Friday, November 27, 2009

Opinion

John Aloysius Farrell

The Presidential Battleground Remains in the Suburbs, Even as Polls Look Good for Obama

October 02, 2008 11:40 AM ET | John Aloysius Farrell | Permanent Link | Print

I'm not gonna gush like Rachel Maddow over the growing tide of polls that show Barack Obama building big leads in the battleground states.

If John McCain has truly fallen 4 to 10 points behind in places like Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and Colorado in the past week, then we may be witnessing an implosion of historic scale for the Republican presidential campaign.

I'm old enough, however, to remember how the projected Clinton "landslides" shrank to modest victories in 1992 and 1996 and how Al Gore and John Kerry looked so good in the exit polls on Election Day.

Unless Republican voters are so dispirited by McCain's untethered candidacy or so scared at the thought of President Sarah Palin, I have to believe that the GOP base will rally, the social conservatives will again vote in droves—and we've still got a third reel to sit through and enjoy.

I will say that the turf has looked better for the Democrats with each day that has passed since the start of the Democratic convention.

That was the moment when the race stopped being about Barack Obama's pedigree and experience and started to turn on McCain, Palin, and the economy.

Character is destiny. With all the drama and turmoil on the McCain side, Obama has been freed to look presidential. He is closing the deal with voters just as he started his campaign and maintained it through 18 months of political combat: coolly, calmly, relentlessly, and efficiently.

And while there may be some small-town folks and big city slickers who are voting against type this fall, I've joined others in noting that the election will very likely be decided in America's suburbs, where voters look for these qualities.

Over at the National Committee for an Effective Congress, Mark Gersh and his colleagues offer a fresh, fine analysis of the importance of Arapahoe County in Colorado; Dakota County in Minnesota, Fairfax County in Virginia, and other crucial suburban battlefields and how Democrats have been winning as the electorate, and the issues, grow more diverse.

Obama, at this point, appears to have assured these voters about his experience and character.

It is out there in the burbs, if he is indeed amassing significant leads over his rival, that Obama is beginning to look like a president.

Tags: presidential election 2008 | voters | Barack Obama | John McCain

Tools: Share | | Comments (17) | Print

Reader Comments

Hillbilly and Ignorant America

To all those who are so afraid of liberalism and socialism do you even understand what those words mean and how they affect society? I don´t think so. I didn´t either until I moved to Germany from Texas with my German AirForce husband ten years ago.

I have learned that being liberal means to accept others and yourself so that we can live together in a peaceful world. A very simplistic example is of the accepted practice of European women going topless on the beach. At first I was uncomfortable with it but in time I realized it wasn´t a big deal. On the contrary, it allowed me to accept my own body when I saw other women´s imperfect bodies weren´t any different from my own. (although I still don´t go topless)

I think socialism is great (do not confuse it with communism!) Yes we do have high taxes here in Germany but my 4 kids and I always have great health care, dental, vision whatever we need.Plus we own our own house.

When my husband and I lived in Texas we had no insurance and it was difficult for us to get ahead with four kids and I hated the high crime rate in Houston. Now I have more peace of mind with gun control laws here in Germany and a social health system that allows my family access to medical help whenever we need it.

Please don´t be a hillbilly and ignorant America. All of us all around the world should work together and find the best system for the people.

Don´t let McCain and Palin use their scare tactics on you. America is not the only target. Terrorists are fanatics who have terrorized any country they hate any time they want such as England, Spain, Isreal, etc. Palins linking of Obama to terrorists is defamatory and only goes to show she has no business in the sensitive global political scene. They´re scared because they are behind in the polls. Yes, Europeans love Obama because he has proven himself to be an intelligent and eloquent presidential candidate who can raise Americans standing in the global arena by representing them as such. Obama/Biden 2008

Obama

You just have to look at the friends Obama has and the organizations he has been with:

ACORN left wing voter fraud organization Osama was an attorney for this group and has allies still running the show'

Bill Ayers and his wife(convicted member of SDS and bomber of government buildings including the NYPD headquarters. Both manufactured and blew up buildings and are unrepentent. They held first fund raiser for barack Hussein obama in teir house and have remained in his circle.

Reverend Wright his pastor for 20 yes 20 years who spews his hatred of whites and america as often as he can and the liar Obama claims he never witnessed these tirades how disengenous.

then there is his financial backer rezco( mispelled) who has significantly contributed to his campaign and who helped Osama get his sub prime mortgage(i guess the bailout might help obama directly) By the way this character will be sentenced for convictions of an assortment of felonies.

$900 million in pork for Illinois in less than 3 yearsand he says he can manage a budget.

Like Robin Hood he will rob the"rich" and give to the poor.Classic class warfare and socialism. Work ethic down the tubes mediocrity will set in. By the way 1/3 of those he claims will get a tax break do not pay taxes to begin with therefore what they will get is a handout akin to welfare.I can go on and on.Talk about his foreign affairs policy he has none other then to make the US a third world country not worty of spreading democracy. Did you know that this slimeball also voted against English being the official language of the US. Peple think before you vote this guy is unworthy of being President he is a candidate made by the elte liberal left wing media that despises anything that has values and morals. Just look at the hollywood elite that has come out for him.I have said enough People use your heads. If he is elected a year or two from now you will realize what you voted for and you will witness the beginning of the end of this great country.

I guess most people are oblivious to the connection Obama has to Biil ayers.Every (4) years we go into this election cycle and you get blind sided by all the promises.Wake up people Don't be taken by Obama , he's a slick character.If you at all know Chicago politics it is CORUPT.Needless I say of are great elected politicians.Do your research.Check out Newsbusters and other web sites.

Add your thoughts

Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

advertisement

U.S. News Weekly

Subscribe Now

Order the new U.S. News Weekly digital magazine at a special low introductory price!

John Aloysius Farrell is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report. An award-winning Washington reporter, he has written for The Boston Globe and The Denver Post and is the author of Tip O’Neill and the Democratic Century and an upcoming biography of the great American defense attorney, Clarence Darrow.

advertisement

NEWSLETTER

Sign up today for the latest headlines from U.S. News & World Report delivered to you free.

RSS FEEDS

Personalize your U.S. News with our feeds of blogs and breaking news headlines.

U.S. NEWS MOBILE

U.S. News daily briefings are also available on your mobile device.

People who read this also read ...

Thomas Jefferson St.

Thank You, Bob Dylan

He’s still touring around America like a rolling stone.

GOP Can Be Thankful for Strong Polls

But they cannot get complacent.

5 Reasons for a Democratic Thanksgiving

Michael Steele and healthcare reform top the list.

Women Have Say on Health Reform

If it's the year of the women, why are there so few of them?

Turkey Tax

Uncle Sam is joining in on your Thanksgiving dinner.

Ideological Labels Just Don't Fit

Hard-liners don't understand that some of us don't toe an ideological line.

A Decade in Biased Review

How well does the video sum up the last decade?

Cartoon Gallery

Editorial Cartoon

Political Cartoons

Check out our most recent cartoons.

Public Opinion

Should the GOP Have a Litmus Test?

Should the RNC exclude politicians who don't match the party's platform?

Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.
Make USNews.com your home page.