Posted on 11/26/2009 4:31:22 AM PST by Zakeet
There are many interesting conclusions one can reach from recent Rasmussen Daily Tracking Polls -- including the massive spreads now defined by the two latest indices—the “Empty Tent Index” and “Post Racial Index.”
The Empty Tent index is constructed to demonstrate the massive vote loss the McCain Campaign and other “big tent” Republicans suffered thanks to the strategy to “reach across the aisle” and not go after McCain’s “honorable opponent” and so on. We could call this the “Colin Powell Impact Index” or the “David Brooks Crease in the Pants” index, but we will stick with “Empty Tent” index for short.
This index is constructed by contrasting how the McCain Campaign performed with independents in the 2008 election – they lost them by 21 points – with how independents now view Obama since they have an understanding of who he is. According to Rasmussen today, 51% of independents strongly disapprove of Obama while only 16% strongly approve, giving Obama an index of -35% among this group of voters.
Since McCain refused to clearly define “who Obama was” during the campaign in an attempt to attract moderates, the spread of 56 percentage points is a pretty good snapshot of how many votes the “maverick” left on the table.
The “Post Racial” Index debuts at a whopping 58% spread. According to Rasmussen, 97% of African-Americans approve of the job Obama is doing while only 39% of white-Americans approve. This would indicate that a little more work is yet to be done on that “transcendent candidate” thing. In fact, we are researching to see if there has ever been a President who is so racially polarizing. We will record this as a minus 58 since a truly post-racial President would perhaps have more approval from whites than from African-Americans.
In the “Give A Damn” Index, Obama’s number is now -20 as 56 percent of his overall approval is strong while 76% of his disapproval is firm. This indicates which way the dial is likely to move in the short term, which is downward.
The “Get A Clue” Index today is also at a new high – or from Obama’s point of view a new low – at -20. This index is designed to give a snapshot of the disconnect between polls using the most engaged voters and those using the lowest common denominator of poll subjects. This not only indicates a commentary on who Obama’s supporters are, it is a tweak of pollsters who use questionable populations in off election years.
Rasmussen, using only “likely voters,” is showing an overall approval index for Obama today at -8 with 54% at least somewhat disapproving versus 46% who at least somewhat approve. Four major polls sponsored by liberal outlets have a combined average of + 12. These polls will all use likely or registered voters as we near an election so their accuracies will improve, but they cynically use only the ACORN friendly filter of “adults” in off year polls.
The Got A Chance Index is now at -34% -- as 67% of the country is already firm in their opinion of Obama and only 33% have soft feelings of approval or disapproval.
As introduced a couple weeks ago, the “Get Away” index was a measure of how toxic Obama was to 2009 candidates. This is the comparison between how Obama did in these areas in 2008 versus how the Democrat candidates performed in 2009. These figures are now final for Virginia and New Jersey.
Roster of C. Edmund Wright Poll Indices of Obama Performance Metrics
Give A Damn Index -20
Empty Tent Index -56
Get A Clue Index -20
Post Racial Index -58
Got A Chance Index -34
Get Away Index Va. -25
Get Away Index NJ -24
Excellent post. Juan ran a pathetic campaign.
No kidding. How in the heck could anyone win who (should’ve) had a campaign slogan of “I have a history of reaching across the aisle”? That’s what people want, someone who’ll compromise their principals to get along.
Forgot the sarcasm tag at the end...
Obviously they were afraid - of being labeled a raciest by Obama’s people.
Obviously they were afraid - of being labeled a raciest by Obama’s people.
And for all of that the Stupid Party is capable of botching their end of things—running hopelessly bad candidates who would vote with the Dems if they managed to get in anyway.
Vigilance required.
The ‘debates’ were generally pathetic, as well. Obama would throw out a lie and McCain would respond with a smile and then talk about something else when is perfect response was left on the floor. I spent a lot of time from afar trying to coach McCain what to say, but he didn’t hear me. Unlike Obama, who probably had an earpiece.
Just a note, McCain did not lose independents by 21 pts. Not even close. He lost them 52-44, 8 pts.
Ever since I’ve been active in politics - about 35 years or so - it seems the GOP is very big on awarding the nomination to whomever is perceived to be “next in line.” We did it in 1988 with Bush I, Dole in 1996, and McCain in 2008.
The GOP always tries to “play by the rules” in the game of politics where there are no rules.
Juan ran a pathetic campaign, yep, just imagine if the dumazz Mccain had not hamstrung the one positive force in the campaign...SP. We know why the left got the heebeegeebees and had to destroy SP is because she was the only possibility that made preprogrammed McCain slightly viable!!! FU NotMyFriend MCCAIN!!!
Didn't need it.
Hey, it was all Palin’s fault. Just ask McCain’s leading campaign staff members.
” ... it seems the GOP is very big on awarding the nomination to whomever is perceived to be “next in line.” We did it in 1988 with Bush I, Dole in 1996, and McCain in 2008.”
Who “won” New Hampshire in these years? It appears that the voters in New Hampshire - who also seem to be able to maintain an admitted socialist in office - are pulling the “bandwagon” along into the real primary season by allowing the massed media of ABCNNBCBS to create a false “trend” and false momentum going into the primaries.
Based on nothing but Mainstream reports of mainstream reports!
Here in PA GOP Lynn Swann former NFL great ran against white democrat Rendell and got trounced
Even more pathetic----the time McC actually berated a supporter on broadcast TV, b/c she dared to bring up O's citizenship. McC then DEFENDED Obama to a Repub crowd.
Maybe McC voted for Obama?
McC kept flaunting his RINO-itis....stooping to appear with known RINOS. Seeing him with one of the biggest losers--RINO Giuliani--cost McC many votes.
The most unforgiveable was McC gluing himself to the pukeneos. The Everything-For-Us-Nothing-For-You pukeneo crowd took over McC's campaign---what's even more disturbing is that McC allowed this to happen. Conservatives were incensed that McCain allowed himself to be duped by conservative-hating pukeneos (as did Bush).
MOST NAUSEATING ELECTION NIGHT SCENE Smirking little Fox pundit Billy Kristol, McC's campaign advisor---putting on his old reliable "Pukeneos Know Nothing About This Republican Disaster" act.
The pukes are a tiny powerful group of conservative-haters, obsessed with religious cleansing of the Repub Party. The puke game was to have McC look like a borderline liberal, a sap-happy "bi-partisan" candidate.
Nice game.....if you don't mind losing.
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