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Uh... Why did the Obama Camp think this was a good idea?

Submitted by aberman on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 08:14

I'm starting to wonder if this overseas trip will go down as one of the biggest presidential campaign mistakes of the last few decades.

It's not that Obama made any gaffes, or that he was too popular among foreigners, or that he painted over the American Flag.  Think about the undecided voter. Just where does "getting along well with Europe" stand on their list of worries?

I can see the campaign might think that this tour would make Obama look 'more presidential.' But Obama is the Democratic Nominee for President.  If they're worried about that at this stage in the game, then they have serious problems.  Furthermore, how are cheering crowds in Europe going to change that?

I know that imagery has a lot of power.  But images are transient. The memory of this trip is going to fade.  In the meantime, McCain is going around getting votes by giving speeches to actual voters.

 

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Also Think It Was A Bad Idea

Submitted by Jeff Roberts on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 15:19.

Maybe it's just because I'm a conservative, but the whole spectacle really rubbed me the wrong way.  Large rallys of anti-american Europeans cheering on Obama makes the candidate look even more elitist and aloof.  I'm sure this plays well with blue-state liberals that want so badly to be loved by Europe, but the voters Obama has to win over are not going to impressed.

I'm sure the Obama campaign thought they were going to get a nice 8 point boost in the polls, but it hasn't materialized.  If anything, McCain's been making significant gains in several swing states over the last week.

 

 

Turned ME off!!

Submitted by Rensen on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 17:06.

BO's appeal to be president of the world did more to solidify my motivation to work for McCain than anything else he's done so far.

Ok, wait - did he address the Tiergarten crowd in German

Submitted by lagomorph on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 17:31.

and Sarkozy & Co. in French?  I've been busy the past 2 days and haven't had time to watch the coverage, but don't you think he'd bloody well better be sextilingual (that sounded nasty didn't it?  meh!)  at a minumum after those remarks about how embarrassed he was by Americans who can't say anything except Merci Beaucoup when we go over to Europe.   He should have spoken Farsi, Arabic, Hebrew, German, French, and of course English.  Let me know if you heard him speak, and whether he sounded like an effete elitist linguist, or merely a hypocritical poseur.  If there is a third option, bring it.  I'll look for the update later.  Thank you.