Gore bump? Shhhh. Don't tell the pundits

[Mabus]

I heard this morning that Obama was up 15 points over McCain in the latest Newsweek poll. http://www.newsweek.com/id/142465 This poll was conducted a few days following Gore's endorsement but there is nary a word about Gore's endorsement in Newsweek's article. However, you can bet your bottom dollar that if Obama's numbers hadn't jumped so significantly that the headlines would have been that Gore's endorsement didn't help. Why? Because that fits the meme that the media likes to push.

Gore endorsed Obama on June 16. And on that evening and the following day talking heads and pundits said that Gore's endorsement came too late to help Obama with anything? Newsweek's poll was conducted June 19 and 20 but Newsweek fails to mention Gore except to say that Obama's numbers are ahead of where Gore and Kerry's were at this point in their bids.

Granted, the bump is not solely attributable to Gore's endorsement. To be fair, Newsweek last poll was last month when the contest was still going on between Obama and Clinton but the poll numbers for Obama are up across the board (see http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html) with an average gain of +5.6 in all the polls. Also, in the last month Clinton has thrown her support behind Obama which helps with all of the polls. But you know and I know that if the numbers had stayed the same or had dropped the media would have been out front screaming that Gore hurt the Obama campaign.

edited to correct a date.

[blogslut]

1. I won't tell

I pwomise ;)

[greenman3610]

6. be vewy, vewy quiet

[FrenchieCat]

2. Certainly could be that........

Plus that offshore drilling stuff may not be polling as well as the pundits like to repeat, over and over again.

[Mabus]

16. Why is it that political journalists like to tell us who is out of touch

when they have no clue themselves? Too often they try to create the stories rather than doing any actual reporting. If I could clone one person, I would clone Bill Moyers. Most of the others are pretty 'effing worthless. They've all become like Ed McMahon with their "you are correct sir!" no matter who's show they are on. I swear I've seen Dana Milbank on Hardball agreeing with Tweety's insane ramblings only to be on Countdown a few hours later parroting whatever KO says. It's like they have to personality of their own and they will do or say anything to be on television.

[Cha]

3. Rec'd! Thanks Mabus..I don't

watch m$$m but they haven't changed since they kept Gore from the Presidency. Except now we have KO.

[Mabus]

15. And they won't change

If they did, they'd have to start fessing up to their past crimes and they don't want to do that. Yes, we have KO and Rachel.

[tularetom]

4. Don't tell the pundits? I would not tell a pundit to get out of the way

if I saw a herd of rogue elephants about to trample him.

[Mabus]

14. Good point.

Neither would I. :evilgrin:

[Patsy Stone]

5. Wouldn't dream of it.

Don't tell Pat Buchanan that white people will actually vote for Obama either, 'k? :)

:hi:

[DesertRat]

7. I love Al Gore

k&r

[SaveAmerica]

8. Is that like the fist bump? Trying to picture it in my mind...

[MagickMuffin]

9. Well in all fairness the NewSpundits have their heads so far up their Asses they wouldn't hear us

But mums the wordo, daddyo.

[Mabus]

13. I couldn't agree more

The only question I have is: do they keep their heads there because of the warmth or because they like the view?

[rosesaylavee]

10. Agreed.

But if you notice, Gore is getting hit from every direction from the MSM and the blogosphere. He is now responsible for the increase in gasoline prices - didn't you know? :sarcasm:

BTW, hope your new digs are working out for you!

:hi:

[Mabus]

12. and that's the motivation behind this post

I just thought it was absolute bull that the talking heads/pundits were either saying that Gore's endorsement came too late and/or wouldn't have an effect. Then Hirsh went out of his way to not mention that the significant bump in the Newsweek poll and Obama's increase in the other polls came the same week of Gore's endorsement. I'm willing to wager a significant amount of money that if Obama's numbers had remained stagnant or showed a decrease that the pundits would have been going crazy and saying that Gore hurt Obama.

We're pretty settled now but we're still coping with the fact that we aren't in our liberal, blue bubble in Kansas. We left a world of front porches, friendly and politically involved neighbors to a world of backyard decks with neighbors who like to keep to themselves and don't want to talk about politics except in hushed tones. It is really weird and it has been a shock to our systems. Back home people wore their politics on their sleeve, here they keep their politics tightly wrapped and stowed away. Oh well. We're finding our own community of political activists and friends.

If you are ever in our part of the country I want you to know that you'll have a place to stay. We've got a number of friends who want to come out in January and stay with us for Obama's inauguration festivities. If you can make it, we'd love to save you some space.

:hi:

[Orsino]

11. I think Gore is getting himself an *Obama* bump.

Two months ago, it might have been the other way around.