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Posted on 11/03/2012 7:40:35 PM PDT by Iam1ru1-2
As a veteran of numerous national, state and local campaigns, I can tell you that each race and each campaign has its own life cycle. The 2012 presidential contest is no exception. As polls tighten, and especially since Mitt Romney’s decisive performance in the first debate, Team Obama and the president himself are showing signs of what I term a campaign’s “death rattle.”
GOP contender Rick Santorum withdrew from this year’s Republican primary within three days of my declaration that his campaign was in the final stages of “death rattle.” The phenomenon has three distinct stages.
In Stage One Death Rattle, the candidate veers sharply off-message, seemingly desperate to change the subject. Santorum, for instance, unsuccessfully tried to capitalize on Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom’s ill-advised “Etch-a-Sketch” comment. Santorum began showing up at rallies with a pink Etch-a-Sketch to accentuate the point and worked lame references to it into his stump speech. It became gimmicky and unbecoming a presidential candidate. Obama’s Stage One came shortly after the first debate with Romney, with childish comments about Big Bird and other Muppets running for the border, gimmicky terms like “Romnesia” and other memes unbecoming his office. These sorts of antics rarely work.
In Stage Two Death Rattle, where I see the Obama campaign today, the campaign staff becomes increasingly frustrated, and the candidate finds it difficult not to lash out through actions or words. One symptom is public profanity. Santorum’s Stage Two moment came in an argument with New York Times reporter Jeff Zeleny over something Santorum had said in a speech. The former Pennsylvania senator was confrontational and suggested that Zeleny’s request for clarification and anything he might write about the issue were “bullshit.” Likewise, in a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Obama referred to Romney as a “bullshitter.” By most accounts, Obama harbors a deeply personal animosity toward Romney but had successfully managed it in their encounters and with the press. That changed with the Rolling Stone interview.
In Stage Three Death Rattle, the candidate’s negativity toward his opponent permeates his speeches and completely overtakes his vision and messaging. His speeches grow shrill and his campaign staff and volunteers become demoralized. At this point, Santorum withdrew. Obama isn’t here yet, but he’s perilously close. New York Times columnist Ross Douthat recently wrote of an “aura of defeat” beginning to take hold within Team Obama. Maybe. But by any reasonable measure, the race remains very close.
Make no mistake about it, Team Obama and its leadership are rattled. History has shown that unseating an incumbent president is a daunting task. It is clear that Team Obama felt that the immense personal popularity of the president, unrelenting attacks on Romney and the power of incumbency would be sufficient to carry President Obama to a second term. The polls suggest otherwise.
In a few days, the jury — we the American people — will render a verdict on President Obama. A lot can happen in the next few days. Foreign affairs and questions about what happened at our consulate in Benghazi loom large for the president. Even an act of nature, Hurricane Sandy, could have a role in how it all unfolds.
We are living in challenging times, with the election of our lifetime at hand. It will be interesting to watch the final chapter in the life cycle of the 2012 presidential election and any symptoms of a campaign’s death rattle that may or may not come. Stay tuned.
N. Scott Jones is a contributing columnist at The Daily Caller, a Dallas-based, nationally recognized expert in public relations and public affairs, and a weekly radio commentator on “The Gary Snyder Show.” He has served as staff, an appointee or adviser to three U.S. presidents and two Texas governors.
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/29/obama-2012-diagnosis-stage-two-death-rattle/#ixzz2BDXuO7zY
I loved this article.
Thanks for posting it again.
Great theme. Stage 2 death rattle.
Every pundit who looks at this and blathers thereon has his/her own bias; not necessarily in terms of R or D (though there is plenty of that) but in terms of what they believe is either a winning strategy or a winning electoral vote count strategy or what will speak to the FSA or what will appeal to staunch conservatives or what it will take to win Ohio.
I don’t think we have ever seen an election like this one before, certainly not in my lifetime; there may have been the perception that the entire Republic was at stake in elections back in the 1700’s and 1800’s. I don’t think there has been an election where half the country was ready, willing, and able to either vote away their freedoms to ensure their next government paycheck, or, to take out whatever deep-seated feelings of revenge against the stirred-up wrongdoings of their own country.
In Stage Three Death Rattle, the candidate’s negativity toward his opponent permeates his speeches and completely overtakes his vision and messaging. His speeches grow shrill and his campaign staff and volunteers become demoralized. At this point, Santorum withdrew. Obama isn’t here yet, but he’s perilously close. New York Times columnist Ross Douthat recently wrote of an “aura of defeat” beginning to take hold within Team Obama. Maybe. But by any reasonable measure, the race remains very close.
Sounds to me like 0 has hit Stage 3.
If only voters truly WERE the ultimate jury. With all of the voter fraud and intimidation tactics going on around the nation, it may be criminal activities which turn the election, not voters.
I don't think this was ever true. It was just a lot of people feeling obligated to say, "Black guy? Oh, I love him! Best ever! Really great guy. Really. I mean ... he's black, right? What's not to love? I'm no racist!"
This author absolutely nails it.
Well done.
“Obama harbors a deeply personal animosity toward Romney”
Romney is white, Mormon and a successful capitalist which is why.
Prophetic, published 10/29.
Looks like early stage three now with the “Revenge” speech etc.
you'll want to abandon your view on the matter or folks will start identifying you as a marxist shill ~ since that's the essence of marxism ~ that men are simple beings drifting in the sea of life and can be easily led with purely material elements to do what their masters want.
May the “DON”T TREAD ON ME” rattlesnake sink its hot fangs into Obama’s ass and strike a blow for LIBERTY to a foreign and alien tyrant.
FUBO
FUBO!!!
LOL!!
Thanks for that Public Service Announcement LOL
I will fly, for 4 years, a black one Nov 7 if Benghazi-Coward Obama wins.
He’s toast
We NEED the Senate!
Except for ---> this.
Vote for revenge sounds pretty negative and shrill to me.
Vote for revenge sounds pretty negative and shrill to me.
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