Obama Campaign: The Limbaugh Effect Is Real

National Review Online ^ | May 06, 2008 | Byron York

[Aristotelian]

As I write up the Obama victory event here in Raleigh tonight, I notice there's a new proponent of "the Limbaugh effect." It's not coming from Operation Chaos headquarters but from the Obama campaign. Tonight I've gotten two emails from the campaign suggesting that the Limbaugh effect was in play in Indiana. The most recent email, a few minutes ago, was headlined "The Limbaugh Effect in Indiana = 7%" noting:

According to the latest exit polling data, 17% of voters in the Indiana primary today said they would vote for John McCain in a Clinton/McCain matchup.

41% of that number is constituted by people who voted Clinton in the primary but also indicated they will vote for McCain in the general election.

That comes out to just under 7% of the primary electorate the number that may be attributed to a “Limbaugh Effect.”

[mad_as_he$$]

The rats have spent OVER $450,000,000 to date.

[Fundamentally Fair]

So what’s his plan for keeping a Muslim out of our White House?

No need. There aren't any running.

[NeoCaveman]

Unwittingly, Operation Chaos has given Obama the grounds for a solid case to his RAT superdelegates.

Who says it is unwittingly? Limbaugh suggested Barack could end OC and Hillary the day after the PA primary by citing the "Limbaugh effect" as a reason for her illegitimate margin of victory.

It's fun to give good advice, when you know it won't be taken.

[TheRightGuy]

Late last night CNN was tracking the Indiana vote and a certain county, Hammond? still hadn’t reported the vote.

Lake County (includes Hammond) voted overwhelming Obama (56-44 IIRC), They couldn't overcome Hilde's statewide lead but sure put a dent in it. Later poll closing times and high turnout were the official line for the lateness of the results, but more likely it was to delay Hilde's victory speech beyond prime time.

[Coldwater Creek]

Oh! You don't have to assume that I will vote for “Ace”. Not voting for him is not an option, even though, I despise the Senator.

[Coldwater Creek]

It should be over, but the Clinton's will never give up, no matter who is destroyed.

[RetSignman]

If no one has never seen the face of defeat before, all one would have to see is the face of Bill clinton behind his wife during her speech.

He seen his chances at revising his pathetic legacy just go up in smoke.

Priceless.

[burroak]

I agree with your assessment of Limbaugh’s goal, as far as you go.

IMO, the genesis of “Operation Chaos” was rooted in the democrats crossing over in the open primaries to influence who the Republican candidate would be. In the early open primaries, he railed about the cross-over effect. To have the democrats bemoan cross-over voters is just too sweet.

It moved on to a full-blown media event when he caught lightning in a bottle. I think Limbaugh is clever, but much of the later “Operation Chaos” was serendipitous. He got lucky and now his objective is to stay in front of the movement.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Way to go Indiana!

[TribalPrincess2U]

Rat infested.... how appropriate.

[newnhdad]

Words do matter.
Do we all realize that this will hasten the return of the “Fairness Doctrine”. It will happen before we know it and talk radio will cease to exist as we know it. I would hope that these guys make it to satellite radio. The last thing the Democrats want is someone holding sway over more people than they can buy off.

[Man50D]

McCain is a socialist too.

Exactly. Hence Operation Chaos is a waste of time.

[RipSawyer]

I have heard a lot of opinions about John McCain but you are the first person who thinks him capable of big beads of “sweet”.

[Man50D]

Do you prefer one of the two socialists?

I don't prefer any of the three socialists from either the GOP or Democrat parties.

[Man50D]

Your line of reasoning is beyond me. We win by losing? Yea, right.

You lose with Operation Chaos by default because it prevents any chance of advancing conservatism by not investing all the time and energy in supporting a conservative candidate and only helps socialists by favoring one from the GOP.

[Man50D]

One of three Socialists will be the next POTUS. That is a given.

That is exactly what the socialist media and socialist politicians in the GOP and Democrat parties want you to believe. The fact is there are other parties that don't espouse the socialist agenda as do the GOP and Democrats.

[Man50D]

Dear G-d, if we can keep those two three calamities out of the White House, we have provided an invaluable service to our country.

And you're only worried about what's in it for CONSERVATIVES?

Absolutley!

[ctdonath2]

Got a better viable choice?
I’m no happier with the options than you are, but recognize that ONE of these otherwise unelectables WILL be in the Oval Office come January. Pick one.

[Man50D]

Got a better viable choice?

I don't know how you define viable but I define it as any conservative candidate regardless of party affiliation. They're out there if your willing to look past the R and D and take the time to do research. I'm in the process of researching and will make a choice come election time.

I’m no happier with the options than you are, but recognize that ONE of these otherwise unelectables WILL be in the Oval Office come January. Pick one.

I'll never pick a socialist. The type of thinking only continues the country down the slippery slope of increasing socialism with no end in sight.

[ctdonath2]

Translation: you don’t have a viable choice ... and apparently don’t even understand what’s going on.

Short of one of the candidates assuming room temperature, HRC, BHO, or JMC _will_ be in the Oval Office come January. You may choose someone else, but that choice has zero chance of becoming President any time soon.
Yes, you’re faced with a “slippery slope” choice. You’re going to go down a slope; how slippery a slope do you want?