Posted on 10/26/2008 7:58:38 PM PDT by lonestar67
Six Reasons Why McCain will win the Election 2008
Near universal agreement exists among pundits that Senator Barack Obama will defeat Senator John McCain for the presidential race of 2008. A variety of polls suggest that Obama will win by roughly six points. Trading polls online give John McCain less than a 15% of winning. Electoral projection hold Obama at near 250 solid votes. So why should anyone believe that John McCain is going to win the election. There are several reasons:
1. Operation Chaos and polling assumptions: Almost all polls providing a lead for Obama work upon a shared assumption. Democrats should be polled at a 5-10% higher level than Republicans. The adaptation for this election has lead Gallup to adopt new models for presenting its data. Pollsters ignore that at no time in recent history have Democrats held such a high party identification. The recent landslide for Democrats in 2006 had a differential of just three points. Pollsters base their assumptions upon voter behavior from spring 2008 showing higher democratic party registrations. Presumably, Barack Obama has done an extraordinary job of bringing in new voters to the democratic party. For this reason, there are now 5-10% more Democrats in the United States than Republicans. That is indeed possible. A more probable explanation is that between 3 and 10 percent of Republicans crossed over in major primaries such as Texas and Ohio and voted in the Democratic primary. The consequence of this is that Republicans have inflated the rolls of Democrats in many states. No media reports have attempted to account for this inflation and how pollsters should adapt their assumptions. Based on this factor alone, it is more reasonable to place the democratic differential between 0 and 3 percent. With such an assumption, it is easy to find polls where John McCain is in the lead.
In 18 of the 20 exit polls for the Democratic primary, Obama's lead was inflated on average 7 percent. Does that number sound familiar? Clinton was also polled to lose Indiana which she also won in late spring. An interesting summary of the polling errors is provided in an internet narrative offered by an Obama supporter, sure that Diebold is behind this phenomena:
http://www.electiondefensealliance.org/Primaries_2008_Managed_Manipulation
This narrative offers the following eerie insight to 2008 polling near the end of the essay:
"By way of corroboration of this phenomenon, in public dialogue with a major-party polling consultant the following shocking admission was made: if the Democratic candidate is not leading by 10% going into the election in their internal polling, they expect the race to be a toss-up. This internal candidate polling is—unlike polls published for public consumption—intended to paint a ruthlessly accurate picture of contest dynamics to help the party prioritize expensive get-out-the-vote drives and last-minute media blitzes. The fact that even major-party pollsters must adjust their own results to account for the “mystery swing” to the right is a strong indication that much the same distorting protocol is already being employed in public pre-election polling."
Considering how this essay was created on May 21, 2008 it is remarkable that this understanding correlates to the current polling position of Obama.
2. PUMA problems: Senator Obama won an incredibly divisive primary process. Senator Clinton won many major and key states such as Ohio, Pennsylvannia, and New Hampshire. The media and pollsters continue to suggest that a 100% harmonious conclusion has been reached between the two warring sides. Despite this media cover, Hillary Clinton supporters are going to at some percentage sit out the election because their candidate did not win. In point of fact, Hillary Clinton supporters are going to vote for John McCain. Surveys have suggested that as many as 20-30% of Democrats may vote for McCain based on the rejection of Hillary. If even fractions of these claims are true, Obama would be hard pressed to win the election-- especially in key states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio.
It is useful to review the states won by each democratic rival:
http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/votes/index.html
The NYT election website suggests that the following states had heavy turnout for Hillary Clinton and a higher risk for turning the tables on Obama this fall:
West Virginia 67-26 Clinton Rhode Island 58-40 Clinton Ohio 54-44 Clinton Pennsylvannia 55-45 Clinton
Florida 50-33 Clinton Nevada 51-45 Clinton New Hampshire 39-36 Clinton
It is important to remember that Obama was not on the ballot in Michigan. Three of these states are important battleground states in the current election.
Obama's weakest wins were in states such as:
Missouri 49-48 Obama Conneticut 51-47 Obama Wisconsin 58-41 Obama North Carolina 56-42
In total, there are 11 states where no less than 1/3 of the Democratic primary voters voted against Barack Obama. The refusal to consider how many of these voters in these 11 states-- most of them mission critical to the electoral college-- is a serious deficiency in current projections. Pennsylvania remains one of the most alluring possibilities because 55% of voters their rejected Barack Obama on April 22. That was quite a recent and substantial defeat and this state more than any other holds to key to unlocking the McCain upset this fall. A win in Pennsylvania would unburden the McCain camp from any number of western states he may seem vulnerable in such as Colorado.
For serious political hacks. The following website allows you to view county by county who won these primaries.
http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=2008&off=0&elect=1&f=0
3. Undecideds: The election has accumulated a record number of undecideds [8-12%]. That may be the most unusual feature of this election. Such statistics usually point to pundit comments such as "failed to make the sale." What might happen with these voters? Will they simply sit the election out?-- vote for Obama? vote for McCain? The media and pundits will likely spin how undecideds break against the incumbent-- a theory proven effective with the election of President John Kerry in 2004. It is however more likely that the over bearing full court press inviting the public to give up their various infatuations with racism and peaceably vote for Obama, has now created a stubborn silent backlash. The public frustration of media propaganda for Obama combined with incindierary accusations about why people might not vote for Obama could play out in an ugly way against Obama in the privacy of the polling booth. Pundit abuse is likely stirring up a recipe for silent backlash in this undecided electorate.
4. Palin power: The strongest basis for an Obama election was the lethargic relationship between conservatives and John McCain. The selection of Sarah Palin has mobilized the conservative and Republican base to record levels of excitement. The large rallies across the nation surpassing the Bush rallies of 2004 put in play additional voters that give the McCain campaign important closing momentum. Obama has drawn mega crowds at urban centers but has not seen the massive daily turnouts generated by Governor Palin. Moreover, the misogynist treatment of Palin by the media elite has provided additional elements to the coming silent backlash-- especially among women.
5. New Hampshire: New Hampshire provides the useful metaphor for the current sense of the election. In a race anticipated as a good indication of Obama's strength over Clinton, pollsters gave Obama a seven or more point advantage over Hillary Clinton in that state. The next day, Hillary would go on to win by almost the same margin-- a near 12 point error in polling predictions. New Hampshire is the kind of political bellweather that resists the Obama magic that was regularly over hyped through many primaries. Obama continues to be overhyped and that will also factor into his defeat on election day.
6. Pennsylvania: Candidate focus on Pennsylvania-- a state twice won by Democrats in the past two presidential elections-- suggests that the election is much weaker for Obama than being publicly stated. Should this reliable state fall to Republicans, it would be almost impossible to recover from electorally for Obama. Pennsylvannia has proven a microcosm of the 'you're a racist' gambit being used to intimidate voters. In the western parts of the state recently scandalized by democratic attacks on the population, close to 70% of voters in April voted for Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama. Its hard to imagine that this community of democrats is eager to vote for Barack Obama. Polls already indicate that incumbent Murtha is in trouble. Almost nowhere in Pennsylvania, did Obama turn in over 60% of the vote. The backlash has jeopardized John Murtha's re-election and signals how this Hillary state could break for McCain and send the election night quickly into a depressing panic for Keith Olbermann and brother Matthews.
All of these reasons should give assurance to Republicans that their candidate has a strong chance for winning on election night 2008. Pundits have made a habit of predicting Democratic wins in every election cycle. There is little doubt that this gambit has been part of a larger effort to suppress voting by conservatives and McCain supporters. Republicans live in this land of lost regularly in most election cycles. It is unlikely they will be deterred by this in November.
Anyone who thinks bambi is going to win this election is delusional or simply not paying attention. The dem vote for Kerry is NOT there for bambi, its that simple. Mac wins easily.
Setting the record straight that Obama slyly lies about not counting allowing the GWB tax-cuts to expire as a tax-hike.
Great analysis. I still think that Colorado is going to be the deciding factor instead of Pennsylvania. I have already given FL, OH, NV, MO, NC and VA to John McCain and believe it’s going to come down to Colorado
I am also mystified by that obvious reality being lost in the current debate.
Amen!
I think your arguments are sound.
Please, wherever you are go help with the GOTV at your local county headquarters. Take your kids. They are effective at helping with the phone bank.
The Dems are so confident of a 'blue wave' and the only way to stop it is to fight for every GOP incumbent senator. I think we can save Gordon Smith here in Oregon. We need to keep Sununu and Coleman as well. Please do what you can.
I know that is one argument I did not include which is anecdotal reference points.
I know a lot of democrats in my circle of friends— probably more dems than Republicans.
I know of no Republican friends voting for Obama. I know of several democrat associates voting for McCain. Not only that, some of them are pretty angry and vocal about it.
I did not have that feeling in 2000 or 2004. I just hoped that Bush was outregistering his opponent.
This is an important level of understanding and I just don’t see how Obama can win despite all the polling hysteria to the contrary.
I resemble that. Wife too. We voted in the Dem primary in Ohio and were subsequently automatically registered as Democrats. NFW are we ever going to vote like one. :)
I kind of like the idea, doing more harm from within that without. At least until the next Republican primary I can have a choice in.
Very well thought-out and inspirational piece... Thanks for the info and keep up the fight!!! Please ping me on any more of these analysis articles you write.
Say no to Socialism and yes to the Rise of the USA!!!!!!!!!
You are a great American!!! Please pull Oregon for us and I will give you Florida!!! Deal??? I would rather sweat to preserve freedom than have them come for my guns, money, and speech!!!
“This is my effort to consolidate an argument for McCain’s victory this fall.”
Excellent analysis!
STE=Q
His reasoning sounds better then most pollsters
Another thing about Ohio. It went dim in 2006 because of a scandal dealing with the Republicans over taxing and a scandal dealing with public pension fund fraud. With Acorn targeting the state and the Joe the Plumber attack and invasion of privacy, I would be very surprised if Bambi is within 5 points of McCain. This is the state that the term, “Will it play in Peoria” was created for. Does anyone believe that Bambi will play in Peoria?
Many Democrats are not going to vote for him since they do not trust him.
Electing Presidents always comes down to simply 'who do you trust more'.
That's a strange argument.
1. Obama can win without Pennsylvania. Winning New Mexico, Nevada, Iowa, Virginia and Colorado would do it. Polls have him leading in all of those. So would winning any one of North Carolina or Florida or Indiana or Missouri or Ohio.
2. Obama can certainly win without Pennsylvania, although it wouldn't be particularly easy. However I don't see how McCain can possibly win without Pennsylvania, at this point, absent a major development.
I don’t think Obama is going to win Nevada or Virginia. I also think he will not win NC, OH, MO, or IN. I think Obama may win New Mexico and Colorado.
Its difficult to evaluate because of how faulty the polls are as noted throughout most of my analysis. Keep in mind, we have good empirical evidence for my projections because of the spring primaries that Obama and Clinton fought over. We also have an unusually large pool of undecideds that is two to three times larger than previous elections.
I am not sure any of your assumptions are reliable. My point is that Pennsylvannia is probably one of the most vulnerable of all the states. The fact that a kerry state of this size is in question makes it difficult to assume that Obama is winning as polls suggest. The candidate behavior again confirms my thesis over yours.
Obama might take Iowa and New Mexico, but that's it. Sorry, your scenario is bogus.
I think in the end we will win, Sarah is on fire and continues to draw huge crowds in small towns. Mc is showing some signs that he does want the job.
I always enjoyed Lincoln's response to U.S.Grant when Grant said “if we press this thing I believe we can win”.
Lincoln's response... “press this thing”.
All FRpers time to “press this thing”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.