Via the Politico: Obama little help to Dems post-election
In the three Congressional races decided since Barack Obama defeated John McCain on November 4, the president-elect has kept his distance from the Democratic candidates.
While Obama did lend Georgia senate candidate Jim Martin some of his campaign staff, and cut radio ads for both Martin and Louisiana congressional hopeful Paul Carmouche, he has made no personal appearances in any of the races, even as his party stood a chance of gaining a filibuster-proof 60 seat majority in the Senate, and expanding what’s currently a 20-seat advantage in the House.
First off, the best way Obama could have helped would have been to have been on the ballot. Seeing as how that was impossible, one supposes he could have vigorously campaigned, but it is unclear exactly how much that would have helped. What, was the president-elect supposed to drive voters to the polls? At any rate, there is the simple fact that Obama has a transition to run in the midst of a rather significant financial crisis. As such, the luxury of possibly winning an additional House seat seems hardly a good investment of time.
Second, Chambliss had already come within a hair’s breadth of winning in the first round. Given the basic math, and the fact that Georgia is a heavily Republican state, the odds that Martin could pull the upset were quite small. Obama could have campaigned 24/7 in Georgia and it wouldn’t have made a difference to the outcome. From there, Jefferson is under indictment for corruption–hardly the place a newly elected president should be spending political capital. That leaves only the Carmouche race, and I know nothing about it, so can’t really comment.
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You frame the Chambliss race exactly right. What would have happened if Obama had went all out for Martin (ala Clinton in GA in 1992) is he would have used needed political capital before he took office because it would have been cast as a loss. The best thing the President-elect can do is be President-elect and don’t let the glitter rub off yet.
Reply to Talmadge East
Comment by Talmadge East — Monday, December 8, 2024 @ 9:27 am
Living down here in Louisiana, and especially in the northern part of the state, the Dems tend to be more conservative, so the line between them and the Repubs is not that significant. Obama did cut some bits for robocalls, but as you correctly state, what additional value is there in one more Dem seat in the House at this point, and it would distract from him appearing focused on issues of national/global importance.
Reply to ts
Comment by ts — Monday, December 8, 2024 @ 12:18 pm
Colin Powell has played a role of a dirty politician. He has been a manipulator of facts and a trouble maker. He provided all the wrong information to the president and lectured around the world with power point presentation confirming WMD. He was never like a soldier but as a corrupt person who has done unrepairable damage to the millions of people round the world. As a traitor he would be hated for centuries to come. He has no regards for people who gave his so much & he was mean to undermine McCain.
John McCain answered at the spot to the full spirit of the question in the most appropriate way in a challenging situation. McCain didn’t offend anyone & even praised Obama during the middle of a fierce campaign. The lady was a dedicated supporter of McCain but he took the microphone off her when she started speaking about her fear for not knowing about Obama’s past & his commitment. Lots of people are still questioning!! Obama never talks about it. He can break the doubts by providing details but he is still quite selective with the truth.
Obama’s supported are even now making bad comment about McCain & Palin. Obama wouldn’t have shown that level of presence of mind or appreciation of opponent at the spur of the moment in spite of getting so much coaching.
Reply to Gary
Comment by Gary — Monday, December 8, 2024 @ 9:05 pm