Democratic battle hands McCain lead

[tpsbmam]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/06/johnmccain.uselections2008

Republican party presidential nominee John McCain has surged in key polls as his Democratic rivals fight an increasingly bitter battle that could scupper their White House chances.

Some pundits now believe that the divisive race between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is handing McCain and the Republicans an unexpected chance to win a presidential election in which most indicators should favour a Democratic candidate.

Certainly some recent polls have showed McCain moving up strongly. The respected Rasmussen daily tracking poll had McCain beating Clinton by five points and Obama by three points at the end of last week. The Gallup tracking poll also has McCain now ahead of both Clinton and Obama.

The shift can partly be put down to the bloody fight in the Democratic party over the past month since Clinton's surprise comeback victories in Texas and Ohio. 'No Democrats are holding to account right now. He is free to do what he wants and he is getting a boost from that,' said Professor Seth Masket, a political scientist at the University of Denver and a former official in the Clinton White House.

At the same time McCain has launched a well co-ordinated effort to unite his party, raise funds and sell himself to the US public as a likeable war hero who is strong on national security. TV and web ads are already running, showing stills of McCain lying wounded in a hospital bed after being tortured in Vietnam.

[Deja Q]

1. And Clinton was the first candidate to offer a hand at partnership with Obama.

Obama refused, making some story about only one can win, blah blah blah.

Yeah, Clinton was slightly behind at the time -- but what if the positions were reversed; Obama trailing and extending his hand?

Or Clinton ahead and asking...

Or why neither opted to team up sooner.

Both candidates have their fair share in this, though Clinton gets a silver star for attempting the right thing.

[Glorfindel]

2. Surprised? Not me. The rivers of hate flowing toward fellow Democrats

are exactly what the Repukes want and need. Only we can defeat our own party in this election, and we seem to be grimly determined to do it. Well, fine...enjoy your four more years of the B*shit administration while you sulk and pout in grim satisfaction that at least Hillary or Barack didn't get elected. (Ever notice that Repukes don't get demeaned by calling them by their first names? I guess that means they're grownups and Democrats are "boys" and "girls.")

[mac2]

3. It not the battle which has given McCain the lead

as many posters here on DU would like to say.

Both Hillary and Obama are from the Senate like McCain. Both are "risky" first time this or that...woman and Afro-American. So what people say. Let's stay with the tired and true in times of war and financial chaos a majority candidate...a white male.

Hillary is part of the couple who brought us NAFTA. Obama supports it too. Well you say so does McCain. This is where the no difference thing shows it's ugly head. The American people are not being heard regarding their dislike of these trade deals which take away their way of life.

They are not convinced as they are told over and over...it is good for us in the long run. It's been over ten years...or more yet we don't see our communities and relatives doing better. Some are even losing their homes from loss of jobs and huge health care costs.

"Hope" just isn't going to pay the bills. Nor is it any kind of campaign solution to our problems. None of them have real solutions and tell us what the problems are.

Amnesty and open borders is also a concern to a majority of Americans but they all ignore our mandate election after election. We are losing jobs and great American companies off-shore for cheaper slave labor. At the same time they allow record number of "legal immigrants and workers" let alone "illegals" who flood into our country. Who knows why they come and who they are? The new arrivals even protest in our major cities demanding more benefits and citizenship (even though they break our laws). In the large cities of America they come from all over the world stressing our education, health care, and prison systems. Governors and mayors complain and try to ignore the underlining problem of a lawless government and leaders in DC.

http://www.censusscope.org/us/map_popchange_90-00.html This map is from the 2000 Census. Today the map would show an increase by larger numbers since immigration is why out of control...even encouraged.

Congress and our President ignore the mandates of the elections. While they bankrupt us with Empire building and make us "smaller" government with low taxes for the corporations and elite, we have no funds to support any of it. They send us to war on lies and when they come home to our communities there are no jobs for them. The injured ones don't get the care they deserve or need. Yet...we fund corporations. We worry about our children's safety as well as ability to determine their own future.

It seems to us our government neither cares for our future or our well being. They seem to be more at war with us spying and removing our rights. They know we don't want to build an Empire or torture people in far off lands. We are a democracy and they seem to have forgotten that. Why are Hillary and Obama different in that respect? You may say they are but the public is not getting that message or see any hope of change. Why should they since every election does not bring change. They'll just stick to the "tried and true" male now.

What will bring people back to electing Democrats by a large majority? Candidates which take us in a different direction than NAFTA and the loss of our rights...wealth. There is so much lawlessness going on today. Congress turns a blind eye by holding hearings but doing nothing about accountability that it almost takes away your breath. You can't get your mind around it all.

Our treasury being plundered for war and by religious organizations against our will. There is no accountability. They refuse to impeach the worst President in our history. No matter what happens he is still in power.

Our party has picked the wrong candidates to win yet another critical election to our democracy. I fear, the choice is once again going to lose us yet another election (on purpose or otherwise).

Edwards and Kucinich would have had a different solution and brought us the Progressive candidates the country cries out for since before Bush stole power. Our party makes sure they don't win. What about Michigan and Florida losing their rights in the primaris? Even the antics of the Super delegates and the candidates dropping out before Super Tuesday has many Democrats wondering if we really are a "d" party. The elite still seem to rule with their corporate legislation against workers.

You say there are plenty of Democrats who support workers. They blame their lack of power on the fact that they need more in Congress to over ride the President's veto. The party leaders could have the majority in Congress but threw it away by supporting only pro-war candidates for office. And...they are doing their best to lose yet another election to remove the corporate power from our government.

I say Democratic Party show us the will to win.

[notesdev]

9. Choosing Senators was a bad idea

The Senate is the most corrupt institution in all US government. Choosing candidates from this pool of crooks was a mistake to begin with.

Since we're already there, that's a lesson to be put in pocket for the next time around.

In the meantime, don't be fooled by the polls right now - we're a long way out and the polls this far in advance of the election may has well have a 33% margin of error. The long term fundamentals will make it almost impossible for a Republican to win this time around.

Repeat after me: "It's the economy,... "

[bemildred]

4. "Key polls" huh? Is that like the dreaded "some say"? nt

[mac2]

5. Since when do polls and media tell us the truth?

[bemildred]

6. Well, this is bullshit, that's for sure.

I remember all the "Hillary is the front runner" stories that we were bombarded with a while back. The idea that anybody knows what will happen in the GE NOW, or that polls tell you anything about that NOW is just bullshit.

[DFW]

7. The polls also showed Hillary with a lock on the nomination

Things change, often with lightning speed. If the party gets behind the nominee
after (preferably before , but absolutely after) the convention, then we should
have a better-than-even chance at the White House. I will finally turn to anger
at Democrats who, once the nominee is selected, come out with "if that's the nominee,
then I'll vote for Nader or McCain." If you're not a Democrat, then I understand
that McCain could be preferable to you. After all, there are plenty of Republicans out
there, and more than a few, I suspect, in here. But if we want to make an attempt
at restoring the country to fiscal responsibility, social justice, and sane foreign
policy, we will not be voting for McCain, Ralph Nader, or the ghost of Harold Stassen.

Most of us do not have residences in Dubai we can run to if things go down the tubes.
We need a rousing finish to the Denver Convention and a concentrated, enthusiastic,
positive campaign. The Republicans will have enough "I hate (the nominee)" stuff from
Democratic sources already. We'll have enough anti-McCain stuff from Republican
also-rans, too. It'll all be used. We don't need to be making more of it.

We must remind the country: McCain means Bush III, and you know where that got us.
If that's not good enough for you, well, just remember while you're jumping off that
cliff--no matter HOW hard you pray, God's not going to give you wings.

[Gman]

8. LOL!

The Obama people will find a way to screw things up if it's the last thing they do.

Good work, Obamabots.