The legitimacy of the interviews are up in the air, but this was put together before the WV primary and suggests that race was an issue long before the general election.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Some Jolly Competition
Look out Barack, John. You've got some competition on the ticket that could beat out Al Gore when it comes to name recognition: Santa Clause.
That's right, Santa Clause (formerly Thomas O'Conner) is one of the 14 write-in candidates on WV's ballot this November. No word on his VP pick, yet.
That's right, Santa Clause (formerly Thomas O'Conner) is one of the 14 write-in candidates on WV's ballot this November. No word on his VP pick, yet.
Racial Relations
A West Virginia television station reported that race isn't an issue for more than 80 percent of West Virginia voters. It was also reported that McCain has a 10-point lead over Obama in the states, but had Clinton been the nominee voters would have her leading McCain by 10-points. It must be due, the station concluded, due to resentment over what happened to Clinton.
A 20 point-gap based on resentment?
While voluntary polls do give some indication to how voters feel about issues, they might not be as accurate when dealing with issues like race. In American culture any kind of racial prejudice is a major social misstep, something that few would dare admit to. However, polls cannot take into account what people are afraid to say, or what people don't even realize about themselves. It seems unlikely that that many people would abandon their political affiliations over resentment that hasn't seemed to play a huge role in any other state.
Obviously it would be wonderful if our country had come to a place where race was sincerely not an issue, but realistically we're not there yet.
***UPDATE***
A Yahoo! poll showed a possible six-point loss for Obama on elections day, a scenario that would tip the election to McCain.
A 20 point-gap based on resentment?
While voluntary polls do give some indication to how voters feel about issues, they might not be as accurate when dealing with issues like race. In American culture any kind of racial prejudice is a major social misstep, something that few would dare admit to. However, polls cannot take into account what people are afraid to say, or what people don't even realize about themselves. It seems unlikely that that many people would abandon their political affiliations over resentment that hasn't seemed to play a huge role in any other state.
Obviously it would be wonderful if our country had come to a place where race was sincerely not an issue, but realistically we're not there yet.
***UPDATE***
A Yahoo! poll showed a possible six-point loss for Obama on elections day, a scenario that would tip the election to McCain.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Obama's moving up
Since September 16th Obama's been closing the gap on McCain, something that contradicts the national trend of the McCain bounce following the RNC. The polling trends are also contradictory of Obama's performance in WV during the Dem. primaries, and how he is doing nationally witht he blue collar vote, a large percentage of WV voters.
Pollster has Obama with 42 percent of the vote in WV, compared to McCain's 45.3 percent. This is actually closer than the current polls for the "swing state" of Minnesota.
Pollster has Obama with 42 percent of the vote in WV, compared to McCain's 45.3 percent. This is actually closer than the current polls for the "swing state" of Minnesota.
No Coal, No Biden
VP nominee Biden fumbled with key southeastern and wester battleground states this weekend, including West Virginia, when he said he would not support building anymore coal mines if elected. The Obama/Biden platform says they support clean coal though they also advocate for other things like solar and electric cars.
Probably would have been better to stay silent on this topic than say anything at all, especially with the tough swing states this election cycle.
Probably would have been better to stay silent on this topic than say anything at all, especially with the tough swing states this election cycle.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Racey Relations
Marshal University in West Virginia will host a forum on race and the presidential election to combat the coverage the state received after the Democratic primary earlier this year. Allegations were made that the state went primarily to Clinton because of the racial issues that still thrive in the state. The allegations were supported by limited interviews with individuals who said race was a major factor for them.
Read More on the Marshall Parthenon website
Read More on the Marshall Parthenon website
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Gap between McCain, Obama is narrowing in W.Va., poll suggests
Independent voters will be key to victory
by Jake Stump
Daily Mail Capitol Reporter
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The gap between John McCain and Barack Obama among West Virginia voters is slimmer than most political pundits had imagined, according to a new poll conducted by Charleston-based Mark Blankenship Enterprises.
The Republican ticket of Sen. McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin holds just a 5 percent lead over Democratic nominees Sens. Obama and Joe Biden, concludes the telephone survey of 432 registered voters in the state. The firm said its poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.
Forty-four percent said they were likely to vote for McCain/Palin in the November election compared to 39 percent who chose Obama/Biden. One in five voters said they were undecided.
READ MORE
by Jake Stump
Daily Mail Capitol Reporter
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The gap between John McCain and Barack Obama among West Virginia voters is slimmer than most political pundits had imagined, according to a new poll conducted by Charleston-based Mark Blankenship Enterprises.
The Republican ticket of Sen. McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin holds just a 5 percent lead over Democratic nominees Sens. Obama and Joe Biden, concludes the telephone survey of 432 registered voters in the state. The firm said its poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.
Forty-four percent said they were likely to vote for McCain/Palin in the November election compared to 39 percent who chose Obama/Biden. One in five voters said they were undecided.
READ MORE
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Obama's Hitting up Clinton/McCain Territory
Sep 09, 2008 @ 08:15 AM
By The Associated Press
Herald-Dispatch
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is opening campaign offices in West Virginia.
The Illinois senator’s campaign is scheduled to hold an open house Tuesday evening at its headquarters in Charleston.
State Obama director Tom Vogel says the Charleston office is one of seven the campaign will staff leading up to November’s election.
The campaign has said it will have offices in Morgantown, the northern and eastern panhandles and southern West Virginia.
West Virginians overwhelmingly supported rival Democrat Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in May’s primary, but party officials say Democrats will unite behind Obama.
Party officials have said they hope Obama or his vice presidential running mate Senator Joseph Biden will make a stop in the state.
By The Associated Press
Herald-Dispatch
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is opening campaign offices in West Virginia.
The Illinois senator’s campaign is scheduled to hold an open house Tuesday evening at its headquarters in Charleston.
State Obama director Tom Vogel says the Charleston office is one of seven the campaign will staff leading up to November’s election.
The campaign has said it will have offices in Morgantown, the northern and eastern panhandles and southern West Virginia.
West Virginians overwhelmingly supported rival Democrat Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in May’s primary, but party officials say Democrats will unite behind Obama.
Party officials have said they hope Obama or his vice presidential running mate Senator Joseph Biden will make a stop in the state.
Going Red
According to the National Journal 48% of West Virgina voters are evangelical or born-again Christians and 71% are in gun-owning households.
The Palin addition to the McCain ticket is likely to ensure that no amount of resources afforded to the Obama West Virginia campaign could kick this state off its three year "red streak."
The Palin addition to the McCain ticket is likely to ensure that no amount of resources afforded to the Obama West Virginia campaign could kick this state off its three year "red streak."
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