Pollster: Voters Still Have Doubts About Obama, But He Will Win
Democratic pollster Geoff Garin says the goal of the convention is defining the choice voters have
DENVER—Many voters still have doubts about Barack Obama because he apparently hasn't connected very well with them and hasn't demonstrated enough sensitivity to their problems, but the country's desire for change goes so deep that Obama will win the presidential election anyway, says Democratic pollster and former Hillary Clinton strategist Geoff Garin.
"He may not be exactly 'like us' [in the minds of some voters] but the country is in a world of hurt," Garin told U.S. News. "There are more than enough voters to take him as he is."
"The main goal this week is not really to define Obama or define [John] McCain," Garin says. "It's really to define the choice—what's the election about? The campaign that does that the best wins the election."
In 2004, George W. Bush successfully defined the election as a contest about who could better fight terrorism and keep the country safe. He won that battle against Democratic Sen. John Kerry, who was pilloried for being weak and indecisive.
In 1996, Bill Clinton defined the election as a contest about who could best build a "bridge to the 21st Century." He defeated aging Republican Sen. Bob Dole.
This year, Obama is trying to make the election about the future, as Clinton did, while GOP candidate John McCain is trying to make the election about protecting America in a dangerous world, as Bush did.
Garin says most voters will choose Obama because they will consider him a better leader "in a world of high-velocity change." Obama's challenge this week is to make that case, and to portray the choice as "change vs. more of the same."
Garin talked to U.S. News in Denver, where he was attending the Democratic convention.
Reader Comments
Election 2008
I pray to God Obama will win the 2008 election. Americans need to wake up and smell the coffee. We desperately need change and in the White House.
McCain will not care on bit if every American has a health care provider. Obama will hold greedy companies accountable and make sure the working class are represented.
Idiots!
If you're a millionaire I understand why you would vote for McCain. He is all about helping the rich stay rich. If you are anything less than upper class, and support McCain you are an idiot. H.W. sucked as president. Clinton did a wonderful job attempting to clean up the mess. "Dubya" is one of the worst presidents in history, and McCain will continue Bush's destruction of our economy. Some of you think it's a joke that Obama is running. You claim that it is a "dem wishing it will happen." How about millions of "dems?" Do you really want this country to stay the same? If you don't have a problem with the way our economy is you must still live with your parents, and probably are too young, and stupid to understand how bad this country needs change. How is Obama a phony, or a joke? I do not claim to know everything about politics. I do know that I am a middle class man with a wife, children, and a mortgage. I do know that if the cost of living continues to rise in thirty percent increments, and my pay continues to rise in twelve percent increments, I will eventually struggle to feed my family. WE NEED CHANGE! OBAMA 08!
McCain, Palin, Obama, and Biden
It's not my place to say if McCain/Palin are good Christians, or not. I can say that if McCain/Palin win the election we are in big trouble. We are not going to find a candidate that has experience in every facet of the presidency. Neither Obama, nor Mccain have been in office. What we, as Americans have to look at is the game plan. McCain is in favor of helping the upper class, and continuing Bush's destruction of our country. He himself claimed that Bush was doing a fine job, and he planned on keeping everything the same. When that didn't go over well he insulted the publics intelligence by jumping on the "change" band wagon. With what I have heard, and seen from Obama/Biden, I would be an idiot not to vote for Obama this year. If we, as Americans, will get off our butts, and vote. Obama will win by a landslide. There are a lot of people, both lower and middle class, that do not vote. If America wants change America has to speak out.
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