Can “Barack Obama the unknown” close the deal?

The Collins Report ^ | Oct. 28, 2008 | Kevin “Coach” Collins

[jmaroneps37]

The media has tried to ordain him “Barack Obama, the incumbent president”, but the evidence suggests many Americans see him as “Barack Obama the unknown.”

If history repeats itself, this could present serious problems for his efforts to close out this election.

These are tumultuous times filled with unknowns. People want stability. Voters want to support a “known” with the flaws they recognize over the total unknown Obama as the media has crafted him.

Regardless of what the media wants us to believe, there is no incumbent in this race. Obama’s artificial “incumbency” can’t shake the high number of undecided voters still showing up in polling data. This runs counter to Obama’s campaign plans.

A look at the late October 2004 polls might seem to say President Bush attracted undecided voters because of his incumbency. A closer look, however, suggests the undecided voters moved to Bush when they compared the “known George Bush” to the “unknown John Kerry” on how each would handle the main issues of the day.

The war on terror and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were on the minds of Americans in November 2004. Just before the election, Bin Ladin released a tape threatening America if we did not turn George Bush out of office. This exacerbated the problem of being an unknown terror fighter for Kerry who was in fact very much better known than Obama is today.

The average 2.4% undecideds on October 25, 2004 all went to George Bush not because he was the incumbent but because he was the “known” that voters wanted.

In 2004 the TIPPs poll, was the most accurate predictor of the final outcome. Today TIPPs is reporting a 10 point undecided level.

McCain is the known. By design Obama is the unknown. This could do him in.

[jmaroneps37]

The longer the polls keep reporting undecided numbers like this, the worse it is for Obama. As things are going, there could be as high as say 4% of undecideds at the end. The pollsters won't report this of course because that would be bad for business. Final note: undecided voters are NOT necessarily Bradley voters. They could be the less fearful Bradley voters while the more deeply fearful Bradley voters are just saying they will back Obama to "please" the pollsters they fear know who they are and where they live.

[Perdogg]

ping

[CanadianMusherinMI]

can obama close the deal? nOpe!

[G Larry]

Here is the problem:

1) Most Americans do not understand basic economics,
2) Too many Americans believe the untested lies perpetuated by the mainstream media;
- Misinformation about the Patriot Act,
- Misinformation about Bush and Cheney policies,
- The idea that lack of money is only thing wrong with education in America,
- The role of Democrats in undermining an effective energy policy,
- The roll of Democrats in the current economic crisis.

[snarkytart]

It’s going to be interesting next Tuesday night, that’s for sure.
Either we are really in denial, or we are really brilliant.
I hope it’s the latter.

[Puppage]

many Americans see him as “Barack Obama the unknown.”

Quite the contrary....it's what we DO know about him that's unsettling to say the least.

[6SJ7]

I’m seeing something in my very blue corner of the world I never saw in 2000 or 2004; McCain/Palin yard signs. Not many, but a few. This may not sound significant, but this is a deep-blue neighborhood. I never saw a single Bush/Cheney sign here in 2000 or 2004. There is something scwewy going on with those polls.

[BornToBeAmerican]

“McCain is the known. By design Obama is the unknown. This could do him in.+

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This line is priceless and cuts right to the chase. My only change would be removing the “could” to a “will.”