McCain has been stung.
The Obama campaign already has an attack ad out over McCain's statement that he's not sure how many houses he owns. Good quick reaction.
But what's even more interesting is the McCain campaign's response to the ad. Tell me this doesn't sound like they're reeling.
Sounds like desperate flailing, doesn't it? Throwing everything and hoping something sticks.
McCain is scheduled to be out of the public eye through the weekend, although this might change things.
This really couldn't have been timed worse for McCain. It's going to last for days, and it's perfect attack dog fodder for Obama's all eyes on first VP appearance. (and it's going to carry through the convention, too.)
This might be a true disaster for McCain.
But what's even more interesting is the McCain campaign's response to the ad. Tell me this doesn't sound like they're reeling.
“Does a guy who made more than $4 million last year, just got back from vacation on a private beach in Hawaii and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses? Does a guy who worries about the price of arugula and thinks regular people “cling” to guns and religion in the face of economic hardship really want to have a debate about who’s in touch with regular Americans?
“The reality is that Barack Obama’s plans to raise taxes and opposition to producing more energy here at home as gas prices skyrocket show he’s completely out of touch with the concerns of average Americans.”
Sounds like desperate flailing, doesn't it? Throwing everything and hoping something sticks.
McCain is scheduled to be out of the public eye through the weekend, although this might change things.
This really couldn't have been timed worse for McCain. It's going to last for days, and it's perfect attack dog fodder for Obama's all eyes on first VP appearance. (and it's going to carry through the convention, too.)
This might be a true disaster for McCain.
posted by mikevotes at
10:40 AM
9 Comments:
McCain's words only stick with those that feel so alienated and mad that they're not really listening to what he's saying but identifying themselves as the persecuted 'everyman' and being drawn to the anger, not the message.
By
matt, at 12:30 PM
I think it will work.
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Praguetwin, at 12:58 PM
The technique seems to be grabbing what would normally be a populist demo. and appealing to their negative emotions instead of their higher ideals.
Obama can't do the 'aw shucks' retard-in-Mayberry schtick but he's got to grab that demo. somehow.
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matt, at 1:03 PM
Matt because people don't vote on anger? They don't vote on emotion and identity?
The key to this is whether it's viewed as an indictment of the persona that McCain has been putting on. If it's seen to puncture his image, that would be the damage.
.....
Praguetwin, I'm not sure yet whether this is THE gamechanger. Part of it is how the Obama folks play it, but a good part of it is how the media plays it. Like I said above, alot of it has to do with whether this "sticks" on McCain's identity.
I think it well could work, too, but this is actually a thing with many moving parts, so, we kinda have to wait and see.
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mikevotes, at 1:19 PM
Drudge is carrying 4 items on this at the very, very top, so, that means the media will think it's news.
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mikevotes, at 1:20 PM
McCain's open to the hypocrisy angle, way open, if the media take him up on it. It's all in the timing.
The How Many Houses theme will play much better in late October than now, an offense that is easily expressed as a defense:
"I know how many houses I've got. One! We've lived in it for 7 years, still paying the mortgage down. I don't have to ask myself, "Now was that 9 houses I've got, or 10, 12, 14? That's my opponent's problem, he's confused by how many homes he has--and that's not the kind of confusion I want for my family."
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MarcLord, at 1:41 PM
Interesting.
On the other hand, right now you've pretty much got the Dems with an open mike for a week.
(And, if they lay it in now and it becomes definitional, they can pull it out later whenever they need it.)
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mikevotes, at 1:47 PM
You can vote on anger but the Dems seem to try to appeal to higher values. At least the way I see it.
Am I completely dain bramaged?
By
matt, at 3:34 PM
I don't think so. Traditionally, what you say is true, but this sort of opening is rare, so we'll have to wait and see.
By
mikevotes, at 4:24 PM
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