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Key Moments
November 04, 2008 7:37 AM
This morning on "Good Morning America," Diane Sawyer asked me what I thought were the turning points of the campaign.
Here are mine:
For John McCain, I think you have to go back to Sept. 15, just several weeks ago when McCain said this: "The fundamentals of our economy are strong."
That was as the financial crisis was just starting to unfold, and it cascaded through the month of October.
Look what happened to the polls. On the day that McCain said the fundamentals of the economy were strong, the polls were split 47-46 percent for Obama.
Since that crisis, since the debates, the polls have opened up to a nine-point lead for Obama. It's been that way for the last several weeks.
For Barack Obama, you have to go much farther back.
It's a tale of three speeches.
#1: The speech in Oct, 2002 when he was just a state senator but he came out again the Iraq war. That gave him the issue against Hillary Clinton and all the other major Democratic candidates in the primaries.
#2: July 2004. John Kerry makes him the keynoter, makes him a national celebrity.
#3: Finally in March of this year, when his campaign was in peril because of his ties to Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Obama made that remarkable speech in Philadelphia about race and his own journey, and his relationship with Wright. That held his campaign together. A very key moment.
--George Stephanopoulos
November 4, 2008 in Barack Obama, Democrats Vote 2008, John McCain, Republicans Vote 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (48)
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Europe votes OBAMA
Posted by: Kostas K | Nov 4, 2008 9:34:04 AM
i am in my thirties, and have a brain injury. i don't want to be felt sorry for, but when you have a BI(brain injury) you have to RElearn EVERYTHING. i was in that so-called great state of Texas!anyways, the 1 thing i learned was sharing. why can't they do some sharing! you know what would be neat, have Barack as President and Sara as V.P. no wait, i just had a thought, since we are in a war AGAIN, make George the V.P. actually, being a true American(native american, Indian)let them control this land. my kind was here first, and then the land was stolen from us. welp, that's all folks.
Posted by: Miss Jones | Nov 4, 2008 9:34:35 AM
i agree with george on the defininig moments and here some moments i think also definied the campaign for each camp for McCain it was when he decided to use actions that happened 40yrs ago as an issue eg Ayers while for Obama was he was able to stand his ground in all three debates the debates highlighted his strenghts at the same time highlighted McCain's weakness his TEMPER! chichi from NIGERIA.
Posted by: chichi | Nov 4, 2008 9:49:07 AM
Some of us are really do not have brain. In your opinion do you think Sara Palin is fit to be VP?
If McCain wins America will a laughing jack car in the rest of the World. Picking Sarah Palin was the turning point for McCain election lost.
If he has picked someone else things could have been different.
Obama has been ordained to run America by God and nothing can stop him
Posted by: NANA OBIRI YEBOAH | Nov 4, 2008 10:06:49 AM
Hang on to your shorts, folks, it's going to be a rough ride. The biggest question, can the cook the books in Ohio again? And, will it come down to one state. No matter who wins, let's hope it's clean enough to satisfy the winners and losers.
http://www.truthout.org/110308R
Posted by: kseyetie | Nov 4, 2008 10:12:18 AM
The turning point: Palin flubbing the Couric interview. The McCain campaign could not afford the perception that Palin wasn't intellectually up to the task of being President. So they shielded her from the press for weeks, building up the anticipation. Then on the Gibson interview she really looked out of her element, putting extra pressure on the Couric interview. And after the Couric interview, the McCain campaign needed to find a way to counter the perception that Palin wasn't up to the task, and they never got there.
Posted by: billthomson | Nov 4, 2008 10:19:03 AM
Ouch! - Keep in mind that Senator Clinton said that before Obama defeated her for the democratic nomination. Now it looks like Obama is about to defeat McCain. Evidently, the voters don't agree with that statement.
Posted by: MikeMo1947 | Nov 4, 2008 10:30:33 AM
Defining moment of the entire race?
When the Straight Talk Express sold its soul to the extreme right win of Rep. Party and sealed that with Palin's selection. That was when McCain lost his brand, integrity and my vote.
McCain derailed and became the SmearTalkExpress
Posted by: jeanpaul | Nov 4, 2008 10:31:31 AM
VOBAMA - Are you against Obama? Your extremely long post of the same 4 words was irritating to users of this blog.
Posted by: MikeMo1947 | Nov 4, 2008 10:34:13 AM
jeanpaul - I don't know if it was more important to most people, but I would agree with it. That was when I started questioning my admiration of his independence and straight talk.
Posted by: MikeMo1947 | Nov 4, 2008 10:37:20 AM
Nana Obiri.....you mean "Allah" not God. Don't use God's name in the same sentence with Obama. It is offensive!! If he wins it is because the scripture must be fulfilled. Tell me - where are the 666's! on his forward on on his hand!!!
Posted by: Lisa | Nov 4, 2008 10:53:58 AM
Nana Obiri and Lisa, both of your comments are demeaning and have no place in politics or America.
Posted by: MikeMo1947 | Nov 4, 2008 11:02:24 AM
AM SO HAPPY TODAY ABOUT THE ELECTION ALL I KNOW IS THAT BARRAK OBAMA WILL WIN THE ELECTION TODAY HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.GOD IS WITH HIM YEA!
Posted by: CHICHIEKWUNIFE | Nov 4, 2008 12:00:02 PM
lisa you idiot learn to spell, it's forehead not forward. However, on a more intelligent note,I dislike McCain's views on key issues and I pray to God (yes God)Obama wins but if he doesn't I will have to live with it as well as the rest of us Obama supporters. The one thing we all can agree on is that we all decided that the majority decides, that is why we vote. So let's realize that whoever is elected, we will all be looking to that person for answers whether we like them or not..Stop crying you big babies.
Posted by: trisha | Nov 4, 2008 12:00:08 PM
Anyone who believes that our president does not need to be of superior intelligence and an eloquent statesman is wrong. The thing about someone with superior intelligence is they pick things up very quickly. So much for "on the job training". My biggest fear is that Sarah Palin could become our president!!
Posted by: Mary | Nov 4, 2008 12:18:52 PM
Why is it that it was OK to suffer 8 years under George Bush, but now it's not OK to elect a Democrat? Come on people. George Bush had every opportunity to go down in history as a great president. After 9-11, he could have strengthened our own borders and gone after the true enemy. Instead, he chose to invade Iraq based upon a lie because of his own personal family vendetta. Hundreds of billions of dollars later, with thousands of lives lost, look where this country is! An oil rich country like Iraq is letting us subsidize the reconstruction of their country. Our military is spread thin. Our economy is in shambles. Enough is enough.
Posted by: Dori | Nov 4, 2008 12:22:42 PM
Doug.....I totally agree with you. Obama is a media made candidate. They have covered up and made light of any and all associations, experience, accomplishments, etc. If McCain had the same associations as Obama the media would have been all over it. If you Obama supporters think the USA is so bad and want socialism and the government making your every decision then why don't you just move to one of the countries that already has that practice. If Obama should win it will be interesting to hear all of you crying about all the taxes and big government in your life as you have never known it. Our forefathers that founded this nation must be turning over in their graves.
Posted by: pepper3123 | Nov 4, 2008 12:37:58 PM
Lisa,
"Nana Obiri.....you mean "Allah" not God. Don't use God's name in the same sentence with Obama. It is offensive!! If he wins it is because the scripture must be fulfilled. Tell me - where are the 666's! on his forward on on his hand!!!"
Spoken like a true, born again wacko.
Posted by: Born in the USA | Nov 4, 2008 12:53:46 PM
A key moment in the McCain-Palin campaign had to do with ABC News and other key media organizations turning a blind eye to John McCain's close associations with Gordon Liddy - a convicted Watergate felon and a vocal advocate of domestic terrorism and violence against the US government. One can't help wonder how the McCain campaign managed to buy off or browbeat the media into silence over the McCain-Liddy association.
Posted by: Jane Sixpack | Nov 4, 2008 12:53:57 PM
Trisha:It is not over yet. The one thing we all can agree on is that we all decided that the majority decides, that is why we vote. So let's realize that whoever is elected, we will all be looking to that person for answers whether we like them or not..Stop crying you big babies. I completely agree with you. The only difference is this time there will be no super delegates.
Posted by: willbeeven | Nov 4, 2008 12:59:44 PM
I hear that Joe the plumber and his buddies are really disappointed that their idol Sarah Palin is not likely to make it into the whitehouse. No moose burgers at state dinners! That is too bad. But Joe the plumber can take solace in the rumor that Sarah Palin is going to start a new university - the Sarah Palin University - where male and female bimbos of the right wing born again persuation can go to get training on all aspects of politics.
Posted by: Jane Sixpack | Nov 4, 2008 12:59:52 PM
FYI Joe the Plumber was pulled over last night for driving 50 in a 35mph zone 11/4/8....no citation for good ole Joe tho....police claim it will draw negative attention....Republicans have not and will not ever claim responsibility for their actions....sad....some will vote to continue this kind of government....shame shame....Obama/Bidem08
Posted by: outlaw&lace | Nov 4, 2008 1:24:40 PM
President Obama, yeah !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we can ignore Fox news until 2012 and "Palin-Ashley Todd 2012"
Posted by: philosopherkingtomas | Nov 4, 2008 3:26:58 PM
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