Susan J. Demas: Mighty Mac adrift in Michigan (McCain)

[Demeter]

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/1668



...So one has to wonder if the Arizona senator was in denial about his inevitable opponent. Because what I want to know is: What was John McCain doing for the four months between when he clinched the GOP nomination and Obama sealed his? And what's he doing now?...McCain had a tremendous advantage. And as far as I can see, he blew it - especially here in Michigan. It's a dream come true for a candidate to be able to define himself. To have the stage to yourself for months while your rival's teeth are being knocked in daily by a member of his own party is like a nonstop ecstasy trip for politicians....Since the Jan. 15 Michigan primary, McCain has done a couple of fundraisers and two events here, including a baffling May 7 speech on child pornography at Oakland University. On the list of top 1,000 issues for Michiganders, kiddie porn ranks about 1,263,000....The economy fills up slots one through 900 at least, as we've just hit 8.5 percent unemployment, a number we last saw when George W.'s daddy was in the Oval Office...These are things the crackerjack Mitten State campaign team of Chuck Yob & Son should be telling McCain, but they're too busy hurling nukes at state GOP Chair Saul Anuzis to care. The Yob Doctrine dictates that it doesn't matter if you win or lose elections, but how many of your Republican brethren you can settle scores with by napalming them along the way.

McCain's campaign consists of two generic TV ads, as he seems utterly determined to lose Michigan at any cost. He won't even be back here until mid-July for yet another fundraiser.

In contrast, Obama, who completely ignored us for a year with our botched Democratic primary, has come back a-courtin' with a hundred red roses in hand on three different occasions in the last month..."I'm so sorry, baby," the current Us Weekly cover boy croons to crowds, savvily hitting every sweet spot in the state from Troy to Grand Rapids. "I know the economy's been so bad. Let me make it up to you with John Edwards, Al Gore and $150 million in research pork."...As for the ground game, Obama is everywhere in the Great Lakes State, with 50 events last weekend from the U.P. to Downriver.

So there's little surprise that Mighty Mac sunk 8 points among independents in Rasmussen Michigan polls over the last month and he's trailing nationally, as well. He's flipped on offshore and Arctic drilling and called last week's Supreme Court ruling upholding habeas corpus rights for Guantanamo detainees "one of the worst decisions in the history of this country."...How this crass pandering is supposed to snare Democrats and independents is beyond me....



A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION

Susan J. Demas writes a weekly syndicated political column appearing in RealClearPolitics, the Detroit News, Lansing State Journal, eight newspapers for Mlive.com and Battle Creek Enquirer. She serves as a political analyst for Michigan Information & Research Service (MIRS) in Lansing, covering the state Senate and presidential election. She is a 2006 Knight Foundation fellow in The Fourth Estate and the Third Sector program for nonprofits investigative journalism through Marshall University.

[Jokinomx]

1. As a person who actually supported JM when he ran against GWB...

I can't stand to look at him anymore. His embracing of the criminal in the WH really showed where his loyalty is. If he had not helped GWB in 2004 and actually condemned what he had done.... maybe then I could maybe respect him a little more. But since he put his PARTY ahead of what was actually better for the country there is no way I could ever think of supporting him.

My father in law is dyed in the wool republican. He has NEVER voted for a Democrat for president in his 83 years... he is a good, honest hardworking, my word is my handshake type of guy.... he told me that he will be voting for Obama in the fall.

This election is Obama's to lose. He can't run a negative campaign .... it will turn those like my Father in law away from him. I have to think that if someone like my FinL is willing to vote for Obama... there are thousands of others that are willing to give him a chance .... as long as he doesn't screw up somehow.

:toast:

[knitter4democracy]

2. I always like her political essays.

Susan's always spot-on. Harsh, maybe, but spot-on.