The battle for Iowa

Marbw — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:42:58 GMT

The reason that pollsters typically avoid polling around the holidays is the assumption that a big chunk of the population is away from home and unavailable for survey calls. As with any sort of "non-response" problem, we risk getting skewed or biased results if the missing respondents are both numerous and different in terms of their political views from those at home when we call.

What kinds of voters might be missing right now? Three years ago, in a survey concluded a full week before the holidays (12/15-17/2004), the Gallup Organization asked a national sample of 1,002 adults whether they planned "to travel more than fifty miles from home this holiday season." Twenty-eight percent (28%) said "yes." More important, as the table below indicates (based on data drawn from the Roper Archives), those planning holiday travel had a very distinctive demographic profile. Holiday travelers were much more likely to be younger and better educated. Notice also that holiday travelers were not just college students. Adults between the ages of 30 and 44 are twice as likely to travel for the holidays than those over 65. (Also, while I do not show it here, the pattern in these results by age, education and income was nearly identical for Democratic and Republican identifiers).

http://www.pollster.com

ps...I have never/will ever put stock into any polls. The only ones that counts is when the people enter the rooms/booths. I believe that polls are used as propaganda tools to sway the masses.

The battle for Iowa

PulSamsara — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:43:59 GMT

America is a Democracy - We are not a Monarchy.
Wiser folks than us - saw to it long ago, that we be fortunate enough to realize this life blessing.
Nepotism may be fine for the old-corner-store but it will only serve to fail us again -as it has, most resoundingly, for the entirety of this millennium.

Voting for the worst policy decision in our life times does not make one 'experienced'. It -IS- high time America elected a woman as commander-in-chief. When a self made woman of conviction and talent stands up and demonstrates the character that can stand as an example for us all - we should stand behind her - with conviction and fortitude. Hillary Clinton is not that woman. She is the spouse of a former and popular President. In a nation, 300 million strong, are we to believe that the person most suited to be the President just happens to be related to the last President ?!
Are we really to believe this is the case ?
Will we make this mistake, again ?

Barack Obama has the strength and certitude to take America in a new and positive direction - a direction that our evolving nation - being formed all around us all as we pass through our daily lives - very much is in need of. There really is an immediacy of the 'now' that we all share. We truly must begin to think big again and to face the immense challenges before us in brave and selfless ways again - like those people in the old faded photographs on our walls did - for us. It really is time to wake up again America. The time is, most certainly, now.

Barack Obama for President of the United States of America.

It's time for America to Rise and Shine again.

The battle for Iowa

Anderson, Savoy, IL — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:45:16 GMT

How could that be viewed as a sexist hit? Do only women drink tea? Clearly you're trying to read too much into these things.

The battle for Iowa

Mark G. Atl., Ga. — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:51:51 GMT

I think the Obama "tea drinking" comment is a back of the hand comment directed towards outed CIA agent Valerie Plame's husband, Amb. Joe Wilson. In a Dec. 21st piece in the Huffington Post, Wilson rips into Obama's foreign policy "intuitive sense" comparing Obama to George Bush and William Kristol as he heaps praise on Hillary's knowledge and experience in foreign policy. In Wilson's NYTimes Op-Ed he wrote "I spent the next eight days drinking sweet mint tea and meeting with dozens of people" Though Amb. Wilson is quite limp wristed, I don't see the Obama "tea-gate" comment as sexist.

The battle for Iowa

S.K.M. Mass — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:04:58 GMT

The role of a first lady is entirely informal. It wasn't a sexist comment at all, it's the nature of that role of being spouse to the leader of the free world. If the HRC campaign starts claiming it's sexist, I'll be gravely reminded of that debate when she was "having mud slung at her by the boys."
You can't beat sexism by pulling the gender card everytime as a counter-attack.
As for Edwards, great guy for the most part. Although I don't see why he's viewed as the populist by the media and the people on the ground. The guy is RICH and strikes me as a phony. Granted, he has humble upbringings, but those days are long gone. I don't think the working class would be in favor of a mandated healthcare plan if they realized that they STILL have to buy it from the private sector. All a mandate does is FORCE people to buy insurance from the big companies.

The battle for Iowa

C.B. — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:11:55 GMT

Hillary Clinton will "win" Iowa and the nomination. Come see why today... hillaryclinton.com

The battle for Iowa

Lyn,MD — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:14:25 GMT

Give me a break....so they drink tea...do you think she didn't. The men who went on these congressional delegations probably had tea too!! He's right she thinks everything is about her.

The battle for Iowa

virgilh, Las Vegas, NV — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:55:43 GMT

As pointed out in the article, it takes much more than a few personal, friendly trips to a country to know and understand the leadership and people of different cultures. (especially those of the middle east)
With Clinton and Obama both still working their way through grade school, we need the one person who has the equivelant of a Master's degree.

Joe Biden

The battle for Iowa

laurie, st. paul — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:58:13 GMT

Phony Edwards changes position about meeting with lobbyists to distinguish himself from Obama.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/12/28/527_group_supportive_of_edward_1.html

The battle for Iowa

Diamond — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:01:15 GMT

" ... Clearly, the Obama folks realized it could be viewed as a sexist hit." ????

Damn it, First Read. What was that last line all about? Let's face it - only someone with a feeble mind and the brain of a fish would even imagine that there's anything sexist about the tea comment. No wonder Obama laughed and said "Those folks must really be on the edge"

What a shame for the Clintons to deploy a heavyweight like Madeleine Albright to defend a tea comment - Jesus! If Hillary can't handle a tea comment, how's she going to handle Chavez, Ahmedinejad et al?

The battle for Iowa

Oscar — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:06:26 GMT

Edwards is The Man!

Obama and Clinton have been trying to steal his issues with corporations and lobbyists, and they try to pretend they brought it up first.

Edwards will win Iowa because Edwards is The man!

The battle for Iowa

HMT-MI — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:07:45 GMT

I am estatic that Edwards is doing so well.He has been ignored by the media since Rush and Hannity tried to destroy him several months ago over a HAIRCUT????????????These 2 scumbags bitching about Edwards house,etc never say how they s pend and blow their millions.I remember reading about Rushie having gold plated water fixtures for him and his last ex.Does Hannity pay his own airfare when he flies around with Rudy to give him a overzealous introduction?You already know Rudy has promised him some big job in govornment.I would never vote for Huck but I respect him for getting in Rushs big face

The battle for Iowa

J. McBride — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:49:25 GMT

So THAT'S why Obama, chair of the foreign relations committee, has made hardly any trips overseas or even called any committee meetings. Nor did he learn much about the world in school, he says. So just where has he picked up his knowledge of the world, without seeing it or studying it?

And as he apparently would be as dismissive of doing so as president, a position that calls for a lot of closely controlled trips overseas and a lot of meetings . . . it would seem that he doesn't really want the job. Enough said.

The battle for Iowa

Banko — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:59:33 GMT

John Edwards is a phony.

The Many Apologies of John Edwards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pOZML6P0Vg

John Edwards cannot lead the democratic ticket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADwjvAs9J-0

John Edwards and Hillary Clinton did not read the NIE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLJFujflVmY

Obama SmackDown Series: Smacks down Edwards on Iraq.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4x_KnWEDjs

John Edwards 2002 Vote for the Iraq War
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY6BZgkI0kI

John Edwards Feeling Pretty.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2AE847UXu3Q

The battle for Iowa

C.B. — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 22:05:45 GMT

Yes Yes Yes ! hillaryclinton.com , come see why.