Why are voter's so resistant to totally embrace Obama, or why can't Obama seal the deal?
October 27, 2008 06:42 AM EST
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After almost two years of campaigning, Obama remains an enigma. Some voters still apparently don't know who Obama is and are still not altogether sure that Obama is the proper antidote to George Bush. This candidate appeared from out of nowhere, had 143 days in the Senate then set his sights on being president, skipping and bypassing every standard rung up the ladder.
He is acknowledged as having a resume which is the most far left, most unknown, least experienced presidential candidate in American history. Also, the infatuation with Obama has faded, and people are giving him a second look, and simply are not seeing him as having the qualifications necessary to be Commander in Chief.
This means a couple of things. First ---McCain can still win this.
Second, ---Obama is a deeply flawed candidate that Americans have deep-down grave reservations about, and they will be weighing this all in during the remaining days, pior to voting.
Why can't the charasmatic and eloquent speaker named Obama close the deal? In the back of the minds of some voters is the memory of Obama sitting in the militant, racist Jeremiah Wrights's church for 20 years. When asked about it back then, Obama boasted, "Yep. Every week. 11 0'clock service." Briefly, there's Wright, Pfleger , Ayers, Rezko, Farakhan, and other shady characters that Obama has called his friends. These associations return to the mind of some voters, time and time again. They reflect unfavorably on Obama, and whether or not voter's can trust him. Equally troubling is the fact that he didn't disassociate himself with them until he became a candidate, and was forced to, by public concern.
Added to that, some voters recall when legal doubts were raised about the sloppy voter registration practices of ACORN - an organization that Obama himself has both helped and praised.
This unrest and doubt about Obama account for a large number of Democratic defections. Obama and his supporters are ignoring the large number of Clinton Democrats who are not buying in to his "change" campaign. People want a familiar face who they've seen handle crisis, as opposed to someone who only tells you how he will handle a crisis. There were several lawsuits requiring Obama to provide a copy of his birth certificate, which he has refused to do. This casts another shadow of doubt.
It's unclear exactly what Obama's message of "hope" and "change" means. Because they both change. Hope turned a little weird when Americans, and the world saw Obama put up Greek-temple backdrops for his speech at the Democratic convention. That was viewed with a jaundiced eye by many and lingers in the memory. And change? Obama himself has changed positions on FISA, NAFTA, campaign public financing, town-hall meetings with McCain, offshore drilling, nuclear and coal power, capital punishment and gun control, his characterization of Iran, the surge in Iraq, and the future of Jerusalem. So change from what to what?
Obama's tax plan is one that he has problems outlining the same way, each time. Some voters see a redistribution of wealth in search of forced equality. Obama himself refers to this as spreading the wealth around, and it is viewed by some as walking down the path toward socialism.
Some voters also remember the recent economic meltdown, which Obama called the worst economic disaster since the great depression. Yet Obama announced, "I have a phone, call me if you need me."
Obama's health care plan is also troubling to those for whom this is a great concern. Problem with it is, as they see it, government can't simply force insurance companies to lower premiums and then demand they insure people with pre-existing medical care and, while they're at it, offer them more "preventative" care - whatever that means. It spells bankruptcy for health insurers.
These are all huge in the heart and mind of some voters on the way to vote within the next few days. A collapsing economy, an unpopular war, a 72-year-old Republican candidate - and Obama is only ahead by a few points just days before Election Day! Obama has come up short with many voters who form the traditional base in this country. They learned he had more than 130 votes of "Present," which testifies to his performance in the Senate. Why can't Obama close the deal? Why are some voters so resistant to embrace Obama? Obama is not pulling ahead of McCain at the pace he should. Obama continues to outspend McCain, three or four to one in advertising, but is outright losing, when compared to where he should be.
So the question here is why can't Obama seal the deal and end the race?
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