Pennsylvania Swing Voters Weigh In
By NancyA on August 7, 2008 at 4:15 AM in Barack Obama, Current Affairs, Economy, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Pennsylvania, Universal Health Care, White Working Class
Today the American Association for Retired People AARP sent out this press release on Top Voter Concerns in the swing state of Pennsylvania. They reached out to undecided voters in PA, asking them what their particular concerns are in the election.
Pennsylvania is an important swing state. It is one of the large states needed in the win column to reach the White House. During the primary race, there was an oft heard question; If Obama can’t win PA, how will he win the White House? The Clinton campaign commented during the primary, and said this:
“The path to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue goes through Pennsylvania so if Barack Obama can’t win there, how will he win the general election?” spokesman Phil Singer said in a statement.
The research identifies who undecided, swing voters are in Pennsylvania-white, lower-to-middle income, older women.
These are Hillary’s folks and supporters through the primaries.
These are their concerns:
Swing voters in Pennsylvania revealed their concern about the economy, financial security and health care. Among those surveyed, the economy was the number one most important issue in the state with healthcare following closely behind.
These “undecideds” feel they don’t have enough information from either McCain and Obama have addresses their issues fully enough. Pennsylvania State Director Dick Chevrefilshad this to say:
“Pennsylvania swing voters want more information on these issues from the candidates,” ……
“At a time when the economy is struggling, our voters are expressing their concern that neither Senator Obama nor Senator McCain has adequately addressed the issues of economic security or affordable healthcare, and these issues are likely to have a significant impact on voters’ decisions in November.”
The research revealed some clear facts about the voters. It is interesting to note that McCain’s favorable is 4% higher than Obama’s.
How do Senators McCain and Obama unlock the swing voter?
The research demonstrated wide consensus among swing voters on ways to approach health care and financial security, however specific proposals resonated most:
– 94 percent favor requiring clear explanations of healthcare costs so patients know how much they will be charged up front
– 91 percent favor making healthcare affordable for small businesses by allowing them to band together for lower rates, providing tax credits to offset employee premium contributions and protecting them from large rate increases simply because one employee gets sick
– 91 percent favor requiring schools to teach financial literacy to all children
– 90 percent favor controlling costs of prescription drugs
Among all respondents in this survey, Senator McCain is viewed favorably by 64 percent, and Senator Obama is viewed favorably by 60 percent.
They had this say to about the candiates “attributes”:
On important candidate attributes, Pennsylvania swing voters have an interesting perspective. Senator McCain leads on is a strong leader, and has the experience to be president, while Senator Obama leads on will bring change, understands people like me, and will reduce the influence of special interests. The candidates are essentially tied on will work in a bipartisan fashion.
There is an opportunity for either McCain or Obama to win this state. There are some issues the candidates will have to address first. And the survey highlighted these issues.
The survey demonstrates that both candidates can reach the key swing voters this year and win their support - if they reach out to them by making lifetime financial security and healthcare a central element to their campaigns.
This question remains. Will McCain or Obama address these concerns?
I’m relieved Ed Rendell has dismissed the idea of the VP slot. He’s a popular figure in PA, and could have made the difference in how that state votes in November.
Reportedly McCain is still considering Tom Ridge. Yawn. It’s not likely he’d provide the same bounce for the Republicans that Rendell would have provided for the Dems.
I wonder if McCain will resurrect the “bitter” remark at any point. I’d be willing to bet it still has legs in certain areas of PA.
Of course, the McCain campaign team should resurrect the “bitter” videos and intersperse them with the Jeremiah write videos. Perfect combo.
B.O.W.L.* Big Time in November (2008)
HRC - 45th POTUS (2012)
*Barack Obama Will Lose
Ed Rendell caused a big kerfluffle at the start of the primary season when he stated Americans wouldn’t elect a black candidate. He was for Hillary all the way, if nothing else, because he is a number one primo opportunist and would have benefited when she became President.
If he detected even the slightest scent of an Obama win he’d have gone for the VP slot. Rendell is a seasoned politician, my guess is the only reason he now supports Obama is because he still wants a future in the Dem party machine.
Do you have a source for this comment by Gov. Rendell? The only thing I remember him saying is his margin of victory over Lynn Swann was larger because he was black. Of course the Obama campaign minions painted this statement as racist.
here’s the link:
Rendell’s statement occurred around the same time as the conference call that took place with Mayor Nutter and Mark Penn, when he concluded BO couldn’t win GE:
So I may have fused the two statements into one. However that was the general impression that fellow Keystone staters got from Rendell’s comment, that BO couldn’t win the general. Far be it from me to put words in our esteemed governor’s mouth, I would never do that!
PA swing voters think Obama will reduce the influence of special interests??!! I can see that many of them are uniformed if they think that, considering how much money has gone into Obama’s campaign from bundled donations of special interest groups.
Senator Obama leads on will bring change, understands people like me, and will reduce the influence of special interests.
McCain’s camp should run ads about this. The NY Times just did a piece this week exposing Obama’s large donor contributions, and that they exceed both McCain’s & Clinton’s. He’s a hypocrite.
I also think it’s ironic that they feel he “understands people like me.” How does that match the “bitter, clinging” remarks? How does Mr. Arugula relate to Steel Belt Pennsylvanians? My relatives come from Western PA, and they are hard-working, pragmatic, and good-hearted. I can’t see The Arrogant One connecting with these folks.
Pennsylvanians as a rule are very patriotic and are big into anti crime laws and there are many,many working class white voters throughout the state which a large percentage are older voters. as soon as the Mcain/RNC ads against Obama run with Billy Ayers standing on OUR FLAG! juxtaposed with Obama’s glowing review of Ayers’s boob extolling the virtues of releasing violent youth offenders back into society Obama is completely cooked! prediction; Mcain by 7% in november!
I was just talking with someone about this the other day. Isn’t it odd that the topic of crime has been absent from the campaign this season so far? Considering how people are horrified when they turn on the nightly news. Bus passengers being beheaded, women being prisoners in underground bunkers, babies being cut out of wombs, children killing their parents, parents killing their children, missing
and exploited children everywhere. Something is going seriously wrong with the state of people’s minds and souls. I don’t know how we address the problem, but I sure as hell know NObama doesn’t have the answer.
Actually Hillary talked about tough crime laws during the Pennsylvania primary but no one else has. A survey at the time however indicated that people in Philadelphia were not interested in having a bigger police force (and more money).
Hillary spoke about many things in the primaries that no one else has. I think people are finally starting to realize what they lost, and that this whole “presumptive nominee” crap was nothing than political maneuvering. Obama did not have enough delegates to declare himself, and the only way he can win in Denver is to replace Clinton delegates that won’t tow the party line and intimidate or pay off the rest.
America was given a “date rape” mickey, and now Obama and his posse are laughing about it and saying “she asked for it”.
I made this poem while I was stitting in the mountns today looking at the sun seting ont the hills.
==================
I AM PUMA hear me roor!
Barack Obamish git out the door!
I love John McCain he just rocks!
He wears shoes and snazzy socks!
The GOP is where it’ at!
it is phat!
Vote Repubican and you will see -
how to by happy as a bee!
Barack Obama he’s not good!
He’s a liar and a thief!
He stole my coffee and my teeth.
I hate The Democrats!
They are Rats!
I now love the Repubs they are dub!
I AM PUMA HERE ME ROOR!!
Barack is like Satan -
he is the Devil!
Puma ! PUma ! PUma! NOW!
ROOR ROOR ROOOOOOORRRR!
I roor now and I roor there.
Obama is devil GO JOHN MCCAIN!
PUMA NOW ROOOOOOOOOOOORRRRR.
updated:
Obama you said bitter,
and PA says quitter!
Obama you said sling,
and PA says ding@
ROOOOOR PUMA Roor now Roor later ROOR TOMOORROW@ ROOR HEAR OUR POOER.
Do you want an honest critique of this? Don’t quit your day job, and BTW “roor” is spelled “roar”.
Thanks goodness it was updated! Wow! That makes all the difference.
I think he gets an extra 7 bucks for the update
Splat!
BOzzard Droppings!
Well I can say I live in PA and went door to door for HRC. Lots of HRC supporters here in the Keystone State.
I like many of you left the TM site right after the primary. I have enjoyed the articles and comments here. I have lurked till now.
PUMA TILL I’M DEAD
Hi Bugs. I’m a TM refugee too. Good to hear from you.
Personally, the Pennsylvanians I know aren’t particularly impressed with Obama. They saw through him in the primaries, and they still do. I just can’t see them “falling into line” after all his gaffes and flip flops. My prediction: low voter turnout in PA and across the nation as America weeps and gnashes her teeth.
Obama will win Philadelphia, with or without the dead voter turnout. He didn’t do as well as expected in the Philly burbs. Western and Central PA - McCain will win big. It will be those regions of the state that will swing PA to McCain, but I don’t think by a 7% margin as another poster predicted. Maybe by two or three points.
In a McCain - Obama contest.
The thing that Obama and his gang of FASCISTS tend to forget is that Pennsylvania is……Way Bigger than Philadelphia…lol….Same thing with Detroit in relation to Michigan….Pennsylvanians will vote solidly For McCain if given no other alternative…..They don’t like Elitist snobs like Obama and his fascists….
I think you are right, and many states that Obama is polling well in now will swing differently in November if it’s an Obama/McCain contest. The pollsters aren’t speaking to John and Jane Doe, they’re catching the urban trends because it’s easier. And if Obama is only staying even in the cities, he’ll be crushed in November as long as we can keep people interested enough to get out and vote. We need to keep the momentum going and make sure America doesn’t fall asleep.
Pennsylvania WILL NOT go for Oblahblahblah. There was much less animus towards Kerry here in 04 and he almost lost PA. There is a great deal of anti-Obama sentiment in the conservative/moderate “middle T.” by the way, Tom Ridge would be a + for McCain in PA to seal the deal but I don’t think he would be the pick.
Also, it has been reported that Ralph Nadar now has enough signatures to get on Pennsylvania’s ballot. This will definitely hurt “The One.” As I cannot vote for McCain, Nadar will be my pick. His positions are ones that more closely match my own.
Living here in PA I can state that it is a microcosm of the United States. Both ends are tend to be Liberal with Alabama in between as is evidenced by Gov. Rendell’s nick name of Fast Eddie. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will go for Obama but McCain should get the rest of the state. Remember that HRC trounced Obama with the millstone of an extremely biased media around her neck. Even if the media still has that old familiar tingle up their collective leg, the republicans have enough damaging information in their arsenal they won’t have to lie for once.
Agree with you MrMike….I have lived in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Texas….
My take is that a lot of Obama’s support was fictional anyway….GOP doin what they do best….GAME THE PRIMARIES…..
PA- will swing for McCain if given no alternative.
IN - DITTO even with Evan on the ticket…chuckle…
TX- will stick with the FASCISTS they know….chuckle….
**** HRC had a SERIOUS HISTORIC CHANCE TO RETURN THE REPUBLIC BACK TO THE TENT…..THAT’S WHY THE RIGGED THE CAUCUSES….( sigh ) The DNC played right into it
That’s a fantasy. Most republicans LOATHED both Clintons prior to the primary and the only reason a handful put on maudlin displays of sympathy after had to do with their tendency to gravitate toward vote stealers (see: GWB, 2000). And of course the whole silly charade of there even being a primary past the point Obama’s lead was insurmountable was because of mischievous republicans crossing over to vote Hillary. You’re INSANE, however, if you believe Hillary wouldn’t be getting absolutely skewered by the republicans right now had she managed to steal the primary. They have enough material on her to fill a stadium. Go PUMA! LOL
I agree with MrMike about the split in PA.,Dems east n west but more conservative in middle and the ‘T’. But I don’t think Obambi will carry Pittsburgh….he didn’t in the primary and I don’t see a big swell of support for him. The bitter comment was repulsive and, no matter how it was spun, it stings in PA. Puma from western Pa
I was going to say the exact same thing about Pittsburgh. It’s a fairly conservative blue collar city for the most part - and many will not forget that Donna Brazile told that part of the base to “stay home.” thing is, they won’t stay home because there ARE other places to go despite all of the DNC’s delusions
He won’t carry Erie either. Jeez, Bambi doesn’t bowl, looks uncomfortable drinking beer and probably has no idea what a boilermaker is……I say this as someone who does all three and most of the people I know do too. And we are not ‘undereducated’!!!
Based on how he left and what he did to District 13, there is no way that he can or is willing to help out a nation.
I agree with eriezindian- the whole I-79 corridor went for Hillary in margins of better than 60% including Pittsburgh. (guess the college kids forgot to vote? or maybe they are jsut smart and saw through all the baloney.)
BO will probably take Philly, but not the rest of the state. I live in NW PA and spend a lot of time talking to folks- I work in a restaraunt- and there is a huge backlash coming for Obama and the DNC.
If I have anything to say about it- turnout will be huge- at least in my county- and we will send a message to them that we don’t want a snob, elitist messiah- we want a patriotic American!
What or where is District 13?
BHO’s District when he was an Illinois State Senator from 13th district, Chicago
January 8, 1997 – November 4, 2004
Good morning, PMM. Yes, the I-79 corridor is Clinton country. I think D. Brazile’s ‘just stay home’ comment will resonate in the general election….won’t happen. People will go to the polls to repudiate that remark.
Shout out to eriezindian + proudmilitary mom
I’m in NW PA also…..Erie
HEAR THE PUMAS ROAR IN PENNSYLVANIA
Hi Bugs
I’m middle, slightly western PA now, Indiana, but born and reared in Erie Co. Yes, PUMAS of PA will be heard in November! Hillary or McCain for me.
I guess we just need to wait to see the level of anger in the state and around the country.
If Pa. feels the way I do, the “O” will be stung badly!
My 2 cents from on the ground in PA - I don’t see how Obama can win here. No one I meet is voting for him. I predict a decisive McCain win in PA.
ALERT ALERT LIVE VIDEO AT NOON TODAY ON HER BLOG SITE.CLICK ON LINK TO ASK HER A QUESTION.
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/action/ask/
http://blog.hillaryclinton.com/
Southcentral PA always goes Repub. so.. no go “O” here! Although a large bho lib crowd near the colleges.
ugh.. but we “bitter” ones will remember!
McCain it will be.
PUMAs in PA
I grew up in W PA…When I saw the split in rural counties and the 79 corridor I knew Obama would not win the state in Nov. People in PA throw their own out of office for less. Pittsburgh is blue collar no matter how many of its people wear suits to work. Obama has almost no chance in Ohio.
Indaina is waiting to throw Obama out.keeping a eye on that mayor who cheated and did not report any vote well over 5 hours. wink wink…
Hillary or McCain 08
NOQUARTER RADIO STARTS AT 9 TONIGHT.Talking about Obama’s fraud birth certificate.
Vacation in Hawaii trying to get another fake birth certificate.
Militaryman4Hillay
Militaryman4McCain