Monday, September 15, 2008

Obama Counting on Intellect of Americans

That could sink democrats, according to Florida's Miami Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson. She said Obama has to stop appealing to the smart voter.

Instead, he's got to aim at the Rush Limbaugh voter or the so-called Bubba vote. I'd say she has a point, given the number of people who have flocked to Palin because she's a hockey mom. How do folks simply ignore her puffed up resume and all the lies that she's told in a matter of a few short weeks? Do they really see her handling Russia? Iran? 

But would those voters, the ones who have flocked to Palin, have voted for Obama in the first place? I'm thinking Palin rallied the base and that's all. 

Bill Clinton also gave Obama similar advice: it's better to be short and wrong than long and right. In other words, some folks just want the short and snappy answer, as opposed to the correct and more nuanced answer. Saddleback was a good example of Obama's answers being too thoughtful.
Miami:
"The enthusiasm gap is going to be not such a gap," Sorensen said, who predicted that McCain and Palin will now be like "Siamese twins."

"I don't think most people are paying attention to issues - that's for the highly educated," Sorenson said. "It's going to be a ground fight. And we're just going to have to do the organizing and get out the vote. That's my sense from my knowledge of this county."

Obama spokes Josh Earnest said that, no, the gap still exists and that the Palin Effect will start to subside in the polls as people focus on jobs, the economy, health care, etc. Plus, he noted, McCain just can't bring the crowds, as evidenced by the crickets in the hall where McCain gave his Jacksonville speech this morning.

"When he walked up on stage, he was staring at a sea of empty seats," Earnest said.

Sorenson wasn't so sure.

"You're talking about smart people. We're talking about Rush Limbaugh voters here," she said, urging the campaign to focus on "MOM:" Money, Organization and Message.