Reporters covering the campaign trail report that John McCain’s events are noticeably larger and louder than before the conventions. Why? Judging by voters in such states as New Mexico and Wisconsin shouting, “Sarah, Sarah, Sarah!” it seems his running mate, Sarah Palin, has excited supporters. In this ABC article, a reporter notes that a recent campaign stop in Missouri there were far more Palin signs being waved than McCain signs.
Democrat Barack Obama had narrowly led most national polls for some time, but now it seems Republican McCain enjoys a slight edge. One USA Today/Gallup poll reports that in the course of a week, Republicans’ enthusiasm jumped 18 percentage points, in part because of McCain’s choice of Palin as his running mate. Many conservatives admire Palin because she shares their views on social issues and Gallup said the Palin selection “certainly could be hypothesized to have added a little extra energy to standard convention bounce.” Yet, the poll says that “other indicators suggest that the selection of Palin was a polarizing move, generating significant positives and negatives.” One commonly mentioned criticism of Palin is that as a first-term governor of Alaska, she lacks the experience to be the second in command of the United States.
Is McCain’s newfound popularity entirely due to Palin? It’s hard to tell for certain, but probably not. Record numbers of Americans watched McCain’s speech, and it seems his message of putting his country ahead of party has resonated with some Independent voters, as another Gallup poll found that he is favored by 52 percent of Independents, compared to Obama’s 37 percent. McCain’s favorability among this group rose 12 percentage points since the Republican National Convention. The poll notes that while these gains might not last, “they enable McCain to launch the next phase of the campaign with the knowledge of what his winning coalition might look like.”
For more on both candidates’ latest efforts, see “With Conventions Concluded, U.S. General Election Begins.”
Comments (13)
Dessale Fishazion
9 September 2008 at 16:47 EDT
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Hope is the best thing one can give. If Barack Obama is for hope, let’s hope he will fulfill his hope.
In my opinion in leadership its hope that guides people and unites them as one for a better goal. If the democrats are really wishing to give and work with hope, it’s the best way out of this crisis. Best quality for one to qualify for a leadership.
The republicans, on the other hand are trying to dim the light of hope and justify the era of gladiator by creating “the state of fear”. And in state of fear and immergency every thing is justified, including torture, and even failour. By the way there is no success in the battle field. So for development we must be civil and create options for our problems. No body wants to die, suffer unless he has lost his hope.
If you don’t have a good plan for development you should have a good reason for your failour well ahead of your sit in White House. That is exactly what John McCain is trying to do. He is trying to put US as if she is in immediate danger and only a man who can shoot and shout can save here. For him America needs a warrior not a thinker. He has lost all his hope.
I hope Americans will understand this, no sentiments and emotions are necessary only rational thinking. Your vote could ruin your life as it has in the past 8 years, your vote can salvage you from this crisis.
Michel King had the energy to see this day in his dreams and could touch and smell this equality against his immediate situation and against all odds. Thus we should see hope against all odds.
For a man, if there is hope there is life and for a nation if there is hope there is prosperity and peace.
Hoping all the best For the World
susan
9 September 2008 at 18:33 EDT
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i would rather mccain be my president than obama
manuel carlos
10 September 2008 at 13:27 EDT
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First of all, the choice of McCain is to confront the other candidate, Obama, with a “problem” called Hillary Clinton. Some supporters of Hillary never digested the Obama win, so in certain cases they will never vote for Obama and the choice of a woman is a strategy to catch these voters.
Awang Budin Awang Jamaludin
11 September 2008 at 03:48 EDT
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Hillary Clinton had done a good job by joining together with Barack Obama to take over the White House.If Barack Obama win then Hillary Clinton should deserve the Secretary of State of America.She could establish USA new relationship with the rest of the world including the Sate of Sabah.
tex
11 September 2008 at 14:38 EDT
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If McCain wins, I’m moving to Canada.
pascella donaldson
11 September 2008 at 14:44 EDT
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God Bless America and may the best president win if i was an american i would vote for OBAMA.
abraham
17 September 2008 at 02:56 EDT
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Obama,s selection of his VP & the way he
goes about doing things suggests that
more than trying to just win the election
intends to turn America around, unlike
Mccain who is using the popularity card
just to win the election. America is in a
declining state, through the last few years
& it needs more than just reforms as
suggest by Mccain. It needs real changes
& to bring about that it needs a strong ie.
from grassroots level person , that is found in Obama.
America,s great leaders has shown that it
was the issues which made popularity & popularity being the issue itself is a very
risky & DANGEROUS trend. The Americian
people should know that popularity as the
issue is followed in third world countries & even there it is now changing. this is where the media needs to play a constructive role in educating the masses
in looking for issues & not popularity, before it is to late. For this could be the final test for the Americians. & their supermacy
Phil
17 September 2008 at 06:43 EDT
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Mccain has made the election an issue on
personality through Sara palin. It seems he
would like to keep it this way. Eventually
he knows that it will be the issues that matter. By that time i am sure he hopes
that the americian voters would get very
limited time to really go over the issues &
thus would be able to win as a popularity
issue. That would be really bad for America.
This is the truth, But unfortunately it gets
hidden especially when it comes in politics.
other witness
8 October 2008 at 03:14 EDT
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I’m offended that Palin thinks women will vote for her because she’s one too.
Do they really think we’re that stupid?
OBAMA ALL THE WAY.
SRIKANTH
11 October 2008 at 10:13 EDT
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OBAMA $ McCAIN BOTH ARE DESERVE CANDIDATE FOR PRISIDENT OF AMERICA
BOTH WILL EXTEND GOOD RELATIONS WITH OTHER NATIONS.BUT MY THIRD SENCE SAYS
THAT OBAMA WILL BE THE NEXT GEART AMERICA PRISIDENT
Daniel
20 October 2008 at 01:03 EDT
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I think McCain has done a good job for the nation. He deserves rest and enjoy the rest of his life outside politics. I think Obama is young and he is ready to lead the next generation of America. This man Obama is very wise and gifted.
Bernard S. Robrigado, Sr.
22 October 2008 at 04:06 EDT
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To: Uncle Sam,
“In God we trust!”
Sen. John McCain, yes, he’s not that well articulated in his speeches unlike Sen. Obama does. Henceforth, John McCains’ background reflects the quality to serve your country proficiently! It must be Quality! Sen. Obama is but an ambitious neophyte icon to be entrusted of the Worlds’ Future!… Please be careful!!!
*BeSaRo, Philippines
Bernard S. Robrigado, Sr.
25 October 2008 at 07:25 EDT
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GOD Bless America!
At this critical moments, I wish to bid you to achieve the best output for November 04, 2008 Americas’ Presidential Election.
I remain for Sen. JOHN MCCAIN with this Paradox for You:
“…the problem my Dear Brutus, is NOT in our stars. IT IS IN OUR HANDS!
-Shakespears’ Hamlet.
*FACTS:
-Its now the Election Countdown Reality in Your hands (..genuine Americans) for a very Fragile Path ahead of this 21st Century Era, -hence as America (still) the Superpower Nation!
Now, let the people know that the chemistry here, should NOT be only in the limited Scope for Change of America and being at the stake (..as is reflected in your electoral projections), BUT ITS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD! -And I’m sure that every Smart Skin in this 4 Global corners are watchfully anxious to whatever they CAN devour in Your mischiefs there will be and that is soon to arise!..
*Optimized Intellectual Concept:
Inasmuch as Planet Earth has its Four(4) Corners (i.e., East-West-South-North), the same is in every Human Being (i.e., Spiritual-Mental-Emotional-Physical).
Shalom!
BeSaRo, Philippines