Does Barack Obama Have a Mandate?

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The American people have spoken quite decisively giving Obama a mandate to get something done. A recent poll said people are in support of one party rule, too. More than ever we need to get down to business. Its time to quit the partisan bickering that the GOP stands for and we see now as the remnants of the party try to pick up the pieces.
This all reflects that the republicans are leaving our country a disaster and folks are willing to give the new president a chance to fix it, in fact we are desperate for competent governance.
So is there any quick and easy fixes? - no way. we all hope it can be done - to fix the country, so its a good thing we picked the smartest and most competent candidate. After the fact reporters have been telling us the McCain campaign was pure chaos, reflecting how he'd govern, as was the Clinton campaign, while the Obama campaign ran smooth as clockworks.
face it, Obama had to defeat two these major candidates to get to the White House. No easy feat, so let's see what he can do with the mess GBush has got us into.

Paul of WA 4:38PM November 13, 2008

Yes, Obama spent a lot of money in the five states you mention. But arguably save for Indiana and N.C., those states consistently showed him ahead well before he unloaded his cash on advertisements. Maybe he turned Indiana and N.C. as a result of money. But that was certainly not the case in Virginia (where he won by 5+ points, rendering inconsequential even your 1- or 2-point shift suggestion), and almost certainly not Ohio or Florida, where the margins were 4 and 3 points respectively -- a couple of hundred thousand-plus votes in each state. Thus a fair-minded person would give Obama at least 342 EVs even discounting close states where he had a money advantage.
It used to be that you and we could separate your partisan policy arguments from your straight-down-the-middle election analysis. Alas, you've turned an unenviable corner and are now mixing the two to brew a toxic concoction of Republican talking points.

K.O. de Rothschild of FL 7:40PM November 10, 2008

This North AMERICAN Life needs change its sad that some of our fellow country men and women are still stuck in A older state of mind In my thoughts change is what we Americans need

Alonzo wilson SR of WA 1:55PM November 10, 2008

Obama and Dems have one goal and that's not "changing" their jobs for at least another 8 years. They'll do whatever it takes to attain that goal - Right or wrong be damned...

R.L. Schaefer of CA 1:41PM November 10, 2008