For Swing States, The Watchword Is "Worry"

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

(Washingtonpost.com) 
"You don't want to play the race card, but it's out there," Bogarde said. He, like others, said he hopes Obama's selection of Biden would help get wary voters over the hump, with Biden acting as an emissary to communities like his native Scranton, Pa. "I just think the trade and labor movement was not ready for some of the major changes we're looking at" in Obama, Bogarde said. "Biden's close to the trades, and it plays better with him."

Bogarde's superior, AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee, was more blunt. "It shouldn't be as close as it is now. It just seems to me it shouldn't be that close. It should be a no-brainer," he said.

The union spent heavily on Clinton's campaign before lining up behind Obama, but McEntee insisted that his concern about the closeness of the race is not meant as an "I told you so." Other Clinton supporters here also sought to put their apprehension in context, saying that it was possible that had the senator from New York won the primaries, she would be facing her own tough fights in key states because of her polarizing effect on many voters.

Sarah Hamilton, a Clinton supporter who works for the Ohio Federation of Teachers, linked Obama's challenges in the state to the resistance that other Democratic presidential candidates have faced in trying to trump social issues with economic ones. "I really think it still has to do with 'Gods, guns and gays.' You bring in his race, and the Muslim rumor, all these things are factors that are easy to play out in the rural areas," she said.

One of Obama's most senior advisers acknowledged the angst among Democratic insiders that the race has remained so close, but suggested that it is normal for a party on the cusp of winning the White House after eight years of the Bush administration. "In politics, only the paranoid survive," said former Senate majority leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.). "At the end of the day, even though I'm anxious, I'm still confident we're going to win."

Daschle emphasized the need to pull off a smooth convention, then have Obama judged the winner of the debates. After that, he said, a superior get-out-the-vote effort by Obama's campaign should translate into an Election Day victory.

But Joe Turnham, chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party, said Democrats are still mired in a period in which they have to "make everybody feel affirmed, especially the Hillary people." This has left the Obama campaign too focused on appeasing Democrats rather than focusing on independents and Republicans who have grown disaffected by the Bush administration. "We need to be talking to each other, but we also need to be talking to America," Turnham said.

Worry extends to some rank-and-file Obama supporters, such as John Crenshaw, a real estate investor from Birmingham, Ala.

"We're all anxious," he said. The last month of political coverage in the media, he said, has centered on "tabloid" issues of the extramarital affair of former senator John Edwards (D-N.C.), charges from the McCain campaign that Obama is an elitist and the run-up to Biden's selection. All this has knocked the Obama campaign from focusing the debate on the issues of ending the Iraq war and turning around the economy. "We're not talking about any of that -- and it's crazy," Crenshaw said.

At the same time, the anxiety about racial resistance to Obama rankles some African American delegates here. They note that he has already made it much further than most expected him to, and warn against using worries about his race as an excuse not to work all- out in trying to win over undecided voters. Tony Hill, a state senator from Jacksonville, said he understands that delegates do not want to be overconfident, but noted that the campaign has registered hundreds of thousands of voters in Florida alone, and has far outpaced McCain in fundraising.

Lynette Bryant, a physician from Little Rock, said delegates are not keeping up the idealism that drove the campaign this far. "We're going to win. They should take a deep breath," she said. "Faith is a belief that will carry us through what needs to be done. And it must be done."

[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%

-------------

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!