December 2, 2008 8:53:45 PM CST
(Newser) – Wall Street’s troubles pose a challenge for both candidates, though because his party hasn’t held the White House for nearly 8 years, Barack Obama has a slight leg up, writes Gerald Seib in the Wall Street Journal. Neither ticket has a strong market background, with John McCain more a “national-security and character candidate” and Obama lacking the experience to be a definite source of reassurance.
The candidates can spin the problem to fit their messages. McCain will cast himself as a “different kind of Republican,” and has already run an ad pushing tougher regulation. The Democrats can more easily take the offensive route, painting the issue as a “compelling argument” for Bush economic failures. For Obama, “Wall Street just provided a ripe opportunity” to appeal for change.
Source Wall Street Journal
Nov 3, 08 9:27 AM CST We can't be sure what kind of change the next president will bring, but we do know that presidential campaigns themselves will never be the same, writes Gerald F. Seib in the Wall Street Journal. Among this year’s innovations:
Nov 2, 08 9:43 AM CST John McCain’s campaign map for the next few days puts him on the defensive, touring mostly states that President Bush won in 2004, Politico reports. Tomorrow’s schedule puts him in Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona, all Bush states except the Keystone State. Meanwhile, Barack Obama is also sticking to red states, breaking out of traditional Democratic ground. More »
Oct 31, 08 10:16 AM CDT Barack Obama has led in the last 11 Ohio polls, but the battle for the all-important state is intensifying as Republicans make a last-minute get-out-the-vote sweep. Early voting has leaned Obama’s way, but Republicans—who don't see a clear path to the White House without victory here—say that means little. Salon and the Wall Street Journal look at the battle for Ohio. More »
Oct 21, 08 10:51 AM CDT John McCain is going full throttle in Pennsylvania, but his work is cut out for him: He’s behind 12-15 points in state polls, and Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans in the state, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. McCain, wife Cindy, and Sarah Palin have stumped heavily there all week. “We will win Pennsylvania,” said a rep. “We wouldn't be here unless we were 100% confident of that." More »
Oct 10, 08 12:56 PM CDT Raising the specter of Barack Obama’s ties with the likes of Bill Ayers is perfectly legitimate, and John McCain's only fault is that he didn't start sooner, writes Charles Krauthammer in the Washington Post. These associations “provide a significant insight into character” and “are particularly relevant” for a candidate “as new, unknown, opaque, and self-contained as Obama,” he writes. But mention the links and the media bemoans “dirty campaigning tinged with racism and McCarthyite guilt by association.” More »
For both campaigns, simply ignoring Wall Street's problems was a viable option last week. After the weekend just past, that's all changed. - Gerald Seib
If you run a campaign in which every sign and every camera backdrop screams out, "Change," you can simply point to an unpleasant development to underscore the allure of your theme. - Gerald Seib
Barack Obama • Election 2008 • John McCain • Wall Street • Lehman Brothers • Merrill Lynch • campaign tactics • presidential candidates
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