4 of 4

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 3

by the Republican negative adv. machine, those who worry that Obama's experience is too light and those with racial hangups. Already, pushing those buttons caused Obama to lose several points in polls over the summer.
Ordinarily, given the rise in official unemployment to 6.1%, high gas prices (still over $4/gallon), the mortgage meltdown, unprecedented federal debt levels and wars that drag on years longer than originally expected would all keep McCain out of striking distance. However,

Obama has failed to capitalize on these strategic advantages.

In the lead up to the primaries, Obama was able to play the role of the underdog and surprise pundits about his level of support. He was able to adjust his tactics, based on results then, but in the general election, there is only one go at it. Thus, Obama must learn to adjust his tactics on the fly, or he will be relegated to reacting to his opponents and that is not a position of strength. The McCain machine has been trying to make the election a referendum on Obama, instead of on the Bush years or on the issues. In order to regain the initiative, Obama needs to bind McCain to the legacy of the Bush years and push McCain on the issues. McCain has famously acknowledged his lack of background on economic issues and his plans to revive the moribund economy largely remain a mystery, yet Obama has failed to produce pithy one-liners on this and other critical areas. Obama's soaring rhetoric works well in large crowds, but it also seems to engender separation. It exacerbates his weakness in connecting with blue collar workers. Obama desperately needs the support of the lunchbox crowd in the Mid-West and Joe Biden and surrogates alone can't be expected to bridge the gap. Obama needs to lead in reaching out to those who have been left behind.

The Obama platform is more fully developed than McCain's, yet too often, it gets lost in the shuffle. The Obama campaign needs to reduce its talking points to easily understood sound bites and turn that into a mantra, instead of continually adjusting the focus. Too many voters don't understand what he stands for, despite his policy statements. Obama has credible plans for developing alternative sources of energy and putting the country back to work, however they have been drowned out by the McCain camp's attacks. Given the dire condition of the economy, it is ridiculous and inexcusable that Obama has failed to make the election a referendum on Bush economic results. If the tables were

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Problems in the Obama Presidential Campaign for the 2008 elections?
We want to hear your view. Write now!