October 7, 2008 5:49:33 AM CDT
(Newser) – John McCain’s campaign made a grave miscalculation by spotlighting Barack Obama’s lack of foreign travel, Noam Scheiber writes in the New Republic, “an incredibly superficial critique” that “can be rebutted incredibly superficially”—see Obama’s current photo-op overseas tour. Hard to believe the Republicans didn’t realize the trip “might become the media event of the season,” Scheiber says.
Where 1990s Democrats tried to paint the GOP as racist, Scheiber concludes, “the McCain campaign made a similar mistake by equating Obama's foreign travel with his fitness to be president. As with the Democrats and Bush, they may have a case to make on the underlying merits. But, if things go according to plan for Obama this week, they will only have helped ensure it won't be heard.”
Source New Republic
Oct 6, 08 6:46 PM CDT Barack Obama is pulling away from John McCain in two new national CNN polls. One has Obama ahead by 8 points, the other 7, a substantial rise from the 4-point lead he held less than a month ago. The Wall Street crisis, President Bush's abysmal ratings, and voters' belief that Sarah Palin is unfit for the Oval Office have all contributed to Obama's boost, pollsters say. More »
Oct 6, 08 1:56 PM CDT Members of the US military and their families are looking to the November election to address the hardships of military life, but opinions vary as to which candidate will serve them best, the Boston Globe reports. John McCain’s vows to honor service—and promise of higher pay—have clear appeal, but so do Barack Obama’s goals of ending the Iraq war and reuniting families. More »
Oct 6, 08 1:52 PM CDT With voter registration closing in many states today, it appears Barack Obama has largely succeeded in his attempt to make over the electorate, the Washington Post reports. Some 4 million new voters have registered across a dozen battleground states, with new Democrats greatly outnumbering new Republicans. In Florida, Obama has over twice as many new voters; in North Carolina, the ratio is roughly 6-1. More »
Oct 6, 08 12:56 PM CDT While pundits might disagree about results, there’s no doubt John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin and his move to suspend his campaign over the bailout are huge gambles that can be traced to strategist Steve Schmidt, the Los Angeles Times reports. Nicknamed “Bullet” by strategist Karl Rove, Schmidt is recycling tactics he used in leading George W. Bush’s “war room” in 2004. More »
Oct 6, 08 12:05 PM CDT John McCain’s health care plan, based on tax credits, would be funded by cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, which analysts say could amount to some $1.3 trillion over a decade. The move would allow McCain to uphold his pledge of a “budget neutral” health strategy, the Wall Street Journal reports, but the cuts appear to run counter to campaign statements that suggest tax increases would pay for the plan. More »
Barack Obama • John McCain • Iraq • Europe • publicity
