Rasmussen: Obama leads Palin on experience among unaffiliated voters … by five points; Update: Biden calls Palin “lieutenant governor”
posted at 3:56 pm on September 4, 2008 by Allahpundit
I linked the data earlier in another post but didn’t note this fun factoid.
While Republicans and Democrats predictably favor their party’s candidate by overwhelming margins, the experience gap among voters unaffiliated with either party is even narrower than the national totals. Forty-two percent (42%) say Obama has better experience to be president, but 37% say Palin does.
The potential problem for Democrats is that Obama, the junior U.S. senator from Illinois and a former state legislator, is the party’s standard-bearer, while Palin, an ex-mayor and now governor of Alaska, is number two on her party’s ticket.
That is a potential problem, isn’t it? Obama leads 49/39 when all voters are counted and since unaffiliateds are likely to include more disaffected conservatives than liberals these days it’s probably safe to assume that those numbers are a tiny bit influenced by ideology. But the point I made yesterday and which Goldstein explores at greater length today abides: The more the media craps on her qualifications, the more The One comes in for uncomfortable compare-and-contrast scrutiny of his own, which may actually be her greatest asset to the ticket. To the extent that McCain chose her with an eye to deliberately inciting those comparisons then it was and is a cynical strategy, a sort of kamikaze move in ceding his own number-two slot to someone who’s not ready simply to throw a spotlight on the other side. Why it’s more cynical than nominating a guy for the number-one slot who looks the part, gives a good-ish speech, and otherwise has done jack utterly escapes me, but watch the left go around stamping its feet about the Palin pick and you’ll be half-convinced McCain’s committed an act of treason.
The irony is that by racing past simple investigation and trying to make her lack of experience a subject worthy of out-and-out yokel-ish ridicule, the media’s made it that much easier to reflect the derision onto Barry O. Hey, did you know he asked a question about Afghanistan in a committee meeting once? For realsies. Just ask his running mate.
Update: How harsh is that spotlight McCain’s thrown on him? Harsh enough that he and Biden have to pretend her credentials are actually even less than they are to make Obama look good by comparison. First The One discussed her as though she were still the mayor of Wasilla, now this:
“And the other thing I heard, I heard a very – by the way, I mean this sincerely – a very strong and a very good political speech from a lieutenant governor of Alaska, who I think is going to be very formidable, very formidable.”
Blowback
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Having her as VP is just getting better and better.
I can’t put it any better than you or the quoted piece did.
Esthier on September 4, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Potential problem for Democrats?
Looks like they didn’t vet their crappy candidate very well.
No convention do-overs, sorry Democrats.
You’re stuck with a lame donkey.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Hey Barry…why don’t you put on cleats before you go stomping on it next time m’kay?
sven10077 on September 4, 2008 at 4:00 PM
You seem to be in a good mood, AP.
The Big O has nowhere to go but down at this point, if he’s lucky, he’ll stay even. He’s been campaigning for over a year now, and no commanding lead less than 2 months from the election? Toast.
Anna on September 4, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Barry O’s been to a committee meeting? When?
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:01 PM
It’s pretty sad that they have to compare their candidate for President to the GOP candidate for Vice-president. Well, it’s not really that sad to me.
Torch on September 4, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Obama leads Palin on experience… in dirty insider politics… there, fixed.
Lawrence on September 4, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Lisa Nova needs to do another video – this time with Barry calling Hillary.
“Hello, Hillary? Listen…I’m f**ked. I’m totally humped.”
ManlyRash on September 4, 2008 at 4:03 PM
This is beautiful. After the debates those numbers might be flipped.
Spirit of 1776 on September 4, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Asking the dumbmasses any question other than who’s who on American idol is ridicules.
grapeknutz on September 4, 2008 at 4:03 PM
I’d like to hear some of these idiots explain just what experience O has that exceeds that of a sitting governor. Stuck on stupid.
DerKrieger on September 4, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Potential problem? Where’s that place McCain then?!
“Hello emptiness,
I feel like I could cry-hy,
uh, bye-bye Hussein bye bye-hy” -D. Axelrod.
Akzed on September 4, 2008 at 4:04 PM
John McCain got inside Barry’s head…
McCain picked Biden by painting bodysurfer boy into a corner.
sven10077 on September 4, 2008 at 4:04 PM
A little while ago on Fox, after his interview with O’Reilly he was bombarded by questions about last night, and I swear he looked like he was going to bust a vein.
He whined (and stomped)and accused Republicans of spreading vitriole about him and his good works.
Poor baby. Boo Freakin’ Hoo.
tru2tx on September 4, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Didn’cha know? He voted “Present”.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on September 4, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Why, Allah…it sounds like you’ve moved up to an 8 on your optimism scale. What’s that now, Morose?
flipflop on September 4, 2008 at 4:05 PM
I don’t believe this problem is as bad as it sounds.
Most voters, especially the unaffilliated ones don’t know anything about Palin yet.
The danger is that McCain has to fill in that blank slate before Obama can.
Republicans need to be rolling out ads explaining just who Palin is and what she has done. Ads contrasting her 2 years of governorship vs. Obama’s 3 years in the senate (2 of which have been spent campaigning for president) are a must.
Maybe they can talk about the number of times Obama has held a meeting for the sub-committee that he chairs. Grand total of none. Versus the work that Palin has actually done.
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Trust me- it will pass.
FiveWays on September 4, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Was Palin a great pick or what?
Twisted the Obama folks into a pretzel.
Who’s on first? I dunno. No, he’s on second.
HAHAHAHA
fogw on September 4, 2008 at 4:06 PM
LOL “potential problem”
kinda like the japs saying… hmmm you know that new bomb the americans dropped on us in Hiroshima and Nagasaki..well it may be a potential problem….
elduende on September 4, 2008 at 4:06 PM
If the Republicans aren’t making commercials that hammer this point home right now, then they are as clueless as we’ve always assumed them to be.
McCain was having a real good run with the ads before the convention. What happened to them?
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Come on, I keep telling you the only executive experience Obama has is the Annenberg Challenge. So in order to rebut Palin’s and other’s criticisms he would have to bring that up. Talk about a two edged sword! I am so-o-o loving it!
Deanna on September 4, 2008 at 4:07 PM
They’re like rebellious misbehaving teens who still expect, nay demand and need their parents to behave and play by the rules. They want security from their elders while they run wild, so it won’t all come tumbling down. They count on Republicans to be the grown-ups. Now they wonder if perhaps they’ve gone too far.
JiangxiDad on September 4, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Yea, let’s keep repeating that.
stenwin77 on September 4, 2008 at 4:08 PM
I believe those numbers are before her speech???
It will be fun to read the latest polls, the ones on Monday will show what is really happening.
If the Dems are not up by at least 5 points, they are in big trouble.
And the one person I would never like to have on a panicking ticket is Biden…he will try to talk his way out of trouble, and the more he talks the more goofs he makes.
Like I said, Biden knows how to get re-elected in Delaware, 1/200 the size of Alaska.
right2bright on September 4, 2008 at 4:09 PM
I don’t believe this problem is as bad as it sounds.
Most voters, especially the unaffilliated ones don’t know anything about Palin yet.
The danger is that McCain has to fill in that blank slate before Obama can.
QFT. The bio vid would have help start the process. Now, she’s got to face the wrath of an angry media who she just B**CH slapped.
Damiano on September 4, 2008 at 4:09 PM
2 years of campaigning is qualifications enough!
lorien1973 on September 4, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Obama, the media and his Obamatons just became wrapped up in his ‘style’ and empty promises. That’s Democrats for you, they get caught up in the things that don’t matter; flash, glitter, show. Republicans on the other hand will stick to our families, guns, Bibles and babies.
carbon_footprint on September 4, 2008 at 4:10 PM
I don’t accept the notion that Palin does not have the executive experience to be president.
If you look back through history, many of our presidents have had less.
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:10 PM
I wonder what it now is with BHO vs McCain.
unseen on September 4, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Well there’s sixteen months of presidential
campaigningexecutive experience down the drain.Dusty on September 4, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Please please I beg you, stop putting *eats* in all your posts! I don’t want to come across as mean, but it is annoying to no end.
It reminds me of the guy in the movie theatre, the guy who is oblivious to good manners and moderation. In one overly plump hand he hold the bottomless trough of popcorn, in the other equally plump hand he grips the cistern-sized vat of sugary soda.
Then for he rest of the movie, all you hear is his constant grinding on the popcorn with periodic slurps of the straw and wheezing breathes in-between!
Ok, sorry, Grue, I like your posts, but the…
*eats*
…could you please lose it?
Please!!
Montana on September 4, 2008 at 4:11 PM
I hope they don’t vote for Obama because he has more experience than Palin – as in they didn’t realize McCain was the one actually running for President.
I’m just sayin’
Mr_Magoo on September 4, 2008 at 4:12 PM
The left has latched onto Palin’s experience issue like someone holding a live electrical wire and can’t let go. The very last thing the left needs is more questions about “so what exactly is a community organizer again?,” because Obama hasn’t done jack since then.
pedestrian on September 4, 2008 at 4:12 PM
19 months of exposure for Barry vs 6 days for Palin? I’ll bet he’s not looking forward to that same poll in 2 weeks. He’s running with a restrictor plate in the fuel intake; she has a brand new story to tell on the trail.
a capella on September 4, 2008 at 4:12 PM
I don’t know how the questions were worded, but if Rasmussen specifically asked for that comparison, then it’s a cynical strategy that seems to be working pretty well.
RedWinged Blackbird on September 4, 2008 at 4:12 PM
After a few weeks of commercials and discussion of the experience of Palin vs Obama, those numbers should change.
Obama has name recognition and Paulin just arrived on the national stage.
Right_of_Attila on September 4, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Don’t listen to him grue!
*slurps*
pedestrian on September 4, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Yep, usually does with the Big A – - much like a kidney stone…
Rick on September 4, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Obama has claimed that while campaigning, he’s been thinking about presidential issues, and that this “thinking” is what qualifies him to be president.
Against this extensive thinking, I bring forth Obama’s initial responses (yes, plural) to the Russian invasion of Georgia.
Even with those many months of experience, it took him three tries to come up with the same answer that McCain had on the first try.
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:13 PM
So what does it say when the “Head” of a ticket is battling the “Second”?
BBBBBBBBBBBWWWWWWWWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA!!!!!!!!!!
Seven Percent Solution on September 4, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Its like Sarah is the anti Obama
William Amos on September 4, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Hey, I resemble that remark. :-)
Dusty on September 4, 2008 at 4:14 PM
crap, we scared them into giving more money to their messiah
jp on September 4, 2008 at 4:14 PM
All that community organizing experience?
Seems Chicago is more dangerous this summer than Iraq.
If Obama wants to be an agent of Change, maybe he’d be better off dealing with problems at home? Seems his Englewood District is starting to look like Baghdad.
This is something the GOP needs to make an issue.
coldwarrior on September 4, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Mmm, popcorn and soda…
Rick on September 4, 2008 at 4:16 PM
I second that!
*belches*
Brat on September 4, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Won’t do any good now.
DerKrieger on September 4, 2008 at 4:17 PM
On the other hand, Obama outspent Hillary something like 3 to 1 in the last few months of the primary and managed to win, I think, one primary out of 10 or 14.
Given all the money that team Obama has spent to date, and considering how little they have to show for it. I’m not to worried.
Additionally, it seems that team Obama is sucking up most of the money that was available for Democrats in general this year. Their congressional campaigns are getting starved for cash.
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Yes, looks like he needs to go back and organize his community again.
Rick on September 4, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Like Baghdad used to be.
I guess we need a surge for Chicago.
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Obama screwed up in going for POTUS too soon. Had he waited another 4 yrs or tried instead to be someone’s VP he would have probably been elected POTUS one day. But if he fails now then he’s done forever.
DerKrieger on September 4, 2008 at 4:19 PM
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:18 PM –
If a company CEO spent that sort of money for the same limited results…he/she’d be fired. Right?
coldwarrior on September 4, 2008 at 4:19 PM
With lots of butter?
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:19 PM
Obama in the spotlight with Media/Hollywood/Musicians: 589 days.
Palin in the spotlight with Media trashing her : 7
carbon_footprint on September 4, 2008 at 4:19 PM
I like to bring this up and ask Barry supporters to explain what he’s been successful at besides getting promoted. The answer is usually a thee-step process.
1. Roll eyes and sneer
2. Tell me I’m being stupid
3. Complain about Bush
I figure I win those exchanges.
hump1201 on September 4, 2008 at 4:19 PM
“crap, we scared them into giving more money to their messiah”
So what, more lefty drug money down the tubes and more of them to be upset about when Barry blows the election.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2008 at 4:19 PM
I had a friend make a comment on Facebook yesterday that he had more foreign policy experience than Sarah Palin. I reminded him and all of the other idiots that Obama supporters shouldn’t be throwing stones when it comes to experience. That shut him up.
prolix on September 4, 2008 at 4:19 PM
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:18 PM –
Yeah. Like Baghdad used to be. Glad you caught that.
coldwarrior on September 4, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Maverick!
Rick on September 4, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Rush was just on Neil Cavuto and he predicts Obama will dump Biden and ask Hillary.
It’d be suicide now – can’t see it -
tru2tx on September 4, 2008 at 4:20 PM
My Chihuahua says:
*piddles*
LimeyGeek on September 4, 2008 at 4:20 PM
I love the bit.
*eats*
carbon_footprint on September 4, 2008 at 4:20 PM
I just checked on bills that Obama has proposed this session. It seemed to me like the majority of them were of the “resolution to support dogs against cats” kind of bills…
Seixon on September 4, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Excellent.
progressoverpeace on September 4, 2008 at 4:21 PM
I’ve read that Barry didn’t expect to win. This was supposed to be Hillary’s year. He was planning to use this run to build organization and make connections in preperation for 2012 or 2016.
When Hillary fell flat on her face and the media/DNC decided that they wanted him to win, it caught him by surprise and totally unprepared.
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Actually might work for him. The lunatics on the Left will rally and make this our girl vs. your girl.
DerKrieger on September 4, 2008 at 4:22 PM
It would be sweet at this juncture. He would lose all independents with that move. It would be the biggest weakness exposed in his judgment since his Georgia Doctrine flip-flop.
carbon_footprint on September 4, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Q: Has Obama ever used veto power?
A: Nope
TheSitRep on September 4, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Before this week, I’d have agreed with you. Now, I wouldn’t put anything past them.
Jim Treacher on September 4, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Makes sense. I wonder what Hillary’s reply would be. She could take the VP spot and maybe be in the One’s shadow for 4-8 yrs or she can decline so he fails and then run for POTUS again in 2012. Hmmmmm.
DerKrieger on September 4, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Worked with Torricelli.
lorien1973 on September 4, 2008 at 4:24 PM
If Obama dumps Biden, he’s toast.
It will make him look like he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Which he doesn’t.
Not to mention, what will they have to give Biden to shut him up? They can’t take his Senate seat away.
And I don’t think Hills is going to want to be Bambi’s second banana. She’ll stab him in the back in a second so she can run in 2012 and even the Bambi knows it.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Me neither, but I do see a Hillary hitting the stump in a big way soon. She abandoned all principle when she abandoned the roll call vote for that pathetic dog and pony show.
Damiano on September 4, 2008 at 4:26 PM
The lunatics will vote for Obama no matter what he does.
To the undecideds it will look like a desperation move.
Also, since the only thing Obama has going for him is his claims of superior judgement, how will it look to have him ask for a do-over on his first major decision in the campaign?
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:27 PM
We know why he doesn’t want to talk about that: (1) $160 Million dollars down the tubes, and absolutely nothing to show for it. (2) Years spent working hand-in-hand with that “guy who just happpens to live in my neighborhood,” the radical Lefty terrorist, Billy Ayers, whom Obama likes to pretend he barely knows.
AZCoyote on September 4, 2008 at 4:27 PM
uh whut
Jim Treacher on September 4, 2008 at 4:27 PM
“lieutenant governor of Alaska”
Did Biden really mean “battalion”?
As in, once Palin and McCain get done with Obama/Biden, Bambi/Hairplugs are going to look like a battalion marched over them.
NoDonkey on September 4, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Agreed. Reminds me of a scene in “O Brother”
“Why we’d look like a bunch of johnny-come-latelies braggin’ on our own midget – no matter how stumpy”
LimeyGeek on September 4, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Well, let’s make sure our team doesn’t run short.
http://www.rnc.org
BacaDog on September 4, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Pretty soon, “Governor” will officially DNC-morph into:
“Vice Lieutenant PTA Bad Mom”
Can’t wait for the commercials.
econavenger on September 4, 2008 at 4:28 PM
**Exclusive** Obama scores $8 million since Palin’s speech from over 130,000 donors – on pace to hit $10 million by the time John McCain hits stage, campaign says… Developing…
crap, we scared them into giving more money to their messiah
jp on September 4, 2008 at 4:14 PM
wha? huh? How did that happen??
tru2tx on September 4, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Expect Obama to double McCain’s public money in the next two months. I don’t really know what that buys him from an advantage perspective, and I’m not one of those who is prone to say “nothing”, but wouldn’t it be ironic if Obama’s campaign single-handedly spent America out its current economic malaise and then he lost?
That’s Ben and Jerry’s Coffee Heathbar Crunch quality irony.
Immolate on September 4, 2008 at 4:28 PM
I can see the Hot Air headline:
Conservatives Find Their Obama, and Liberals Find Their Eagleton
Jim Treacher on September 4, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Experience at deep digging up bullsh#t!
Demand Obama come up with the proof of
more experience!
Another MSM urban Legend!
canopfor on September 4, 2008 at 4:28 PM
That would be an even bigger slap in the face to Hillary – -not to mention it would undermine all the garbage said at the DNC convention. Lastly, it would show that Obamba’s judgment is very, very questionable (at best).
Rick on September 4, 2008 at 4:28 PM
On the other hand, if Biden can claim health issues then there would be fewer, perhaps no negative consequences.
If Obama starts close talks with Hillary, Biden better hire some food tasters.
MarkTheGreat on September 4, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Yep- this poll was before Saracuda’s speech.
Cant wait till tomorrow- and then Obama get asked about it. Or so I can dream
Chuck Schick on September 4, 2008 at 4:29 PM
The doofus doesn’t know the difference between “battalion” and “brigade”, why should we expect to use “lieutenant” correctly?
Texas Rainmaker on September 4, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Republicans need to be rolling out ads explaining just who Palin is and what she has done. Ads contrasting her 2 years of governorship vs. Obama’s 3 years in the senate (2 of which have been spent campaigning for president) are a must.
dead on correct 100%… Any McCain people reading this thread? Side by side comparisons…. To make it catchy, maybe something like one of those old shampoo or paper towel commercials… Palin, the Quicker Picker Upper…(not that, but youknow what I mean!)
Obama… tastes great, MUCH less filling…
max1 on September 4, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Except that this is not likely to be why Camp McCain chose her. Rather, it seems clear (imho) that she was picked to reinforce his Mavericky reform image, much as Gore was picked to reinforce Clinton’s younger Southern image in 1992. That’s the “Narrative” approach that Noonan doesn’t like, but it is what it is. I would imagine Camp McCain considered that people would attack her lack of experience on the national stage and concluded; (1) she’s a quick study; and (2) the dynamic AP notes about such attacks boomeranging on Obama is a bonus.
Karl on September 4, 2008 at 4:30 PM
I disagree. I think of the Obamessiah dumped Plugs and picked up Cankles, they’d win.
However, would she do that? If the One is going down the tubes, why would she help him?
Darksean on September 4, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Begin Eagleton meme for Biden….now!
Brat on September 4, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Sarahcuda stepped up to the plate last night as the most lied-about, slandered, and vilified person in America.
With 37 million people watching, she calmly smacked pitch after pitch over the wall and out of the park.
The pressure the Democrats, the MSM, and the hatemongers (but I repeat myself) placed on her was incredible. And that pressure produced a diamond.
Sarah Palin’s tears cure cancer. Too bad she has never cried. Ever. (hat tip to Frank J.)
__________
RJGatorEsq. on September 4, 2008 at 4:31 PM
I’ve notice this about Biden.. throws a lot of these ‘Gaffes’ out there, gets a reputation for gaffes, then says whatever he wants.. it’s an act, an act he was able to do for the last 20 years or so..
puts on the appearance of the bumbler that allows him license to say crap like that..
DaveC on September 4, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Would love to hear McCain say tonight, “I don’t believe Sen Obama has the experience to be President…and neither does his running mate”.
Slimm on September 4, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Maybe Biden meant,Lieutenant Commander?
canopfor on September 4, 2008 at 4:31 PM
This Palimania has had an absolute optimistic effect on you Allah. You seem to be firing on all 12 cyclinders today my friend.
Sarah-cuda catch the feevah!
FiveWays on September 4, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Also, people concerned that she’s a blank slate should note that Palin just got to talk about herself and her professional accomplishments directly with over 37 million Americans, while ribbing The One’s old gig as a community organizer. There’s no ad that’s going to reach 37 million people.
Karl on September 4, 2008 at 4:32 PM
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