Michael Barone

Iraq and Energy Haven't Played Out in the Presidential Election the Way We Thought

June 23, 2008 RSS Feed Print

My Creators Syndicate column illustrates how a couple of key issues—Iraq and energy—seem to be working differently in the presidential election from what just about everyone expected a few weeks or months ago. The success of the surge strategy in Iraq and the sudden appearance of $4 gas have undermined narratives that seemed to be working strongly for Barack Obama and the Democrats.

There does seem to have been a big shift of public opinion on oil drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This seems to be one case where opinion doesn't move proportionately in line with an external development (gasoline prices) but moves discontinuously, with a sharp shift once a psychologically critical point is reached ($4). Newt Gingrich has now gotten more than 1 million signatures on his online "drill now" petition. And pollster John Zogby reports, in a press release.

Tags:
presidential election 2008

Reader Comments Read all comments (8)

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

Steven of TX, you are as blind as most knee-jerk Party Sheep. Barack Obama is not some sort of Magic Pill that is going to change everything for the good.

I have wondered how "Drill Now" was going to help. I think I have an answer. If we had seriously sought alternate sources of energy when Carter was President, we could tell Opec to go ahead and drink their oil.

It may take a few years to become indepentant of Opec That is the long view and it will probably scare hell out of them. By then, I hope, we won't need the oil anyway.

Also, I suspect that we finally have the attention of those leeches in D.C. not that they will do anything useful. Government is not the answer to anything. And that includes Obama.

The research into alternate energy sources, aside from oil, may solve the problems.

Subsequent administrations and that includes the Congress have just sat on their hands for all of those years. They don't kniow what to do now.

Frank of CA 5:44PM June 24, 2008

Mr Michael Barone. The success of the surge strategy in Iraq is because we are paying them not to fight us and the Iraqis what happens when we no longer pay then? and it will not lower the Gas prices by destroying the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Sea and Sea shore.it the money grubers that drilling for oil and there not going to sell it chep to americans the oil that is pumped in America now is just as high as the Arabs the Republican are destroying America it time to get a Democrat back in office. Barack Obama will be President.

Steven of TX 2:46PM June 24, 2008

dang. the Dems have only been in charge of Congress for a year and a half and already we have $4 gas.

and with their declared policies it will only go higher.

jim,MtnView,CA,USA of CA 12:57PM June 24, 2008

Michael Barone

Michael Barone

U.S. News Weekly

Subscribe Today

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

Michael Barone is a senior writer for U.S.News & World Report and principal coauthor of The Almanac of American Politics. He has written for many publications—including the Economist and the New York Times.

Thomas Jefferson Street Blog

May Unemployment Rate Dooms Barack Obama

With unemployment now at 8.2 percent, Mitt Romney is poised to gain ground with voters.

Planned Parenthood Pulls a Komen on Mitt Romney

Planned Parenthood successfully targeted the Susan G. Komen Foundation and is now getting political by campaigning against Mitt Romney.

Bill Clinton Undercuts Barack Obama in Wisconsin

Former President Bill Clinton is campaigning for Democrats across the country, disregarding Obama's campaign strategies.

Barack Obama Doesn’t Get a Pass on Poland Gaffe

The president's error and half-hearted apology is a serious diplomatic mistake.

Mitt Romney's Ridiculous Unemployment Reaction

Romney's dramatic reaction to the May jobs report makes him look false and calculating.

What John Edwards Tells Us About the Legal Profession

The legal profession is experiencing a very serious breakdown of ethics.

What the GOP Should Do if Obamacare Falls

If Obamacare is struck down by the Supreme Court, the Democrats are responsible for proposing another plan.

Barack Obama and George Bush Show Congress How to Act Like Adults

Obama and Bush are capable of acting like adults. Why isn't Congress?

Does BP CEO Tony Hayward Need R&R?

The CEO has gone AWOL amid the oil spill disaster.