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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: campaign tactics

campaign tactics stories: 37 news summaries

1 - 20 of 37 Stories | 1 2 Next >>

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ANALYSIS

Change Has Already Been Delivered—to Campaigning

The '08 version redrew the political map and ruptured the financing system, and more

Nov 3, 08 9:27 AM CST
(Newser) - 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:
  • The campaigns have redrawn the political map, making previously
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • campaign finance • Election 2008 • campaign tactics

McCain Plays Defense With Red-State Stops

Senator digs into territory Bush largely carried in 2004

Nov 2, 08 9:43 AM CST
(Newser) - 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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • campaign trail • campaign stops • Election 2008 • campaign tactics

OPINION

 Bush-Blitzed 
 Mac Morphed 
 Into Empty Suit 

Mac's tactics have turned great brand into 'erratica'

Nov 2, 08 7:46 AM CST
(Newser) - John McCain has tried to paint Barack Obama as an unknown risk of a candidate—but these days, McCain is the unfamiliar one, Maureen Dowd writes. The Arizona senator used to be “one of the best brands in politics,” a “known and knowable quantity” that was transparent... More »

MORE ABOUT:
John McCain • Maureen Dowd • Election 2008 • campaign tactics • transparency

 Campaigns Go All-Out in Ohio 

Obama leads, but both teams are playing hardball

Oct 31, 08 10:16 AM CDT
(Newser) - 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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Ohio • Election 2008 • campaign tactics

opinion


 Why GOP 
 Name-Calling 
 Is Backfiring 
 This Time 

Americans aren't buying 'real America' comments: Greenwald

Oct 23, 08 2:09 PM CDT
(Newser) - The spectacle of Republican politicians painting their opponents as anti-American is a familiar one, Glenn Greenwald writes for Salon, but three recent headline-making incidents show that something has changed. "The idea that any of them would apologize for insulting liberals or impugning their patriotism is simply unfathomable," he... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Obama 2008 • McCain 2008 • Election 2008 • presidential election • Sarah Palin • campaign tactics • political strategy • Robin Hayes • Michele Bachmann

 McCain Bets the Farm on Pa. 

GOP battles Dems' big advantage in polls, registration

Oct 21, 08 10:51 AM CDT
(Newser) - 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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Pennsylvania • campaign stops • Keystone State • Election 2008 • campaign tactics

ANALYSIS

Dems Wield Cash in Battle for Southern Senate Seats

Unseating McConnell, Dole, others possible with funds high, GOP popularity low

Oct 17, 08 11:46 AM CDT
(Newser) - With a huge fund-raising edge allowing for wide advertising blitzes, Democrats are pushing hard for Senate seats in red states even recently thought unwinnable, Alexander Bolton writes in the Hill. In North Carolina, Dems see a chance to unseat Elizabeth Dole; in Georgia, Saxby Chambliss; in Mississippi, Roger Wicker; and... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • advertising • Senate Democrats • Mitch McConnell • Senate Republicans • Elizabeth Dole • Senate race • Roger Wicker • red state • Election 2008 • campaign tactics

OPINION

 Krauthammer: 
 Why Ayers, Rezko Matter 

Obama's links reveal his character, despite what media say

Oct 10, 08 12:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - 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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Jeremiah Wright • Tony Rezko • Election 2008 • campaign tactics • Bill Ayers

OPINION

 Why Are We Talking 
 About Keating, Ayers? 

Mac has forgotten the lessons of the scandal that made him a better man

Oct 7, 08 1:25 PM CDT
(Newser) - Barack Obama's camp resurrected the Keating Five as a “eye for an eye” campaign issue this week, after the McCain team revived Obama's sometime relationship with Bill Ayers, the former '60s-era radical. But the Obama folks missed what makes the 20-year-old scandal actually relevant, writes Walter Shapiro on Salon.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Election 2008 • campaign tactics • Keating Five

ANALYSIS

'Bullet' Mixes Rove-Style Bile, Gambling for Stretch Run

Steve Schmidt, brought aboard in July, has made daring part of McCain campaign

Oct 6, 08 12:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - 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,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Dick Cheney • John Kerry • Arnold Schwarzenegger • Paris Hilton • campaign manager • Election 2008 • Sarah Palin • campaign tactics • Steve Schmidt

Mac Still Taking Weekends Off

But with 29 days to go, neither candidate is exactly galloping to
the finish line

Oct 6, 08 11:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - There are 29 scant days until Nov. 4, but you might not know there was a tight race for the White House given the leisurely schedules both candidates have been keeping—especially John McCain, reports Politico. McCain and Barack Obama have each been averaging barely more than one campaign event... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • presidential campaign • campaign trail • Election 2008 • presidential election • campaign tactics

OPINION

 In '08, It's the Issues, Stupid 

For once, 'superficialities' won't win this election

Oct 6, 08 9:41 AM CDT
(Newser) - Despite the accepted wisdom that “superficialities” win American elections, “substance is in this year,” writes Michael Tomasky in the Guardian. Just look at the public response to the debates and the financial crisis: Without zingers or folksy winks, Barack Obama and Joe Biden won the debates in... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • smear campaign • campaign issues • Election 2008 • campaign tactics

OPINION

 McCain's 
 'Suspension' 
 Just a Cover 

Sinking candidate needed to distract the public

Sep 28, 08 10:13 AM CDT
(Newser) - John McCain’s “suspension” of his campaign was nothing more than a political ruse to bolster flagging poll numbers, writes Frank Rich in the New York Times. McCain didn’t acknowledge the financial turmoil until polls showed Barack Obama opening a wide lead. With damaging stories circulating in the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
John McCain • suspension • Election 2008 • campaign tactics

analysis

Both Campaigns See Risk, Reward in Wobbly Wall Street

Neither candidate is solid on market crisis, but each can spin it to his strengths

Sep 16, 08 12:02 PM CDT
(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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Wall Street • Merrill Lynch • Lehman Brothers • presidential candidates • Election 2008 • campaign tactics

 Rove: McCain's 
 Attack Ads 
 Went 'Too Far' 

Criticism of Obama not '100%' true, he says

Sep 15, 08 8:08 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Democrats have found an unusual ally in attacking the veracity of McCain campaign ads: Karl Rove. The GOP mastermind criticized McCain’s advertising, saying he had gone “too far” and that criticism of Barack Obama didn’t pass the “100% truth test,” CNN reports. Speaking of... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Karl Rove • campaign advertising • Election 2008 • campaign tactics

OPINION

 Advice to 
 Candidates: 
 'Weirdness Wins' 

Candidates must surprise voters: Brooks

Sep 9, 08 10:40 AM CDT
(Newser) - For the 2008 presidential candidates, “weirdness wins,” writes David Brooks in the New York Times. They soar when they surprise voters by making unusual choices, drag when they run more typical campaigns. Barack Obama beat Hillary Clinton by saying he’d “cleanse the country of the baby-boom... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Sarah Palin • campaign tactics

analysis

 Mac Makes the Most of Sarcasm 

Republican undercuts Obama with blend of mockery, fake sincerity

Sep 4, 08 1:07 PM CDT
(Newser) - Between one ad hailing Barack Obama as the Messiah and another comparing him to Paris Hilton, John McCain’s camp might be running the most sarcastic presidential campaign in history, Michael Crowley writes in the New Republic. The tactic is “in stark conflict with his image as a straight-shooting... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • Paris Hilton • Obama 2008 • campaign advertising • McCain 2008 • Election 2008 • campaign tactics

OPINION

 Time to Change 
 the Slogan, Obama

Obama must tell story of our economic future

Aug 24, 08 9:44 AM CDT
(Newser) - It’s time for Barack Obama to drop the “Change We Can Believe In” slogan in favor of something closer to “Change Before It’s Too Late,” writes Frank Rich in the New York Times. The former phrase fit the Democratic primary throwdown, but now Obama must... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • US economy • Frank Rich • slogans • change • campaign tactics

OPINION

 McCain Cheapens
the POW Card
 

Sets up dangerous land mines for campaign

Aug 24, 08 8:20 AM CDT
(Newser) - John McCain’s campaign refers to his prisoner-of-war past so much that it’s becoming a “punch line,” writes Maureen Dowd in the New York Times. “By flashing the POW card to rebut any criticism, no matter how unrelated,” McCain “is cheapening his greatest strength,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
John McCain • Vietnam • prisoner of war • Election 2008 • campaign tactics

Obama Flips 'Elitist' Tag
Onto McCain

Flap over number
of houses touches a nerve in both camps

Aug 22, 08 9:22 AM CDT
(Newser) - John McCain's inability to recall how many homes he owns could throw a wrench in his attempt to paint Obama as an elitist, the Washington Post reports. The furious back and forth between camps—the Obama team pounced and mocked, while McCain's charged hypocrisy and pulled out the Rezko card—... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • John McCain • wealth • houses • campaign tactics • elitism

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