Quick Pick
I’ve said here before that, despite his views, I just can’t help liking Barack Obama. But the more I find out about him, the less I like the guy. Turns out I’m not the only one:
Yesterday we wrote about a new poll (PDF) that suggested Hillary Clinton’s unfavorability rating reached a new high of 48 percent, while Barack Obama’s rating was significantly lower at 32 percent. Considering Obama’s rough press coverage over the past few weeks because of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s sermons, this was a blow to the conventional wisdom that Obama’s candidacy had been harmed by Wright’s rhetoric.
However, a new SurveyUSA poll shows the two candidates’ unfavorables to be much closer. Obama and Clinton have similar numbers in this poll, with Clinton polling unfavorably among 42 percent of voters. He is viewed unfavorably by 40 percent of the voters. She is viewed favorably by 35 percent of voters, while Obama is viewed favorably by 38 percent of voters.
Those aren’t winning numbers.
He’s definitely got a good tongue, and doesn’t appear to be mean/surly a la Nixon.
Part of W.’s problem is that he’s just not a good public speaker and he basically followed two actors*, Reagan and Clinton. Thus Bush looks even worse, while Obama only has to contrast himself with Bush.
*actors in a good sense, they’re able to connect with an audience and make it seem effortless.
There have been numerous issue polls that suggest BO has been impacted by the Wright stuff so I’m challenged with the “He’s OK” polls. However, this poll shows HRC, BO and McCain all about the same….that just seems like it doesn’t pass the smell test. I would think that if polling the same group, one of the 3 would break a bit more favorable. The only think I can really take out of this poll is that it’s good that none of their names is Elliot Spitzer!
Personally, I’m not concerned about Obama more than slightly regarding his association with race hate.
But I have a family member who caught the bad end of modern racism. She was essentially forced into early retirement (over a long, traumatizing process) for two reasons, being white and not being young (the money of seniority). Things done were not only abusive, but downright criminal. Unproven, but I’m most certain that fraud was involved.
Her [obama] concern isn’t what he him himself feels/thinks, but how he will be affected and have to respond to other groups. And how they will react when they feel slighted by him for not doing crazy and stupid things they want, and how he will deal with that.
Though mostly irrational, there are many groups that will think Obama owes them. Or, more accurately, is responsible to deliver what they think they are owed. They may not react well to the reality the unfolds.
[it's near bedtime, I'm out of it, so now, as I've seen many do, I'll venture into that tinfoil hat land. Lots of people have speculated that Obama would be assassinated or attempts would be made based on race. I doubt it, but if it happens, I'd bet it is more likely to be a black on black crime.]