Why did Obama win?

[Infohawk]

Four years ago I was wrong. I predicted in this forum that we wouldn't see a Democratic president for another 12 years until hispanics made a larger proportion of the population. I forgot something really basic: the economy.

Let me know if you have evidence to the contrary but to me this election was really about an cyclical economic downturn that had nothing to do with either party. Americans predictably voted against the incumbant presidential party.

What do you think was the primary factor that favored Obama?

Edit: Consider fundraising, negative campaigning, Joe the Plumber stunts to be part of "Great campaign by Obama / Poor campaign by McCain." In other words, things that the candidates could directly control.

 

[dbk]

I would say economy - the credit crisis. Poll numbers back this up.

 

[halik]

palin's underperformance

 

[counterstrikedude]

It's a combination of everything. I'm sure if McCain had the history of Obama, he would have been slaughtered. Unfortunately, our "tolerance" clouds our judgment. We're too easily swayed by silly speeches and simple-minded attack campaigns.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Palin was a huge negative for the McCain campaign!!

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Palin was a huge negative for the McCain campaign!!

How could I forget that! The poll has been updated!

 

[Modelworks]

Economy
People saw McCain as 4 more years of Bush.

 

[winnar111]

The success of the surge and our antiterrorism efforts pushed those issues off the table.

 

[Painman]

I think the poll choices are too simplistic, no offense. I think the majority wants to see this country as something better than what they currently perceive it to be, it wants Change, and Obama not only had his finger on the pulse, he made one hell of an avatar for that in and of himself. Race may have been part of it, but I think it's more complex than that.

 

[ProfJohn]

Poor economy.

great packaging by Axelrod.

Lousy media coverage who gave Obama a pass on nearly everything.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: counterstrikedude
It's a combination of everything. I'm sure if McCain had the history of Obama, he would have been slaughtered. Unfortunately, our "tolerance" clouds our judgment. We're too easily swayed by silly speeches and simple-minded attack campaigns.

But McCain lost.

 

[GoPackGo]

People were convinced that all of the problems were Bush and the Republican's fault.

This simply is not true. There has been a lot of revisionism here.

So people wanted change. What will that change be?

The Dems now have control of the house and senate plus the president.

The bigger question is what will they do with it?

 

[RKDaley]

I'm sure Harriet Christian is wondering the same.

 

[GoPackGo]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Poor economy.

great packaging by Axelrod.

Lousy media coverage who gave Obama a pass on nearly everything.

QFT....

The media...instead of being journalists were lobbyists for Obama.

Pure and Simple

 

[counterstrikedude]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Poor economy.

great packaging by Axelrod.

Lousy media coverage who gave Obama a pass on nearly everything.

Amen.

I mean Obama was a member of the NEW PARTY FFS! His entire fiscal policy screams socialism.

 

[Eeezee]

Obama's economic plans are backed by more economic experts than McCain's economic plans.

For a better economy, Obama vote > McCain vote. The economy was the biggest issue in the election, and McCain's weakness there really hurt him.

 

[blackangst1]

My answer isnt on poll. I think its due to the GOP's focus being so splintered. This is a wake up call for them to unite. Thats about it I think.

 

[Vic]

All of the above, except race. Plus add in the campaigns. Obama ran an excellent campaign, McCain did not.

As for the change, America wants its confidence back. It wants to believe in itself again. That it is headed in the right direction. They wanted a reaffirmation that democracy still works. And they got it tonight.

 

[Ozoned]

Originally posted by: Infohawk


What do you think was the primary factor that favored Obama?

His fund raising skills.

 

[imported_six]

I think it was mostly the economy and not far behind...Palin. I don't think it was the media. When Palin was announced as McCain's running mate, the media went crazy. The media loved her. Then she started speaking, and it was all downhill after that.

 

[TheoPetro]

If he won because people believed that he had better economic policies then were in for some really screwed up times ahead. I just hope he puts the right people in the right places and he doesnt just load the seats based on party/friends.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
My answer isnt on poll. I think its due to the GOP's focus being so splintered. This is a wake up call for them to unite. Thats about it I think.

Added this to the poll.

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: TheoPetro
If he won because people believed that he had better economic policies then were in for some really screwed up times ahead. I just hope he puts the right people in the right places and he doesnt just load the seats based on party/friends.

You can bet on it Its politics

 

[First]

Mostly on substance, communication, and what will probably end up being good leadership, after 8 years of horrid leading. Thankfully those who voted for Bush twice are a dying breed. Literally, dying.

 

[seemingly random]

Not bush's unpopularity but bush's complete and utter ineptness is one of many reasons for the change and for the decline of the republican party. It deserves to die. Maybe something else can rise from its ashes.