Obama Campaign: Off Balance or Strategically Holding Back?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

While I don't wish to inject any further paranoia or unwarranted concern into this already frenzied board, I would like to know what people here think is REALLY going on with the Obama campaign? Many of us are naturally concerned if not a bit frantic about the first round of post-RNC polls that look good for McSame/Palin and even make it seem as though maybe the Obama campaign has somehow irretrievably blown it, particularly when some people here and there are suggesting that Obama's campaign manager be canned and even wondering aloud whether Obama has blown the election by not choosing Hillary for VP (this was even asked by one of my best friends who I regularly talk politics with as well). I can't deny that I'm a bit anxious about how things seem to be right now but I am comforted by the fact that these polls were taken immediately following the RNC, which drew an expected "bounce" for McSame/Palin, particularly since they launched a successful "rollout" of Palin to help calm the nerves of the fundies, there's still more negative stuff we could learn about Palin (the press is STILL digging for information about Palin DESPITE McSame/Palin's "hissyfit"), and, from all accounts, Obama is still polling well at the state-by-state level, which will, of course, be the REAL deciding factor in the election. A lot of people here have been proffering their suggestions for what Obama might do or should do to beat McSame/Palin but I wonder if people here have ever considered whether or not Obama/Biden simply have their own strategy for winning and they won't (and shouldn't) tip their hand until they are good and ready. Remember Obama's acceptance speech? He warned that the Republicans would try to make this big election about "little things" (or something to that effect) instead of the issues so it's not like he is or should be surprised that that is exactly what the GOP has been doing as of late starting with the RNC. Although I was not initially an Obama supporter and therefore did not observe most of the initial stages of his campaign, Obama obviously didn't get this far by being self-destructive and prone to making serious strategic blunders so I would imagine that he and Biden have got to have something major in the works and would be greatly surprised (and depressed) if they really don't. I'm sure McSame's pick of Palin as VP caught them off guard as it did everybody here and elsewhere so I imagine that they have had to alter/retool their strategy somewhat for the final stretch in order to respond to this new "variable" but I can't see McSame's pick of Palin as VP actually turning people (esp. women) away from Obama nor enabling them to draw in the moderates and independents in the kind of numbers necessary to clinch the Presidency. Also, I would like to point out that, despite the general disintegration of the GOP and widespread unpopularity thereof, the fact that Obama is the first African-American candidate for POTUS is, unfortunately, still reason enough among some people, even for some otherwise Democratic leaners, to vote against him and the corporate media won't be our friends, so I believe that everybody should reserve any judgment or expectations about the outcome of this race that they might have about this race having EVER been preordained as a win for us. All this being said, let's try our best to keep up the positive thinking that got us to where we are today and work like hell to make sure McSame/Palin don't succeed GWB.
:grouphug:

GOBAMA/Biden!!!!!!

[Marsala]

1. Tl; dr.

Seriously, it's just a normal convention bounce. There's nothing to be worried about for at least another week.

[silverojo]

13. The conventions give candidates a bounce, but...

The debates are what makes or breaks you. If Obama and Biden hit hard on the economy and make sense on foreign policy, they'll refocus people's attention on what really matters: What needs to be done in the next four years to make America better.

[knowbody0]

2. my prediction:

Obama will leave them gobstruck when he does strike. not with a bunch of little tit for tat nonsense, but direct knock out punches.

they are wallowing in fat headedness, gleefully packing their recorded statements with lies and exagerations.

[NotThisTime]

9. Thank you, I mightily agree with you

[candice]

3. The Republican attack machine hasn't even fired a shot!

This one might get rather hot. Let's hope that all of the candidates are vetted and it is just about issues.

Otherwise, pass the popcorn.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. What do you mean?

Curious
:shrug:

[cameozalaznick]

5. After seeing Obama all cool and collected on Olbermann tonight...

I'm going with strategically holding back. Gang, we've been here before. Remember the PRIMARIES? He came through Hurrican Hillary just fine. I'm not worried. Yet.

[hisownpetard]

6. Suggestion: paragraphs. n/t

[Borgnine]

7. I'm not worrying until the debates.

The only way McCain can look good there is if the media massively spins it for him.

[KittyWampus]

8. Walls of text are impossible to read for many of us .

[TheKentuckian]

10. Why does it have to be one or the other?

Plus, he and Joe are hitting them constantly. I don't see this as touch football stuff at all.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

11. I cannot decide as yet

It is clear from their public appearances that O and Joe are as calm as the guys who just drew the fifth jack and the fifth ace. If they are that unruffled, i suspect that internal campaign polling looks a lot different that the meaningless day to day tracking polls. I also suspect/hope that they are sitting on something that will be radioactive to the Repuke campaign.

I find myself wishing they'd hit back harder, which they are starting to do, but Plouffe, Axelrod and Obama are, in fact, the smartest guys in the room.

If something washes out of the Colorado scandals about election machines, et al, something big could be brewing. If someone finally owned up to what Repukes have been doing in that regard the last eight years to avoid an extended stay in (KO Voice) The Big House, it could wash the 'pukes on a tidal wave of their own sewage. What a happy day that would be.

And I am reasonably sure that the Enquirer isn't finished with Mooselini, either.

[Clio the Leo]

12. y'all remember these days when..........

it's two years from now and there's some crisis in the world that needs a cool, calm and collected, steady hand in the Oval Office

..... and not an itchy trigger finger. ;)

The Ice Man is why we are all here ..... and the Ice Man will get us safely home.

[WA98070]

14. He's following "The Greastest", doing a rope a dope, or giving them enough rope to hang themselves.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

15. Strategically Holding Back

[BlueIdaho]

16. Get Off the Ropes Barack Get Off the Ropes!!!!!!!!

Chill - he's got this shit handled.

[amborin]

17. paragraphs, please n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

18. Thanks for everybody's responses so far

I tend to believe that Obama is pulling his punches right now, particularly since (and I didn't really think of this before) this week's 7th anniversary of 9/11, which will likely dominate a few news cycles on Thursday. I can't wait until his campaign is fully unleashed which, if I had to guess, won't be fully apparent until the last few weeks of the campaign.

*Also, my sincere and humble apologies to everybody who had trouble reading my post because of my "wall of text" and my failure to use paragraphs appropriately. It was late at night and I was on a verbose tangent and didn't really pay much attention to the grammatical structure of my post.

[and-justice-for-all]

19. Most likely going to scold them both in public...

during the debates. I suspect that as it gets closer, it will all be unloaded by Obama/Biden...I am confident.

[lamp_shade]

20. It's a strategic move. No doubt about it. You'll see.