What hurt McCain?

[challer]

I don't know what did it in the end, but I can share with you why I (an independent) shifted over time from McCain (during the primaries) to Obama.

McC was my guy. He was a Maverick - he did what he thought was right. He teamed up with Sen. Leiberman - a man I respect a ton, and an independent. He's well seasoned, etc. With regard to the environment (a big deal with me), he was the "Green Republican candidate."

I felt things changed as he came forward to becoming the Republican ticket. It was alot of things, and I'll be brief. In no particular order:

• Pander to the conservative GOP - he slowly moved away from his "Maverick-y" (thanks Tina Fey) ways, dumped his energy/environment convictions, went more right wing on abortion debate, and became part of the Big Red Machine
• Palin - she's too extreme and the absolute wrong choice. This also goes with pander to conservatives b/c he had the perfect running mate in Leiberman, but that would have ruffled the conservatives' feathers. A decision like that is deadly. She is a problem, but the bigger problem was his thought that the choice was a good idea!
• Response to economy - it seemed Obama was cool & collected and put forth good ideas, while McCain kept flailing.
• Ending campaign with attacks on Obama - Obama kept talking issues, while McCain talked down Obama. From the last debate on this got progressively worse.

As the campaign went on, I couldn't figure out what McCain was doing, and I feared a Presidency like that. I also feared McC surrounding himself with the GOP guys that he was so proud to say he "Mavericked" them.

I agonized over this vote. I watched all the debates. I educated myself via media and especially via independent/unbiased information sources. It' s a shame b/c I loved the guy, but as time went on, I felt more comfortable with a vote for BO.

I pray he becomes the President I hope he can be.

 

[Angelhalo]

I agree, but I think Palin was the last nail in his coffin.

Agreed. I think he had a lot of obstacles to overcome....but he had a chance....even with many democrats, until he chose Sarah palin as his runningmate

 

[Angelhalo]

An interesting article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27524699/

Excerpt:

Although Gockowski voted twice for President Bush, she said a single crucial decision diverted her from McCain.

"I do like Barack Obama, but Sarah Palin was the nail in the coffin," she said. "I objected to (McCain's) judgment and to the idea that, 'Here, we'll give another female to the women of American because they might be dumb enough to vote for a female because of her sex.'"

She wasn't alone. Four in 10 voters overall said Palin was an important factor in deciding whom to vote for.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

In your opinion, what hurt McCain?
I think it was Sara Palin. If he had picked a better running mate, I think maybe the results would be different.

I agree totally.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

In your opinion, what hurt McCain?
I think it was Sara Palin. If he had picked a better running mate, I think maybe the results would be different.

I agree totally.

 

[mum4jenn]

1.BUSH
2. Palin
3. Lack of campaign money

 

[sarasotamom]

1. The tanking of the economy and the financial markets (Both parties are at fault but Rep got the blame).

2. A weak campaign, that did not have the funds or ability to stay on task.

3. A media that had chosen Obama and failed to put their personal feelings aside when reporting.

4. McCain's change from a moderate to more of a right-leaning candidate. (cost him moderate and independent votes).

5. Going against one of the best orators of my lifetime.

6. His choice of Palin as VP. (She alienated many mods and independents).

I am a republican, but after this election I will become an independent. If the Republicans do not get off the Roe vs. Wade and anti-gay (fear and hate) they will become a dying breed. The world is changing, the old are dying, the younger and new voters are more tolerant and accepting. As a fiscally conservative party, it has become as spendthrifty as the Dems. The Republican party must reevalute themselves and make a change from within. The constitution states separation of church and state for a reason. Our forefathers came here for religious freedom. They realized that the government did not belong in religion and religion did not belong in the government.

I sincerely hope Obama makes this country better. If he makes the decision to stay moderate, he may very well help us out of this financial mess. If he goes to the left, the country will be in a deep recession.

 

[ICF]

Bush was bad enough, but Palin drove the last nail in his coffin.

 

[sarasotamom]

bump

 

[The Mystery Machine]

One of the things was McCain stating he was going to vote against HIS OWN IMMIGRATION BILL.

He lost the hispanic vote.

 

[HonnyDipp]

I think it was Palin, Bush and running a negative campaign

 

[Galahad]

I think this election was bigger than anything any Republican candidate could have overcome. Too many factors played against the incumbent party retaining control of the Presidency.

Yep

 

[Galahad]

Obama was sheltered and exhalted by a fawning press.

I think he was too, BUT.

I don't think it's deniable that McCain had to run against Obama AND virtually the entirety of the press. But the press exalted and fawned over other Presidents to our benefit. It may not alway be a bad thing in the long run. FDR is a perfect example. He was a successful President whose Presidency was an undeniable benefit the the nation. But he served with a relatively sycophant press corps in place. I think President Obama will have a similarly long honeymoon period - perhaps the whole of his first term. I'm not convinced this morning that is an altogether bad thing. I'm not in favor of much, if not most, of what he proposes. But I'm not interested in a failed presidency.

 

[NancyIL]

It isn't unusual for there to be a change of parties in the White House after one party has been in power for 8 years. Even Gore didn't win the White House in 2000, and there were still some people left who liked Clinton! While Palin turned-off some moderates, she energized conservatives who otherwise would've stayed home election day.

*Oops...edited out too much! McCain followed the very unpopular Bush at a time when the economy was in the toilet. I'm not sure any Republican could've won.

 

[Laura]

My opinions only:

1.) Ties to/association with Bush.
Things aren't going so great. Bush's approval rating, which can be loosely interpreted as a referendum on people's satisfaction with their current situation, is in the 20%. People aren't happy with what they've got now and they want something different.

2.) Lack of novelty.
McCain has been around the block many times and hasn't been able to close the deal. He's known and therefore not that exciting. If he were a truly exciting candidate, he would have been elected by now.

3.) Losing touch with what made him attractive/caving to pressure to move right.
McCain could have offered a very attractive option as a truly moderate, center-right politician. Unfortunately, either due to fear, pressure, or his actual beliefs, he drifted right during the campaign, alienating moderate voters.

4.) Palin.
She may actually have been a wash. Many found her completely repugnant and became very concerned about her actually assuming office given McCain's age. But others found her novel and attractive. She hit a nerve for a certain demographic (I'm remembering a picture of Spencer Pratt in a "Palin: Guns, God, and Glory" t-shirt)

That's my take on it anyway.

I agree.

 

[Geoff_M]

McCain's downfall can be summed up by two words: Wall Street.

The tables turned for good as a result of the implosion of Freddie/Fannie, AIG, etc. For people that want to blame Palin's selection, you're forgetting that McCain moved ahead and held the "lead" for a period of time after she was picked. She was a known quantity to most voters by that point in time.

A writer at National Review summed it up best a couple of weeks ago when he wrote something like this: "The folk narrative that's been promoted and accepted is that 'deregulation' on the part of the Bush administration (even though no specifics were given as to HOW the deregulation actually led to the implosion) was responsibly for the collapses. It was on Bush's 'watch' so it's his fault. People thought: 'Bush isn't running for re-election so we can't vote against him... so we'll have to make due with taking it out on McCain. Obama seems like a nice guy, and I doubt he'll do much harm, so we'll go with him!'"

When it became clear that people were buying the "It's Bush's fault" story that the Democrats (and the chutzpah that Barney Frank displayed was breathtaking on this stance) and the Media were peddling... I knew it was "over" for McCain.

 

[dvcgirl]

I am a republican, but after this election I will become an independent. If the Republicans do not get off the Roe vs. Wade and anti-gay (fear and hate) they will become a dying breed. The world is changing, the old are dying, the younger and new voters are more tolerant and accepting. As a fiscally conservative party, it has become as spendthrifty as the Dems. The Republican party must reevalute themselves and make a change from within. The constitution states separation of church and state for a reason. Our forefathers came here for religious freedom. They realized that the government did not belong in religion and religion did not belong in the government.

I sincerely hope Obama makes this country better. If he makes the decision to stay moderate, he may very well help us out of this financial mess. If he goes to the left, the country will be in a deep recession.

Completely agree on the Roe v. Wade thing. Why this has become *the* issue for the party.....when the best thing that they can hope for is that it's overturned and ends up in the hands of the states.....well, I'll never ever in a million years get that

The Republican party has become the party of fear and loathing. Don't believe me? Turn on Rush and Hannity today and listen to the hatred that pours from their mouths. Even on this most historic day, they'll have nothing nice to say.

I think Obama will govern as a moderate democrat. He's a really bright guy, and one who understands that if he goes too far to the left, he'll end up getting fired in four years.

As for us ending up in a deep recession......too late, we're already in one, and will likely have a negative GDP through 2009. That's baked into the cake, and was inherited, not caused by Obama.

 

[wdhinn89]

McCain's downfall can be summed up by two words: Wall Street.

The tables turned for good as a result of the implosion of Freddie/Fannie, AIG, etc. For people that want to blame Palin's selection, you're forgetting that McCain moved ahead and held the "lead" for a period of time after she was picked. She was a known quantity to most voters by that point in time.

A writer at National Review summed it up best a couple of weeks ago when he wrote something like this: "The folk narrative that's been promoted and accepted is that 'deregulation' on the part of the Bush administration (even though no specifics were given as to HOW the deregulation actually led to the implosion) was responsibly for the collapses. It was on Bush's 'watch' so it's his fault. Bush isn't running for re-election so we can't vote against him... so we'll have to make due with taking it out on McCain."

When it became clear that people were buying the "It's Bush's fault" story that the Democrats (and the chutzpah that Barney Frank displayed was breathtaking on this stance) and the Media were peddling... I knew it was "over" for McCain.

I agree.

 

[Iluvthemouse]

Bush

 

[dvcgirl]

McCain's downfall can be summed up by two words: Wall Street.

The tables turned for good as a result of the implosion of Freddie/Fannie, AIG, etc. For people that want to blame Palin's selection, you're forgetting that McCain moved ahead and held the "lead" for a period of time after she was picked. She was a known quantity to most voters by that point in time.

Palin was a net positive for McCain for about two weeks.....but then the veil was lifted. After that point, the conservatives put their protective hooks in her and rallied like crazy behind her. Everyone else got a little more horrified by her with each passing day.