Archive for the ‘2008 Elections’ Category

Ted Stevens Scenario

Posted: October 29, 2008 in 2008 Elections, National Security, Senate
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What happens if Stevens is re-elected next week but later resigns or is expelled from the Senate? Former defense analyst Chuck Spinney makes a very interesting point:

“How much do you want to bet the Sarah Palin won’t replace Ted Stevens after being induced to run in a special election by “popular demand”?

Hat tip to James Fallows.

The Candidates in Chinese

Posted: October 29, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCain
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James Fallows has this interesting post about how the foreign names of Barack Obama and John McCain are translated (roughly) into Chinese.

Absence of the Gun Control Issue

Posted: October 29, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCain
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Roger Simon has an interesting note on how John McCain has failed to exploit traditional wedge issue of gun rights in this election.

The NRA is sending out anti-Obama paraphernalia on its own account, and they are one of the most effective and powerful lobby groups in Washington. But that still doesn’t carry quite the same amount of gravitas as if McCain himself – or Sarah Palin, for that matter – were making it a part of the national conversation by presenting the argument on the campaign trail or during the debates.

I don’t think a failure to seize on the gun issue will cost McCain the election, but once it’s over I think Simon is right that it will be looked at as a potential asset he didn’t capitalize on.

Bill Kristol’s Punditry

Posted: October 29, 2008 in 2008 Elections, John McCain, Media, Sarah Palin, Talking Heads
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My friend and former classmate Matt Mundy offers this analysis of Bill Kristol’s prognosticating this election season and takes him out to the woodshed. Shorter Matt: Kristol offers advice, the McCain campaign seemingly follows it and tanks in the polls, and now Kristol is criticizing the campaign for following a course of action he advocated.

Palin Energy Policy Speech

Posted: October 29, 2008 in 2008 Elections, John McCain, Sarah Palin
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She should have done this right after the Republican convention. We are weeks beyond the point of giving major policy speeches. Palin should be focusing on making the closing arguments for why voters should elect John McCain.

The Campaign Dynamic Summarized in One Sentence

Posted: October 29, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCain
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From the Palm Beach Post:

Both presidential candidates will be in Florida on Wednesday — John McCain because he must, Barack Obama because he can afford to contend in states that voted Republican in 2004.

This sentence applies across the map, substitute Florida with any of the red states that are now up for grabs.

Arizona Up for Grabs

Posted: October 29, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCain
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The bad news just keeps coming for the McCain campaign.

Sen. John McCain’s once-comfortable lead in Arizona has all but evaporated, according to a new poll that has the underdog Republican presidential candidate struggling in his own backyard.

With less than a week until Election Day, McCain is leading his Democratic rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, by 2 points, 46 to 44, down from a 7-point lead a month ago and a double-digit lead this summer, according to a poll from Arizona State University.

Factor in the 3-percentage point margin of error, and a race that was once a nearly sure thing for McCain is now a toss-up, pollsters say.

As Al Gore found out eight years ago, only three presidents have ever been elected without carrying their home states. Whether Obama will buy advertising time in the state or add it to his campaign itinerary is unclear at this point, but he might send his wife or some A-list surrogates to headline an event or two there during the final days. It’s not the big gamble like four years ago when Dick Cheney went to Hawaii during the last week of the campaign. But if McCain has to spend money and time playing defense in Arizona this late in the game, he’s toast.

Draper Blogging

Posted: October 28, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Media
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GQ’s Robert Draper, who wrote the much ballyhooed story on the McCain campaign’s changing narratives that ran in the recent edition of the New York Times Sunday Magazine, is now officially a blogger. Check it out.

The Tell

Posted: October 28, 2008 in 2008 Elections
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Not good for the GOP.

The Republican National Committee buys TV time in deep-red MONTANA and WEST VIRGINIA, a sign the party is scrambling to stave off a historic landslide a week from today. “Tough environment,” one Republican official says sardonically. The McCain campaign has not officially given up on VIRGINIA but a top official concedes it is LOST, while maintaining that a PENNSYLVANIA miracle can still get Sen. McCain to 270. He and Gov. Palin will be there repeatedly before Election Day. But should they also be shoring up Nevada, now a must-win?

Update: Marc Ambinder makes a great point here when comparing the websites for the national parties. What, or rather who, is missing is as telling as what is there.

Lieberman On the Way Out as Homeland Security Committee Chair

Posted: October 28, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Senate
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Elections have consequences, and Joe Lieberman bet on the wrong horse.

***LIEBERMAN ALSO OUT: Bres reports that Reid hopes Sen. Lieberman will “voluntarily” leave as Homeland Security Committee chairman after energetically backing McCain. We’re told he’ll be booted if not.

Expect him to defect to the Republican caucus some time after the election or at the beginning of the next Congress.

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