We're coming up on July and Obama is increasing his lead.

[kentuck]

John McCain and the Republicans are going full-speed to try and define Obama in negative terms and tear him down to the point where they can steal another election. They have gone after his wife. They have attacked his character by saying he lied to the American people about public financing. Of course, he has no experience. Karl Rove called him an elitist that stands in the corner with the pretty lady making snide remarks about everyone that passes by. They are pulling no punches.

But July is upon us. They have 3 more months to try and destroy Barack Obama. That is what they do best. However, so far, it is not working. They must be scratching their heads because his polls continue to climb? But, they still have 3 months and their optimism reigns supreme. They believe they can do it. They can get the majority of the people to distrust Obama and they are searching desperately for a way to ridicule him. Unfortunately, everybody has seen their playbook.

[woodsprite]

1. What's the lowest percentage of votes ever received in a GE by a repub?

Whatever it is, I think our goal should be to set a new record low for McCain :) After all, it's the least we can do. Right?

[kentuck]

2. I would think it might have been Barry Goldwater in 1964?

LBJ got about 65% of the vote.

[cbc5g]

3. They are going through their playbook

Elitist .. fail
Angry black man .. fail
Young inexperienced ..fail
Soft on terror .. fail

Next on the list

Embarrassing photo ..only a couple so far but nothing big
Rev. Wright ..used but not done
Phony Al Qaeda tape ..prepping for October

Maybe they have a wildcard this year?

[liberalfella]

4. As gas prices go, so goes the McCain's chances

People view him as a continuation of the mess.

[uponit7771]

6. Yeap, especially when one thinks about Iraq and the reThug promise of cheaper fuel

[CountAllVotes]

8. I would hope one wouldn't vote solely on gas prices

however, knowing the way some American people are, this could well be the case in some instances.

Welcome to the Democratic Underground btw! :hi:

:dem:

[zanne]

5. Seriously, though...

If, by using dirty tricks and smears they do manage to steal the election, I think Democracy will be a thing of the past. Being the best person for the job just wouldn't matter any more. The Party with the best smear tactics would always claim the prize.

[kentuck]

7. It's been that way since at least 1980..

with the possible exception of Bill Clinton in 1992. But some might argue that the Repubs beat themselves by permitting the Ross Perot phenomenon to blossom.

[zanne]

9. They have such a fine-honed attack system...

While we stay "above it all", they've been practicing their craft (and getting better at it) for many years. There is no way Bush should have won over John Kerry in 2004. The Swiftboating did him in. It didn't matter than it wasn't true. Remember the "bandaids" at the GOP convention? When facts don't matter anymore, it's really something to be concerned about.

[kentuck]

10. I agree...

It's a threat to our democracy, in my opinion. However, it could never succeed without the cooperation of the media. That's something we should never forget. I can see the same tactics taking shape once again. I'm hoping the poeple are smarter this time around. But I thought that in 2004 with Kerry also. The polls this early really are meaningless. In fact, they can have a negative impact on the favorite and a positive for the underdog.

[book_worm]

11. Just a dose of reality

Ford was 27 points behind Carter in '76 just before the GOP convention and lost by 2-points.
Dukakis was 17-points ahead of Bush I in '88 after Dem convention and lost by 8-points.

[kentuck]

12. Excellent points.

It shows how meaningless these polls are at this time. We all remember how they were able to portray Carter as very weak - much weaker than he actually was. But the Democrats were never able to capitalize on the fact that 241 Marines died in Beirut in a huge blunder by Ronald Reagan.