In what ways, if any, do you think the full-length primary "season" will impact the general election in November?
3 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Well, I think that the long season is going to hurt the Democratic Party because the two main candidates spent the better part of five months bashing each other, while McCain and the Republicans sat by and watched. Now, both Clinton and Obama are in debt, and despite the debates and many media appearances, we still don't know that much about either. I like the fact that the primaries were pretty much played out, though, and that the two candidates paid attention to the late states, which are sometimes left out since the process is wrapped up in February or March.
I dont think (and I could be wrong) that Obama was ever in debt. He had more money raised than McCain, last I checked, and it was Clinton who was dipping into her personal finances to find things. Obama, though, never really had that problem.
I think that the long season could be twisted to an advantage by either side. Obama could use it as a way to pinpoint how he's going to be attacked by McCain and prepare for it, and also preempt that be countering things before they're even mentioned (I believe he did something like that in a speech already).
McCain has had this time to solidify his positions and gain support, but he also hasnt been subjected to the media coverage that Obama and Hilary were during the primary. Obama is already used to the intense scrutiny and the way things will get twisted or presented, but McCain hasnt experienced that yet because Hilary and Obama were always much more interesting than what he was doing.
McCain was definitely granted a reprieve in the past few months and was able to lie low and let the Democrats do the dirty work. I agree Obama was in the spotlight much more than McCain was, but that's not completely Hillary's fault, or due to the fact that the primaries were being held.
The media capitalized on Obama's less-the-reputable friends without Hillary's influence. When you associate with people like Bill Ayers, Reverend Wright, Tony Rezco, and Reverend Pfleger, there's bound to be political backlash. It's difficult to "twist" associations. And I know someone is bound to say that since Obama left the church, everything is reconciled, but it really isn't. All of these things accumulate and reflect upon his character. The point is that it's not by some miracle that McCain hasn't been attacked in the media as Obama has. It's simply the fact that McCain doesn't surround himself with pentagon bombers and "mentors" that are on their way to jail. Obama is going to need to do some serious damage control, as well as "tune up" his opinion on campaign financing, for we all know how well Kerry did when he "flip-flopped." The long primary season will only magnify these issues.
Ultimately, the full-length campaign season will force the candidates to firmly take sides and solidify their positions. Hopefully Obama will accept McCain's invitations to debate during "prime-time", instead of demanding for one on July 4th, when every American is celebrating and not sitting in front of the television. It will definitely be a very intense few months.
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3 comments:
Well, I think that the long season is going to hurt the Democratic Party because the two main candidates spent the better part of five months bashing each other, while McCain and the Republicans sat by and watched. Now, both Clinton and Obama are in debt, and despite the debates and many media appearances, we still don't know that much about either. I like the fact that the primaries were pretty much played out, though, and that the two candidates paid attention to the late states, which are sometimes left out since the process is wrapped up in February or March.
I dont think (and I could be wrong) that Obama was ever in debt. He had more money raised than McCain, last I checked, and it was Clinton who was dipping into her personal finances to find things. Obama, though, never really had that problem.
I think that the long season could be twisted to an advantage by either side. Obama could use it as a way to pinpoint how he's going to be attacked by McCain and prepare for it, and also preempt that be countering things before they're even mentioned (I believe he did something like that in a speech already).
McCain has had this time to solidify his positions and gain support, but he also hasnt been subjected to the media coverage that Obama and Hilary were during the primary. Obama is already used to the intense scrutiny and the way things will get twisted or presented, but McCain hasnt experienced that yet because Hilary and Obama were always much more interesting than what he was doing.
McCain was definitely granted a reprieve in the past few months and was able to lie low and let the Democrats do the dirty work. I agree Obama was in the spotlight much more than McCain was, but that's not completely Hillary's fault, or due to the fact that the primaries were being held.
The media capitalized on Obama's less-the-reputable friends without Hillary's influence. When you associate with people like Bill Ayers, Reverend Wright, Tony Rezco, and Reverend Pfleger, there's bound to be political backlash. It's difficult to "twist" associations. And I know someone is bound to say that since Obama left the church, everything is reconciled, but it really isn't. All of these things accumulate and reflect upon his character. The point is that it's not by some miracle that McCain hasn't been attacked in the media as Obama has. It's simply the fact that McCain doesn't surround himself with pentagon bombers and "mentors" that are on their way to jail. Obama is going to need to do some serious damage control, as well as "tune up" his opinion on campaign financing, for we all know how well Kerry did when he "flip-flopped." The long primary season will only magnify these issues.
Ultimately, the full-length campaign season will force the candidates to firmly take sides and solidify their positions. Hopefully Obama will accept McCain's invitations to debate during "prime-time", instead of demanding for one on July 4th, when every American is celebrating and not sitting in front of the television. It will definitely be a very intense few months.
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