James Fallows has this interesting post about how the foreign names of Barack Obama and John McCain are translated (roughly) into Chinese.
Posts Tagged ‘Barack Obama’
The Candidates in Chinese
Posted: October 29, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCainTags: 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, China, John McCain
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Absence of the Gun Control Issue
Posted: October 29, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCainTags: 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCain
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.
The Campaign Dynamic Summarized in One Sentence
Posted: October 29, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCainTags: 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCain, Swing States
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 McCainTags: 2008 Elections, Arizona, Barack Obama, John McCain, Swing States
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.
Obama Expanding His Road to 270
Posted: October 28, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack ObamaTags: 2008 Elections, Barack Obama
Wow. The RNC is spending money to defend Montana a week before the election. Absolutely stunning.
Update: Marc Ambinder makes two interesting points about this. First, that George W. Bush won the state by 20 points in 2004. Second, that Ron Paul is on the bill here and could potentially be a spoiler for McCain and hand the state to Obama.
The Tell
Posted: October 28, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCainTags: 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCain
Not Over Yet
Posted: October 27, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCainTags: 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCain, Pennsylvania, Swing States
Nate Silver has this op-ed in the New York Post on how McCain could win the election without Pennsylvania. The chances of McCain actually pulling it off according to him are slim – 5 percent. But it’s a scenario worth keeping in mind on Election Night because stranger things have happened.
Counting Your Eggs Before They’re Hatched
Posted: October 26, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, Beltway DramaTags: 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, Beltway Drama
According to Steve Clemons, there is a rumor the Obama campaign will announce his cabinet on November 7 – three days after the election. The other rumor is that John Kerry and Bill Richardson are frontrunners to be Secretary of State.
While every campaign has a short list of candidates for the cabinet and other key political appointments, I think it is extremely foolish for the Obama campaign to be so presumptuous to be telegraphing a move like this. Yes, they are in the driver’s seat right now with just over a week to go before the election, but a lot can happen or change in one day, let alone eight.
The McCain campaign seized on the erroneous story that John Podesta had already written Obama’s inaugural address. If this is true, expect a similar reaction.
McCain Adviser Endorses Obama
Posted: October 24, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCainTags: 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCain
Crossover Endorsements
Posted: October 24, 2008 in 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCainTags: 2008 Elections, Arne Carlson, Barack Obama, Colin Powell, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Scott McClellan, Senate, William Weld
Obama picks up a trifecta of GOP endorsements in the aftermath of getting the Colin Powell seal of approval:
Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan
Former governor of Massachusetts William Weld
Former governor of Minnesota Arne Carlson
The only big name Democrat to endorse McCain so far is Joe Lieberman. What makes him more significant than any of the Republicans who crossed over for Obama is that he is still a serving U.S. senator, currently a member of the Democratic caucus. If McCain wins the White House, there is speculation that McCain would ask Lieberman to serve in his cabinet – possibly as Secretary of Defense or State – which would open up his seat in the Senate, which would be filled at the discretion of the Republican governor of Connecticut Jodi Rell.
Icepicks and Nukes 
