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Palin Bounce Has Democrats Off Balance (Hey, Isn't It Just A Bounce, Hahahaha Alert)
Los Angeles Times ^ | 9/10/2008 | Peter Wallsten And Janet Hook

Posted on 09/10/2008 10:30:49 AM PDT by goldstategop

The emergence of Sarah Palin as a political force in the presidential race has left many top Democrats fretting that, just two weeks after their convention ended on an emotional high, Barack Obama's campaign has suddenly lost its stride.

Obama has responded aggressively this week to Palin's presence on the Republican ticket, using TV ads and campaign rallies to attack her contention that she is a political reformer who will take on the Washington establishment -- a role Obama has long claimed as his alone.

But some Democrats are now worried about the perils of Obama's strategy, saying that his campaign, instead of engaging the Alaska governor, should avoid any move that draws more attention to her and could enhance her appeal among the white, blue-collar voters who remain cool to Obama's candidacy.

A series of new polls suggests that Palin has given a major boost to John McCain's campaign, exciting the GOP base, winning over white women and all but erasing Obama's lead.

Concern among Democrats was high enough Tuesday that Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), one of Obama's strongest supporters, felt it necessary to cite historical polling data at a lunch of Democratic senators to convince them that post-convention "bounces," such as the one that has followed last week's GOP convention, have often faded in past elections.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008election; demmeltdown; dempanic; demsgoingape; electionpresident; gopbounce; janethook; losangeletimes; mccainpalin; msmdrivebys; obama; obamabiden; palin; palinping; peterwallsten; sarahcuda; sarahpalin
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To: goldstategop

Maybe it’s time for another photo of Obama shirtless like the one of him in the surf a while back.

Everyone knows that’s what women are looking for in a candidate. /s


21 posted on 09/10/2008 11:05:26 AM PDT by Breyean
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To: goldstategop

Dems are the proverbial Scarecrow from Wizard of OZ. They are not sure what way to go.

Do we Attack, not Attack, Change is good, Change is bad.


22 posted on 09/10/2008 11:05:30 AM PDT by pennyfarmer (Shiite Muslim named Bob.)
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To: goldstategop
This comment by Sax sums it up nicely:

The Democrats have lost cabin pressure and the oxygen masks have dropped.

23 posted on 09/10/2008 11:06:57 AM PDT by Professional Engineer (Caribou...It's what's for dinner.)
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To: Always Right; goldstategop
I think it's simply too early to say whether it's a bounce or a strategic shift in the race. It hasn't even been one week since Palin gave her speech at the convention.

It was not clear late Tuesday whether the lipstick spat would garner much attention...

I think the Obamessiah's press conference this morning answered that question. :-)

...but the exchange demonstrated the challenges facing Obama as the McCain camp tries to squeeze every possible advantage out of the Palin candidacy. Some Democrats are eager for Obama to be even harder on Palin.

By all means, yes!!!!

24 posted on 09/10/2008 11:07:53 AM PDT by impeachedrapist (On Free Republic PBD [political bipolar disorder] rules!)
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To: snarkytart

I tend to prefer Rass’s method.

The reason it’s showing slightly depressed numbers is because the other polling units adjust for enthusiasm change in the electorate; More are self identifying as Republicans since the Palin pick. Rass adjusts his poll for party identification every few months. This has a tendency to protect the poll of huge swings that evaporate in a matter of days.

The question is whether this enthusiasm can be sustained. If it is, then party identification will need to be adjusted and Rass will probably do so if a month’s data indicates the change is necessary.

My gut tells me it’s split about 50/50 with McCain holding a slight lead. I think the debates will be critical. M/P won the convention battle. Debates are the second half.

If Palin/McCain Do well there and if Obama has a subpar performance in at least one then the edge is to M/P in this election.


25 posted on 09/10/2008 11:08:40 AM PDT by Soul Seeker
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To: PeterFinn
Biden’s telling some poor guy in a wheelchair to stand up for himself

I hadn't heard about this one. What happened?

26 posted on 09/10/2008 11:09:28 AM PDT by impeachedrapist (On Free Republic PBD [political bipolar disorder] rules!)
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To: maeng

Right on.


27 posted on 09/10/2008 11:09:45 AM PDT by unkus
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To: Beagle8U; snarkytart
“I wonder why Rasmussen has them so close still.” They have their head up their a@@ ?

Go to any of the Rasmussen polling threads, and you'll find the answer. It comes down to weighting respondents by party.

28 posted on 09/10/2008 11:10:55 AM PDT by impeachedrapist (On Free Republic PBD [political bipolar disorder] rules!)
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To: goldstategop
Obama continues to shoot himself in the foot. It's unbefitting of a presidential candidate to be putting down the opposition's VICE PRESIDENTIAL candidate, whether female or male. He sounds like the whiney baby that he is.

One thing Palin has given the Demonrats is an excuse. Obama continues to avoid talking about his policies by focusing, instead, on McCain/Palin.

The problem the Demonrats face is that the majority of people (not Freeper types) vote with their emotions. Someone else stated it correctly, this is a shift, not a bounce. The uninformed sheeple love the freshness, directness, and normalcy of Sarah Palin. She is a very attracting person (i.e., people are attracted to her) because of her manner. When they listen to Obama, they hear nothing but negativity about America, Americans, our leaders. Sarah brings a positive freshness to the field. Most democrats, I believe, are really good-hearted Americans whose party really doesn't represent them (too far left of liberal)--they're just accustomed to voting democrat (like my folks). Now that the Republicans have their attention, I think they will keep it. This may turn out to be a landslide for McCain/Palin.

29 posted on 09/10/2008 11:13:04 AM PDT by DallasDeb
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To: karnage

Hitler was all about “change you can believe in”. A vegetarian, rabid anti-smoker, health nut, new age kind of guy.

He was quite the community organizer I’ve heard.


30 posted on 09/10/2008 11:15:44 AM PDT by listenhillary (Palin accomplished more in the PTA than Obama did as a community organizer)
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To: goldstategop

I think it’s too early to tell yet. However, what I’m enjoying so much is how Gov. Palin is benefiting so much from the themes introduced by the Dems in the early stages. Without the excitement those themes generated, I’m not sure Gov. Palin, as inherently interesting and energizing she is, would be providing this bounce.

Obama promised change and got a lot of people expecting and wanting it. Any change. But he never defined it. Then he turned out to be the same ol’ type of politician himself. Hillary got women excited to believe that they were finally beginning to ascend through that glass ceiling. Then what did John McCain do? He selected a running mate that delivered on all the promises hinted at by the Dems. I am enjoying this more than I should.


31 posted on 09/10/2008 11:16:28 AM PDT by twigs
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To: maeng

Yes by all means try to get others as excited as well are. Also if you can, please go volunteer at your local victory office.

Even if you are shy about calling strangers...go anyway. I had fun doing it this morning. I had several elderly people who were so glad to have someone call that they could safely vent to about their hatred of Obama.


32 posted on 09/10/2008 11:18:43 AM PDT by lovesdogs (Obama isn't half the man Sara Palin is -Rush Limbaugh)
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To: goldstategop
The neighbor two houses down took down their Obama yard sign. They have always voted democrat, and have always showed their support with yard signs each election.

My jaw dropped when I seen the sign come down. It was about 3-days after Palin’s speech.

33 posted on 09/10/2008 11:19:46 AM PDT by NavyCanDo
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To: karnage
The friend now fears for the future of our country, which she likens to “Germany in 1937.”

Hitler took power in 1933.

34 posted on 09/10/2008 11:21:50 AM PDT by rfp1234 (Phodopus campbelli: household ruler since July 2007.)
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To: lovesdogs

Also, I am calling to get yard signs...as many as they will let me have.


35 posted on 09/10/2008 11:23:16 AM PDT by maeng
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To: lovesdogs

Thanks for stepping up and getting involved. I hope more follow your lead.


36 posted on 09/10/2008 11:27:04 AM PDT by impeachedrapist (On Free Republic PBD [political bipolar disorder] rules!)
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To: GitmoSailor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFXcHD0z3ZY
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A little music to go with that picture of Sarah.


37 posted on 09/10/2008 11:39:53 AM PDT by RipSawyer (What's black and white and red all over? Barack Hussein Obama)
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To: goldstategop

The thing I love most is that Obama is focusing on Palin no McCain. holy smoke I have never seen a Presidential election where the other party was so fixated on the VP and ignoring the top of the ticket. Sure they are trying to paint McCain as Bush 3 but that has;t worked and he is not taking McCain on point by point. This is far better then the swiftboats against Kerry.


38 posted on 09/10/2008 11:45:13 AM PDT by MCOAvalanche
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To: william clark

Surge? You’re right. It’s a surge.


39 posted on 09/10/2008 12:01:18 PM PDT by GOPJ (If Sarah had served on a board with Timothy McVeigh, would the MSM give her a pass? (Ayers))
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To: goldstategop

All the Republicans ever had to do was “Give us a Conservative candidate”. Before the convention it was starting to look like Viagra Dole Part 2. No wonder the media thought Obama was The One.

I’ll give McCain credit and his Maverick status. He picked a real winner.

Perhaps the Republican party has finally learned that it is better to have a vote FOR someone than AGAINST. No more voting for the lesser of two evils.


40 posted on 09/10/2008 12:17:10 PM PDT by Scarlet Pimpernel
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