Ten Questions For Election Day

CBSNews.com Analysis: The Keys To Deciphering The Presidential Election

(CBS) 

6. What Will The Palin Effect Be? There is absolutely no doubt about it - love her or hate her, Sarah Palin has been the most interesting part of the last two months of the campaign. Since bursting onto the scene, the Alaska Governor has become arguably the most divisive figure in American politics today.

In the eyes of many analysts - and not a small number of Republicans - the choice of Palin has been a huge drag on the ticket. That view is backed up by a lot of polling data which shows that she has turned many moderate and independent voters away from McCain. But what none of that measures is the excitement she has generated among an evangelical base which was cool, at best, to McCain’s candidacy. These are the people whose organizational networks have powered the Republican Party for more than two decades.

If you’re inclined to write off Palin as a disaster of a pick, remember this: Before McCain had clinched the nomination, influential evangelical leader James Dobson proclaimed that he would never support him. After his pick of Palin, he enthusiastically came on board. For every potential vote in the middle McCain may have lost, he could gain one-and-a-half from reliable conservatives who may have stayed home otherwise.

7. Did "Joe The Plumber" Help? When “Joe The Plumber” stumbled upon Barack Obama canvassing in his Toledo, Ohio neighborhood, he inadvertently gave voice to a McCain economic message that had been a bumbling one at best. After initially calling the economy fundamentally strong, then “suspending” his campaign to work on the Wall Street bailout, McCain was lost on the most important issue for voters.

Enter “Joe The Plumber,” whose short exchange with Obama got the anti-tax juices running among Republicans. His name has become a campaign staple and served to revive the image of the Democratic Party as tax-and-spend. Polls still show that voters are just as likely to believe McCain would raise taxes as they do Obama but at least it’s given McCain a stable message. It could help, especially in places like Ohio and western Pennsylvania. If McCain wins, “Joe The Plumber” will have a special place in campaign history.

8. Did Clinton Voters Come Home? It’s been the biggest concern for Democrats since the primary season ended - will Hillary Clinton’s supporters come home? Polls have indicated that, in large part, they have. And Clinton, along with her husband, have coalesced around Obama in the closing weeks of the campaign.

But there remains a question mark about whether her supporters, especially the so-called “PUMAS,” (Party Unity My A$%), will stay home - or even vote for McCain. In most instances it won’t matter as many of them live in reliably blue states. But in those places where Clinton thrashed Obama in the primary campaign - particularly Ohio and Pennsylvania, those blue-collar men and women who supported Clinton could be a real benefit for the GOP if they move to McCain.

9. How Big Was The Bush Drag? In many respects, it’s almost a miracle that McCain enters Election Day with any chance at all. The latest CBS News poll tells the tale - President Bush has reached the lowest approval rating for any president in recorded history. Just 20 percent of voters approve of the job he is doing.

That’s the kind of head-wind Republicans are running against. From top to bottom, the GOP brand has been tarnished. The war in Iraq, a floundering economy and governmental mismanagement at all levels have produced a frustrated electorate hungry for a message of change. It hasn’t been all Bush’s fault, but he certainly gets the blame and has become the kind of drag on the ticket that could pull down a whole lot of candidates.

10. Can Democrats Hit 60 In The Senate? It’s not going to be easy, but Democrats are within striking distance of winning a filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate. With a larger majority in the House all but certain, the party could rule nearly unimpeded if that were to happen.

Democrats are almost certain to pick up Republican-held Senate seats in Colorado, New Mexico, Virginia and probably Alaska. They are favored in another three at this point - North Carolina, Oregon and New Hampshire. And Republicans are holding their breath in the Mississippi special election (where no party ID is on the ballot), Minnesota, Kentucky and Georgia (where there could be a runoff if no candidate gets over 50 percent of the vote in a three-way race).

Should a real wave sweep over the country today, it’s not at all improbable to think that Democrats would pick up the nine seats they need to have that daunting majority. Then they’ll have to deal with Joe Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-Independent who now caucuses with his old party but has endorsed John McCain enthusiastically. It’s a reminder that politics doesn’t ever stop, especially after a presidential election.

Happy Election Day, get out and vote.

[beckypike]

Obama won in large part because of money, the media and the market. If McCain had broken a promise to accept public financing then accepted millions in donations, many from foreigners in $200 increments on pre-paid credit cards...well, we''d be hearing that McCain bought the election. Ugh. I guess most media outlets couldn''t be bothered with the fact that he was a lawyer for ACORN and fought to give sub-prime loans out. He was just such a genius during the market melt down because he stayed out of the fray. I guess Sarah Palin''s shoes were more important to cover.

Oh, well. God bless America.

[beckypike]

While all cpountries fudge with their unemployment rates, there is a school of thought that the US is the most egregious in understating our unemployment. even with that, most accounts rank anywhere between 40 and 50 other countries as having lower unemployment, including systems as diverse as the United Kingdom, Cuba, south AND north korea, Switzerland, etc.

______________

What did I misquote? Or did I just misunderstand? Aren''t you saying here that the US has higher unemployment than Cuba, North Korea and South Korea? Whatever.

[work4justice]

Becky, you were doing so good before you started misquoting to make things misleading.

You have no reason to attack me--I am not trying to fight you or anyone else, which I thought I made plenty clear.

Another suggested that you have been refreshing to have a conversation with here because you are sane, and I agree. But once you start using misread or misquoted words to mislead, I have no use for your posts and will just ignore them. It is the same as lying. And before you throw rhetoric at me about the candidates doing the same, you''re absolutely right--as soon as they use each other words out of context or incorrectly in a misleading or slanderous way, I can''t trust just about anything else they have to say. And they''ve both done it, and so have you.

So have a good time debating yourself, because you won''t find anyone thoughtful to give you the time of day.

[work4justice]

JJ, electoral votes are confusing, outdated, and difficult to understand. It''s an old system in need of reform. America has been reminded of this, i.e. in 2000 when Al Gore won the popular vote and George Bush won the Electoral College. In 04, the popular vote was close and this year, again, it appears 1 am, it is a slim margin.

The Electoral College is based on each state''s congressional districts, related to its population. It''s a winner-take-all system and maybe not a good way to elect a president. Some states can be generally "counted on" to go one way or another, and others carry a lot of electors and canNOT be counted on. That is why you saw such heavy campaigning in PA, because by some estimates McCain needed PA in his count in order to build a win (270).

It is difficult to understand why it is still in place, but it hasn''t been changed; you might have to ask the question of a Constitutional lawyer. A few states allow an elector split. Some believe that no matter WHO is in congress or WHO is president, this is a system that needs change. People do not like change. Even though the 2000 election and its results were crazy, the electoral college remains. Maybe finally both sides will decide it is time to do away with a system that was founded when only a very limited group of Americans could vote. JJ, the time to learn more about it is BEFORE the next presidential election, so you are prepared, and if you are angry, so you can do something about it in the meantime.

[jjcmford]

Could someone explain to me how the electoral votes are decided? I always though it was the popular vote that won an election.
And, shouldn%u2019t the electoral votes reflect the popular vote, especially in a case like this election, shouldn%u2019t the votes be split according to the actual popular vote, since the vote is supposed to be reflecting what %u201Cthe people%u201D want, not the politicians.
Oh, one last thought too, whatever happened to the fact that it supposed to be a %u201Csecret%u201D ballot when we vote and yet they barrage you with polls and such to find out what you will vote, not so secret is it.
Concerned and confused,
Widowed 45yo stay at home father
western, Pa

[kam88203]

[[Obama''''s birth certificate has indeed been verified. From kitv.com]]:

Oh, I feel so reproved if a tv station has verified BOs birth certificate and the dems in Hawaii SAY the messiah was born there. His African grandmother and relatives who have never been out of Africa all say they were there when he was born. BO is the first person to run for president who has not submitted his "original copy" for electorate information. But he is "god" of course. How dare us peons ask for his credentials! I still have not seen a LEGAL

[charlottecli]

I predict reverse Bradley effect this year. Obama will win a landslide.

Many identifiable minorities (e.g. people with last names of near east, middle east, far east origin) may have wanted to be perceived as sophisticated, thoughtful and race-neutral and they may openly declare themselves McCain voters or undecided but actually vote for Obama.

[beckypike]

Stratmaster2, now we have tremendous unemployment because of how we report it? I''m sorry...I just don''t buy it. Tell me, why do immigrants flock to the USA? Why are they leaving Cuba? Truly do you believe that Cuba and North Korea have lower unemployment than the United States? Why aren''t unemployed Americans getting on boats to Cuba? It is similar to the "most elderly people were eating dog food in closets prior to social security" comment made earlier. I''m not sure where you''re learning this stuff...

[libra127]

Give it up, kam. Obama''s birth certificate has indeed been verified. From kitv.com:

"DOH Director Dr. Chiyome ****** said...
she and the registrar of vital statistics, Alvin Onaka, have personally verified that the health department holds Obama''s original birth certificate.

"Therefore, I as Director of Health for the State of Hawai%u2018i, along with the Registrar of Vital Statistics who has statutory authority to oversee and maintain these type of vital records, have personally seen and verified that the Hawai%u2018i State Department of Health has Sen. Obama%u2019s original birth certificate on record in accordance with state policies and procedures," ****** said. "

[kam88203]

[[XRepublican_ at 03:54 PM : Nov 04, 2008 wrote:
I''''d like to know where you were born! Mars? This is a non-issue. His birth certificate is available on the internet for all to see. Please, get a life. Your stupidity is frankly embarrassing.]]

Your brilliance is blindingly stupid. I''ve seen and worked with millions of birth certificates. I went to BOs "real online birth certificate." He couldn''t even get a drivers license with it. NO SIGNATURES OF ANYONE ARE ON IT...no signature of his mother/father/doctor/administration...nothing! No baby footprints...nothing! His father is listed as African which was not a term used in 1961, only two terms were used at that time...negro or colored. The fake BO birth certificate form is more modern than an Hawaiian 1962 genuine (with all signatures in place) certificate my friend has. But my friend WAS REALLY born there.

BO will be the first criminal/illegal American president. But when has his associations with criminals been anything but normal for him. Does he have any real friends who aren''t crooks or anarchist? Let''s take a page from the dems behavior for the last 8 years and begin impeachment procedings tomorrow. IMPEACH BHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[oldbones82]

This has to be the most civil, intelligent, and respectful online discussion I''ve ever read.

[pvperson]

"John McCain nor the RNC have openly challenged Obama''''s citizenship"

that''s because they realize how STUPID and childish they would appear and don''t forget McCain was born in Panama.

[pvperson]

Lieberman is a republican, he votes with them when it counts and openly voices approval of the GOP. He should be stripped of any democrat affiliation. I know that the democrats want to keep his occasional support, but if you can''t count on him, then dump him.

[lal121]

For those who keep asking...

Obama was born at the Kapi''olani Medical Center for Women & Children in Honolulu, Hawaii...his father was from Kenya that is why his grandmother was living there.

[tcoleman12]

I can narrow this down largely to two primary questions:

1) How can the Media abandoned journalism in this election to back a certain candidate exclusively?

2) How many Americans will have "Buyer''s Remorse" once this guy and his 9% approval rating congress take over Washington?

[lal121]

For those who keep asking...

Obama was born at the Kapi''olani Medical Center for Women & Children in Honolulu, Hawaii...his father was from Kenya that is why his grandmother was living there.

[sincity_q]

Ten Questions For Election Day

1. Since the MSM parroted, sang, bowed and otherwise worked like heck for Obama, do we have to pretend there is any objectivity in the press anymore?

2. Do the Obama faithful follow a politician, a messiah or a false savior?

3. Since CBS geared all their political polls to favor Obama, do they expect favors in return?

4. Has John McCain... the other guy we never heard about except in a negative sense, ever done anything in the past... aside from serve his country in Vietnam, that would make an Obama supporter say something nice about him?

5. If Obama wins, will all Vietnamm era politicians be shipped off to a dogfood factory?

6. If McCain wins, will there really be riots? Isn''t that a little immature and more than a bit like the behavior we expect from banana republics?

7. If nine out of every ten voters agree that the $700 billion bailout was a ripoff... and since both McCain AND Obama voted for it, how can we elect either of them?

8. Will Barrack Obama ever clear the air regarding his birth certificate and Larry Sinclair?

9. If elected, will Mr. Obama keep his promise and feed the masses from a single fish?

10. If elected, will Mr. McCain keep a promise to bring home all the boys still being held captive in Atlanta?

[xrepublican_]

I STILL LIKE TO KNOW where OBAMA was borm!!
Could someone tell us!!!!
Posted by alsdailynews at 10:39

I''d like to know where you were born! Mars? This is a non-issue. His birth certificate is available on the internet for all to see. Please, get a life. Your stupidity is frankly embarrassing.

[olderthnadam]

The fact that neither John McCain nor the RNC have openly challenged Obama''s citizenship in the debates, MSM, or the courts proves to me that this rumour is not true but just another example of the Politics of Fear/Smear tactics using internet rumours as a way of scaring the voting public. Thoes of you who believe this BS must really want to believe or are hanging on every word of Rush and Sean which truly does make you look like sheep. They are just exploiting you and your beliefs for personal recognition and personal gain, sort of the Jim "PTL" Bakers of the political world. But just like Baker''s followers you believe every bit of BS they feed you.

[lordknowus]

All the people who think a 3% increase in taxes on corporations will cause them to lay people off not only are clueless about how taxes are filed but they also do not understand how a business makes money. Employee wages are tax deductible and lower the overall profit of the company, meaning that the company has an incentive to hire people so they can post less profits come tax time. Add into this fact the reality that you need to make things to produce sales and profits, and that you need to hire people to make things, and you will understand what I am talking about. Sure you can lower your costs by firing employees, but you also stand to make less money because you have lowered your productivity by firing people.