

I am a vindictive feminist Hillary supporter and I am voting for McCain out of spite.

Posted by gop_forever at 09:33 AM : Aug 27, 2008
________________

I am beginning to understand you a little better now gop_forever (and that scares me). All this time I thought you were a Bible beating fundamentalist Christian, now I know better, you are an emotionally angst, delusional paranoid, and that latter scares me more than the former :-)

[bobmarisol]

August 27, 2000: Gore led Bush 53% - 44%

August 27, 2004: Kerry led Bush 55% - 42%

August 27, 2008: McCain leads Obama 46% - 44%

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Based on those numbers, you can stick a fork in Obama. He is done.

[themagic07]

The Honorable Man VS The Con Artist

PLEASE WAKE UP AMERICANS%u2026.A vote for the car salesman (con artist) is a vote for over 20 years of personal relationship with REZKO, Wright, Ayers, and Farahkhan%u2026He is an empty suit; he can say anything to get elected. This rookie is a big PHONY. %u2026.I%u2019m tired of all his rhetoric%u2026..The more I listen to this guy the more I hate him%u2026%u2026He can not be trusted%u2026

A flip-flopper to get an experience! He voted %u201Cpresent%u201D for more a hundred times, because he did not know how to vote %u201CYes or No%u201D %u2026WOW, this guy is a totally a joke!

Remember Muslim%u2019s sons are for life. Blood is sticker than water. He can say any thing and he can run BUT he can not hide.

I was a lifelong Democrat, but now Independent. I will never vote for Barrack HUSSEIN Obama.

Please don%u2019t be fooled by a car salesman. %u2026.As a patriotic American; I don%u2019t care if you are a Democrats or Republicans, we deserve an honorable man like Sen. McCain.

If you believed everything this car salesman said, you are a fool.

[fstop100]

NO WAY NO HOW WILL I VOTE FOR BARRY OBAMA

[fsw3]

I said it in a different story and I say it now: Obama supporters need to work like hell to win each state. Don''t sit back and relax, work to win this election. You just need one more vote than the other guy in order to win all the electoral votes in your state. You can do this...Especially you people who live in so-called RED States. Get out, vote and win.

[ddaryl1]

McCain is very much Bush 2

he will coddle the wealthy and the corporations. He will ensure the USA is still addicted to oil, and he will do little to imporve the lives of the workers.

There is no way anyone of us can afford 4 more years of republican BS...

[concerns47]

Obama''s voting record for the middle-class is non-existent, votes "present" which is not a vote like yes or no, this guy can''t make up his mind so stays middle of the road until it is in his special egotistical interest to really vote up or down. He hops on bills he did not sponsor and is in the pocket of lobbyists through backdoor donations.

[concerns47]

A vote for Obama is a vote for an huge ego and showmanship, look at his voting records in both the state government and as a senator, only votes in his interest.

Caucauses are unfair, if your candidate does not get enough the other candidates try to pursuade you to vote for their person. That is how votes are stolen. Like Obama who votes "present" rather than yes or no on bills, caucauses are wrong, primaries are the only way you get a person''s true vote just like in the general elections, one vote per person, not ability to change that vote because someone twists your arm.

At least the Republicans got that right, McCain is not George Bush, look at his record over the years, not just the last 8 years.

[citizenusa-2009]

We wouldn''t be having this discussion if Obama had common sense and an ego in check. I maintain that had he chosen Hillary, his Presidency would have been a slam dunk. He is now like a little boy trying to prove that he can ride his bike without training wheels... He will fall many times before he masters that ride. What a shame.

[bucci66]

The article should be titled, "McCain''s experience winning over voters"

Hey Dems, in case you have not noticed Bush is not running and McCain is not Bush. Constantly trying to compare the two is obviously fruitless, and a strategy that shows you are a "Kool-Aid drinker." I personally like Obama. I think he is going to be ready to lead, but honestly he is not experienced enough and he made a huge error not picking Hillary as a running mate. The polls show a slipping for Obama, and considering the convention, it should not be the case.

[closethippy1]

EVERYBODY PLEASE YOUTUBE DENNIS KUCINICH SPEECH AND LISTEN TO THIS GUY.
WHY THE F'''' IS THE MEDIA IGNORING WHAT HE HAD TO SAY?
WHY? WHY? WHY?!

[irliberal]

Here at home we have the KKK, the neocons, the confederates and people who actually think Rush Limbaugh presents facts and news.

I think those threats here at home are more serious. Terrorists abroad hijacked planes here and knocked down two buildings. We responded by invading Afghanistan AND Iraq - and now the Bush regime wants to invade Iran. Since we invaded Iraq - hundreds of thousands of civilians - dead. Over 4200 MORE of our American citizens - dead. A puppet government based on the KORAN (of all things) installed in Iraq. Billions upon billions of our tax dollars spent, our economy in the toilet partly because of those costs, partly because of the stranglehold the republicans have had on the leadership of this country for the past eight years. Neocon judges put in power, tax free political organizations (you call them churches) given more taxpayer money to pursue their political goals, global climate change ignored (thereby accelerated), and the USA turned into a laughingstock in front of the whole world.

How much more blood republicans? How much more blood before you''re satisfied? A million? Ten million? Doesn''t matter, they''re just arabs right? Pathetic.

Who did more damage? The terrorists of 9/11 or the neocons and the Bush administration?

The question is rhetorical. Of course.

[rainydayacct]

I agree with the article. There is serious reason to worry about Obama''s wafer thin lead. Given the state of the nation after 8 years of Bush, Obama should be further ahead at this late stage in the game.

I am also concerned about the buzz that is already being bandied about regarding reasons why Obama would lose. They seem to be blaming either Hillary or racism. One respondent claims we must have faith. So, if we lose, it''s because we lacked faith?

Seriously, if he doesn''t win, couldn''t it just be because America didn''t feel that Obama was qualified for the world''s most important position?

Yet, I am voting Obama because I feel he is less dangerous than another Republican at the helm. I encourage others to vote Democrat, but if we lose, it will be because of majority of voters preferred McCain over Obama.

[alohaone1]

I proudly served in the United States Navy for 22 years and believe this Obama candidacy is the most ridiculous thing I can imagine. It''''s very much like putting a young Ensign just out of Annapolis in charge of a ballistic missile submarine and sending him on patrol in hostile waters. The question the voters should be asking is "Should we do this?" I believe that the answer is a resoundng "NO."


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Posted by NAVVet2 at 01:44 AM : Aug 27, 2008

thank you for your service ...and by the way , the reasoning is , since the veteran guy showed some trouble against the enemy , let''s HOPE that this young guy with NADA experience will do a better job ..well , I am not sure if we can afford such an expensive HOPE , so I say , let''s HOPE that we , the Americans do not fool ourselves with such false HOPE!