8 Points In 3 Days & Record Breaking Ratings Cap A Bad Week For Obama!

It was inevitable that Barack Obama would receive a bounce from the Democratic National Convention, just as it was inevitable that John McCain would see a bounce from this weeks Republican Convention. Yet, what started out as a hopeful week for Obama, and perhaps the most challenging week of the year for John McCain, turned out unlike any pundit or reporter ever imagined.

On Sunday night, the McCain campaign saw the Republican National Convention turning sour as Hurricane Gustav threatened NOLA and the gulf coast ravaged by Katrina. DNC leadership appeared unable to contain the ecstatic emotions as former DNC Chair, Don Fowler exclaimed, "that just demonstrates God on our side". But the Hurricane did more than stir up memories of Katrina, it also threatened to grind the Republican National Convention to a stand-still. But McCain endured, packed up his bags and headed to Mississippi, and left his campaign to retool the first night of the convention into a fundraising effort for the Gulf Coast States.

On Sunday night and Monday, McCain's choice for the Vice-presidency was under attack from the "Obama Love' media and left-wing smear sites such as Huffpo and Kos. In the days following Palin's announcement, Obama supporters launched an all-out barrage against Palin, questioning her experience and her education; questioning her fidelity; demanding a DNA test to prove that her youngest son was actually hers; claiming that poor prenatal care caused her sons DS (by the way it is a genetic disorder), and dozens of other outrageous half-truths, conspiracy theories and outright lies. Their strategy was simple, to destroy her before America could get to know her. When she attempted to confront the conspiracy theories that she her son was actually her daughters (a theory clearly developed by a lunatic) by disclosing that her 17 year old daughter was engaged and pregnant; they immediately blamed her belief in abstinence as the cause of the pregnancy and turned their attacks upon her daughter.

The attacks would only get worse as well-known feminists would abandon their own their own philosophies that Women can have it all, by telling Palin that it was not possible to handle a pregnant daughter, a DS infant, three other children and the Vice Presidency. I guess that equality and the empowerment of Women only applies to those on the left. Of course that would also mean that men such as Bobby Kennedy and his 12 children would not be qualified for the Presidency.

The press for their part was more than gleeful in conveying the attacks on Palin and questioning her credentials without even first conveying them to the public. By Wednesday morning, Palin was under siege and the entire nation watched to see if she would crack. With Palin under attack, Gustav looming and the proclamation from the Barackopolis, McCain saw Obama's advantage open to a 6-9 point lead.

But Gustav fizzled, the Local, State and Federal preparations and responses were far beyond expectations and the first night of the convention wrapped up with several million raised in Disaster relief and news that the convention could now resume with few alterations. On Wednesday a corner was turned as Sarah Palin stepped to the podium...and delivered a speech with such passion, strength and convictions that the mainstream pundits and correspondents were literally speechless. She did not crack...She did sway...She stood her ground...Put her detractors in their place...Took on the media...Attacked Obama when they said she politically could not...Revitalized a convention...Revitalized a party...Renewed genuine hope to a generations of women...Revitalized Genuine Hope To The Middle Class of which she is part of...and ironically revitalized a long-lost 80's hit, Barracuda by Heart. Palins announcement caused a flood of donations, but her acceptance speech caused a deluge of funds never before seen.

Palin's acceptance speech led to record-breaking ratings on Thursday night as over 42 million viewers tuned in to see a non-eventful, but politically courageous acceptance speech by John McCain. In the speech he brought up issues both dear and not-so-dear to the "Conservative" base as he highlighted his view of American exceptionalism in a speech designed not to play upon the fears of the American public but rather to call for a strengthening of America.

By yesterday afternoon, it was obvious, Senator McCain and Governor Palin had a very good week. As for Senator Obama he watched a 8 point lead in a CBS poll released on Monday evaporate to a tie in the same poll on Thursday. Poll after poll that showed a moderate bump leading into Monday had shrunk to statistical ties by Friday afternoon. Despite the most hyped convention and speech of all time, 80,000 attendees to his $5 million acceptance speech and a stage designed by Britney Spears' former stage director; Obama was disappointed when ratings were released showing the the 4 night Republican convention was the highest rated convention of all time. The Democratic Convention drew in an average of over 30.2 million viewers per night only to be eclipsed by more than 34.4 million viewers per night for the Republican Convention. Including PBS both McCain and Obama drew in 42.4 million viewers during the acceptance speech while Governor Palin shocked the world as over 40 million viewers watched her acceptance speech.

On Friday, the RNC announced that with Senator McCain's $84.5 million influx of public campaign funds, the convention brought in over $200 million for the November elections. This announcement has many in the Obama campaign now wondering if the Senator's decision to break his campaign pledge was a mistake; as it is now apparent that even if Obama reached his fundraising goals, both campaigns will have equal funds.

On Sunday night the Obama campaign was hopeful and energized by what would likely be a good week. On Monday morning, Obama rose to sunshine in Michigan, watched a labor-day parade even as a hurricane made landfall and travelled back to Chicago. On Sunday, John McCain was demoralized as he most likely struggled with both his anxiety and attacks associated with his campaign and the real-world concerns being conveyed to him by Mississippi's governor. On Monday morning, John McCain awoke to both a political and not-so-political hurricane, put on his shoes and prepared for what was expected to be a challenging week at best. Oh, how a week can change things.

J Brown
September 6th, 2008


Please be sure to vote on this article at Real Clear Politics
Be Sure To Visit Our Friday Coffee Break Section For Reader Offers
Want to contribute to PDOP: Click Here to submit your own article