I have been reading multiple diaries and posts on here about this subject.
Beyond a few posts, mostly what I am seeing is Obama took McCain to the woodshed, McCain is old, Obama kicked McCain in the...well, you get the idea.
Follow after the fold to see why I feel this won't be a cakewalk.
The General Election is going to be a completely different animal.
In this field, both candidates are going to have to appeal to a much wider group of people in order to succeed.
Everyone on here knows what the drawbacks to a McCain Presidency would be.
What I am going to attempt to point out is some of the things that I think Obama will be hit on and quite frankly some of those things could possibly stick.
As some of you know, I am from the heartland, so I will attempt to show what some in the flyover states feel are Obama's weaknesses and perhaps show a different perspective of how certain things are looked at.
Number One:
But Clinton's campaign seized on another Obama debate comment to argue the Illinois senator is stronger on words than action. Obama acknowledged a subcommittee he heads has not held oversight hearings on NATO and Afghanistan because he's been too busy running for President.
http://www.nydailynews.com/...
In my opinion, this is his biggest Achilles heel.
Obama has continually pointed to Iraq as the reason that Afghanistan is not working and is not being improved or the war there even won.
Senator Obama is in charge of a subcommittee that could improve the situation in Afghanistan and he is not holding hearings in order to do this because he has been too busy running for President.
A lot of people will look at the comment and say WTF?
He can't do two things at once?
Now remember, I am not talking about when he is talking to other Dems. This will not look good to Independents and Repubs who are taking a good look at him.
And quite frankly, that doesn't look good to me personally.
If you are in a position to do something about how things are going over there...and you don't...then I really don't care what your excuse or reasoning is.
He cannot continue to use the Afghanistan angle or this will bite him in the General for two reason.
- It will be said about him that his ambition, ie his run for the presidency, is more important than his ability to make a change in Afghanistan.
...or...
- Apparently he cannot do two things at once. Something a President must be able to do.
Number two:
"There was no such thing as al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq!"
McCain will say that 29 Senate Democrats also voted to invade Iraq and that Senator Obama continues to vote to fund the war, when he could vote to defund the war, which some believe would end it.
He can also say, regardless, Al Qaeda is in Iraq now and that must be dealt with.
Not by pulling out and then going back in, but by dealing with it now since we are already there.
Look, Americans don't want to be in Iraq, but if they are presented with someone who they believe can win the war, then I think they will, at the very least, give him a good look.
Note I said "who they believe can win". Doesn't mean he will, doesn't even mean it is doable.
Number three:
McCains appeal to those he shouldn't appeal to.
That sentence doesn't make sense and neither do these facts:
A full 66% of independents think that the U.S. should completely withdraw from Iraq no later than 12 months from now, according to a Jan. 18-22 L.A. Times/Bloomberg poll. McCain, meanwhile, said last month that the U.S. might stay in Baghdad for another 100 years.
And yet he dominated the antiwar vote in New Hampshire, with 44% to Romney's 19%, according to CNN exit polls.
The same pattern holds true in the case of voters who despise George W. Bush. In Florida, for example, McCain clobbered Romney 48% to 18% among those who described themselves as "angry" at the president, according to MSNBC exit polls.
http://www.latimes.com/...
That's because McCain's appeal to independents overlaps too heavily with the independents that Bloomberg might draw
http://www.cnbc.com/...
And the MSM continues to push that McCain appeals to Independents and Democrats alike.
Number four:
The lobbyist issue.
While Obama may not take Washington Lobbyist money or help, he does take it from State Lobbyists.
Despite intensifying his rhetoric against Washington lobbyists controlling the political system, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama announced Wednesday the addition of a state lobbyist to his campaign's Nevada steering committee
http://news.rgj.com/...
Over the next 15 months, insurers and their lobbyists found a sympathetic ear in Obama, who amended the bill more to their liking partly because of concerns they raised with him and his aides, according to lobbyists, Senate staff, and Obama's remarks on the Senate floor.
The wrangling over the healthcare measure, which narrowly passed and became law in 2004, illustrates how Obama, during his eight years in the Illinois Senate, was able to shepherd major legislation by negotiating competing interests in Springfield, the state capital. But it also shows how Obama's own experience in lawmaking involved dealings with the kinds of lobbyists and special interests he now demonizes on the campaign trail
.
http://www.boston.com/...
First Read reached Bauer, who said he's been a registered state lobbyist since March, working on clean coal technology in Southern Illinois. Bauer maintains that it's not inconsistent for Obama to refuse money from federal lobbyists -- but then receive help (financial or otherwise) from state lobbyists.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...
Obama's campaign proudly announced today the endorsement of former South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges who will join his campaign as a national co-chair.
But the endorsement of Hodges may raise eyebrows among those who support Obama because he strongly decries lobbyists on the stump, frequently saying that he will not let them work in his White House or set the agenda in Washington.
Hodges is the founder of Hodges Consulting Group, a state-based lobbying firm he started in 2003. The firm is a subsidiary of Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P, a law firm that represents clients in North Carolina and South Carolina.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...
The argument will be made that a lobbyist is a lobbyist, whether they are state or federal lobbyist.
Number five:
Republicans/McCain are chickenhawks.
And then there's 2008. McCain already has strong national-security credentials. His son's service only strengthens his position. It will neutralize the assertions of the left that Republicans are "chicken hawks," pursuing the war for ideological reasons without any connection to the pain of it. And it will probably have a broader effect on McCain's credibility. Critics have accused McCain of pandering to the right in order to solidify his front-runner status, but the power of that argument would be diminished if McCain were seen steadfastly supporting a war even as it endangered his youngest son.
Nothing, too, is more irritating to McCain, who sounds annoyed by the interest in his son's enlistment. In mid-June, he asked TIME not to run this story, and relented only when it appeared that other organizations might break the news.
http://www.time.com/...
Military
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Distinguished Flying Cross[283]
Prisoner of War Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal (Republic of Vietnam)
Both of McCain's sons are serving.
One in the Marines and one in the Navy.
I think that speaks for itself.
Number six:
Republican/McCain is/are racists.
Dadmag: Your youngest daughter Bridget is adopted. Why did you decide to adopt Bridget?
McCain: Well it was primarily my wife's Cindy's idea. She was in Bangladesh and she and some of the medical personnel visited Mother Theresa's orphanage to try and help the children there. There were two little baby girls there. One had a heart problem the other a severe cleft palate. Cindy was very concerned about their ability to survive and their need for medical treatment, so she decided to bring them here for medical treatment. She fell in love with both of them. We decided to adopt Bridget. Two close friends of ours, adopted Mickey, the other child.
Dadmag: You knew about your wife's decision before hand?
McCain: (laughs) No. She arrived and said "Say hello to your new little daughter."
Dadmag: A bit of a shock?
McCain: Yes indeed.
Dadmag: And how has it worked out? Are you happy with the decision to adopt Bridget?
McCain: Oh yes! She has enriched our lives. She's a wonderful child, a complete part of our family and we love her.
Dadmag: Your other children accepted her well?
McCain: Oh yeah sure. She's the toughest of the four. The youngest always has to be the toughest.
Dadmag: During your campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination Bridget became something of an issue in South Carolina didn't she?
McCain: Yeah. There were some pretty vile and hurtful things said during the South Carolina primary. It's a really nasty side of politics. We tried to ignore it and I think we shielded her from it. It's just unfortunate that that sort of thing still exists As you know she's Bengali, and very dark skinned. A lot of phone calls were made by people who said we should be very ashamed about her, about the color of her skin. Thousands and thousands of calls from people to voters saying "You know the McCains have a black baby" I believe that there is a special place in hell for people like those
http://www.dadmag.com/...
While Senator John McCain is campaigning as a Republican for President of the United States in the 2008 election, his 16 year old daughter, Bridget McCain, is in Phoenix, Arizona attending a private school. "We are a normal family just like everyone else," Bridge says.
As a sophomore in high school, the Arizona Senator’s daughter spends a lot of time playing sports. She likes playing basketball and volleyball, and like most kids, enjoys spending time with her friends. "School is awesome because of my friends," Bridget McCain said. "It’s important for kids to be respectful to each other and help one another to make school better for everyone."
When Bridget’s father, Senator McCain, ran for president in 2000, Bridget traveled with her family on the campaign trail. "I didn’t understand as well what was going on then because I was only in the second grade." She said she missed a lot of school "and didn’t get to hang out with my friends." But this campaign has been different for her because she stays at home with her soon to be sister-in-law, Tess, who is studying to be a chef, while her parents and older sister, Meghan, travel together campaigning. Bridget said she enjoys supporting her Dad and also getting to stay in Phoenix going to high school with her friends and attending study hall. She also likes to study history.
Bridget said her parents are her role models and heroes. "My Dad’s best achievement is being a dad and also running for president at the same time. He always puts family first!"
http://www2.scholastic.com/...
Number seven:
The likability issue.
McCain doesn't have the negatives that Clinton does.
The Arizona senator is viewed favorably by 61% of all registered voters, including a plurality of Democrats.
The survey showed that McCain's potential advantages extend even to domestic issues, where he is considered to be most vulnerable. Even though McCain has joked about his lack of expertise on economic issues, voters picked him over Obama, 42% to 34%, as being best able to handle the economy. However, Clinton led McCain on that issue, 43% to 34%.
http://www.latimes.com/...
Number eight:
The "hundred years" quote.
Here it is in its entirety:
"President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years." McCain responded, "Make it a hundred. We've been in Japan for 60 years, we've been in South Korea for 50 years or so. That'd be fine with me as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed. That's fine with me. I hope it will be fine with you if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where Al Qaeda is training, recruiting, equipping, and motivating people every single day."[233]
That's quite different than what has been said and will certainly be cleared up in the GE.
In fact, he is already addressing this issue and pointing out that we have an extended military position in a multitude of places in the world.
McCains appeal to some Dems and Indies:
McCain's reputation as a maverick stems primarily from his authorship of the McCain-Feingold Act for campaign finance reform and his stance on illegal immigration.[237]
McCain has been a lead sponsor of gun control legislation as well as what organizations including Gun Owners of America argue are restrictions on the free speech of pro-Second Amendment organizations[241] even earning an F- rating from Gun Owners of America
McCain voted against President Bush's tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, though he voted to extend the tax breaks in 2005.[244]
McCain has been an opponent of the Bush administration's use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" in the War on Terror, and has specifically referred to waterboarding as torture,[245][246] though he later voted against banning the procedure and others.[247] He has also said that he intends to "immediately close" the Guantanamo Bay detainment camp.[248
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
I have put a lot of time into researching this, so that I could write a comprehensive diary pointing out the differences Obama will face in the GE vs. McCain, as opposed to running against Clinton in the primaries.
One other thing I will point out is, the MSM loves McCain.
They will dissect Obama's speeches and platform much more thoroughly when it gets to the general election.
I hope this diary provokes some thought and good discussions about the general election.