The Washington Post and Politico are running stories today on Obama's efforts to rekindle the 2008 magic in order to spare his party a titanic debacle in 2010. BarackObama.com has produced a video which aims to cajole supporters to drag "Claudia" (any relation to Cousin Pookie?) to the polls in November. Amazingly, our post-racial president lists the groups his campaign is targeting: the young, African-Americans, Latinos, and women. (Take note, all you old white guys: Obama doesn't need your vote.)
It's not going to work. Obama fever has run its course and conferred immunity on a good part of the population. Those "surge voters" have reverted to their default state of apathy toward politics. Efforts to re-energize them have failed repeatedly since the election. Getting them whipped up for a midterm election is a doomed proposition. Tim Kaine all but concedes the impossibility of the task before them:
Kaine and Pfeiffer acknowledged the difficulty of transferring the grass-roots supporters that Obama cultivated over a historic two-year presidential bid to an array of other Democrats. "I don't think the magic has evaporated, but you have to acknowledge that the 2008 election was so historic and cathartic that you just don't hit that pitch in elections that often," Kaine said.He's wrong about that magic. It has evaporated. But the anti-Obama magic is powerful. The reality of his agenda has energized lots and lots of voters who can hardly wait for November.
Most recent posts here.
From your lips to God's ears.
ReplyDeleteHope you are right. Of course, Obama's immediate reaction to separate the races, genders and classes is very revealing. The man is a mess.
I wonder if "Claudia" has gone by "Ellie Light" before?
ReplyDeleteAnd you are right, the Empty Suit has nothing left electorally ...
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com/
[For a light hearted take on our present peril]
Guess he doesn't want any Seniors voting his way, either. OK by me.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be interesting to see how many of O's "core" group will vote for the old, wealthy, White men and White women Democrats who are running for re-election in November.
Well, this is really all the Democrats have to run with at this point. It will be interesting to see what happens when it dawns on the Democratic leadership that it won't work. Obama's declining popularity, particularly in purple areas of the country and in red states where Democrats are running for re-election, means that they aren't going to be able to use him effectively as a campaigner. Really, other than this kind of approach, what else to the Democrats have at this point?
ReplyDeleteOf course, the Democrats do have one weapon of tremendous power that should never be underestimated. They have the Republicans. Do not overlook the fact that the Republicans could fritter away their electoral advantage right now. Do not overlook GOP incompetence. It is the gift that keeps on giving for the Democrats.
Great blog, by the way. I'm linking to you on my own blog. I would appreciate a reciprocal link if you do that sort of thing. If not, that's fine. Keep up the good work!
Cheers!
Mark, last night my husband said just about exactly what you say here: it's all they've got; it's a terrible strategy; and don't underestimate the GOP's ability to shoot themselves in the foot.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. I linked to you.