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The Note: Barack Obama is up in the polls but he will need Hillary Clinton supporters in order to defeat John McCain.
Email
ShareJune 23, 2008 8:39 AM
ABC News' Rick Klein Reports in Monday's Note: Forget the transition team -- that was so 2007 -- think he’s hiring for the reelect yet? (We’re not sure “yes, we can” works anymore -- what about “yeah, we did”?
Somewhere between the new seal, a new Latin phrase, the shattered public financing pledge,
and the not-happening town-hall forums, Sen. Barack Obama made clear that he’s really, really sure he’s going to win.
Nothing wrong with a little confidence -- Democrats like to be optimistic these days -- and the latest polls give him enough of an edge to quell concerns going into a week that will be defined by a big meeting.
But confidence is a tricky game for Obama, D-Ill., who is still busy defining himself to a skeptical public -- to say nothing of still-seething Clinton supporters (and an increasingly frustrated press corps).
In his rush to take advantages where they present themselves, Obama just may have eroded his central message -- as reformer, as change agent, as different-kind-of-politician. The question now is whether Sen. John McCain can do anything about it (and remember that he aims for those same qualities).
As things stand, there will be no public financing, and there will be no freewheeling town-hall forums. There’s one candidate who’s the main reason for both of those facts.
Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.
“By refusing to join McCain in these initiatives in order to protect his own interests, Obama raises an important question: Has he built sufficient trust so that his motives will be accepted by the voters who are only now starting to figure out what makes him tick?” David Broder writes in his Sunday Washington Post column.
Suggestions to the contrary notwithstanding, Obama did not plop upon us fully formed and ready to take his country into flight.
“For all his talk about change, Obama remains a product of a Chicago and Illinois political culture renowned for corruption and filled with characters who range from felonious to just outrageous,” Bob Secter and John McCormick write in the Chicago Tribune. “Whether any of that will matter in November is an open question, but Obama clearly is betting he can benefit from Chicago's reputation for toughness without being tainted by its darker political side.”
That’s one way to cast his decision to jettison his commitment to public financing (though Republicans can think of a few other ways). “Perhaps people didn't know how tough he is. He's been saying all along, don't confuse hope with naivete,” Obama friend and adviser Valerie Jarrett tells The Washington Post’s Dan Balz and Anne E. Kornblut.
Write Balz and Kornblut: “If some Republicans rue the swift and calculated nature they say characterizes Obama's early steps, his campaign advisers say they have needed to move quickly to make up for the months spent waging the extended primary race. They cast the decision on public financing, for example, as motivated partly by timing, with just four full months left until Election Day to provide voters with the vision of Obama they hope to establish.”
Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.
ABC News' John Santucci and Alexa Ainsworth contributed to this report.
June 23, 2008 in Bush, George W., Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (88)
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aol.com straw poll shows McCain 60% to Obama 40% with 118,000 votes cast. McCain is winning every state by Wash DC. Last weeks poll had McCain 56% to Obama 44%. So it all depends which poll you want to look at.
Posted by: mich mike | Jun 23, 2008 8:50:47 AM
the issue is his going back on his position not to. He can't afford to keep changing his position on everything he said in the primaries.
Posted by: mich mike | Jun 23, 2008 8:58:44 AM
AOL's "straw poll" isn't really a poll. It is a place for people to go voluntarily to state their preference. Citing it only demonstrates total ignorance of scientific polling.
Of course if the overwhelming numbers of Obama supporters on the internet ever decide they care what this "straw poll" says it will tilt enormously to Obama.
Posted by: Sam | Jun 23, 2008 9:15:19 AM
Two things:
That Obama "seal" is pathetic.
I am a democratic and voted for Clinton in the primary--Myself, my family and friends will not be voting Obama.
Guy "changes" his mind and flip flops more than we can count, not the kind of "changes" we had in mind.
If I were Clinton, I would not campaign for him after the way she, President Clinton; and her campaign were treated. No sour grapes here--just an eye-opener that Obama is not what he claims to be.
I am glad President Clinton did not endorse Obama.
Posted by: PA voter | Jun 23, 2008 9:20:35 AM
a poll is a poll... I just think it is interesting that 118,000 people stated their preference so far this week. I think the dems should take a look at it instead of the polls they pay for. It just looks like the public is trying to send a message. Or perhaps you are right and the dems should go and tilt the poll their way. Last week over 400,000 people cast their preference. I also find it strange that Obama is only winning in Washington DC and losing in the other 49 states.
Posted by: mich mike | Jun 23, 2008 9:25:18 AM
If Obama continues to change his position on every issue as he has been doing he may find the superdelegates changing their mind also. Hillary isn't out of the picture yet. He needs her if he expects to win.
Posted by: mich mike | Jun 23, 2008 9:27:34 AM
Let me count the ways....new insulting seal, flipped on public financing, will not do town hall meetings, hired people to make over his wife and most importantly....he plays and plays the race card! I could go on but I think you get the point. I am a Hillary supporter, I will not be bought by his millions and I have a brain of my own. I do not care what color your skin is, I care for integrity and experience. This is why I will vote for McCain as well as other supporters of Hillary!
Posted by: PumaWoman | Jun 23, 2008 9:29:00 AM
Posted by: Sam |
AOL's "straw poll" isn't really a poll. It is a place for people to go voluntarily to state their preference. Citing it only demonstrates total ignorance of scientific polling.
--------------
What's the difference between that and calling people to state their preference. Neither are worth a squat anyway.
Posted by: J | Jun 23, 2008 9:31:06 AM
The Presidential Seal was taking it over the edge. He finally made the Office of President a mockery.
He has Proven His only concern or care is himself.
He does not care for the people, the country or anything but himeself.
A Jr Senator from Illinois Should know right from wrong. The laws of the land.
That his boss is George Bush. That the Office of the President should be respected. Whether he agrees with him or not.
Obama has shown disrespect for This country,the President and the Office of the President, and What it stands for.
To Obama the office of President is something to be attacked, Condemned, made fun of and used and abused. He has shown that by his words, actions and deeds. Lack of respect, and constant smear attacks on the President.
He has gone beyond freedom on speech. He has gone to almost treasonous levels and has led people to do that same.
Those following Obama are doing the same.
Posted by: seah | Jun 23, 2008 9:33:47 AM
lol
mccain flip flopped on public finance more then once....
at least obama didnt break any laws when opting out of public finance
lol
obama is funded by small donations, so i guess this isnt public finance?
Instead of getting a full 84 million, he says he will risk it by just asking for small donations
lol how is that worse then just taking tax money from us?
Posted by: bhrandon | Jun 23, 2008 9:44:16 AM
this is about
having a candidate who didn't tell us this Iraq war was going to be "long and hardfought" and we should STILL go...just like McCain is now starting to pitch for Iran (same speech different day...different country now)
It is about getting rid of the policies that have almost destroyed us...and yes...Mccain's policies are almost exactly the same.
It is about looking where we are and who gets out allies to help us again...not McCain by a long shot.
It's about every issue all of which mccain is now on the wrong side of...standing 95% of the time with Bush...that is not spin...spin is when people try to say that isn't true... go look at the FACTS.
Posted by: dl | Jun 23, 2008 9:45:34 AM
dl,
At least with McCain you KNOW where he stands. I personally don't care for either of them.
Posted by: J | Jun 23, 2008 9:48:11 AM
J
Obama doesn't need the 10% of Hillary supporters that are all up in arms...he does need the overwhelming majority of them...
guess what he has them...
he just doesn't have the ones that are not voting on issues and who have created an importance of her election as the biggest issue...
that isn't 98% of the Hillary supporters... most Hillary supporters care about their country and have logic based in the direction of our country...not one individual.
so no we don't need voters who think that this election is about one person's election but about policies.
Posted by: dl | Jun 23, 2008 9:50:12 AM
dl,
The Note: Barack Obama is up in the polls but he will need Hillary Clinton supporters in order to defeat John McCain.
Read this slowwwwly. What does this say? That is what this blog is about. Show me an ounce of proof that he has them. It's a long way until November.
Posted by: J | Jun 23, 2008 9:54:13 AM
I have yet to see anything that Barack Obama offers Hillary's supporters, after enduring a barrage of insults for six straight months. Good luck with that.
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Jun 23, 2008 9:55:56 AM
yeah
Mccain you know
he is against equal pay for women
he wants to overturn roe and get the supreme court moving to the right
he wants to make speeches about the threat of Iran that are exactly (like the one he gave to AIPAC_ almost word for the word the same that he himself said before we went to Iraq.
We know that he promises he will not focus on Afghanistan but Iraq.
We know that he doesn't think lower income vets unlike his wealthy background and safety net...should not get an offer of education like he had after one tour of war.
We know that he wants to ignore that their is OIL in the area that the OIL companies already have that they have not explored or drilled...and wants the oil companies to have a federal carte blanche to lobby state officials to be allowed to drill off their coasts...because he needs the backing of Bush's oil backers...including the two men running his campaign who lobbied for those oil companies.
We know that he is against assistance for children's healthcare.
we know that he is against the fefderal government taking an active role to fix all healthcare and the mortgage crisis.
we know that he stands with Geirge Bush 96% of the time...the same stances that we have had for 8 years.
How the last 8 years been for ya?
Posted by: dl | Jun 23, 2008 9:56:44 AM
I don't have a problem with the issues I just have a problem trying to figure out where Obama is on them. He flip flops on the every day depending on who he is standing in front of. The man has no integrity. he is a Chicago politician...
Posted by: mich mike | Jun 23, 2008 9:58:35 AM
have yet to see anything that Barack Obama offers Hillary's supporters, after enduring a barrage of insults for six straight months. Good luck with that.
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger |
BINGO! You hit the nail on the head.
Posted by: J | Jun 23, 2008 10:00:39 AM
How come ABC isn't talking about the campaign finance laws that McCain is breaking right now? He's even broken a law he WROTE. Does McCain/ Feingold ring any bells with you media types? I realize it's all so very nuanced and gosh darn complicated, but if I, a lowly voter, can figure it out, how come you can't?
Posted by: mojopo | Jun 23, 2008 10:01:04 AM
I'm confused.
Obama has flip-flopped on Public Financing. Big Deal (sarcasm)
McCain has flip-flopped on the Bush tax-cuts, Iraqi War, Drilling, Roe vs. Wade etc
McCain has flip-floped on EVERY major issue.
So when I hear/see Clinton & McCain supporters labeling Obama has a Flip-Flopper, I wonder if they've seen or heard their candidate John McCain policies from the past to the future.
What's also confusing is Clinton supporter claiming Obama usage of the race card. Obama has never used the race card. The MEDIA has. The MEDIA fueled Bill Clinton South Carolina remarks. The MEDIA fueled Geraldine Ferraro comments. The MEDIA fueled the Rev.Wright controversy.
Obama has never fueled the fire over a Clinton controversy b/c he knew if this primary season came down to race baiting...Clinton would have won.
I can't say the same for Clinton.
Posted by: Vanessa | Jun 23, 2008 10:01:44 AM
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