Enthusiasm Parity
Via Matthew Yglesias, we have the results of this poll. Once again, one shouldn’t buy the media narrative, specifically, that Obama is a candidate with the magical ability to stir up more enthusiasm than Clinton. Perhaps that is true among the young and hip, but overall, it looks like they are equally compelling to their base. (Likewise, there doesn’t seem to be that much antipathy toward John McCain.)
This doesn’t make the preening boosterism among Democrats any less annoying, though. Hard as it is to imagine, it is even harder to watch people who are actually enthusiastic about Hillary Clinton: The Economist’s Democracy in America blog uncovered this video clip produced by her supporters. I’m only going to warn you once not to watch it. On the other hand, this website dedicated to Obama, also found by DiA, almost wins me over. Still, there is something unsettling about people being so enthusiastic about politicians.
4 Responses to “Enthusiasm Parity”
“…but overall, it looks like they are equally compelling to their base.” Well, but that’s rather beside the point with the standard Obama narrative — which is that he, more than Clinton, can bring in new voters, and attract independents and even some of the less-psychotic among the Republicans. So the data presented here just don’t seem to speak to the matter at all.
I guess this claim is literally true, “Likewise, there doesn’t seem to be that much antipathy toward John McCain.” Lack of antipathy, yes. But when a clear majority of GOP voters can’t get themselves more excited about him than “pretty much par for the course”, then that can hardly be a very encouraging sign.
But when a clear majority of GOP voters can’t get themselves more excited about him than “pretty much par for the course”, then that can hardly be a very encouraging sign.
He was the choice of a minority of Republicans, so no big surprise there.
There are plenty of irritations to go around. I think it was the Republican party that started the 1980’s and continuing trend of having 1,000 gazillion flags on display at political events.
That’s how I’m going to vote from now on. Whichever candidate displays the biggest and most American flags has my vote, for such guarantees that they will be the better president, governing with brilliance and reason.
The Obama website was cool. To my knowledge though, this race has produced nothing to compare to Bushdance and Slim Cheney (and those were done by opponents!). Wow, can’t believe that was eight years ago…