As a former PTA president and a citizen with no standing, I feel qualified to make the following suggestion for the final week:
Here’s what issues resonate with most uninformed voters at the end of the day:
1. Their moral code - so push the infanticide/abortion record. Many independents and moderates may not have heard of Obama’s record on the Born Alive act in Illinois and the US Senate. PUSH THIS BIG TIME. This issue will sway many voters.
2. Their pocketbook - so push the end of the Bush tax cuts and what that means to each individual family and what the Democrats want to do with 401(k)s. I looked at our potential tax increase in our family with Obama, and we are going to be paying almost $300 a month more in taxes when the Bush tax cuts expire. Most independents need to know how it’s going to affect them personally, and most of them can’t afford to see an end to the Bush tax cuts. Also, the recent suggestion that we follow Argentina’s move to seize 401(k)s and force people into a government-run retirement fund should scare the bejeezus out of anyone who’s got one.
3. Their patriotism - so push the socialism issue. Most independent voters see themselves as patriotic and are proud of their country’s heritage. Compare our unique free-market system to the socialism of Europe and most people recognize that we didn’t become the most powerful nation in the world ‘spreading the wealth around.’ Show Obama’s early associations with the New Party and the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America. The vast majority of independent voters don’t want America to become socialist, like Europe, because we’re better than them.
4. Their sense of fairness - so push the system of checks and balances in the government. Emphasize the blank check Democrats would have in the government to actually become a tyrannical power forcing their agenda through without any opportunity for the opposing side to ever stop it. Point out the wasteful spending that Obama has supported and as president would not even bat an eye signing into law, where as the democrats couldn’t run amuck with their money under a McCain presidency. Most independents sit on the fence and feel like they have ideas on both sides of the aisle, so make sure they see they’ll be forced to sacrifice their ideals on one side if they let the Democrats have total power. (Lots of opportunity here)
What they don’t care about or can’t understand:
Anything that takes more than 30 seconds to explain. So, don’t go into long explanations about the economic meltdown, the war in Iraq, Ayers, ACORN (except maybe to appeal to their sense of fairness), Jeremiah Wright, Rezko, potential attacks, etc. Keep it simple.
Good observations.
Add some humour to McCain’s stump speech. His speech is hard hitting but he’s much more likeable when he’s in his humour mode.
A clip on our local news of McCain saying the 0bama team is measureing for the drapes in the Oval Office was quite good. McCain looked like he was having fun. (imo)
btw: I’m somewhat of a nerd that is out of the mainstream with very few qualifications for making suggestions. I virtually never watch the national news shows presented by the Old Media and I read only non-fiction books.