Obama's main problem now is momentum itself- some voters just want to support the winner

[Alhena]

I've long been convinced that there is a gullible and sad 5% of the population who are like bandwagon fans in sports- they want to support the winner on election night and try to figure out who that will be. I think McCain's continued poll bounce is mostly attributable to them. I don't think it's some irrevocable shift- instead, I expect that Obama will get his own bump in the polls in mid-October or so and those people who previously told pollsters they were for Obama will do so again.

I'd be much more concerned if Obama had not been up consistently in the polls until recently- there's no inherent inability to support him among most of the electorate, it's just a matter of momentum and that can and hopefully will shift back.

[PresidentObama]

1. I think it's sad, but for a small percentage I think you're right.

I saw some of this in 2004.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Obama should do more events with over 50,000 people.

Go with his strengths, such as motivating big crowds.

And if they charge $20/per person for admission, that would be a million bucks.

[wanpete]

7. I agree. O let rove and mcsame make his crowds out to be something bad.

it's classic rove, turn a positive into a negative. O should go right back to what he does best and do big rallies all across the country, especially in swing states. he's got to grab the spotlight back and the perceived energy and momentum.

[HughMoran]

3. ...still time, and debates to shift the momentum back

It's not over by a long shot - vigilance on his part is needed.

[wanpete]

8. respectfully, I don't think the debates will do it. he can be spot on and perfect

if msm, and they will, spin it for failin/mcsame, the debates will not matter (think bush 04 vs kerry). the bar is being set low for the both of them, and at this point, the far right will not view anything failin does as wrong, inept, or lying. O must come strong in what he does best, turn out large crowds and inspire. this is what brought people to his message, this is what will help him to pull ahead and win.

[HughMoran]

14. I'm not expecting anything at all form the debates

If Obama doesn't directly ask McCain about his lies about saying Obama will raise your taxes, then the debate is for naught IMO. You're right, he does need to FORCE the media attention onto himself. I think it's more than time for him to make his move - it's slipping away and we need action

NOW!

[theothersnippywshrub]

16. The debates will help Obama very little.

By the time of the debates, republicans will have lowered expectations for McCain so much that he will be said to have done incredibly well if he still has a pulse and can fog a mirror when they are over. This will happen with the Biden Palin debate also.

[HughMoran]

18. Read the other reply to my post and my response - already brought up

I didn't just say debates only either - lol.

[polichick]

4. I called the campaign yesterday about doing a huge event about the new green economy...

...in Detroit, Michigan ~ which is near enough to Ohio for voters in both states to come. The person I spoke with thought it was a great idea and promised to pass it on to the right person ~ who knows?!

But I agree that there is a group of voters who just want to be on the winning side and will jump on the shiniest bandwagon.

[flamingdem]

10. I think this is a fantastic idea. Please keep pushing this idea

it will reach out to young people especially, excellent!

[polichick]

12. Last month I gave them the same idea, even calling my Congressman about it...

But so far nothing, even though everyone thought it was a good idea ~ I'll call my Congressman's office again tomorrow, since he's a friend of Barack's.

[flamingdem]

15. Something quicker to do is a high quality, convincing campaign ad, print or video

They have limited time but a commercial reaches millions. They may have more money than time. If you are a writer or know one you might make a short script with the ideas to help them focus on this.

[CitizenLeft]

5. I think there's some truth to that

There were probably a fair number of voters, who voted for Bush, who did so because they thought it was "cool" - because the media ridiculed both Gore and Kerry and MADE it "cool" (who would you like to have a beer with? Dear God). So far, they've been unable to ridicule Obama to such an extent - and so, it's been "cooler" - up to this point - to back Obama. But this Palin idiocy has made HER "cool" according to those of the idiot press who refuse to tell the truth. Unfortunately, this is probably that celebrity-worshipping crowd that is incapable of thinking for themselves, and follow every trend that they're told is "cool." Very sad, and frightening, when you think about it. This election is going to be close enough as it is; depressing to think that this small segment of the electorate may decide who wins, if they bother to vote at all.

[Joe Chi Minh]

6. No. That happened years ago. It would have stopped in 2000. You seem

to underestimate the gumption of even 5% of the voting electorate. The ruining of the country in the meantime, won't have escaped anyone's notice. There's nothing like having an economic gun to your head (and half a ton of Semtex in the foundations of your house) to concentrate the mind.

[flamingdem]

9. I agree. This is why our job is to STAY POSITIVE AT ALL TIMES and infect others

with our firm belief in Obama and the electorate's ability to perceive that he needs to be our leader.

[salonghorn70]

11. Very Good Point

I have thought that this might be a problem with newly registered voters going into election day. Is there a possibility that if Obama is a few points behind on the Monday before election day, then these new voters may not turn out?

[Cha]

13. GOOD~ 'Cause the MOmentum is with Obama

and we're gonna win this thing!

[theothersnippywshrub]

17. You are right about some voters supporting the likely or apparent winner.

Obama needs to halt McCain's recent momentum soon or those voters' recent support of McCain will become locked in since they will resist attempts to change their mind.