Money, Money, Money!!!
The Fix reports that Barack Obama is outspending John McCain nearly 3 to 1 on television ads! The Fix even believes that this may account for Obama’s surge in the polls.
He also breaks the spending so far down by individual states. How much are Obama and McCain spending in YOUR state? Do you think this will translate to one particular candidate winning your state?
War of the Worlds: The Mass Media Creates PANIC!
On Monday we talked a lot about the Mass media and how it affects politics and politicians.
From WNYC:
An examination of the power of mass media to create panic. In Radio Lab’s very first live hour, we take a deep dive into one of the most controversial moments in broadcasting history – Orson Welles’ 1938 radio play about Martians invading New Jersey. And we ask: Why did it fool people then? And why has it continued to fool people since?
This radio story is GREAT to listen to. What do you think about the radio story? Is it possible for the mass media to create panic? Does this relate to the panic that we’re having now about the state of the economy?
Round 2: Debate in Nashvegas
In just a few hours John McCain and Barack Obama will face off for their second (of three) debates in Nashville, Tennessee.
In the past few days, as we discussed in class, the campaign has taken an especially nasty turn. McCain and Palin have questioned Obama’s ties to 60′s radical William Ayers. While Obama has called McCain ‘erratic’ (calling into question his age perhaps), and brought up McCain’s involvement in the Keating 5 scandle of in the early 1990′s.
In the mean time, the Dow Industrial Average plummeted yesterday and the world wide economy looks to be in dire straights. This appears to be helping Obama as his poll numbers continue to rise nationally, and in key states, ahead of McCain.
Tonight, Obama will simply need to not mess up. He’ll need to avoid any serious pitfalls and keep McCain from landing any ‘zingers’ on him. McCain on the other hand needs to be on the offense. He needs to reverse the tidal wave of new support heading Obama’s way.
McCain’s task is significantly more difficult than Obama’s – but possible. Remember the Reagan/Carter debate from 1980?
The debate will be held in a ‘Town Hall’ format. Traditionally pundits have said this format favors McCain. Questions are asked from audience members to the candidates with a free flowing format ensuing after the questions are asked. The candidates will be able to roam around on the stage and walk up to the audience in order to respond. It allows the candidates to be more spontaneous and more personable. You’ll hear a lot of ‘plainfolk’ talk tonight. See if you can point it out!
Some analysis on what to watch for tonight from the political ‘experts’:
Will they stay civil tonight? Who will throw the first punch? Will Obama avoid McCain’s attacks?
Electoral Vote News Bits
Some news on the upcoming race!
- Obama has the upper hand in Ohio according to the Washington Post.
- The GOP (Republican party) in Virginia is worried that Obama may win the state.
- John McCain has decided to stop campaigning in Michigan. His fate now hangs on three states, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
- There’s a new poll out in New Mexico
- FirstRead predicts that Obama will get at least 264 EVs. Is your state one of them?
- Karl Rove, former adviser to George W. Bush, has a good political analysis website.
- Can Halloween Masks predict the election?
Don’t Vote!!!
There’s a great video here about voting and registering to vote! The voter registration deadline in Texas is MONDAY October 6th. you may not be able to register for this election, but you can still make a difference. A lot of your friends, who you just saw at homecoming, aren’t registered to vote. Maybe because they moved to another town to go to college, or maybe cause they’re just lazy. Send them a link to this video, or this post, or link them to this post on facebook, or MySpace, or something!
Do your part.