The mantra of “are you really going to vote for the same people who got us into this mess” didn’t exactly work too well for the Democrats in the 2010 midterms. And I don’t believe that Clinton’s mantra of “nobody could have fixed this mess in four years, not even me” will work any better in the 2012 election.
About two months after the 2010 midterms, I was visiting with my Aunt in Maryland when my Uncle passed away. She’s a loyal Democrat in her 70’s, and she didn’t know that I was a Conservative (my parents are Liberals, so she assumed I was too). She told me in a very worried tone of voice that if the economy didn’t turn around, then Obama would be a one termer.
She was obviously shaken by the fact that the GOP did so well in the midterms. She wasn’t angrily saying “Did people expect him to fix this mess in two years?” She accepted that the midterm results were a reaction to the fact that Obama did not improve things at all during the first half of his term, and that he was now in real trouble.
My point is that I don’t believe that middle of the road Democrats, in their heart of hearts, think Obama deserves a pass on the lousy job he’s done. These people had really high hopes for him, they expected results, they wanted his ability to get things done to match his ability to make good speeches.
Now all they’re left with is “well, maybe nobody could have fixed this mess in four years”. But do they really believe that? I don’t think so, and I think they’ll be voting for him strictly out of party loyalty, not because they think he deserves to be re-elected.
My Aunt’s lament is consistent with the lack of Obama yard signs, the small crowds he’s drawing, and the fact that he had to move his acceptance speech to a smaller venue. The enthusiasm just isn’t there, and all this MSM spin is designed to energize people like my Aunt as much as it’s designed to depress our side.
I’m not buying it.
I live in NYC and there is NOTHING! Maybe a bumper sticker or there but thats it.
The difference between 2008 is unreal.
I predict very low turnout in NYS. No one seems to even care here, its as if there is not even an election happening.
Its strange.
I am with you. I a still trying to wrap my head around the fact that in 2010 Obama was absolutely toxic. They did not want him near any candidate in a swing state. He had approvals in the high 30s across the board - from Ohio to Virginia. And now two years later, when things have gotten even worse, suddenly he’s loved and adored? I don’t buy it.
And about Clinton. Please. The guy campaigned for every big name Dem in 2010, from Deeds, Coakley, Corzine, Strickland, Barrett, and on and on. He lost every one. He could not even get his own wife elected in the Democrat party. He had no coattails for Al Gore. So I don’t buy this big swoon effect from Clinton. It’s BS!
I am not saying the pollsters are lying, certainly not Rasmussen. But something else is going on. Did two straight years of calling everyone a racist who didn’t agree with Obama, scare some voters? Did the anti Romney ads run all summer damage Romney to the point of no return, and Obama just the safer pick - even though they are not thrilled with Obama? I don’t know.
Nothing makes sense. Not the economic data, not the internals (where he is upside down). Nothing makes sense historically speaking.
It’s mind boggling.
The mantra of “are you really going to vote for the same people who got us into this mess” didn’t exactly work too well for the Democrats in the 2010 midterms.
The only reason Republicans won in 2010 is because the Democrats didn’t vote. They will be voting this time around. Not to the extent of 2008 but they will vote.