67 days to go, what should Obama do to win?
Obama's campaign is encouraging his supporters to reach out to unregistered voters.(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
"We are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look just like the last eight."
And with that, Barack Obama accepted his party's nomination in front of 84,000 people in Denver, Colorado. It was the climax to a political convention unlike anything anyone's ever seen before.
To the relief of many Democrats, Obama ripped into his rival John McCain, painting him as out of touch with ordinary Americans, "It's not because John McCain doesn't care... it's because John McCain doesn't get it." Obama described his own upbringing by a single mother and grandmother, food stamps, student loans, etc. – saying "I don't know what kind of lives McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine."
He referenced McCain's famous temper, saying he's ready to debate McCain on who has the temperament, and judgment, to be commander in chief. The crowd ate it up.
But the Democratic convention is now over and Obama and Joe Biden have just 67 days to close the deal with voters. They started today with a bus tour of the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.
Obama's campaign encouraged his supporters to text message friends and call thousands of unregistered voters. The campaign says it's identified 55 million unregistered voters across the country – including about 8 million blacks, 8 million Hispanics, and 7.5 million people between the ages of 18 to 24. These Americans could elect our first African-American president.
Here’s my question to you: In the final 67 days, what does Barack Obama have to do to win the White House?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Lorenzo from Darnestown, Maryland writes:
Jack, He needs to do what he spelled out at the convention. Stay on message. Take the conversation to the people. Stay focused on the issues. Tell folks to do their part and the government will do its part. They already know how bad it is. This sounds simple but if he follows this simple strategy this is lights out for the Republicans.
Joe from Illinois writes:
McCain just handed him the election. All Obama has to do is breath from here on out.
Lance from Madison, Wisconsin writes:
Jack, Barack needs to do exactly what he did last night. Point out McCain's weaknesses, but not to the point of being rude. Barack Obama is an inspirational speaker. He needs to continue to inspire voters while implementing why he would be a great president within the same speech. We saw that last night, and seeing it in the future could spell success for Obama/Biden in '08.
Barry writes:
He's done his part, and brilliantly. Now it's up to the rest of us to get the voters out on Election Day.
Roy writes:
I don't think he can do anything to win. I think by Election Day people will see that he is just a great talker and that is about it. I am a life-long Democrat and wouldn't vote for that guy no matter what. He just doesn't have what a real leader needs.
Emmie from Boston writes:
Jack, It is all about getting new voters to the polls in November. If the Obama campaign is successful at this, all of the mainstream polls and pundits will prove to be meaningless.
Kody writes:
Jack, All Obama has to do is sit back and wait on McCain to make his next decision.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Stay on target with his message!!!
Stay on point but start pointing out what a disaster McCain/Palin will be if they get in office.
Attack McSame's selection of a former beauty queen (he called Obama a celebrity) for the VP job, who has zilch experience in international politics AND stress McSame's ties and support of George W. Bush and his policies and last but not least, his age and temper.
He needs to continue to present himself to the American people in the same manner as he did in his acceptance speach and meet McCains' sleezey campaign tactics head on.
Bob
Louisville, Ky
Not get too cocky!! Stick to the issues. Keep running the same great campaign that they have been. Keep making this the people's campaign. Meet McCain Head-on. Obama-Biden are on the right side of history!! OMG this is soooo exciting.
Keep giving speeches like he did last night. He made me, sitting in my family room, feel mile high.
Obama needs to show he can out fox John McCain. McCain's VP choice, Sarah Palin, got McCain the Catholic and Evangelical vote, the blue collar vote and the disenchanted Hillary Clinton voters. Obama needs to come back with a more compelling reason to vote for him. The economy and the war in Iraq are his only strengths and he has to show why his strategies to reslove these issues are better than Mccain's strategies.
Well Jack i don't think he has to do anything
he is the winer, we all know that after the convention.
That question will fit better on Jhon Mcain campaing
He is the one in troubles espesially after his VP pick
Nep from Phoenix Az
Barack needs to stay in the same mode as Thursday night: strong, powerful, confident, exciting, energetic, inspirational, motivational.
What Barack has to do in order to win this thing is to no longer be passive in his thoughts, but he must show that he means what he says and says what he means. He must show that his meakness and humbleness is in no way, shape, form or fashion is a sign of weakness from him .He has to constantly show that we can NOT endure another 4 years of the Republican party. He has to show that he can be tough and be willing to call John McCain and the Republican party out on their mess and their dirty politics game. Then, and only then, will we be seeing Barack Obama walking in the doors of the white house. I look forward to that great day!
He needs to stay in attack mode and it wouldn't hurt to make an ad out of the youtube video of Governor Palin wondering what a vice president does.
I think Obama just has to keep reminding the American people of the last eight years of Bush . The gas cost,the jobs being sent over seas. that we work more and get less ,and the war. Ken Dover,N.J.
Not a darned thing! Mc Cain has already handed the election to Obama.
Does McCain think we womwn are so stupid and shallow that we will vote for any ticket with a woman on it?
I am a former state legislator R, {14years] have 5 children and used to be president of the PTA. and also a Den Mother. whgy wasn't I considered?
I guess there's no fool like an old fool!
Barbara
Vermont
start looking for a other job , Hes a 2 year man and will be looking for the next job and leave this country high and dry...
If Obama has any chance to win in November, he has to convince voters that he will be the leader to handle our economic and environmental needs, and will be able to handle the responsibilities of Commander-in-Chief and foreign affairs.
Not a thing, he just won it.
I don't understand and perhaps you can enlighten me why, after all his negative ads on Obama not being ready to run the country, would he chose a woman as his running mate who is as green as the sparcely populated state she has recently been chosen to govern. The vice presidential candidate is suppose to be as qualified as the presidential candidate. Looks to me like McCain went looking for a little star power of his own. The thing is, he has chosen a woman whose resume is as slim as a recent college graduate's to run the country should anything happen to him (which is a great possibility given his age) and what we will end up with is even greater control of big business because Barbie will be so easily influenced. She is not Hillary. It will take a good 20 years for her to become as qualified as Hillary.
The Republicans made a very large mistake coming out with this party joke the day after the Democrats put on such an inspirational show. I was still weighing things, but after this travesty, I'm firmly in Obama's camp.
Obama can do nothing but watch McCain win the election. With McCain choosing Palin as his VP, he will undoubtadly win over most of the woman vote, specially since Obama snubbed hillary. Expect Hillary supporter's to go with Palin. A brilliant move by McCain. He has sealed a victory this November.
Well, I am a woman, 64 years old in fact, and I have raised four children. I am wondering who keeps the kids!! And a newborn, where is mom?
I think there are many women out there that McCain should have picked that would have given me faith in "motherhood". This pick does not, I believe in a mom being a mom, not a politician at this time in her life. Disappointing.
He only picked a woman for the fun of it.
SAD day for moms.
Last night's speech was and excellent start. He showed himself to advantage and knowlegeable of the issues that the average family / voter is most concerned with. If he moves about the country and talks about the issues and his plans of how to address them, the voters gain confidence in him and will reject the GOP's campaign of scare tactics. (ie The ads I'm seeing on local media.."He'll raise taxes" etc.) Before I decide how to cast my vote, I want to find out how the candidates plan on dealing with issues that I am concerned with. And I beleive that the rest of the country feels the same way.
He lost my vote. He is old news anyway, he is just another politican that lies and says what it takes to win.
With McCain's vice presidential nominee named, all Obama has to do is simply look presidential because all of his bases are covered. Palin is not to be confused with the comedian of Monte Python days but a person with real baggage of her own which doesn't look good. Obama's team looks like he has done his homework while McCain looks like somebody trying to slip a mickey to the voting public!
Obama should do exactly what he did during his speech on Thursday. He was great, it was so good to see him go after Mccain. Every time Mccain comes out with a negative attack he should go after him full force don't hold anything back. Let Mccain and his supporters see his strength and character. Good Job, Barack! I am proud to be a supporter of your.
After John McCain's VP pick, Barack could probably rob a bank and still get elected.
Obama must define "change" for the voters. He must tell us what he intends to change and how he intends to change it. He must also point out every consistency McCain/Palin have with Bush/Cheney and exploit that for all it's worth.
The only thing that comes to mind right now, is to immediately cease attacking Sarah Palin for deficiencies that Obama has himself. I could bring up the old cliche about glass houses, but it would be too obvious. The last thing on earth Obama's campaign should attack anyone on is inexperience! This is nuts.
But as I have said many times, Obama needs to convince voters that he is ready. By now they either think he is, or that he is not. The debates will likely seal the dominating impression once and for all, and without a teleprompter, I suspect that his performance will conffirm the suspicion that he is not.
He needs to keep the momentum gained at the convention going, by staying on message, meeting true criticism head on, and let Biden take on the sleaze attacks. He also needs to keep the Clintons actively involved to win over those hard-headed PUMAs that are in a snit.
McCain keeps undercutting himself and his critical comments of Obama by flip-flopping every other day, and sticking his foot in his mouth every time he opens it. He's already lost a lot of "old Republican" support by allying himself with Bush because they've finally seen that their party has been shanghied by lobbyists and religious bigots, As long as he keeps the momentum going and makes no major mistakes, he should be moving into the White House in January.
P.S. His first act should be to count the silver and china after the Bushes vacate. No reason for Bush to change tactics now, after ripping off the country for 8 years! I wonder if the Governor of Texas noticed anything missing after Bush left there?
Jack
I'm convinced that Barack Obama won the Presidency these past few days capped by an electrifying look into the future last night. The man has a combination of common sense, intelligence and a personal story seldom seen in politics. If he and Joe remain on message I just can't see them losing the the old guy and the school girl.
Keep on doing what he did last night at the Democratic Convention. Hit hard (but not nasty) and fast at John McCain and don't let them use Rove/Swift Boat tactics to try to derail his message.
McCain showed how dumb he can be by selecting a gun totting, pretty face and empty skirt to be his running mate.
After the convention, the Dems seem to have a message and an agenda. He can take any portion of his speech and repeat it over and over. If the other notables in the party do the same thing, change will surely come.
This is a comment on Mccain choice for vice-president, I am hoping that he was not thinking that she can compare to Hilly Clinton. But that the way some men think that any woman can replace another. But this is not true. Hillary had a resume that did not compare with most women. The only woman I think might compare with Hillary is Condoleeza Rice. It is an insult on the part of Mccain to think so. But Mccain comes from that era.
He needs to show more of his "feisty" side like he began to show last night. And he must do well in the debates – I can't imagine McCain doing better, I just hope Obama doesn't stammer and appear unsure of himself as he sometimes did against Hillary. Hillary was probably good for him in that regard – he may not come up against a tougher debate opponent than she was.
Senator McCain introduction of his Vice President was the best commercial for viagra!
He needs to not get overhandled. The Democratic party has this habit of whipping themselves into a killer frenzy at their convention and - hearing their own cheers, begin to believe they speak for everyone with impunity. This seems particularly true for the truely far left loons.
If Obama gives in to too much advice from his own Kool-Aid drinkers, he'll lose any moderate positioning, lose the independent vote and lose the election.
get the vote out in BIG numbers in the swing states
and in states the republicans consider safe.
only 3 states changed hands in the electoral college from 2000 to
2004. obama needs to target states to take them from the
republicans, or to at least make it close enough that mccain has to
spend attention, time, and money where he thought he wouldn't
need to.
That isn't going to happen Jack. Obama was promoted to his level of incompetence as Senator. He will become simply another part of history along with Hillary Clinton.
more of his original message and less of going along with the standard democratic rhetoric and tactics. he is loosing some independents as he lets himself and his message be influnced by the democratic establishment.
Show the intelligence, understanding, and fortitude displayed in his speech last night. Wow! I didn't think he could top the Clintons. He did.
Obama has to do nothing else. If the people aren't convinced by now after the democratic convention speech, they will never be, because they choose not to.
Nita
Dallas, Tx
Just not be John McCain!
Ice cream social!
He really has to perform well during the upcoming debates against McCain. It's the only way he'll be able to sway swing voters. I think once the two candidates share the public forum together, it will be obvious to everyone who the right choice is.
Have Biden debate Palin on national security a couple of times. Election won.
He's doing a great job and only needs to intensify his message, but I wish somebody would start bringing up McCain's infidelities. If he can't honor a marriage vow, how can he honor an oath of office? The GOP needs to know John McCain is as much of a cheater and liar as Bill Clinton is!
hi jack
continue to deliver his plans for the country and pay no attention to the old wind bag.
clearwater,fl
McCain picking Governor Palin who has less experience than Obama surely solidifies Obama win. This surely demonstrates hypocrisy since McCain been attacking Obama on lack of experience. Obama can sit on a remote island and wait until election day to celebrate his victory, that's how easy McCain made it for him.
Stay on the tour bus, stay focused and don't forget to bring the old man some warm milk and his daughter a toy from a happy meal during the debates!
He’s doing a great job and only needs to intensify his message, but I wish somebody would start bringing up McCain’s infidelities. If he can’t honor a marriage vow, how can he honor an oath of office? The GOP needs to know John McCain is as much of a cheater and liar as Bill Clinton is! This will not make the air because you guys refuse to speak the truth about John McCain, why?
Jack he is not going to win, The question is what can he do to only lose by 5 points instead of 10.
Barack Obama just needs to continue on the path of his
speach last night. He proved to us he has every
requirement needed for a president, and then more.
He has shown how much he cares for middle class
America and our country.
He is sincere, intelligent, thoughtful and qualified.
His opponent lacks all of the above.
Stay on the issues!
After McCain's announcement of his VP, Obama needs to do nothing. He has it in the bag.
Jack, Obama needs to keep doing what he did last night. His speech was incredible and I firmly believe the Obama/Biden team will restore this country's glory.
McCain's pick of Palin is utterly ridiculous. The man is 72 years old, and his health is questionable. How could anyone in their right mind think that this woman could lead this country?
Obama and Biden will lead this country as a team. What kind of team will McCain and Palin make?
To win, he needs to keep on talkin' like he did Thursday night. that was a wonderful speech. I have been an Obama supporter for a long time, and that Thursday night acceptance speech had me laughing, crying and clapping. He really showed that he was capable, smart, and well able to run this country.
He needs to keep moving forward, don't turn around and look at McCain/Palin. Just keep moving forward. Let the surrogates take care of that. He needs to stay positive and stick to the issues.
Considering the two VP picks, I think all Obama has to do now to win is keep breathing.
there is nothing a ultra left wing liberal with shady friends can do to win over this moderate democrat who thinks normal people do not hang out with terrorists. hope everyone else feels the same way.
Attack, Attack, Attack!!!!
After watching last night, I don't see how this man should lose. It's not about a black man or a woman, it's about the country. I've noticed though, this race has been about trumping the other guy. With that said, I think he should start announcing his cabinet posts and have it include Hillary.
Stay focus on the message of hope and change and not get distracted from republican attacks. Republicans try everything possible to distract Obama and Bidden. How these two would react will determine what would happen in 67 days.
– Nuwan from Houston, TX
Jack,
Senator Obama should do what he did last night. Go straight at 'em and give 'em Hell. Like Truman, he just has to tell the truth on 'em and it will sound like hell!
Doc
in Texas
Jack, the easiest way for Barack Obama to win the presidential election is not act like John McCain.
Stay on target and trot out Hillary and Bill as much as he can on the campaign trail to appease the idiots that can't see the McCain/Palin ticket as what it is, more divisive politics.
Post an ad – How many days has it been since Sarah Palin last visited Iraq?
Obama needs to drop Biden and choose Hillary...otherwise it will be certain defeat running a more liberal campaign than Clinton, Gore, and Kerry.
He needs to just "keep on keepin' on," Jack. Oh, and he might want to keep an eye on his daughters. When Palin gets laughed off the stage, McCain might try to draft an even younger version with a better "pedigree."
Still respectfull as always he have been.
Please fill in all the empty rhetoric. Keep defining change. What type of change will you bring. Are you concerned at all with the national debt of this nation?
Mr. Obama needs to stop acting like a rock star or a Greek god. Playtime's over. Please come back down to earth, Mr. Obama, and tell us what your plans our to lift us out of the Bush quagmire. Tell me why I should vote "for" you and not why I should vote "against" McCain. A good offense is often the best defense.
Mr. Cafferty,
I'm a white democrat and will be voting for Barack Obama. The convention has made a serious error. They continually kept interviewing people of color. Surely, the emphasis on people of color will dissuade a majority of hard core whites with their very high degree of prejudice. You will never get a high percentage of the white community (in 2008) to vote for an African American . In spite of all the nice words it is my deep seated feeling that prejudice runs very high. My experience growing up in a predominately white neighborhood has too many memories of deep prejudice. Now at the age of 82 I still hear those voices. I am hopeful, however, that Barack Oboma and his team will be able to pull it off. He certainly has the credentials and apparent intelligence to make a fine president.
Respectfully,
Tom Antonelli
Sen. Obama has presented a consistent and thoughtful account of why he should be the most powerful leader in the world. He needs to continue to outline a unique approach of representing the people and not the corporate giants. Woman, Men, and Children should and do come first for him and they clearly do.
He can't do anything! For Obama to win, he would have had to choose Hillary Clinton or another woman as a Vice President. Now that McCain has done the smartest thing to he can do, pick a woman to run with him, he has it in the bag. Now, all the woman who had supported Hillary Clinton, because she was a woman and are angry, will go to John McCain's side putting him over the edge.
To get the Veterans vote make it very pointed that McCain has not voted for veterans benefits and in fact was against the New GI Bill where he didn't even show up (though now of course he's trying to take some credit for it); since McCain brings up the "fact" that Obama supposedly bought some property from a "felon", it should be brought up that McCain was in the middle of the Lincoln Savings fiasco.
We didn't hear too much about Ms Palin mentioning alternative fuel sources, just drilling in the Anwar preserve and how much natural gas there is in Alaska...What do they think will eventually happen, more dinosaurs will suddenly appear to become future oil and gas deposits?
Obama has only one chance, to hope that the celebrity worshipping crowd wakes up in time on election day to cast a vote.
What I like to know is what does McCain offer besides the color of his skin. I have lived in Arizona for eight years and the only thing I know about McCain is he runs for president and will do anything to become president which at seventy-two years old shows his selfishness.
L.M.,AZ
Employee the same energy and exhuberance he displayed last night. The message was clear and concise. The attacks were truthful and not at all over the top.
Joe Biden just has to be himself. He's one of the most intelligent people in the senate and is widely respected.
Both Democrats can deliver a message and McBush cannot without going off topic. Both know more about Foreign Policy than Gov. Palin, and both understand what the average person in this country is looking for. McCain does not.
In other words, they just have to continue doing exactly as they have been doing, pointing out the differences between themselves and the Republicans.
Keep hitting on the points that he made against McCain in his speech last night. That was one of the best speeches if not the best speech I have ever heard at a convention. I listened to it three times. To me it was like hitting replay on a song that I liked.
The best thing Barack Obama could do in the next 67 days is get John McCain to show that fiery temper of his. Get John McCain cussing him out in a debate and Obama's poll numbers will soar. John McCain is angry, senile and old. Let the American people see that John McCain, the real John McCain.
Obama needs to actually explain how he plans to make all these changes. He states that he plans to spend 100+ billion dollars in new energy and reduce taxes, exactly where is this money coming from?
Biden the other day praised how Obama succeeded in a deal to get troops out of Iraq. Exactly how was he Obama involved? I had no idea he was President already LOL
How about some hard facts and less fluff.
I say keep doing what he has been doing and have Joe Biden come to working class states like my home state of Ohio and talk about what Obama will do help create jobs and make healthcare more affordable.
Obama needs to get back to his roots as a community organizer. He needs to get the vote out...period. He needs a good ground campaign to get registations up and get voters out on Nov 4th.
Obama needs to get back to his roots as a community organizer. He needs a good ground campaign to get registrations up and get voters out on Nov 4th.
Jack… All Obama has to do is keep doing what he's doing... These poll of polls are inaccurate... Nobody’s called me yet to ask me my opinion… Nobody called any of my family members yet and believe me Jack… we're a big family.
How about the new voters? How about the voters that gave up after Gore's efforts?
Keep doing what you’re doing Barack. Good Job and Congratulations Mr. President!
Seriously, all I think he needs to do is go to small towns and cities and let people see his his sincerity and intelligence are with the people. He needs to relax and be himself. Slow down the merry-go-round so he has time to relate his values and ideas to the voters. The pace has been too fast up to the convention for anyone to keep up.
After today's announcement........just show up for the inauguration!
Jack, right now he needs to make sure to keep the positive energy generated from the convention and to ensure that both Hillary and Bill campaign for him in order to keep the majority of her supporters onboard and also to attract as many Independents as they are able.
Jack,
Obama needs to buy a pitcher of margarita, find a comfortable lawn chair and sit on the beach in Hawaii while the media and the DNC turn Palin inside-out, then back inside-in again just in time to put her on the stage with Biden in the VP debate. Oh, and don't forget to take a deep breath before the debate – you might laugh yourself unconscious once the questions start rolling.
Brian
Moscow, Idaho
Obama needs to hold McCains and Palins feet to the fire on every issue...from experience now to the war! Be as forceful as he was at the convention and stay on the issues.....
Jack: Obama doesn't have to do anything to win, McCain just did it for him!
Barack should continue to be specific about what he plans to do and how he will do it.
Barack Obama is so eloquent I am moved by his speeches. Last night I actually had tears in my eyes. I have never experienced that before listening to a politician. I feel hopeful that things will get better for the first time in a long time.
What a great country!
All he have to do is stay focused on the issues, continue to reach out to those undecided and first time voters, and launch attacks on McCain when necessary.
His speech last night should be the basis for his continuing campaign with perhaps one exception. He should remind people everyday about the judgement issue. First Obama and his team should repeat McCains' own words about his lack of knowledge about the economy and demonstrate over and over again how McCain has proven it with McCain's own words. Second use his relatively recent yes answer to the question, knowing everything you know about Iraq today would still have invaded Iraq. Nothing portrays poorer judgement than that response and it explains why he graduated 5th form dead last in his class. I would have an add made and run it everyday.
Jack ,The GOP can not do one thing to top the dems convention.The dems convention was fanstastic!!!!! Houston Texas
He should play nice. The negativity seen in the past really disrupts the process and disgourages the voters. Tell us what he will do, can do, will do and maybe even how. That would be the best he could do till November.
Obama's speech showed that he can now run with the big dogs instead of staying on the porch.
All he needs to do is to continue with the attack-dog momentum he had last night and he will be just fin.
Bit/Alabama
I think he needs to continue with the strong, focused speeches like he gave last night. He's right on target. I also think he needs to start with the debates ASAP because people want to compare and contrast McCain and Obama side-by-side, and I can't help but think Obama will come out looking like the clear winner.
I think the only type of people that will vote for McCain-Palin are the type of people that would vote Republican regardless of who is running for them. In this new election with young voters, masses of newly-registered voters, and a renewed african-american contingent, I don't think Obama will have any problems getting elected.
Obama is not going to win because we will not elect a president on judgement, motivational skills and no experience. All talk and no substance. Oh and said he will have us energy indenpendant in 10 years. Surprise if he was elected he would not be in office in 10 years. DUH!
He should stick to the issues. Turn Biden lose on McCain & Palin but tell Joe to take it light on her (not really, if she wants to stomp with the big dogs she should be able to handle it). Make it a point of bringing up the fact that Senator McCain's whole campaign has been trying to paint Senator Obama was inexperienced and now he picks Palin and that immediately tells you that McCain's judgement is questionable. Clear up immediately any untruths and half truths that Senator McCain/Palin puts out immediately. Make sure that he shows the contrast between Palin and Hilliary Clinton for the Clinton women. The McCain camp has tried to cause fear about Senator Obama – now you want to talk fear – Palin a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
No matter what Obama does to try to get the White House in November, if this country comes to it's senses and gets over the "star-struck" mesmorized state it has been in for the past few months, we may still have a chance to be a great country and not a superpower reduced to a socialist nightmare, run by the unknown speechwriter and his puppet.
Obama has to continue showing that he's about America first and point out that McCain is about politics first!!
Don't fall for the GOP crap they will be trying to spread and stay on his own message of CHANGE and ignore MCCain's lying mouth
Turn McCain's words against him. "Obama would rather win an election than win a war". I say, "McCain would rather win an unjustified war, than agree to a policy that reflects the majority will of the American people". I question whether it is reasonable or noble to try and "win" the Iraq war since it was declared under false pretenses and administered with incompetence. By declaring victory for the U.S., our government will send the message that even when it is wrong, it is right.
Obama has won, with his speach and McCains VP choice.... its over.
Obama just needs to keep hammering at McCain's record like he and Joe Biden did in their acceptance speeches while contrasting their ideas for changing the direction the country has been going under the past 8 years of Republican control.
the more they can get people to realise that John McCain is just another 4 years of failed Bush-Cheney domestic and foreign policies, the better chance Obama-Biden has for a landslide victory on November.
btw, when the "RepulsiveCan'ts" come up with their standard "how you going to pay for it", the answer is "STOP spending 10 BILLION dollars a MONTH in IRAQ"
Obama needs to follow through on his voter registration drive. That is, he needs people making sure that these voters actually are listed on the voter rolls and are not rejected in some way. He also needs to remember that young people are notorious for not showing up at the polls at the last minute. He cannot depend on new registrations and young people to get elected.
Stash in Vancouver, WA
Obama can put forth effort as he always has......
however it won't work as w/Palin (who is a fighter for the good decent honest American) he does not have a chance now.
James J
Milwaukee Wi
Jack., All Senator Obama needs to do now is fall on his knees and
thank god for John McCain's choice. He's a shoe in now.
he should join us in humbolte county, lets start the party, THANKS MCBUSH your v.p. pick sealed the deal ...
After the Palin pick, he needs to emphasize that the next four years will not look like the last eight if McCain is elected. They will be worse. Much worse. A President with no judgement and looking more and more senile, and a V.P. that is a joke.
All he has to do is not be John McCain.
So far, so good.
All Americans that are voting MUST listen to what Obama said last night and what he has been saying in his whole campaign. He has done so much and it is up to the people to use their judgement on who is a better fit for our president. I'm sure there are republicans that are considering crossing over and hopefully Obama can make some Republican states competetive in the fall by continuing the same message he has always brought.
Do what he has been doing. McCain just shot himself in the foot with his VP pick. Connect a little more emotionally with the public. I would expect Lieberman would have been an independent and a smart pick, if McCain did not like Romney. Obama made a smart pick and did not feel overshadowed by Bidens senate power, but welcomed it. Shows the real maverick ideas of McCain to the determent of the country vs the practical & grownup ideas of Obama.
Details, details, and more details. Other than that, he needs to go on the offensive in middle America. Rather than standing on his heels and defending himself at every turn, he needs to turn the tables on McCain and make him defensive.
Jack, I have many friends that are republicans, so this is what he has to do, which is what he has been doing as of late: outline what his presidency entails, and what he plans to do. Those who are not going to vote for him believe he has no substance. Show these people you have substance, and McCain will literally have no chance, especially with Palin as his newly enthroned VP.
Jack.......these republicans think we are really stupid, as soon as I heard the pick I thought ....they are trying to get us Hillary supporters...please we are much more intelligent than that...sorry John you just made my mind up completely I will go with Obama and Biden.....
Rosemary from Manalapan, NJ
After John McCain VP pick today...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING...think McCain just conceed defeat.
This is such a stupid ticket....
Drop Biden and offer Hillary the spot, with a big fat apology.
He need to keep on campaining in this four states, Pennsylvanina, Michigan, Ohio, Colorado and Nevada. if he does, Senator McCain have no chance.
Jack,
After this VP pick, all Obama has to do is tie McCain to the anchor that George Bush really should be to the Republicans this year and this should be a great year for Democrats. He should also make use of all those high-powered Dems like both Clintons, Biden, Gore and a few others to drive home the message that the Republican VP pick might be well out of her depth in Washington.
He needs to send a few staffers to Advertising 101.
MacDonalds didnt sell a trillion hamburgers by making boring ads.
And they didnt do it by going negative on Burger King either.
Take his aggressive message from last night to battleground states and reach out to Bill Clinton for help. With this message and full support from Joe, Bill and Hillary with him he will win.
At what point will the media decide that it isn't their job to act as Obama's unpaid (I hope) campaign strategists?
Jack–
He has to stay on message and keep hammering home the idea that McCain doesn't get it. McCain's choice of VP today only validates that statement. Obama and Biden have to hit the road and keep reminding people that we need the change that they can bring. McCain is ripe for the picking–I hope that he plucks him out of the field.
Meg
Troy, Ohio
Hey Barack – some words of advice from "W" – " Stay the course". It is certain to be more successful for you!!!!!
From this point on.......nothing! What a gift from McCain!
Obama needs to stay on message, be specific about his goals and how he will carry them out, highlight the National and International experience he has had, and try to be as kind as possible to his opponent McCain who has shown once again that his ability to make the right choices is just not there.
All he has to do is expand on his great speach from the convention and do not let John mccains harem distract him.
Harry from Ellijay Ga
Obama just needs to keep sending out his message loud and clear, his choice of Joe Biden was not only brilliant it was in the best interest of the country if something should happen to him (heaven forbid)- Biden is ready and able to carry on – It feels sort of like Bush has broken America's legs and Obama wants to heal them so we can walk up-right again, McCain just wants to cut them off and leave us on the side of the road to deal the best we can with the Republicans idea of a "New World Order" which just means the Corporations at the top and everyone else fending for the crumbs off the table.
Obama needs to stay on message and have his spokespersons (Bill & Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, etc.) hold McCain accountable for all of his gaffs, miss-statements, lies, faulty logic, and poor judgment ala his involvement in the 80'/90's Savings and Loan scandal. McCain is neither the Saint nor the intellect he pretends to be. When I see or hear him, I am reminded of "The Manchurian Candidate."
Stay on message. More of the same. Bush has given the Democrats a series of sure wins if they just keep on the message.
All he has to do is – more of the same. His acceptence speech Thursday night was the perfect amount of fire and fight. Although
I would like to see him dress more casually, not so suit and tie all
the time, when out in middle America.
Jack,
Just don't slip up and hand it to them. It's like a former governor here in Louisiana said ' the only way I lose this election is to get caught in bed with a live boy or a dead woman". McCain has just sealed it for Obama.
Don
Hammond LA.
I feel that Obama has run a flawless campaign upon to this point. He has out pointed all of his opponents at all phases in route to the White House. The only thing left for him to do is to win the debates. Joe Biden also got to win his debates then I would say that he is undoubtedly in the White House.
All Obama has to do is show up. Mc Cain is constantly showing that even he is not convinced in what he tells the american people. He says one thing and does another. I think McCain secretly envy's Obama and is an Obama supporter. I wouldn't doubt if, come november 4th, would secretly vote for Obama instead of himself.
Jack, after the bomb McCain dropped today I think all Obama has to do is just sit back and watch McCain/Palin struggle.
Keep on doing what he's doing!