Two Suburbs, Two Views of Obama

National Journal ^ | July 10, 2010 | Ronald Brownstein

[C19fan]

-- In this comfortable white-collar suburb southeast of Denver, the struggling economy is like a storm cloud on the horizon: menacing but still distant. A few miles away, in blue-collar Littleton, the downturn is more like a gale at the door. Yet both places share a volatile anxiety over the nation's direction that looms over the November election.

On July 4, 2008, I visited these two communities and found them starkly divided over the presidential race. White working-class voters in Littleton expressed doubts about Barack Obama's priorities, experience, and even loyalty, while Centennial's college-educated professionals were enthusiastic about his candidacy.

[ransomnote]

“Obama has a genuine well of respect, and time to recover lost ground before 2012. But each month of economic unease drains a little more goodwill from that well.”

Not sure using the word ‘well’ as a metaphor for respect for Obama is a good idea right about now....

[keepitreal]

Centennial? Tom Tancredo’s old district? This author is living in dream land. He probably found the handful of liberals who live there.

[virgin]

If Centennial voted preferentially for Obama, someone better check the voting machines. These people are solidly Conservative, and definitely not wealthy liberals. They work for a living. Imagine that!