Get FREE BuzzFlash News Alerts

Email:  
Home

Horse Race or Blowout? BuzzFlash Readers Predict Election 2008 Outcome

Submitted by BuzzFlash on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 11:23am.

BE ELECTED
by Christine Bowman

Tuesday morning, Former NJ Senator Bill Bradley told the "Morning Joe" crew at MSNBC his assessment: "I don't think this election is going to be nearly as close as the polls now say." Bradley predicted voters will watch the debates and convention speeches, and then in mid-October people will choose.

MSNBC reported that Gallup's daily tracking poll today has Obama at 48% vs. McCain at 40% in the general election match-up of registered voters, but among "likely voters" it's McCain 49% vs. Obama at 45%.

The Berkeley Daily Planet carries a betting chart placing the Democratic Party's odds of winning the White House at  66.7% vs. the GOP at 33%. The electoral vote count given at the same source, a composite of poll results, has the Dems at 292, Republicans 195, Ties 51.

Huffington Post Monday cited Pollster.com and quoted analysts whose opinions are all over the place.

The July 25 headline at U.S. News and World Report read: The Barack Obama-John McCain Race Is Too Close to Call.

Pundits and the media, as a group, stand to gain if the presidential race is believed to be close. The pins and needles factor would assure a more rapt audience if the outcome seems dicey. Media self-interest could propel the "close horse race" narrative, but candidate self-interest is another factor in the spin that's proffered.

BuzzFlash readers, astute observers, tell us what you expect. Cite gut feelings, hard-earned skepticism, or exhaustive data, but share your prognostication.

And let the BuzzFlash community decide.

BE ELECTED 

Technorati Tags:Technorati Tags:

»

Victory by Lies, Cheating, and Theft

Submitted by ernieson on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 8:14am.
This horse race is showing the signs of the fixed races in 2000 & 2004. The campaigns lies about Dems have begun, the purging of registered Dem voters in swing states by Rep governors and secretaries of state has begun, and the likely plan for election shenanighans at the polling places (faulty, "fixed", and inadequate numbers of voting devices) is in full swing. Republicans win by lies, cheating, and theft AND by Dems shooting themselves in the foot. Get ready for the "surge" of the plays on fears of the white bigots and borderline bigots. The media is giving Obama time, but giving McCain biased support.
»

Victory by lies, cheating, and theft.

Submitted by Joe Walker on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 6:42am.
Your comment states what I wanted to say almost exactly. I would add that two forces want the race to be close. The news media to keep their audience, and the oligarchy that controls America, so they can select the winner using the tactics you describe.
»

Morning Joe...

Submitted by Carol Burns on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 1:08pm.
...comes from my part of Florida. He left Congress on September 5, 2001. How's that for timing? He left the state with a million-dollar tab so that he could spend more time with his family, at least that's what he told the press. Not long afterwards, he showed up on national TV. I can't figure out where he's coming from...one minute he's bashing Bush, but the next minute he's supporting Republican policies. My gut feeling is he can't be trusted, just like Hannity, O'Reilly, Coulter, et al. These right-wing lunatics will do everything in their power between now and election day to steal the popular vote, but Obama will win the election, because every time McCain opens his mouth, he loses potential votes.
»

I wish it were so

Submitted by blackjack on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 1:29am.
I wish it were so that Obama would win by a land slide, but I see the CORPORATE CONTROLED MEDIA already with there bagg of ROVE (TURD BLOSSOM)dirty tricks DAMM, it just listen to the CORPORATE CONTROLED MEDIA talking heads like WOLF boy on CNN and JOE BOY on NSNBC, the first words out of there MOUTHS is how close this election is. They are geting ready for the BIG STEAL,all you have to do is just listen to all the REPUBLICAN Rove (TURD BLOSSOM) talking points like CLOSE, McCain can over COME, OBAMA is lacking this he is lacking that. And the DEMOCRATS all they can say MY FRIENDS THIS AND MY REPUBLICANS FRIENDS THAT,Pelosi, and REID have not helped by caving every time that the REPUBLICANS sulk. Just look at how they CAVED WHEN the REPUBLICANS SULKED about GENRAL BETRAYUS and MOVE-ON was hung out to DRY on the SENATE FLOOR by the DEMOCRATIC leader ship.Now we have the CREDIT CARD BILL and the DEMOCRATIC PARTY is letting this bill be bottled up by the REPUBLICANS. NO BACK BONE or GUTS, from the DEMOCRATIC leadership when it counts.Time to get down and FIGHT DIRT as the REPUBLICAN Rove(TURD BLOSSOM) and the CORPORATE CONTROLED MEDIA. OR loose the country.
»

It's worse than that

Submitted by deegee99 on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 9:21am.
I agree with blackjack. But there is much more going on to ensure a McCain presidency. Besides the media, overwhelmingly right-wing, fear-mongering talk radio and the weak Democratic leadership in Washington, individual states are doing their part to stack the ballots. Remember the electronic voting machines? Nothing much has been done to get paper printouts to verify a vote tally. I fault the Democrats as well as the Republicans on this. Other tricks are last minute changing of voting locations, purging "felons" off voter lists and requiring Voter ID cards. There is scant evidence of voter fraud, but a few states used this ruse to require Voter ID cards. Requiring Voter ID cards are a veiled tactic to cut down the votes of poor whites and non-whites and the elderly who tend to vote Democratic. Voting lists are being purged of people not responding to a notice sent to their houses. These include students and military personnel serving overseas but come from an area tending to vote a certain way. Many voters will find their names removed from the voting roles because their names resemble convicted felons. To read more detailed sculdugery go to http://www.gregpalast.com/
»

"The People" Will Lose as Usual

Submitted by mcartri on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 6:47pm.
The entire Republican Party is owned by Corporate America, with the Dems less so. Obama will win easily. There will be NO real investigation of the Bush Crime Family. There will be no single payer national health care plan. Permanent bases will remain in Iraq to protect the profits of American oil companies. McCain's election would terminate what's left of American democracy must faster than Obama's election. The Imperial Presidency will rule America, abetted by the political whores we call Congress. Re-election-Party-Money-Power and then "The People" is the order of our government's interests.
»

Really?

Submitted by demo2006 on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 11:22pm.
As I glance over some of these comments, I see people are stuck in the "same ol' thing' mentality. Understandable. However, I have some bit of optisicism (small) that people are PO'd enough that various people in power (dems) will get off their ass and kick some butt with a new administration. Why? Because it will be a likely dem majority. I believe there are enough Dems in Congress who want to get to the bottom of the Repug BS. If you pay attention to the number of stories posted on BF, you'll notice an increase in investigations, and a persistence to get Rove (look what happened to Ted Stevens(Old Fart-AK). However, I do understand the anger toward Pelosi and Reid for not persuing impeachment, and allowing FISA to come to the floor for a vote. I believe they have not done their job and should be replaced--especially Reid who I believe gets Telcom contributions. Bottom line--different administration--different approach to policies.
»

Obama wins

Submitted by Demetria on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 6:13pm.
The press, media, and the polls are controlled. The polls come from telephone calls to land lines. The majority who COULD elect Obama, the young, who have the RESPONSIBILITY TO VOTE need to make sure they do. If not, day two of McCain's day in office will spell DRAFT. The "machine" does not want to lose control--they found their puppet in Bush and now McCain, doddering into the presidency is what they want. Can American stop cowering in fear, saying stupid things like "oh, he doesn't put his hand over his heart in the pledge..." or that stupid idiotic flag pin (probably made in China). These are NOT issues, they are feelings. If McCain gets in because of lazy Americans, I quit. I quit everything I do to try and make this a better country. What's the point anymore? If America still drags its collective knuckles on the ground with race, we are doomed and get what we deserve.
»

How can McCain win?

Submitted by Colleen Clark on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 6:08pm.

I don't think McCain can win.
He's old, he's older than me (I'm 65). My own children are 36 and 41, so they're not even so young any more. No way in the world would they think of voting for McCain. McCain doesn't even know how to use a computer - how is he going to appeal to the wired generation with iPods, cellphones, laptops? He hardly knows these devices exist, so how is he going to get in touch with the users? Some of these people read newspapers, but they don't watch much network TV.

I suspect a lot of the polling has no way to get information about the younger wired generation. My son and his wife have no land line phone, and neither of my kids will answer a call from a tel# they don't recognize. If the phone screen would say "Gallup poll calling to get your opinion" they might pick up, but otherwise no way. Even I won't hold on the line for a second hello. If someone doesn't speak to me right away I hang up. The polling might be the reverse of the 1948 error, where richer people more likely to vote Republican were the ones who had phones. Now it's older folks who have phones and answer them. Even so, I know people my age (including my husband) who never answer the phone until they've heard who's calling.

I know the Republicans are trying to suppress the vote - ridiculous voter ID rules, voters purged etc. Greg Palast had a story this morning. I don't have the link - it's entitled "Obama Doesn't Sweat, he should" about state level voting shenanigans. The other side is that Obama has a 50 state strategy and a big voter registration push, from what I read. That's the best push back. Despite Republican efforts, there may be a much higher turnout, and that will be in Obama's favor. Time will tell.

Not every middle American voter is ignorant or moronic. My daughter's in-laws, traditional Republican voters from Iowa are going to vote for Obama. They can't be the only ones.

Remember last week when the pundits were holding their collective breaths for gaffes? There were several of them, none of them from Obama. Maybe it will finally dawn on them that their buddy boy doesn't have a grip on important facts no matter how friendly he is to them on the bus.

Colleen Clark
Cambridge, MA

»

They haven't even begun.

Submitted by bettysdad on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 5:18pm.
The Reps are not yet running a national ad. The Obama campaign seems incapable of responding in kind to the local ads or smears from McCain surrogates. O's boxed himself in. He said he would run a different kind of campaign, but if he deals with McCain in kind he will be smeared by McCain and the media as flip flopping. McCain will win.
»

SORRY BUBS DADDY IT,LL BE

Submitted by Bobby Decker on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 4:58pm.
SORRY BUBS DADDY IT,LL BE OHIO 04 ALL OVER AGAIN WHEN A SUDDEN 3AM SURGE OF CLOSET CRACKERS PUT GRANDPAW SIMPSON OVER THE TOP !......SOMEONE PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG ! ?
»

It's already over...

Submitted by Dirk Neptune on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 4:43pm.
All the Republicans want is to get McCain close enough in the polls, so it's believable when they steal this thing come November. On voting day in November, pay close attention to the exit polls. They will be for Obama, but some time between 10 pm and 1pm the momentum will switch to McCain. The press will say it's because people just couldn't bring themselves to vote for an African-American or whatever other lame excuse they can come up with. Bush has too much at stake (torture, illegal spying, lying to Congress etc.) to pass control over to the Democrats. The neocons are not going to let a mere election disrupt their plans. McCain has already predicted he will win this thing in the last 48 hours. They are setting the stage and MSM is only too eager to cover for them. I hope I'm wrong when I say that the United States of America is no longer a democracy.
»

Anyone See the USA TODAY-Gallup Poll that Declares

Submitted by drprodny on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 4:02pm.
support for McCain is increasing - after the Looney Tunes week he just had, and the brilliant week Obama just had?

I'd feel more sanguine about Obama's chances, and more inclined to mock the McPaper/Gallup Poll, if I hadn't spent too much of the past weekend arguing w/wall-eyed Right-Wing SF fanboyz about whether McCain's excuse for when "The Surge" began was right(?!?!?) or wrong....
»

Low Info Voters (Idiots) & 3.0 Kool-Aid Drinkers Aside...

Submitted by kennethetucker on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 3:41pm.
Low Info Voters (Idiots) & 3.0 Kool-Aid Drinkers Aside... I STILL think 'it' will be 'over' by the time the polls close East of the Mississippi. The results WEST of the Mississippi will just determine 'mandate' strength. One PISSED OFF Viet Vet ('72-'73)
»

The GOP is trying to make it look close, for the BIG RIPOFF

Submitted by codypup on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 3:06pm.
To win... we gotta win BIG... BUT I HAVE TO SAY....... talk to your friends.... listen to the chatter.... it is ALL OBAMA Not even the GOP is excited about flip-flopping, ass-kissing, McCain. Talk about your WHITE BREAD.... this man brings NOTHING to the party. The charisma of that Fred Dead actor guy who was running for a few minutes...with the hottie wife. The common sense of Rudy in a dressing gown The morals of .... awww give it up.... He is an embarassment of the worst kind... my conservative friends dont like him
»

Landslide, Mandate,

Submitted by Atmost11 on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 2:56pm.
Landslide, Mandate, REVENGE!!!!
»

Really?

Submitted by bettysdad on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 9:10pm.
And who, exactly, are the Democrats that are capable of revenge?
»

Race Over Long Ago

Submitted by skyreader7 on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 2:22pm.
The race for president was between Clinton and Obama.
»

Obama v Clinton the REAL race

Submitted by kennethetucker on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 3:39pm.
And, that race, JUST LIKE THIS ONE was over 3 months before it was/will be 'called', for Obama. See you in SEP, McSame 3.0 Kool-Aid Drinkers, BFN! One PISSED OFF Viet Vet ('72-'73)
»

Obama will "win", but will he be president?

Submitted by bluebird on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 1:46pm.
There are really two questions here. Will Obama "win" as in-- will more people vote for him? The answer seems clear at this point: he will. The other question is,"will he be the next president?" The answer to that one is not clear. It really depends on our efforts to thwart the GOP election theft machine. Go to www.bradblog.com to learn about the current investigations by Cliff Arnbeck into 2004 election theft in Ohio. GOP operatives have taken the last two elections, think they're going to stop now, when criminal involvement has emerged and asses are on the line? I don't. Focus on thwarting election theft to help Obama both win AND become president. Bluebird
»

Too Close To Call = Easier To Steal

Submitted by crackerjack on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 12:54pm.
"Whereas?" "If a landslide's predicted, but the election goes the other way, everyone will know that there's been a fix." "Which means?" "Pundits and the media are in on the scam." "They won't get away with it." "Why not?" "No way they'll be able to reverse the biggest election landslide that our country has ever seen." "And then what sort of world?" "It'll be up to us."
»

John "the Rifleman" McCain

Submitted by ipani on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 12:25pm.
McCain has a snowballs chance in hell of getting elected this November. He and the rest of his ilk will realize how unpopular they are when a complete thrashing of the Republican party occurs election day. It should be fun.. Bill
»

McCain in a landslide

Submitted by matandch on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 1:41pm.
Most Americans are too bigoted, scared and ignorant to vote for Obama. McCain in a landslide.
»

'Most' Americans

Submitted by kennethetucker on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 3:47pm.
'Most' Americans don't vote. So, taking a (voter suppression) page from the quadrennial Re-Thug election playbook, this time around, due JUST To the 'natural' suppressant values of apathy, disillusionment, & brand-atrophy, 'Grampy' McSame can go back to not showing up for his job in the senate, and triple-dipping the GOVT (SSI, Disability,US Navy) and, getting his allowance from 'mommy' (Cindy) McSame. One PISSED OFF Viet Vet ('72-'73)
»

Whatever you're 'smokin'.. I want some! n/t

Submitted by kennethetucker on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 3:40pm.
One PISSED OFF Viet Vet ('72-'73)
»