Frank Luntz
Republican party pollster and communications consultant
Barack Obama will be the next President. For a pollster and message consultant to declare the outcome with 10 days to go is risky. But John McCain's campaign has shown no capability to capitalise on events, and the Obama campaign just doesn't make mistakes.
It didn't have to be this way. McCain could have stood up and said no to the $700 billion "taxpayer-funded Wall Street bail-out". McCain could have been a hero for the middle-class.
Sure, it's now called an "economic rescue plan" by the White House, but the Bush Administration's rebranding came too little and too late. He could have declared that "Main Street should not have to pay for the sins of Wall Street", that it's "time for the corporate con-men to do some time for costing us some dime".
That decision alone would have made him a hero to tens of millions of hard-working middle-class voters who resent seeing their tax dollars handed over to fund the retirement packages of the Billionaire Boys Club. But he didn't.
| Steve |
October 23rd, 2008 4:20 pm ET The author of this article is using flawed logic to pare out his partisan views. I quote, "The Obama campaign just doesn't make mistakes", but how many times has Joe Biden opened his mouth only to stick his foot in it? |
|
| Anthony - Apex, NC |
October 23rd, 2008 4:27 pm ET If it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, then the Gov had better start eatin' and warming up. |
|
| Anthony |
October 23rd, 2008 4:32 pm ET "partisan views", Steve? |
|
| Flo |
October 23rd, 2008 4:39 pm ET Steve, you have a point, however, the Republicans have Mc Palin, harder to bounce back with Carribou Barbie spouting to the masses.... |
|
| Alice |
October 23rd, 2008 4:44 pm ET John McCain is pulling out all of the stops and going for the throat. |
|
| Brian |
October 23rd, 2008 4:45 pm ET I agree with Steve....the media has this election won..why bother voting (Sarcasm).....Liberal Press at its best!! |
|
| Kenny Bellini |
October 23rd, 2008 4:46 pm ET Obama will be the next president according too the polls, but what about according to the votes, the computers and the people who count them? Has anyone asked Micheal L. Connell of GovTech Soutions, LLC, who he is voting for – or who he is fixing it for? he has done it before. Connell, is the GOP operative and Bush family confidant selected to re-organize the Capital Hill IT network. The company is under his wife's name, Heather, and is the man behind the firewall for the US House of Representatives. His activities need to be investigated – Big time! |
|
| Ronnie |
October 23rd, 2008 4:49 pm ET Campaign Obama hasn't made any mistakes. It doesn't matter what Biden says, the republicans will always find a way to spin it for their own good. But it doesn't matter either, 'cause Joe Biden isn't running for president. From someone on the outside looking in (Canada), I've been watching the race on a daily basis for over a year now. Lets see if I can predict the outcome of November : Obama...352 electoral seats with 66% percent of the popular vote McCain..you figure it out... Oh yes....We can see the USA from our bedroom windows! Ronnie |
|
| Adriana R Maxwell Marrietta,Ga |
October 23rd, 2008 4:53 pm ET Well, most season polticos know that Joe Biden although he means well, has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth. So when he does, its greeted with a grimace then say moving on. The Obama campaign has made fewer less damaging mistakes. |
|
| Lena- Phoenix, AZ |
October 23rd, 2008 4:53 pm ET That doesn't make any sense. What I mean by my statement is that he shouldn't just say "no" or whatever he needs to to garner votes, and thus, to win the election. He should have had a consistent campaign, with a 'Clear' message that has positive agenda for his role as president. Which he never had to begin with. And then, annihilated after he added Palin as his VP. He made many mistakes from Day One. And the main one was not knowing who McCain is or should be. Key note: don't use "glittering generalitites" to refer to yourself when you're running for Pres. He should've called himself, "McCain for Change." Oh wait, that's Obama...well, I was never going to vote for McCain to begin with.... |
|
| Raymond |
October 23rd, 2008 4:57 pm ET Frank Luntz is just realistic. Obama is in a different intellectual league than McCain. McCain is a great American who has served well his country. But the President position is about the future. Obama has the intellect and the health required for dealing with the complex issues of today and of the future. The McCain’s campaign has failed to grab opportunities and made significant errors in judment (e.g. selected a junior polititian for the important VP position). This is evidence that they cannot run effectively America. |
|
| Lena- Phoenix, AZ |
October 23rd, 2008 4:58 pm ET Steve....I believe that the author of this article IS a republican...but, unfortunately, you're right about Joe Biden. Hopefully Obama can keep him in-line, and that they will balance each other out / ie: the cool-headed one (Obama) and the hot-headed one (Biden)=Steady Presidential Leadership. |
|
| SK |
October 24th, 2008 3:02 am ET John McCain has spent this entire election telling us constantly what Obama is doing, or going to do. If he had spent the election telling us what he will do, he would have had a better chance. Every 3 words out of his mouth has been about Obama. He has been Obama's best advocate. Saying he's a maverick, and won't raise anyones taxes, is not a winning strategy. Demonizing Obama was a losing strategy. He has been as wrong on the issues, as George Bush was. He said out of his own mouth, he's voted 90% with Bush. He picked an unqualified VP to succeed him as President, in case of his death. He has no one to blame for his fall, but himself. He followed the Carl Rove play book, calling Obama a terrorist, socialist & communist. He spent an entire election on negative attacks trying to destroy Obama, and instead destroyed himself, he has no credibility left, so it doesn't matter what he does, from now until the election. |
|
|
Comments have been closed for this article |
||
A behind the scenes look at “Anderson Cooper 360°” and the stories it covers, written by Anderson Cooper, the AC360° staff and a network of contributors. Insight you can’t find anywhere else.
We search the news each day to show you what’s on our radar and what we’re planning for the show each night.
For more details, read our tips on how to win 360° approval for comments.
Send your instant feedback to Anderson Cooper 360°.
- Real-life effects of reform getting lost in the noise
- Evening Buzz: Buying Health Care Reform Votes
- Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 12/21/09
- U.S. soldiers in Iraq could face courts-martial for getting pregnant
- FAQs about health care reform
- Interactive: Brittany Murphy’s acting career
- Senate health care reform bill
- House health care reform bill
- Interactive: The top 10 Health-Care-Reform Players
- Video: Child custody battle continues
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2005

