Polls tighten, should Obama go negative?
Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The polls indicate the presidential race is tightening.
CNN's latest poll of polls shows Barack Obama leading John McCain by just one point - 45 to 44 percent. That's down from a 3-point lead in yesterday's average of polls and down considerably from a few weeks ago.
While Obama was vacationing in Hawaii last week - McCain had the stage almost all to himself. Suddenly the Russians rolled into Georgia and McCain was in the catbird seat. Also some of McCain's negative ads - a la Paris Hilton and Britney Spears "celebrity" spot - seem to have resonated with voters. And it looks like McCain made inroads with some members of the Republican base with his interview at Rick Warren's church.
Watch: Cafferty: Obama go negative?
All of this creates a problem for Barack Obama who has gone out of his way to run a positive campaign based on the issues, and for the most part has chosen not to engage in the schoolyard stuff that characterizes U.S. politics. He may no longer have that luxury.
Obama is now out with some hard-hitting tv ads running in local markets in key battleground states. He spent 400-thousand dollars on Sunday alone to run two negative spots - more than 600 times - focusing on the economy and McCain… in places like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Florida.
These new ads have been complemented with a tougher tone on the stump where Obama is going after McCain for saying Iraqis would greet Americans as liberators and for challenging Obama's patriotism.
Some Democratic strategists say Obama's aggressive tone reflects the reality of the race and say he should have gotten tougher sooner.
Here’s my question to you: In light of tightening polls, does Barack Obama have to go negative against John McCain?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Why isn’t there more support for third party candidates?
Third party presidential candidates: Ralph Nader (Independent Party), Bob Barr (Libertarian Party), Cynthia McKinney (Green Party). (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Americans are disgusted with our dysfunctional government, right? They overwhelmingly disapprove of Congress and the president, and for straight 6 months now, at least 80% of us say we're dissatisfied with where this country is headed.
So if the system is indeed broken, it seems like lots of Americans wouldn't want to vote for either the Democrat or the Republican in November. However, a new Gallup Poll finds that only 2% of registered voters name a third-party candidate when asked who they'll back for president.
2%... that's compared to 83% who name either Barack Obama or John McCain. The third-party candidates this time around include Bob Barr for the Libertarian Party, Independent Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney for the Green Party.
In 1992, Ross Perot got almost 20% of the vote, one of the best showings ever for a third-party candidate. In fact, Perot may have been the reason why Bill Clinton won the first time around. But, when it comes down to it, the way the two-party system is set up often makes it very difficult for third-party candidates to get any traction. It's an uphill battle to get on the ballot and to get the kind of money necessary to compete.
Here’s my question to you: Why isn’t there more support for third party candidates?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Placing Hillary’s name in nomination?
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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Some Hillary Clinton supporters want to make sure that the upcoming Democratic Convention doesn't turn into a "coronation" of Barack Obama.
A humorless organization called "The Denver Group" ran an ad in a Capitol Hill newspaper demanding that Hillary's name be placed in nomination at the convention and demanding that speeches be allowed in support of her nomination. They're just full of demands.
Watch: Cafferty: Clinton in play?
And if they don't get their way they are threatening a revolt. The ad says, "Will Howard Dean and the DNC turn the Democratic Party into the Boston Tea Party?" More demands. They demand a roll call vote on her nomination... presumably after those speeches they are demanding. This despite the fact that she lost and dropped out of the race months ago.
Of course, Clinton herself hasn't ruled out the idea of placing her name in nomination – saying her supporters would experience a "catharsis" if their voices were heard. Another group of Clinton supporters is planning a march in Denver on the same day that she is expected to address the convention.
And there are Clinton delegates who have started collecting signatures to place Clinton's name into nomination.
They say their effort is about respect. Baloney. In their heart of hearts, what they really want is to wrestle the nomination away from Barack Obama. They won't be able to do it, but in the process of trying, they can go a long way toward diminishing the historic nature of Obama's achievement, disrupting the convention, taking the spotlight away from the nominee, and slowing his momentum going into November. Is this what they call party unity?
Here’s my question to you: In order to satisfy Hillary Clinton’s supporters, should her name be placed in nomination at the convention?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
McCain-Lieberman a good ticket?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/08/11/art.leiberman.mccain.gi.jpg caption=" Would you vote for a McCain – Lieberman ticket?"]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Joe Lieberman insists it's not going to happen – but people are talking. The former Democratic V.P. nominee – turned independent senator – is reportedly being vetted by John McCain as a potential running mate.
An adviser to McCain tells the Financial Times that McCain "loves Lieberman" and that he's on the short list because he has "never embarrassed anyone, never misspoken."
Some experts have called Lieberman a "near perfect pick" and say that McCain's choice of the Connecticut senator would be "game changing." Plus he would have a fact checker right down the hall at the White House, which in McCain's case would be invaluable.
Advantages to picking Lieberman include his calm temperament and his appeal to elderly Jewish voters in states like Florida. And Lieberman was already thoroughly vetted when he ran in 2000.
On the other hand, it's unlikely Lieberman would do much to shore up McCain's support among the Republican base – a group where some still don't trust him. Some say picking Lieberman could even cause a "revolt" among die-hard conservatives. Lieberman broke with the Democrats on the Iraq war – but has pretty much stuck with the party on all other issues.
One other thing: McCain is 71 and Lieberman is 66, which means the ticket would total 137. That means Barack Obama at age 47 could pick a running mate who is 89 years old and the Democratic ticket would still be younger.
Here’s my question to you: Would Joe Lieberman be a good pick for John McCain’s V.P.?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Re-electing your own member of Congress?
(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
If Americans have finally had enough, and they should have, the current members of Congress are in a lot of trouble. Or are they?
The public already thinks Congress, which is now on vacation, is doing a pretty lousy job. And there's a new Gallup poll shows that only 36% of registered voters say most members deserve to be re-elected. That's among the lowest ratings ever in this poll. Gallup found similar ratings in only three other election years: 1992, 1994 and 2006. All three of these elections brought about big changes in the make-up of Congress, twice switching control from one party to another.
But here's the problem: although most people are disgusted with Congress, they often don't think their senator or congressman is part of the problem – which is why we end up with the same weasels down there for years and years. This Gallup survey shows that 57% of those polled say their own congressman deserves to be re-elected. How is that possible?
Nevertheless, 2008 could bring significant turnover in Congress, especially in an election where "change" has become an important theme. Even though Democrats control both houses of Congress now, there are signs that this will be a better year for Democrats than Republicans.
Want to know why we have the dysfunctional, corrupt government we have? 35% of those polled don't even know if their representative is a Democrat or a Republican.
Here’s my question to you: Will you vote to re-elect your own senator or congressman?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Does Hillary want Obama to win?
Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Hillary Clinton apparently hasn't gotten the message yet that it's over.
She's now trying to find a way for her delegates to be heard at the Convention, saying it will help unify the party. And, she hasn't ruled out having her name placed into nomination.
Clinton told supporters at a California fund-raiser last week that the party will come out stronger if people feel their voices were heard. She spoke of an "incredible pent up desire" on the part of her supporters, saying people want to feel like it's "a catharsis" and then they'll get behind Barack Obama. It's beginning to sound like group therapy.
Watch: Cafferty: Is Clinton over it?
Under DNC rules, Clinton would have to submit a request to have her name placed in nomination. She says no decisions have been made. But several groups of her supporters are planning marches and demonstrations in Denver, and collecting petition signatures to nominate her.
Time Magazine reports that while in public Clinton is doing everything she's been asked to help Obama, behind the scenes it's a different story. Associates say Clinton is still skeptical that Obama can win. And if he loses, that could set the stage for her to run again in 4 years.
And then there's Bill Clinton who continues to pout. Earlier this week he refused to tell an interviewer if he thought Obama was ready to be president, instead giving some lame excuse that "nobody is ever ready" and that the Constitution sets out qualifications for president.
Needless to say, none of this is helpful to Barack Obama. His campaign and Clinton's put out a joint statement saying that they're working together and the party
Here’s my question to you: Do you think Hillary Clinton wants Barack Obama to win?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Important for president to be computer literate?
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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Will the Internet be John McCain's grocery store scanner moment? Remember how the first President Bush was awestruck in a grocery store by that little gizmo that tells you the price of your Cheez Whiz? The president of the United States with cameras rolling was simply beside himself. You'd think one episode like that would be enough.
Now we have a guy who wants to be president that doesn't know how to use a computer. Two years ago, John McCain expressed amazement that his wife could order movie tickets online, something people had been doing for years at that time. He called her a wizard and admitted he was a "Neanderthal" when it comes to computers.
Watch: Cafferty: PC-proficient prez?
Dear Senator McCain, computer technology and the Internet have changed the world. And the fact that you don't know much about either one suggests you're in some sort of a time warp. Translate that: "old."
Sensing the risk of being perceived as a fossil, McCain recently told the San Francisco Chronicle that he understands the importance of the computer and blogs, that he's using the computer more and more every day. McCain says this doesn't mean he has to e-mail people, but that he reads e-mails – that his staff constantly shows him emails during the day.
Grocery store scanners, computers and the Internet are the ingredients of every day life for the overwhelming majority of Americans. For a man who wants to be president to admit that he is pretty much clueless about some of these things feeds into the perception that old, rich, white Republicans are out of touch. They have no idea what the average American's life is like. For the last 26 years, John McCain has lived inside the cocoon of the United States Senate and his wife's money.
Here’s my question to you: How important is it for the next president to understand computer technology?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Should Obama consider Clinton for V.P.?
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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
When it comes to Hillary Clinton – not so fast.
Some Democrats are worried that Barack Obama isn't farther ahead in the polls at this point, especially when you consider the unpopularity of President Bush, the often unfocused campaign being run by John McCain and Obama's successful trip overseas. Suddenly some are wondering whether Obama should reconsider putting Clinton on the ticket.
Watch: Cafferty: Hillary for VP?
CNN Senior Political Analyst David Gergen points out that the major tests for a V.P. pick are whether the person is qualified to be president, and if that person will give you a better chance of winning. Clinton predicted during the primaries that the Republican attack machine would be in full bloom against Obama. One columnist wrote – reacting to some of McCain's recent ads – "The swift boats have sailed," a reference to the Republican smear campaign that destroyed John Kerry's chances. Gergen suggests there's no one better than Hillary and Bill Clinton to fight off such attacks.
Clinton supporter Lanny Davis points to a recent poll that shows Obama holding a 1-point lead over McCain, but when voters were asked to choose between Obama-Clinton versus McCain and Mitt Romney the Democrats' lead then jumps to 9 points. This strongly suggests that even though Clinton might drive away some voters, she has the potential to bring in even more. Davis suggests Obama could not lose with Clinton on the ticket, as she would shore up key voting blocks.
Meanwhile, there are indications from some former Clinton supporters – particularly those in the women's movement – that if Obama picks anyone but Clinton, the divisions from the primary season just might not heal. They are adamant that Obama can't assume Clinton's supporters will back him regardless of whom he picks as V.P.
Here’s my question to you: Should Barack Obama be seriously considering Hillary Clinton for V.P.?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
What will country’s sour mood mean for election?
The Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate for July has risen to 5.7%. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
More bad news about the economy as the nation's unemployment rate rose to a 4-year high of 5.7% percent last month.
Employers cut another 51,000 jobs in July, making it the 7th straight month of declines. The Labor Department reports that 463,000 jobs have been lost this year.
And, this doesn't even tell the whole story, because the unemployment rate doesn't include those who have become discouraged looking for a job or those who took part-time work when they really want to be working full-time. If you count the unemployed and underemployed, the rate jumps to 10.3%. Another troubling sign is it's taking the unemployed longer to find new jobs. Some of the hardest-hit industries include those affected most by the housing, credit and financial crises – like construction and manufacturing.
It comes as no surprise then that a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows Americans are downright disgusted with where this country is headed... only 24% think we're on the right track. That's the lowest number since 1980. Only four presidents have seen this number drop below 30% while in office – Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and the first President Bush. In each case, their party lost the White House in the next election.
Not exactly a good sign for John McCain and the Republicans.
Here’s my question to you: What will the country's sour mood mean for the election?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Will going negative help McCain?
Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say.
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Remember when John McCain talked about how he wasn't going to run a negative campaign? How he wanted to focus on the issues and not get down in the political mud? I guess you can chalk it up to something else McCain has changed his mind about. Now he's apparently decided that going negative is the way to the White House.
You don't need to look much farther than McCain's ads, which have become increasingly negative – calling Barack Obama a celebrity, and comparing him to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Or the ad that that says Obama "made time to go to the gym, but cancelled a visit with wounded troops." One study points out one-third of John McCain's ads refer to Obama negatively. On the other hand, 90% of Obama's ads don't even mention John McCain.
Watch: Cafferty: McCain goes negative
These negative ads feed the perception of McCain as an angry candidate. Even some Republicans don't think this strategy is such a good idea. Former top McCain strategist John Weaver called the celebrity ad "childish" and "tomfoolery”, while other Republicans have called it "unprofessional," "absurd and juvenile." An editorial in the St. Petersburg Times says of McCain: "The self-described 'happy warrior' from 2000 has turned sour... and the candor and straight talk that once made him such an attractive candidate are rapidly disappearing."
Meanwhile, McCain's flip-flop on the issue of offshore drilling has netted him some big bucks from the big oil companies. A non-partisan campaign finance watchdog group says that after McCain announced he was changing his position and now was going to support offshore drilling, the Big Oil companies opened their wallets. "Campaign Money Watch" found that in Texas alone, oil-related donors gave $1.2 million to McCain's Victory '08 fund in June – 73% of it coming after his reversal on offshore drilling. Think that's a coincidence?
Here’s my question to you: Is going negative against Barack Obama a winning strategy for John McCain?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
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