Today's installment of campaign-related news items that won't necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* The Obama campaign's new ad mocks Mitt Romney for targeting Big Bird. It's worth emphasizing that this ad won't be part of Obama's swing-state ad campaign, and will air only on national cable. (Sesame Street would like the ad to be taken down.)
* In Ohio, a SurveyUSA poll for the NBC affiliate in Columbus shows Obama leading Romney by one point, 45% to 44%.
* In Pennsylvania, a Siena poll shows Obama leading by three, 43% to 40%, while a Susquehanna poll shows the president up by two, 47% to 45%.
* In Michigan, a new EPIC-MRA shows Obama's lead at three points, 48% to 45%.
* Priorities USA Action has a new ad this week on Romney's proposed education cuts, while a new AFSCME ad draws a distinction between Romney's debate rhetoric and what he told donors in the "47 percent" video.
* In Massachusetts' U.S. Senate race, though most recent polling has shown Elizabeth Warren (D) in the lead, a new WBUR poll finds Sen. Scott Brown (R) ahead by four, 47% to 43%.
* The U.S. Senate race in North Dakota has become one of the most competitive in the nation, and a new Mason-Dixon poll shows former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp (D) tied with Rep. Rick Berg (R) at 47% each.
* In Missouri, troubled Senate candidate Todd Akin claims to have raised more than $1 million in online contributions since mid-August.
* And speaking of Missouri, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Dave Spence accidentally misspelled the word "governor" in his new television ad.
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Please, enough of big bird...that is not going to change the election any.
Agreed it's a really terrible ad and the lamebrain who thought it up should be fired.
At least Big Bird does have a "window" that opens! Just think of the mess he could make on Mitts Caddy.
(sorry, you are right of course. All the troubles of this election will not revolve around a big yellow bird.)
GREAT commercial--but I'm guessing it is going to get little or no actual play.
Given that "Big Bird" is the only memorable sound bite from the first debate, and that funding for PBS is the only concrete example of spending cuts, at 0.015% of the budget, that Mitt mentioned, I think it is the perfect shorthand for the lack of specifics from Romney.
That is a GREAT commercial. Loved it.
"Mitt Romney, taking on our enemies no matter where they nest"
Now I see why he wants to increase defense spending.
I saw in the Big Bird ad that Romney going after the low lying fruit like Big Bird, has no intention of paying for anything -- as in the Bush Admin. It will once again be the US Credit Card -- CHARGE IT!!
It also returned focus to Wall St - just showing the street sign. Romney's going after Big Bird - and will be rewarding Wall St & the 1% with unpaid tax cuts and not touching anything in the loopholes like mortgage interest etc. It will be a free for all for the 1%
The ad according to all the media, inclusive of MSNBC's talking heads I've heard today, is frivolous, childish, etc. Me thinks the media talking heads are too far into their own bubble that they can't see beyond the same thing as Romney -- that shiny object. Sad to see MSNBC has fallen for the same.
Fox News has an article stating that "Sesame Workshop is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and we do not endorse candidates or participate in political campaigns. We have approved no campaign ads, and as is our general practice, have requested that the ad be taken down," Sesame Workshop said in a statement.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/09/obama-campaign-deploys-big-bird-in-new-ad/#ixzz28pPT0MOQ
I agree enough with Big Bird - move on to show the lies that Romney and Ryan are saying.
Well, as much as the ridiculousness of taking down PBS hence Big Bird made Mittens look bad, I think Obama needs to move forward and talk about his accomplishment from now to Nov 6th.
Hence the big-bird ad.....
""If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run away from. You make a big election about small things," Obama said to a raucous crowd at Canton's civic center. "Ohio, we are here to say, `Not this time. Not this year."'
For those who said those of us who were worried about the president's lack of performance last Wednesday were over-reacting, would you care to reconsider? He had the wind at his back and all he had to do was be frickin' present, rather than sending a stand-in, and all would still be well. The next day, in front of a few thousand people and maybe 5 million on cable news that will see a sound-bite or two, he shows what he could have done in front of 60 million. There may be no crying in baseball, but there is definitely no excuses in politics.
The President could not spend the whole debate playing 'whack-a-mole' which he would have needed to do as there was no truth coming out of Romney's mouth
I think if he had hit Romney hard early, and taken the wind out of his sails, the debate would have progressed in much different fashion.
It's Missouri. It will hardly be noticed...
please don't think all Missourians just fell of the turnip truck, some of us have some brains, although it is hard to tell sometimes
Downloaded the Big Bird ad... :)
A new Mason-Dixon poll showed Mason leading Dixon by 7.
The ad is funny, but beneath a Presidential re-election campaign. Obama is not running for Student Council.
Agreed. I also do not like the ads with the garbage collector that picks up trash at Romneys place in California. So.....we are supposed to be basing our vote on one of the most important positions in the world (if not THE most important) on the fact that a candidate does not have a personal relationship with his garbage collector??? Really - this is what is important? Give me a break. This is textbook from the politcial handbook - demonize your opponent. Absolutely NOTHING to do with running the country. This campaign is getting more and more like "The Onion" - but it is real.
I saw in the Big Bird ad that Romney going after the low lying fruit like Big Bird, has no intention of paying for anything -- as in the Bush Admin. It will once again be the US Credit Card -- CHARGE IT!!
It also returned focus to Wall St - just showing the street sign. Romney's going after Big Bird - and will be rewarding Wall St & the 1% with unpaid tax cuts and not touching anything in the loopholes like mortgage interest etc. It will be a free for all for the 1%
Christ, this isn't the only ad the Obama campaign in running. Try to hold more than two thoughts in your head.
I thought the Big Bird ad was a great use of satire.
Maybe for SNL. But for a incumbent President polling at 50/50, need more much more.
Christ, this isn't the only ad the Obama campaign in running. Try to hold more than two thoughts in your head.
I'm kind of getting tired of this Sesame Street thing. It happened. It was funny. We got some play out of it. Take it out of the stump speech.
amid a bunch of ugly numbers for our president...one small ray of hope
ABC News/Wash Post
Mitt Romney reached his highest personal popularity of the election campaign among registered voters in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll – but not by enough to lift his head above water, nor to surpass Barack Obama, who reached his own best favorability rating of the season.
Obama Favorable 55, Unfavorable 44 Favorable +11
Romney: Favorable 47, Unfavorable 51 Unfavorable +4
http://www.langerresearch.com/uploads/1127-45a1FavorabilityNo45a1.pdf
Those poll numbers aren't good. 2-3 points for OH, PA and MI? Better than losing, but the hemorrhaging needs to stop soon.
Since September, Mitt Romney has made gains among women and younger voters, and has expanded his advantage among whites without a college degree. In the current poll, women likely voters are evenly divided between the candidates (47% each), while men support Romney by a 51%-43% margin. Last month, Obama led Romney by 18 points among women, and trailed among men by only two points.
Similarly, Obama held a solid 56%-39% lead among likely voters under 50 last month. In the current poll, Obama runs even with Romney among voters in this age group (46% Obama, 49% Romney).
Anyone remember the great collapse of the 1978 Boston Red Sox? On July 14th that year the Red Sox held what appeared to be an insurmountable 14 1/2 game lead over the NY Yankees. By late September the Red Sox had suffered the most historic collapse by any sports team in the history of professional sports while the Yankees swept Boston to draw even by September's end. A one game playoff occured in Boston's own Fenway Park. And an unlikely hero emerged as the dealer of the death nell that ruined the Red Sox season and kept the Curse of the Bambino alive. Trailing 2-0 the Yankees shortstop crushed a fastball deep into the screen above the Green monster and the Yankees took a lead 3-2. Final Score, 5-4 Yankees. The player who delivered that blow, ...............
Is Mitt Romney, the Bucky Dent of the republican party in 2012. Women Voters seem to be saying, "YES".
Trivia ? who was the then Red Sox pitcher and former NY Yankee who surrendered that home run to Bucky Dent?
You know how the First Lady always brings someone to sit with her during major events - well I want Michele Obama to bring Big Bird with her to the "Town Hall style" Presidential debate. He could just sit there playing with an Etch A Sketch.
Yeah, lets just make a mockery of the Presidential election. I just wonder what the rest of world thinks of this type of campaign crap on both sides. This in not the way to pick a world leader - Big Bird and Etch A Sketch. Come on, this election is for grownups.
Please stop lying Skip. You know damn well that if this election was about or for grownups most of the Republican Party wouldn't be allowed to vote, let alone run for office.
By using Big Bird the real intent was to polticize PBS in order to make their lie about it being liberal seem more possible. I think PBS should make an appeal for private funding to make a commercial criticizing this tactic and reminding people that PBS is not a partisan tool.
Maybe Big Bird could however do a flyover during a Mitt rally and drop some fertilizer--along with a few thousand friends.
I think PBS should make an appeal for private funding
Well they are pretty good at that with their pledge drives. This really is a non-issue since not much federal funding goes to PBS. Most of their funding is from private foundations and "viewers like you". BTW I did hear last week on some radio show that was talking to the head of Sesame productions - the company that actually produces the show - and she stated that the show makes money. So even though funding for PBS and arts programs are very small dollar wise, I do think the government should get out of it all together.
I was trying to refer to their making an ad against the politics. I do realize your point. I just wanted to be sure nobody would accuse them of using any of the public funds they do get on an ad telling the ploiticians to stop playing politics with big bird.
Thank you for making your point though since I seem to have been unclear.
Wikipedia: "Public broadcasting stations are funded by a combination of private donations from listeners and viewers, foundations and corporations (59.4% of 2010 total revenues of all stations), state and local taxes (21.8% of 2010 total revenues), local and national underwriting, and federal funds, principally through the CPB (15.5% of 2010 total revenues).[5]"
15.5% may not seem like a lot, but it is when you take it out. Per wiki, that translates to $26.65 million. The CPB also provides "$222.36M for direct grants to local public television stations." Not sure if Romney also wants to cut those funds as well.
The biggest problem I have is that 59.4% of the CPB's budget comes from corporations and foundations (i.e., really rich people). I can't believe that CPB doesn't succumb to the demands of corporate executives and foundation trustees (i.e., really rich people) when it comes to programming decisions.
Does shine light on the first debate hosted by Lehrer don't it.
Even the Koch bro.s fund some PBS shows.
Mitt does tell the truth, he said he likes to "fire people", we just didn't Big Bird was the first to go.
Ryan this morning said Big Bird will be fine. They've even flip-flopped on Big Bird.
When your campaign is already correcting what you have said in a debate when you haven't even left the building -- there's a serious problem -- as they did about Romney's healthcare for pre-existing amoung other things.
The U. S. Senate map is looking increasingly good for the Democrats. Republicans are fighting for seats in Arizona, North Dakota, and Indiana--places where they should have these races tucked away by now. Shelley Berkley is in a nip and tuck race with a Republican incumbent in Nevada.
Here's a link that will show how things stand as of the latest polls:
http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2012/Senate/Maps/Oct09-s.html
"Are you entertained, ARE YOU ENTERTAINED!" The media is giving the American people what they desire, Soap opera-like politics, full of drama, lies, character assassinations, and the total suspension of disbelief and untruth. Yes, I know these traits have always been the bread and butter for the GOP but, now the Dems are doing it occasionally too. The GOP and Mitty is like the boy who murdered his parents, and on the day of sentencing starts crying, pleading, pitching a fit on the floor, throwing himself on the mercy of the court (the American people) because now he's an orphan! Thats GOP gall alright. The economic state of this Nation is a result of GOP lies that got us into two wars, Tax-cuts for the wealthy, and letting the Bull of Wall Street run around and to do whatever he wanted. And they have fought, the people's champion, President Obama the whole 4 years but, he still managed to do many repairs. "Let the fact be submitted to a candid world," as T. Jefferson would say!
Let's ask Romeny if he wre to win. Would he then release his taxes????
It's sad that even the talking heads of MSNBC shows don't watch their other cable shows on their own 'network'
I say this in that Rachel had an excellent segment showing that it was 5 of the 6 incumbent presidents lost the first presidential debate and came back to win (I forget what number came back but majority)
Haven't heard one of MSNBC's shows discuss this issue. They are showing they are much like Romney -- they are following the shiny object -- Big Bird and they're missing the point of that too as if they looked beyond the 'Big Bird', there is the mention of and the picture of Wall St and therefore the 1%.
Sad to say MSNBC has lost some cred once the debate finished. Chris was a total screaming loon as was Ed and Chris is still in some outfield somewhere. Can't say Andrea has been any great hell -- actually I still question why Chris & Andrea are considered the 'experts'.
If not for Rachel and Alex -- I wouldn't be watching MSNBC
I think we need to send both Romney and Dick Cheney out to the cornfields of Iowa with camouflaged outfits and shotguns to hunt for Big Bird. Maybe we'll be fortunate enough to have them shoot each other.
You may consider the focus on Big Bird frivolous, but I think the phrase along the lines of "He wants to attack Sesame Street and give a pass to Wall Street" is exactly the kind of easily remembered sound bite that is effective with many voters.
And as Rachel featured, out of all the dry, obscure statistics, wonkisms, and "Am not! Are too!" exchanges, Big bird is the main thing people took away from the debate.
"He wants to attack Sesame Street and give a pass to Wall Street" is exactly the kind of easily remembered sound bite that is effective with many voters.
And that is one of the biggest problems with the majority of American voters. They vote based on sound bites, lawn signs and negative ads. That is much easier than getting engaged in government and researching the candidate's and the parties' position on EVERYTHING. Rather pathetic if you ask me.
Well, sure, Skip. I didn't say it was desirable, just reality. And any candidate who doesn't recognize reality and use the strategy best suited to that reality doesn't deserve to win.
The situation's certainly not a new one. From a "chicken in every pot" and probably long before, easy slogans have ruled the day.
During his 1956 presidential campaign, a woman called out to Mr. Stevenson "Senator, you have the vote of every thinking person!" Stevenson called back "That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!"
Adlai Stevenson (1900 - 1965)
In regards to Romney's "relentless obfuscation" (?). Romney is in favor of hiring more teachers when they relentlessly privatize education. The relentlessly voucher happy Republican administrative candidates will give us vouchers to pay for our children to attend a school of THEIR choice for profit. If your voucher does not pay enough for you to give your child an education then....your child does not go to school. The pundits on The Last Word failed to take this into account last night. So either these so called pundits are not as smart as they think they are, or they support private education, as I am sure, most of their children go to private school. Exemplifying the fact that they too are a little out of touch with reality.
NBC & MSNBC sponsored the Education Forum a couple of weeks ago. Romney was interviewed by Brian Williams and then a very short Q&A
Romney stated that he wanted to send the education 'back to the States' -- meaning 50 difficult curriculums. 50 ways for students to fail as the US is a very mobile country as compared to say Canada. It would set up kids for failure again as if they move from state to state -- totally different and many fall through the cracks and there would be no net to catch them. Think of military families - not uncommon to move every few years and these are families with young children. Failures as they sure can't afford private schools, tutors, etc.
It also showed that Romney had absolutely no clue that the country is in the process of changing where almost all the states are organizing and educating teachers, etc to teach the same curriculum. He was oblivious to this.
There was much more he referred to that made the education system sound like it was returning back to the '50s. Back to the 'olden days'.
Wish media had paid attention to the interview as if you didn't watch it - you heard nothing about it. It did air on MSNBC and on any of the shows -- crickets.
I hope someone would Romney at the next debate this "Would you release your txes if you were to win this election?"
Did Romney cheat during the debate? It was not a handkerchief !Did everyone miss this except me?
I thought notes were not allowed at the debate? Yet I SAW him go back to the podium while everyone was gathered on stage and gather up papers! What were those papers and why were they on his podium?
I have watched several online videos of the debate- most cut off the ending of the families on stage.
The only video online complete showing it the ending is Cspan - so please watch the end of the debate . From frame : 1:32:26 to the end. At frame 1:32:38 you will see him back out of the group and go back to his podium and pick up several papers. They are not a handkerchief! Times of frames given may be a bit off - but if you begin watching from the time they leave the podium and all family friends com on stage - you will see it. Unbelievable.