First thoughts: Obama's bump

Posted: Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:14 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Obama’s Bump: Days after becoming his party’s presumptive nominee and receiving Clinton’s endorsement, Obama has opened up a six-point advantage over McCain (47%-41%) in the latest NBC/WSJ poll, which is up three points from Obama’s lead in April. Perhaps the most fascinating numbers are in the crosstabs, and some of the numbers will surprise folks who memorized every exit poll from the Democratic primaries. Obama leads McCain among African Americans (83-7), Hispanics (62-28), women (52-33), Catholics (47-40), independents (41-36) and even blue-collar workers (47-42). Obama is also ahead among those who said they voted for Clinton in the Democratic primaries (61-19). Meanwhile, McCain is up among evangelicals (69-21), white men (55-35), men (49-41), whites (47-41), and white suburban women (44-38). However, Obama has a seven-point edge (46-39) among all white women. How important is that lead? NBC/WSJ co-pollster Neil Newhouse (R) explains that Republican candidates always expect to win white men by a substantial margin, but it’s white women that usually decide the race. “If a Republican wins among white women, we usually win that election,” he says, noting that George Bush carried that group in 2000 and 2004. The poll was conducted of 1,000 registered voters from June 6-9 (Clinton endorsed Obama on June 7), and it has a +/- 3.1% margin of error.

VIDEO: NBC's Deputy Political Director Mark Murray discusses the new NBC/WSJ poll and the battle for the suburban voters.

*** How a veep can help: So you are McCain or Obama, and you've decided our poll is the Rosetta Stone for figuring out what demographic groups you need to win the presidency. So what did you learn regarding your potential needs that could be filled by a potential veep? If you are Obama, there are two things that stand out: 1) a female running mate could certainly help turn around the narrow deficit you face among suburban white women; 2) a perceived old, competent hand on foreign affairs could go a long way to convincing white men that even if you aren't up for the job, you'll have someone on your team who is. If Obama goes the woman route, he may not have any chance of talking to these white men; if he goes the experienced white male VP route, he's hoping that women eventually come back to the Dems. If you’re McCain, meanwhile, there isn't much more you can do on the male front, but that potential swing voting bloc of suburban white women has to be tempting, meaning the idea of putting a woman on the ticket has to get more serious consideration on the GOP side, right?

*** The 200-pound ball and chain: We hate to sound like a broken record, but just how bad is the political environment for McCain and the Republican Party? Let’s start with Bush, whose job approval rating is just 28%, up one point from his all-time low. Then add this: 54% say that they’re looking for a new president who would bring greater changes to current policies, even if that person is less experienced and tested. By contrast, 42% say they’d rather have a more experienced and tested person become president, even if that means fewer changes to current policies. “The 200-pound ball and chain around McCain’s foot is George W. Bush,” says NBC/WSJ co-pollster Peter D. Hart (D). “Unless he figures out a way to cut it loose, he’s going to be dragging it throughout this election.” Newhouse adds: “Voters are not convinced that McCain represents the change they want and that he’ll be all that different from Bush.” Indeed, according to the poll, 48% say it’s likely that Obama will be real change to the country. Just 21% say that of McCain.

VIDEO: VoteVets.org's Brandon Friedman discusses the reactions of U.S. troops and veterans to John McCain's "not too important" remark.

*** If a tree falls in a forest...: But one of the other oddities of this survey is the improved outlook voters seem to have with Iraq, an issue over which the two campaigns engaged yesterday. By the narrowest majority yet, voters are basically evenly divided over the idea of troop withdrawal beginning in 2009 (49%) vs. waiting until there's stability (45%). That said, 54% still believe that victory in Iraq ISN’T possible, but the electorate appears to be a tad more patient on the issue. This should be good news for McCain who has been preaching patience. And it could be one piece of evidence why the Democrats -- who believe they got an opening yesterday with McCain's rather blunt assessment of the importance of withdrawing the troops -- could be overplaying their Iraq hand. But unlike 2005 and 2006, when Iraq was the driving issue dragging down the GOP and Bush, it now appears the economy has become the new anchor.

*** Three months wisely spent? One of the more talked-about debates in political circles is: Did McCain put his three-month head start to good use? Naysayers might find some fodder in the NBC/WSJ poll. In March, after McCain wrapped up the GOP nomination, his fav/unfav stood at 49%-27%. Later that month, it was 45%-25%. In April, it was 40%-30%. And now in our latest NBC/WSJ poll, it’s 39%-34% -- that’s a drop of 10 points in his fav rating. How did McCain, who had no one running a campaign against him during this time, somehow lose ground with the public? A one-word answer may suffice, as we mentioned above: Bush. But still, he should have been able to improve his standing some in this down period. Four months from now, he may view the period between April and June as a missed opportunity.

*** Congress' new low: The most underreported number out of the new NBC/WSJ poll is going to be Congress' job rating. A miniscule 13% of those surveyed approve of the job Congress is doing, compared with 79% who disapprove. Both are all-time records in this poll. But despite the relatively low standing in which Congress is held, the majority party is not being punished. Consider that in the generic congressional ballot: Democrats lead by a whopping 19 points, 52%-33%. Also, the Democratic Party has a fav/unfav of 43%-32%; the GOP’s is 28%-47%. So what gives? Our pollsters believe Congress is suffering from the overall negative view the country has from the country in general. How can you approve of Congress' job when you believe the country is headed in the wrong direction? More importantly for this exercise, why can't Republicans benefit? The other answer is Bush. Clearly, the country isn't happy with the president, but now they are angry that there is a branch of government that appears to be doing nothing about it either.

VIDEO: A Race for the White House panel discusses the resignation of Jim Johnson from the Barack Obama vice presidential search team.

*** That didn't take long: One thing Obama is getting a reputation for is that when the going gets tough, throw that person under the bus. OK, so we just mangled two different metaphors, but it's amazing how unshocked politicos are by the news that Obama dumped Jim Johnson from the VP vetting process. It was a matter of when -- not if -- for those who have grown accustomed to watching Obama deal with drip, drip issues. Then again, in this hyper-charged, guilt-by-association political environment, this is something all candidates have done this cycle. Obviously, someone didn't serve Obama well on this front since apparently no one bothered to do even the quickest Google search on Johnson and his relationships with various corporate boards. So now what of the veep process? Johnson will likely turn over all of his work to Eric Holder and Caroline Kennedy but neither have done this before. Holder, meanwhile, should expect a mini-frenzy on the Marc Rich pardon now that vetting the vetter is going to be an "in" thing to do for a few days. No word yet on if the Obama campaign will add a third member to the vetting team.

*** On the trail: McCain holds a media avail in Boston before heading to town halls in New Hampshire and then New York City. Obama continues his “Change that Works for You” economic tour in Kaukauna, WI before going back to Chicago for a pair of fundraisers.

Countdown to Dem convention: 74 days
Countdown to GOP convention: 81 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 145 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 222 days

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Comments

I don’t know if anyone on the Obama campaign reads these posts, but here is a small wish list.

1- Have the Senator speak in front of as many people as possible, and limit the number or news bites where he speaks in front of a podium. I know it is difficult to limit news conferences and question & answer sessions, but the more we see him interacting with a gathering or crowd the better.
2- At least once every two weeks, have the Senator speak in front of a large crowd- between 10,000-20,000 people. In other words, like his campaign speech in St. Paul the night he secured the nomination.
3- At least once a month, have him speak in front of a mega crowd like he did in Portland.
4- Start writing now a fantastic acceptance speech. The whole world will be watching, and no singular moment of opportunity will be greater.

The psychological lift this will give voters will be substantial. Many have always said, they enjoy him best when he is in his element in front of large crowds. If I was undecided and I saw such huge turnouts, I would be asking myself if that many people see something then maybe I should jump onboard too. This goes without saying that the message and issues hit home as well.

Chuck, NY (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:18 AM)

Mr. McCain’s experience does not serving us well in the context of the world as we find it today. Iraq will never be Korea or Germany or Japan. The differences are profound and the fact that he can’t see it is enormously disturbing in a presidential candidate. You can’t accuse him of being a chickenhawk like the neocon advisors he has surrounded himself with; the very same clowns who talked Bush into invading Iraq. But spending five years as a POW decades ago in Southeast Asia does not in any way inform someone regarding the complexities of foreign policy in the modern Middle East. In fact, McCain missed a crucial period in our learning curve during the Vietnam War, and he failed to internalize many of the lessons from that conflict that his fellow congressional veterans like Chuck Hagel came away with. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

jaycee, Ventura, CA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:18 AM)

Chuck Todd and Co,

Why don't you admit it ... your polls are heavily influenced by your obsession with Hillary Clinton.

I mean you guys can't stop talking about her.
Even when polling about Obama and McCain.

In your latest polls, you started polling even before she was out of the race and conceeded.
Polling was started late last week and went through Saturday when the media was still talking about Obama in terms of Clinton.

You, as NBC Political Director should admit that that there is a huge Hillary Clinton factor that has prevented Obama from getting a bigger bounce in the polls.

Sometimes when I'm watching MSNBC I have to turn to CNN because it's laughable. From Morning Joe, through to Shuster, O'Donnel, Hardball, Race and especially Dan Abrams .. you all obsess with Hillary.

Will he pick her? WWhat will Bill do? How many of her supporters will he get? Give it a rest guys. Let him breath and run a campaign first. When he's ready he will announce it.

We finally have a chance to have a substantive debate but you at MSNBC are still stuck in the past obsessing over the Clintons.
So, give it a rest.

Another point, you have Pat Buchanan, the bigot still doing analysis.
He's always wrong and his work is racist. Do you ever look at his blog? Why does he feel that he is an expert on Obama?

Chuck Todd, you are a nice guy.

Do something about this before you end up turning people away from MSNBC.

Steve B NewYork (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:21 AM)

Please tell me what makes Caroline Kennedy qualify for the post? What experience, skills does she have to earned and be appointed by BO other than SHE IS A KENNEDY.

Talk about nepotism.

This is "change we can believe in" according to BO. This is more of the same if you ask me!

Tony Hall (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:23 AM)

Katie Couric: If you want to talk about people in the media who hurt Hillary Clinton’s chances of winning the nomination, try the name Dick Morris. Try the names Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity, who had Mr. Morris on night after night after night telling the most nightmarish stories about Hillary & Bill Clinton. Hadn’t you heard? He made a movie.

He was on Fox News almost every night and his sole purpose was to smear Hillary. Which he did gleefully.

Try Geraldine Ferraro - She was a nightmare.

Try Bill Clinton - No one behaved more entitled than he did. No one behaved more childish than he did.

Try Mark Penn - He ran the most inept campaign in history.

Try Hillary’s made up Bosnia story.

Try Hillary’s exploitation of the white working class voters.

She lost Iowa BEFORE any comments were ever made.

Again, yes, there were a few comments made in the media which should not have been said. But you will find that in every campaign.

Ask John Kerry. Ask Howard Dean. Ask Michael Dukakis. Ask John McCain

Hillary Clinton did not lose because of sexism in the media. She lost because she sided with President Bush and Dick Cheney over the Iraq invasion without raising so much as an eyebrow. The rumor is she never read the NIE Report.

I hope you mention that in your piece.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:24 AM)

Chuck, having someone step down because they believe in the candidate (and don't want to harm Obama's chances when the alternative is to keep their two month long unpaid job) is hardly getting thrown under the bus.

http://infogiant.wordpress.com/

infogiant, austin, tx (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:25 AM)

I dont care about those polls, as a democrat who dont trust Obama, I am not voting for him. my vote will go to McCain this time...

jan chicago (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:26 AM)

MSNBC where is the story on Phil Gramm who is the top advisor for McCain. He is responsible for the mortage crisis. Second, Carly Fiorina is the campaign chair for McCain. She fired 7,000 worker from HP. Took a 21 million dollar severance. She left her job due to illegally snooping into someone's phone records and was almost indicted. She believes outsourcing american jobs is good. She is advising McCain on the economy as well as Gramm. This is more of a problem than Johnson who paid to have a lower mortage rate which many people do.

voter (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:32 AM)

Dukakis had a nice lead in the early polls too. So did Gore. Is it any surprise with all the fawning and positive press coverage Obama gets that he has a slight lead today? Obama has an entire network (nbc) not just covering him, but wall-to-wall cheering him on. These things tend to give way to reality later in campaign.

CR, California (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:32 AM)

Obama Bump. What bump? This never-did-anything-but-run-for-office social worker with the amount of pandering air time given by Matthews, Williams, and Russert this darling of the media, should be off and running at a fifteen point margin at least.

Bart Fardwark (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:33 AM)

As I have said before, as long as the cameras stay on McCain, he will defeat himself. The Democrats just need to continue doing what they are doing and let McCain bury himself, just like he did yesterday with the "Not too important" comment.

http://www.politivine.com

Politivine (SC) (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:33 AM)

Obama came out swinging yesterday just as the GOP began their attacks. This is a great sign for all those doubters out there who thought that he wasn't tough enough to go toe-to-toe with McCain. There's no "buyers remorse" here... Obama '08!!!

... BTW to all of those out there pushing the "whitey" BS, keep it coming! This year that crap just won't fly. So, by all means, keep pushing the independents to Obama. A 40 state landslide is now possible!

MJH, MI (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:33 AM)

The reason Congress is rated so low is that someone took impeachment off the table and we're still mired in Iraq wasting $12 billion a month chasing illusory victory. Congress should be investigating the many crimes committed by the repugnant ones in power and impeaching the tyrants in the White House.

Go Obama 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:34 AM)

I can tell you right now that I don't think that either Clinton would be that helpful. I think Pres. Clinton did a lot to contribute to Senator Clinton's loss, and one only has to look at her campaign to realize that she shouldn't be involved with his. Her "debate" technique leaves much to be desired, it appeared to me that she would take personal, high school like jabs that just made her look silly.

And I agree with Steve B. Morning Joe is unwatchable. What exactly has Buchanan been correct about? Joe calling Senator Clinton "his girlfriend" is sexist and demeaning. Find adults to do that show.

sotiredofignorance (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:34 AM)

<<Please tell me what makes Caroline Kennedy qualify for the post? >>

Nothing. It's all style over substance. Politics for liberals is their art. It's what you feel that is important, not what you do.

Antone Hawke (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:34 AM)

Obama leads McCain among African Americans (83-7), Hispanics (62-28), women (52-33), Catholics (47-40), independents (41-36) and even blue-collar workers (47-42). Obama is also ahead among those who said they voted for Clinton in the Democratic primaries (61-19).

---------------------------------------------

Funny...I thought Senator Obama was supposed to lose all of these groups in a big way.

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:35 AM)

I would like to second Chuck's recommendations.

AS a white woman I would never consider voting for McCain. If it is possible, he is in my opinion worse than Bush because Bush is stupid and McCain is stupid and mean. I don't like him for one second and his creepy smile makes me shudder. McCain is the fake trying to act like he doesn't cuss up a storm on a regular basis. I do not like him at all.

The war is about this economy, it must end inorder to regain our economic balance and vitality again.
This will happen with the guidance of Senator Obama!
My brother-in-law is being ordered back for the 4th time! I hate Bush and McCain! He does not want to go! We don't want him to go. I believe that the destruction we have caused in Iraq is happening here in our economy because we went in under a LIE! WE have all been taught that liars are bad people and that nothing good comes from those lies. And it doesn't.

Senator Obama for President of the U S (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:38 AM)

Jan Chicago, your not a democrat...true dems would never vote for a candiate that has a record like McCain on all valuable Democratic issues, especially women's issues. Hillary would be ashamed of you!

Beth (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:39 AM)

Obama needs a woman who is also an old hand at foreign policy and a military strategist. Any ideas? Madelaine Albright comes to mind, but she's too old now, probably.
Mccain needs to get a restraining order on Bush, so he can pretend he's not a Bush clone. And he needs a woman veep who is a social worker or something to convince people Mcbush really gives a crap about the poor and middle class. The only thing Mccain did during his 3-months-without-a-rival was confuse Sunnis and Siites. A wise use of his time...

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:39 AM)

"One thing Obama is getting a reputation for is that when the going gets tough, throw that person under the bus. OK, so we just mangled two different metaphors, but it's amazing how unshocked politicos are by the news that Obama dumped Jim Johnson from the VP vetting process."
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You guys are beautiful. You gin up a controversy -- in this case, preferential treatment on personal mortgages -- that is at best tangential to a campaign, beat the drum until everyone's attention is turned from substantive issues, pepper the candidate until the public will hear of nothing else, and then excoriate him when he acts to stanch the bleeding. You did this for six weeks prior to Pennsylvania and dragged out a process through a series of media-driven crises.

Then you defend it in one of two ways: 1) "It goes to his character" and 2) "Only doing our constitutional duty."

Where was this obsession with character and constitutional duty when Bush was saying things like, "I haven't made a mistake" in the 2004 debates?

Cowards.

Schriendog, Colorado Springs, CO (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:42 AM)

No matter how accurate these polls seem, I always wonder if there is a steep incline of approval towards one candidate that is ignored.
http://www.votenic.com

Rosalyn, Yakima, WA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:43 AM)

Why isn't the media "vetting" any of McCain's "vetters"? Or even McCain's CAMPAIGN STAFF? Their dealings are quite a bit more curious and unruly, to me at least.

And Iraq -versus- the Economy? They're tied together! Who really thinks the economy would be in such dire straights if we weren't spending billions of dollars a month we don't have in Iraq? Who really thinks oil prices would have been skyrocketing like they are if the US politicians hadn't made such a ridiculous blunder?

Ron, TX (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:44 AM)

If a tree falls in a forest--Duel Personality McCain would not see it.
The schism in the Muslim world has been going on since Muhammad died. This war is flawed for 2 reasons… (1) Greed and (2) Ideology. The idea of bringing democracy to the Middle East via Iraq is an American value. Muslims are fighting over their claims to Muhammad. That’s their internal strive. Give us Americans democracy and stop using falsehoods to further your greed.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:46 AM)

Have you ever noticed or is it just me but everytime Obama brings up the economy McCain seems to go out of his way to change the subject. I'd like to see someone glue his feet down on exactly what does he propose to do about the economy besides help his oil company buddies?

It's the economy stupid, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:47 AM)

Those posting who pretend to be Hillary supporters saying they don't trust Obama and are voting for McCain, are Republicans, trying to screw with the minds of the Democrats. Sorry, but your evil Karl Rove Jedi mind tricks won't work on us this time.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:48 AM)

To John McShame...your looking desperate...
Chill out... Uncle Ho is still your friend...

BJ, CA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:48 AM)

Just finished watching Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room--reminded me why I'm leaning heavily Obama this election. Great documentary.

StageKid's Dissertation on Disillusionment: http://www.stagekid.com

StageKid, Seattle, WA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:49 AM)

jan chicago.... I'm sorry we won't get your vote. I am curious as to why it is taht you don't trust Obama? And what is it about McCain that makes you trust him more? Just curious here. I'd like to understand where you're coming from.

Tim, Reading, PA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:49 AM)

McCain has gotten a pass on his campaign staff, and his "war hero" claims. There is an enormous media bias towards McCain; this is a residual from the "look the other way" policy of the MSM with regards to the Bush/Cheney chickenhawk war coverage.
Why doesn't ANYONE in MSM truly perform proper vetting on McCain and his lobbyist staff? Or his Vietnam war history?

Walt, Ohio (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:50 AM)

How did McCain, who had no one running a campaign against him during this time, somehow lose ground with the public? A one-word answer may suffice, as we mentioned above: Bush.
---------------------------------------------------

Wrong: it's a two-word answer: Bush McCain

McCain's creepy "bomb bomb Iran" ditty, his close association with lobbyists who've lobbied for dictators and terrorists, his many gaffes and lies that he's told in the past three months on an almost daily basis have hurt McCain more than the Democrats have, despite the corporate media's desperate attempts to save McCain from himself by downplaying all of the above and with their constant attacks on Obama to divert attention from just how scary McCain is.

Houston (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:51 AM)

Jan in Chaicago,

Just curious: Do you have any principles? How can you call yourself a Democrat and vote for someone who has a big fat ZERO in women's health issues and who supports Bush's disasterous tax cuts for the wealthy? If you think these things are okay, I've got some news for you: You are not a Democrat.

Colleen, Ithaca NY (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:52 AM)

Chuck, I hope, after receiving the results of this poll regarding whether it would help Obama having Hillary Clinton on the ticket or not is done, the media will finally stop talking about Hillary. She lost and it is time to move on. It is my opinion it will be a landslide against having Obama/Clinton ticket. There are so many great candidates being considered for VP. Lets concentrate on them.

Paula M. Huntington Beach, CA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:53 AM)

For VP I'd like to see Obama pick an experienced, intelligent, ethical person he personally likes. I don't think Hillary and Obama have a good enough chemistry to be an effective team. Sorry, Hill. Myself, I like Chuck Hegal, because when he talks about the Iraq situation I feel I am finally being told the truth and I trust him. McCain makes me feel uneasy when I hear him these days, like he puts ideology above reality, just like Bush. He would be well served to pick Maine's Sen. Olympia Snowe for his VP, but he won't do it because the conservatives in his party wouldn't support a sensible, ethical woman who dared to even question Bush's policies.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:56 AM)

To Steve B, New York -- I agree wholeheartedly with your post. MSNBC is obsessed with Hillary and it's getting really, really old. Dan Abrams is especially bad -- I turn him off every night when he starts with his "doesn't it make sense to have Hillary on the ticket?" No, Dan it doesn't. I wish someone would give Pat Buchanan the answer he wants to his incessant question -- "why can't he win the white working class voters?" The answer, Pat, is as you know -- they won't vote for a black candidate. There's your answer so please stop asking the question. Lately, I've been turning off MSNBC more than I'm watching.

Let's move on and let Barack Obama make his own Veep choice in peace.

60+ white working class woman who LOVES Obama

Sharon, San Antonio, TX (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:57 AM)

I thought Jim Johnson resigned from the committee to avoid being a distraction? There was under-bus throwing? Huh.

Nicky, New York, NY (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:58 AM)

There are two words that explain McCain's fav/unfav decline: "Bush" and "gaffes"

Nancy Burt, Canton, MI (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:59 AM)

I saw the Votevets spokesperson on one of the shows last night and he was very compelling, I urge everyone to watch the video...we need to show these military personnel more support.

Lisa in New Britain, CT (mourning our fellow Boy Scouts in Iowa) (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:02 AM)

"One thing Obama is getting a reputation for is that when the going gets tough, throw that person under the bus."

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No he's not. YOU so-called journalists are trying to stick him with that "reputation." McCain had lobbyists who had worked for brutal dictatorships like the one in Myanmar (Burma). He was throwing them under the bus left and right -- but only after their shameful work was exposed in the media. That hardly got a mention at FirstRead.

Of course, McCain still has Charlie Black as a main campaign adviser. McCain hasn't thrown ol' Charlie under the bus, even though he's lobbied for such repulsive thugs like Jonas Savimbi of the UNITAS terrorist group. I guess you find McCain's loyalty to Black admirable. I certainly don't.

Houston (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:02 AM)

TO MSNBC: How about telling us who is on the McCain vetting team and their background. I am betting you won't vet them. fair is fair.

OBwan, IN (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:04 AM)

FOR THE LAST TIME PEOPLE:

Caroline Kennedy has been heavily involved and is considered a "mover & shaker" of the Democratic Party for YEARS!

Just because she works behind the scenes, and you don't hear much about her in the press, does not mean she is not involved or not qualified.

BESIDES-You don't need much experience to gather the info needed. You need to be trust worthy, and knowledgable about the issues, and she is both.

Barack My World! (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:06 AM)

There is a big problem with waiting for stability...(well more than one). Who defines stability? What incentives are their for Iraqis to have a goal of stability with us there? How do we finance this stay till "stability" especially as our economy goes more into the toilet. Who exactly is going to be the ones staying there until "stability"? Should I start preparing my six year old for the military.

Get real people, our priority needs to get out, somehow, someway. I'm not saying take them all out tomorrow (although I'd truly like to), I'm more practical than that. But I'd be very wary of that word "stability".

Bring them home. I'm getting to the point where I curse George Bush and Cheney and everyone else complicit every day. Bravo to Kucinich and to Wexler.

Lisa in New Britain, CT (mourning our fellow Boy Scouts in Iowa) (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:06 AM)

Chuck/Mark/Domenico,

Regarding the supposed Obama campaign mentality that "throwing them under the bus" is the way to get rid of scandal... It is! And it perfectly contrasts the Democrats (since Hillary essentially did the same with folks like Geraldine Ferraro) with the Republicans. Consider that one of the biggest knocks on President Bush is that he stands by people embroiled in scandal (Scooter Libby, Karl Rove, Donald Rumsfeld, John Ashcroft, etc., etc.). This contrasts the Democrats well with that supposed "culture of corruption," and if Obama is successful in tying McCain to Bush, these moves will only help him.

Brendan D, Niles, IL (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:09 AM)

Who wrote that piece "That didn't Take Long" - are you learning impaired? Obama did NOT through Johnson under the "bus" Mr. Johnson resigned on his own because of the distraction he was causing...are you journalists?? I have been following everything very carefully, and your off base!

Jacie, NY (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:13 AM)

So now you guys are attacking Caroline Kennedy? She might be the one public figure in this country who has no skeletons in her closet. Get real. She is well-educated, has grown up with politics, has done quite a bit of varied public service and she's a mom. I think she's qualified to be a (what is essentially) a fact-checker. Get real.

Lisa in New Britain, CT (mourning our fellow Boy Scouts in Iowa) (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:13 AM)

I'm really getting tired of msnbc....I see why cnn is beating you in ratings....the Jim Johnson issue is not a issue Obama didnt throw him under the bus.

bridget ohio (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:15 AM)

*** Three months wisely spent?

******************************

Are you kidding? McCain has yet to define himself in terms other than the candidate consumed by his itch to wage war, endlessly, with lots of enemies.

He's taken every weekend off. He wasted the gift of a three month headstart on Obama, that the dem primary laid at this feet.

His campaign's purging of staff, and it's lack of a cohesive message, as well as, indifference toward him by the repub traditional base support, have left him running to catch up, when the opposite should be tne case.

donna (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:15 AM)

Colleen in NY - there's a word; is it why Jan or any of those so called democrats that keep ranting about why they will never vote for Senator Obama? They of course would say it's not. Yet, I hear other words, like uppity and arrogant. Still other less revealing like social worker and on and on. If that word doesn't describe their attitude, the alternative would be that they vote without thinking at all.

bill, okla (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:23 AM)

How The Wall Street Journal Fabricated a Scandal to Impugn an Obama Supporter, James Johnson

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-fiderer/how-the-wall-street-journ_b_106600.html

TLA (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:24 AM)

McClain doesn't really stand a chance in a debate with obama. That lead will increase once they start debating against each other.

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Obama For President!! (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:25 AM)

Schriendog

Good points and well said! FR - you do a great job normally, but I too think you and the rest of the media were way off on this. If Jim Johnson were acting in some sort of advisory capacity to Sen Obama (i.e., Phil Gramm to Sen McCain) that would be one thing. But he wasn't. He had no staff position in the campaign and he wasn't in line for a position in the Obama administration. He had simply volunteered to help vet VP candidates.

It still is curious why the same outrage isn't applied to Sen McCain and his band of lobbyists who double as staff and advisors. Isn't Sen McCain supposed to be Mr. Clean, Mr. I'm so ethical? HA!

Here's how hypocritical Sen McCain is. Didn't Charlie Black say a few weeks ago that the issue of lobbyists on campaign is overblown and that the public doesn't care? Then they blast Sen Obama for Jim Johnson.

The hypocrisy is so blatant it's sickening!!

Obama '08

Obama Supporter from NY (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:26 AM)

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