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Axelrod's Iowa Strategy | 40 comments (40 topical)

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It is a McCain/Lieberman strategy (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jan 01, 2008 at 01:43:19 PM EST
And I do not see how your math works on the "vast majority" of his votes coming from Dems.

He is LOSING Dems.

He is winning big with Indys and GOOOPERs.

Sorry AL, I know it is hard for you to swallow, but you have to see the reality here.


[ Parent ]

He (none / 0) (#12)
by Jgarza on Tue Jan 01, 2008 at 02:12:41 PM EST
Said if you breakdown people who support Obama, the majority are democrats.  That is accurate

It is a McCain/Lieberman strategy

Do you get brownie points from this site every time you compare Obama to a republican?  Really the idea that Democrats can only be liked by strong party ID democrats or they must be doing something awful to democrats is ridiculous.

[ Parent ]

Nooo (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jan 01, 2008 at 02:14:58 PM EST
That is INACCURATE.

The majority of Obama's support
is NOT Democratic.

It is Independent and Republican.

THAT is what the DMR poll is telling us.

[ Parent ]

BTD is right. (none / 0) (#38)
by dkmich on Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 12:52:15 PM EST
the idea that Democrats can only be liked by strong party ID democrats or they must be doing something awful to democrats is ridiculous.

The goal is to convert Republicans to Democrats, not to convert Democrats to Republicans so they can win the Republican vote.  If you want Republican platforms, go fix the Republican Party and leave us Democrats alone.

Biggest irony. We have Republicans in Iowa picking the Democratic nominee, while we are denying Democrats all across the country a vote in the primary.  

[ Parent ]

Two things (none / 0) (#35)
by Anonymous Liberal on Tue Jan 01, 2008 at 10:16:00 PM EST
First, you're misreading my comment.  I wasn't talking just about Iowa.  Clearly Obama will need a majority of Democratic support in many other states to win the nomination. You can't win the Democratic nomination by getting votes from independents and Republicans.  Axelrod's not an idiot. Obama's message is a message of change. He's calling for universal health care and an end to the war. Indeed, on policy issues, he is either aligned with or to the left of Clinton and Edwards.  The only bone he's throwing to non-Democrats is vague rhetoric about transcending partisanship.  Lieberman embraced actual centrist policy positions on domestic issues and neoconservative positions on foreign policy issues.  It's just not even close.

Second, I suspect it is inaccurate to assume that the 40% of "unaffiliated" voters in the DMR poll are traditional independents. It's far more likely that these are left-leaning first-time participants who don't normally bother to caucus.  

In other words, these folks are probably, by in large, indistinguishable ideologically from the 55% who are registered Democrats.

[ Parent ]

Far more likely? (none / 0) (#37)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 09:34:10 AM EST
No, it is not far more likely that they are not left leaning. You are dreaming when you say that.

you argue in essence that style and rhetoric do NOT matter. That attsacking Dems on faith and paertisanship is fine. That adopting the phrase Social Security crisis is ok. That talking about FORCING people to buy insurace does not matter.

With due respect, you simply have not explored the issue in anydepth.

[ Parent ]

Nope (none / 0) (#40)
by Anonymous Liberal on Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 03:29:28 PM EST
I do think style and rhetoric matter. I was critical of Obama for using the phrase "social security crisis." I don't think he walks on water and I do think he has said some things that are unhelpful to the Democratic cause (though to keep things in perspective, I think Bill Clinton was approximately a million times worse in 1992).

I do, however, think Obama's general rhetoric about inclusiveness and transcending partisanship (though corny), is smart politically and helpful to the Democratic cause.  Obama is trying to be the Democratic Reagan, to be a congenial, likeable figure that can help sell Democratic ideas to independents and Republicans. You have to do something to appeal to non-democrats (their votes are necessary in the general election), and I'd much rather have that something be using inclusive rhetoric rather than compromising on actual policy positions.  

[ Parent ]

Axelrod's Iowa Strategy | 40 comments (40 topical)

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