Posted on 10/26/2008 6:13:00 PM PDT by Chet 99
Oct. 27, 2008 | As his campaign manager has described it, John McCain is now looking at a "narrow-victory scenario." "The fact that we're in the race at all," added Steve Schmidt, "is a miracle. Because the environment is so bad and the head wind is so strong."
But talk of miracles and head winds aside, I think John McCain really does have a decent shot at winning, and that's not just because I'm a longtime Republican political operative. Despite what the polls seem to be saying, a closer look at the numbers shows that a Democratic victory is not a foregone conclusion. Why? Because if history is any guide, Barack Obama, as an African-American candidate for political office, needs to be polling consistently above 50 percent to win. And in crucial battleground states, he isn't.
Much has been written about the so-called Bradley Effect, in which voters lie to pollsters about whether they're willing to vote for a black candidate. The Bradley Effect is meant to explain why, for example, Doug Wilder had a healthy 9-point lead up to Election Day in the 1989 Virginia governor's race, and a similar lead in exit polling, only to squeak through to victory by one-half of 1 percent. But I'm not talking about voters telling pollsters they're going to support Candidate A when they're really going to vote for Candidate B. There are two other ways in which voters can mislead pollsters about their intentions. One is to decline to participate in a poll. (More than one expert has suggested that conservatives are more likely to decline than liberals, meaning there could be many uncounted McCain voters.) The other is when pollsters participate in a poll but withhold information.
(Excerpt) Read more at salon.com ...
I do fear for you in any large city if this happens ie Obama loses. Won’t be as bad in medium size cities like Pgh, Buffalo,etc. BUT the big ones like LA, Detroit especially, Chicago, NY-heaven help us!
McCain will be undermined-he would need to stand tough and use the bully pulpit that Bush failed to do.
According to Rasmussen .. Obama HAS NEVER BEEN ABOVE 50 - OR EVEN 50. The best Obama could do was 49.
And .. remember .. in both 2000 and 2004, there was this magic number 45 - which the liberals used for anyone running against their candidates. If you’re 45 or under - YOU WILL LOSE.
But .. also remember that in 2000 and 2004 - the margin of dems to repubs was ALWAYS OVERWEIGHTED in the liberal’s polling - and it got as bad as 16%. That’s why when Bush won the dems were so upset because their lies were exposed.
I’ve noticed that most of the liberal polls always show McCain at 45 or below .. except for Rasmussen.
I tell pollsters that there is only one poll that matters and they will just have to wait to find out what I’ll do/did.
“I live in Chicago. Im damn scared. Im scared of what an Obama victory will mean for generations to come. And Im scared of what a McCain victory will mean that night or the next few days. And our ability to defend ourselves has been taken from us by our godawful Mayor.”
I work in Chicago (the Loop) but live about 30 miles west. I will not be anywhere near downtown during election week, as I’m taking some vacation days. I do not want to get caught in the middle of what is apt to be some very bad situations. No, sir; I’ll be home in (still) Republican Dupage County, where it is still legal to defend your home and family.
Actually, if McCain wins VA, OH, NC, FL, AND PA, it will be OVER for Obama pretty early.
McCain can win by controlling the narrative in the last week. That means attacking Obama where he is most vulnerable, his 20 year association with Wright and Black Liberation Theology. Hammer Obama on his honesty and Obama’s narrative falls apart.
Good article. Basically shows 4 races where the ‘undecideds’ break very heavily (overwhelmingly in cases) for the white candidate.
Couple this with Michael Barone’s excellent analysis and you get a race that says “hold on tight”.
McCain/Palin can indeed win this if conservatives get out and vote!
Personal anecdote, perhaps shared by other FReepers: If I don’t know who is calling via caller ID, I don’t pick up the phone. That would probably include a polling firm trying to call.
I answered as most FReepers would, but I said I considered myself a conservative Democrat.
Then the logical question becomes, are those who are voting against 0bama b/c of his half-blackedness going to negate them?
For every action, there is an equal and opposite...
Perhaps because of his insecurities, because of the lack of a definitive male authority figure in childhood, Obama does not take criticism well.
Therefore, he doesn't learn. Therefore, he didn't learn from his "Greek Pillars" episode. This man thinks he's larger than life, and one day will have a great fall on account of his pride.
He’s right tho, by all rights Generic Democrat should be up 10-12 points against Generic Republican.
If the incumbent party couldn’t hold on in 2000, it can’t be reasonably expected that the incumbent party in 08 will, considering how much worse off we are.
The Bradley effect wouldn't be relevant in Obama vs. Keyes because they were both black.
That said, I'm skeptical the Bradley effect is going to amount to very much...
Wait a minute, Californai is going to go to McCain
So is NY. ;)
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