With 18 days until the Democratic Convention, the 2008 Presidential Election has been in its post-primary phase since its advent was triggered by Sen. Hillary Clinton’s concession to Sen. Barack Obama. Since that concession, Sen. Obama and Sen. John McCain have been waging a “political war,” and even though the Obama Campaign has failed to capitalize on the Democratic Party’s national lead over Republicans (>10 percentage points according to Rasmussen) he remains the odds on favorite to become the 44th President of the United States.
Sen. Obama will win the 2008 Election (barring a major gaffe by his campaign), and in honor of the Democratic Convention in 18 days here are 18 reasons why Obama should get ready for his new diggs on Pennsylvania Avenue.
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18. John McCain is 71-years old ==> Sen. McCain would be the oldest first term President in the history of our nation, and many voters are genuinely concerned about his physical stamina to lead the nation.
17. Barack Obama is black ==> It may be hard to believe, but in 2008 America is a nation that is eager to abolish the tarnish racial hatred has left on American silverware. Not to mention blacks are voting for their man at rates of 94 to 1.
16. George W. Bush ==> The Good Ole Boy from Texas’ Presidency has been marred by an approval rating that hasn’t seen the better-end of 30% since his 2004 re-election campaign. The Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, the economic recession, Gitmo, wiretaps, and $4.00 a gallon gas have doomed Bush’s place in history, even though W has kept American safe for almost 7 years straight after 9/11.
15. Dick Cheney ==> Never before have I seen an individual more hated by the lefties in the Democratic Party since, since, well Dick Cheney. As far as MoveOn.org is concerned the Vice President is the devil on Bush’s shoulder countering the influence of the angel on the other shoulder (Condoleezza Rice), and gets most of the blame for the Bush Administration’s “war mongering” policies.
14. 2008 Recession ==> Economists on Wall Street will show you charts and statistics that disprove that we are experiencing the R-word, but we are all well aware that the dollar is weak, the nation’s budget remains unbalanced, trade deficits are at all-time highs, and economic growth (measured in GDP) in the last quarter was a inept 1%.
13. Usama Bin Laden ==> The leader of Al Qaeda has not been caught by US forces since he orchestrated the 9/11 attacks that killed over three thousand American citizens. Bush 43 promised he would bring Bin Laden to justice, but a corrupt Pakistan, detours throughout the Middle East, and a weak Afghan government (lead by President Hamid Karzai) has prevented the capture of the world’s most famous terrorist.
12. McCain-Feingold ==> The failed comprehensive immigration bill (via the US Senate) turned dedicated conservative Republicans against Sen. McCain, and although these individuals aren’t fans of Sen. Obama their disgust with McCain’s Amnesty Bill might implore them to stay home in November.
11. “C.R.E.A.M.” ==> No not the Wu Tang Clan song, rather Obama’s substantial fiscal advantage over the McCain campaign. McCain will have a little more than 80 million dollars via public financing, but analysts have predicted Sen. Obama will have 200-300 million dollars at his disposal. That kind of money buys advertisements, staff, and thousands of bumper stickers — which will only enhance Obama’s chances of taking the election.
10. John Kerry ==> The 2004 Democratic Party Nominee’s run for the White House was arguably derailed by the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” who ran advertisements morphing Sen. Kerry’s Vietnam War record. Although Sen. Kerry’s campaign was downed by SBVT ads, the defeat stood as a teaching lesson to the Obama campaign, and so far (in the 2008 Election) the Senator has quickly responded to any/every attack launched by the McCain Campaign and it’s surrogates.
9. Ted Stevens ==> The indicted Alaskan Senator has been showered with calls for his resignation, and his troubles only further cloud the future of the GOP and damage the party’s image as an anti-corruption entity.
8. The Mainstream media ==> The corporate media has been involved in an intense love affair with Barack Obama since his 2004 Keynote Address at the Democratic Convention. They allow the Illinois Senator to dominate weekly news cycles, and often over emphasize Sen. McCain’s shortcomings. And as Chris Matthews has said “…Barack Obama’s candidacy sends a tingle up my leg.” You can bet the same goes for most of those covering the 2008 Election.
7. Oprah Winfrey ==> University of Maryland professors (Tim Moore & Craig Garthwaite) recently released data (based on a hypothetical formula) that states Oprah’s endorsement of Barack Obama was worth over 1 million votes during the Democratic Primary. The professors claim Ms. Winfrey’s television ratings, book sales, and magazine outlets gave them this estimation, and they argue that Oprah will be able to command even more votes for Obama in the general election.
6. Invesco Field ==> The Obama Campaign changed the location of the Senator’s Democratic Convention (being held in the state of Colorado) speech from the Pepsi Center (seats 21,000) to Invesco Field (seats 76,000) on the 45th anniversary of MLK’s “I Have A Dream” Speech to accommodate intense demand by Democrats. The move will allow Obama to capture the superstardom JFK achieved when he made a similar decision at the 1960 Convention, and do it in front of over 70 thousand Democrats — with the right weather forecast this scene should be majestic and give the Obama campaign a powerful and successful convention.
5. Conservative Talk Radio ==> Many may disagree but I believe Talk Radio is bored of the Executive Branch being held by those of their party. They have had to defend incompetents like Donald Rumsfeld, Albert Gonzalez, and well George W. Bush. Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Laura Ingraham are tired of propping up an unpopular administration, and their monologues would immediately obtain more bite (and comic relief) if Sen. Obama becomes number 44. Remember how much these personalities enjoyed stalking the Clinton Administration, and multiply that by a black man who wants to raise taxes, talk to Iran, and you have TALK RADIO GOLD. They may never admit to it, but somewhere in a dark and lonely room Bill O’Reilly is praying for an Obama victory.
4. The Clintons ==> Despite the divisive primary battle, and Bill Clinton’s recent comments disparaging Obama’s ability to lead, the Clintons will be an asset to the Obama Campaign if used effectively. Hillary has been campaigning for Barack (and raising money for the Illinois Senator) in many states where she defeated Obama, and for the most part Democrats have rallied behind their nominee. Despite all the criticism President Clinton has received from the media, the former President remains a very popular figure nationwide and can help Obama reach out to voters who are still skeptical of Obama’s executive abilities.
3. Michelle Obama ==> The potential 1st lady is a very effective campaigner and an former Harvard Law student in her own right. The GOP has directed tons of energy critiquing Mrs. Obama’s statements, and this deflects much of the GOP’s attacks off of Senator Obama. If Michelle Obama can convince voters she indeed loves her country as much as she claims to, the Obama Campaign will flourish under her direction.
2. Susan Rice ==> Ms. Rice is Obama’s senior foreign policy advisor and a former Clinton aide who has a impressive grasp of foreign policy and international relations. She is an extremely valuable surrogate for Sen. Obama on the campaign trail, and has shown her vast knowledge of complicated issues on almost all of the cable news networks. She is no relation to Condoleezza Rice, but Susan has the ability to become just as popular (and influential) a figure as the current Secretary of State
1. 4,134 ==> The number of US Troops killed in Iraq since the 2003 invasion according to the Department of Defense as of Aug 7, 2008. Most voters are aware of Sen. Obama’s initial criticism of the war, and many voters will pull the lever for Obama because of their anger over the tremendous loss of American blood and treasure in the Iraq War.
