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Closing Arguments: The Palin Effect Today

October 31, 2008 12:05 AM

We reported earlier tonight that our recent poll showed Sarah Palin's favorablity rating drop from 59 percent immediately after the Republican National Convention to 46 percent one week ago.

But she continues to electrify on the campaign trail.

So tonight, we ask you: Do you think Sarah Palin has become a drag on the Republican ticket?
 
Tell us what you think.

October 31, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (270)

Last Night's 'Nightline'

October 30, 2008 3:45 PM

By Cynthia McFadden:

Oops... A clarification about something I said last  night.  Terry Moran closed his piece about Bill Clinton campaigning with Barack Obama this way:

"One note on the mood.  The polls show he is ahead, but the campaign feels a little nervous, feels on edge a little bit.  They have seen this before.  They predicted in New Hampshire they would win and they got a real comeuppance there and they're pressing harder the final days.  Cynthia?"

And I said: "Well, no doubt they also remember Al Gore was ahead in 2000.  Thanks, Terry."

Well, true and not true. Al Gore was ahead in the  national polls in early October, up by 11 points in the CNN/Gallop poll. But by the week before the election the polls had Bush pulling ahead by three points nationally.

What I was trying to say was that Obama's team wants to take nothing for granted. They know how 2000 turned out.  But I certainly failed to make the point clearly. In fact I think it left a misimpression. I regret the error.

October 30, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (29)

Closing Arguments: Ad Man or Buyer Beware?

October 30, 2008 12:03 AM

Much has already been made - and much more will be made - of Barack Obama's 30-minute, primetime television ad.

But before his production was even over, the McCain campaign issued this simple statement: "As anyone who has bought anything from an infomercial knows, the sales-job is always better than the product. Buyer beware."

So tonight, we ask you: Was the ad worth $3 million dollars to the Barack Obama campaign? 

Tell us what you think.

October 30, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (87)

Closing Arguments: The (Bill) Clinton Factor

October 29, 2008 12:02 AM

Tomorrow, former president Bill Clinton will join Barack Obama in Florida, the largest battleground state, in their first joint campaign appearance.

So tonight, we ask you: Do you think Bill Clinton is really on board with the Obama campaign? Or is he just doing his duty to the Democratic Party?

Tell us what you think.

October 29, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (119)

Report Card: Will You Watch Obama's Infomercial?

October 28, 2008 11:18 PM

Tomorrow Senator Obama will use 30-minutes of prime-time television to deliver his closing argument to the American people.  With the election less than a week away and the Obama ticket holding a steady lead in many of the polls, some pundits have called the tomorrow's commercial risky.

ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent, George Stephanopoulos gave his analysis on tonight's 'Nightline'. 

But what do you think?  Will you watch tomorrow's infomercial and if so, what can Senator Obama tell you that you don't already know?

October 28, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (141)

Closing Arguments: Can They Win Over Voters?

October 28, 2008 12:05 AM

Time is running out in this historic election and both candidates are laying out their own closing arguments, trying to win over any undecided voters.

So tonight, we ask you: What, if anything, can Barack Obama and John McCain do before next Tuesday to sway voters one way or the other in the campaign's final days?

Tell us what you think.

October 28, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (53)

Closing Arguments: Obama Steps Off-Trail

October 24, 2008 12:05 AM

We focus tonight on Barack Obama, whose plane left Indiana earlier this evening and is heading to Hawaii, where he'll visit his ailing grandmother.

He's going to leave the campaign for two days -- so our question tonight: Will Senator Obama's absence have a detrimental effect on his hopes of reaching the White House?

Tell us what you think.

October 24, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (47)

Closing Arguments: Do Polls Lie?

October 23, 2008 12:04 AM

The latest ABC News tracking poll has Democrat Barack Obama holding an 11 percent lead over Republican opponent John McCain among likely voters.

So will the poll ring true? Will Barack Obama win the presidency?

Tell us what you think.

October 23, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (130)

Closing Arguments: Dancing With the Politicians

October 22, 2008 12:00 AM

President Bush set the bar low when he joined in a traditional African tribal dance.

Sarah Palin may have lowered that bar during her appearance on Saturday Night Live.

And now Barack Obama?

Politicians just can't help themselves from getting down on camera.

So, should the song and dance stop?

Tell us what you think.

October 22, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (15)

Closing Argument: Palin's SNL Punchlines

October 20, 2008 11:46 PM

After weeks of priceless imitations performed by comedian Tina Fey, and knock-out punch lines served up by the relentless SNL writers, it was now the real Sarah Palin's turn to appear on the sketch comedy show.

But how would she fare?

Tina Fey opened the show on Saturday by -- you guessed it -- imitating Palin, this time giving an ill-informed press conference.  Meanwhile, the Republican vice-presidential nominee appeared backstage watching the performance with the likes of actors Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin.  She soon interrupted Fey by introducing the show.

But that wasn't all.  Palin appeared again later during the Weekend Update segment, and showed off some of her dance skills, leaving many viewers amused. 

Her appearance this weekend generated an enormous amount of attention. But the jury is still out: Did Palin's turn on the comedy show help her or hurt her? Tell us what you think below.

October 20, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (143)