Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
Over the weekend, Team Romney kept pointing out something about the crowd sizes President Obama was getting for his first campaign appearances. Here's a sample from a launch event at The Ohio State University.
The Columbus Post-Dispatch reported:
In a 37-minute speech, the president reminded the audience that he inherited a severe economic crisis and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying the country now is more secure.
The rally was one the Buckeye men’s basketball team might have envied, with the revved up audience repeatedly chanting "four more years."
But the event fell short of the 20,000 supporters the campaign had forecast as organizers moved people from seats to the arena floor in front of the dais to project fullness to television audiences. Obama volunteers had worked feverishly over the last week to gin up a crowd, making multiple calls to residents believed to be supportive of the president.
Even the New York Times said, of these campaign events, "At times, the rallies had the feeling of a concert by an aging rock star ..."
Looks like the frenzied, emotional support surrounding Obama in 2008 will be difficult to sustain, even among the normally reliable media and youth.
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Dec '10
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
I can see the billboard alongside the freeway now - "This Weekend At Chinook Winds Casino - Barack Obama!"
Nov '11
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
So Obama inspires among Democrats the same fierce driving passion that Romney inspires among Republicans?
Jan '11
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
Mark Halperin has an op-ed this morning about how confident the Obama Team is about beating Romney. Halperin lists their four sources of confidence:
Note - n0t a single item has anything to do with Obama's own job performance. They're desperate to make sure that the national spotlight doesn't fall on Obama.
Jun '10
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
May Obama's support finally be as superficial as his talents are.
Jun '10
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
It's early days, Mollie. So -- no, it doesn't mean anything.
With the MSM on their side Obama has an incredible advantage that he isn't even relying on yet. The timing of puff pieces and controlled and early airing of bad news are well-proven tactics and the conducting of the media orchestra won't start until we get into the fall. Rope-a-dope is what's going on now. And the 2nd term strategy is always very different than the first term.
October surprises and Alinskyite destruction pieces on Romney will finish out the election year.
The use of race has also not even been tried and won't if Obama has a sure victory in sight. Never forget that this 2nd term election is the base strategy of pushing this Manchurian novice into the presidency. This is the very reason they wanted Obama. And other than Breitbart's approach to go after them in a Gingrich way we have no chance against them because the conservative elites don't seem to have a clue how to fight the juggernaut that is coming.
Dec '10
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
Larry Koler: ...
The use of race has also not even been tried and won't if Obama has a sure victory in sight. ...
Uh, Larry? Have you taken your temperature today? Is it time for some clear liquids and Motrin?
Jun '10
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
Western Chauvinist
Larry Koler: ...
The use of race has also not even been triedand won't if Obama has a sure victory in sight. ...
Uh, Larry? Have you taken your temperature today? Is it time for some clear liquids and Motrin? · 0 minutes ago
Well, I meant in the sense of hard ball tactics. As bad as it is now it will get worse if the situation demands -- that's all I meant: you ain't seen nothin' yet.
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
Wow. Here's definitive proof that the media are souring. Check out this picture of Obama someone chose to illustrate a story.
Jun '10
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
The missing piece is mandatory attendance.
Feb '11
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
"Looks like the frenzied, emotional support surrounding Obama in 2008 will be difficult to sustain, even among the normally reliable media and youth."
I hope you're right, but I fear it's just a wait until the summer concert tours start. As I recall, Obama built a lot of his early buzz with the youth vote, by having cool indy bands playing before/after his rallies. The kids came for the music and stayed to listen to his sweet nothings. I suspect they'll try that again and it may work, as the kids have plenty of free time on their hands what with the economy the way it is.
This was before my time, but it reminds me about how the Grateful Dead are purported to have gotten their initial success. They made sure the best drug dealers were at their early shows and got a reputation as the concerts where the best drugs were to be had. Fame and fortune followed.
Aug '10
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
To be fair, keeping up enthusiasm for any political movement is hard. That's why the big public aspects of national campaigns tend to be short; you try to "surge" your support to its highest level right at election day. If you get everyone riled up months before the only realistically important day of the campaign, you run the risk of "peaking" too early and losing some enthusiasm as the campaign drags on. These are the things political operatives worry about, and leak their worries to reporters to write inside baseball stories about campaigns.
Generally speaking, the one big thing that keeps a campaign fresh and energetic is a vigorous fight against a single, identifiable enemy. For example, primaries appear more interesting when they are between two strong candidates. It's why Obama got away with campaigning for 2 years prior to 2008--he had Hillary Clinton to fight against.
Jun '10
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
Empty seats may be the most reliable poll data we're likely to get right now. In the end, he loses if the messianic enthusiasm dips significantly. And I think it will continue.
As K.C. points out, when your talking points don't contain a single reason why your policies have made the nation better, you're in trouble. "I suck less than Romney" won't get him a second term.
I agree with Blue Ant that maintaining enthusiasm is hard, but this was the kick-off, an event they were able to work for a long time, and they still had lots of empty seats.
Edited on May 7, 2012 at 5:26pmOct '10
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
Yeah...except the difference is Romney's been competin' against a handful of opponents for the past year. Obambi's been unopposed and governing for 3+ years. And still can't fill up a phone booth.
Apr '11
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
EJ needs to work on that pic, etoiledunord. I can't read the title on those copies of "Dreams From My Father."
Oct '10
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
There are countless people who voted FOR Obambi in 2008 who won't vote for him in 2012. There are ZERO people who voted for McCain in 2008 who'll vote for Obambi in 2012. Obambi will lose. That picture is just one of many manifestations of this truth.
Jul '11
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
Obama, " You're an idiot Plouffe. The sign said puppet show and president Obama". Plouffe, "I'm sorry Barrack, they were told specifically president Obama and puppet show".
Aug '10
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
It'll only matter if the MSM report on it.
If Obama's campaign simply books smaller venues, and the MSM reports that he speaks to a "sellout crowd" or a "packed venue", then it won't matter.
Crowds look good on tv regardless of the size. It's the density of the crowd that matters on tv. Just ask any candidate whose campaign is sunk by a small team of dedicated, media-savvy protesters.
If the MSM reports on the actual numbers, and also takes the time to compare them to the 2008 numbers, then it might make a difference.
Jul '11
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
Mollie, that article you referenced is hilarious in it's bias for Obama even if the picture is fitting of our leaders competence.
Apr '12
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
Where is Scarlett and the music video, yes, we can?
Dec '10
Re: Does This Mean Anything For Obama?
I heard on my National Public Radio affiliate that "throngs" of people were turning out, so I don't believe any of you crazy partisans.