RIVERSIDE, Ohio (CNN) – Senator Barack Obama told reporters he is not concerned about the spike in enthusiasm among Republicans since Governor Sarah Palin joined the GOP ticket, or recent polls showing a dead-even race.
“My general approach throughout this process has been not to worry about today’s news or yesterday’s polls but worry about what is it where is it that I want to see the country what is it that I’m trying to accomplish,” said Obama at a press conference in Riverside, Ohio. “I know that after our convention we had a bump, after theirs they get a bump. I think that what you’re going to see settling in, is that the race is going to be very close.”
The Democratic nominee, asked whether he wished he had picked a female running mate given some polling data that indicates women are flocking to the McCain-Palin ticket, said he had no regrets.
Earlier: New CNN poll shows Obama-McCain dead even
“The notion that people are swinging back and forth in a span of a few weeks or a few days this wildly generally isn’t borne out,” said Obama. “These are the same polls that had me 20 down last summer that have swung wildly throughout this process. There is no doubt that Governor Palin has attracted a lot of attention.
“There’s no doubt the Republicans are excited, particularly the right wing of the Republican party, is excited by Governor Palin’s choice. I think that has less to do with gender than it has to do with her ideological predispositions.”
Palin, who has become a hot topic on the trail Monday, appears to be a rallying point for Democrats as well. Before Obama’s Riverside speech, the crowd chanted “no pit bulls!” - a reference to Palin’s joke at the GOP convention that the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull was lipstick.
Obama came to Riverside to talk education, laying out $1 billion worth of new proposals to make students in the U.S. more prepared to compete in a global economy. Some of the initiatives include more funding for charter schools, and greater investments and access to new classroom technology. The Illinois senator said the money to cover the spending would come in part from “carefully winding down the war in Iraq.”
In his remarks, Obama also hit Senator John McCain for what he said was a lack of commitment to education reform.
“He has not done one thing to truly improve the quality of public education in our country. Not one real proposal or law or initiative. Nothing,” Obama said. “Do you really believe that John McCain is going to suddenly make a difference now?”
From CNN Politics
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It is early, and noone should panic about the polls, but Obama NEEDS to remember what Bush did to Kerry when he didn't respond quick enough to their attacks and didn't take them serious enough. He need to keep them very close in his rear view mirror and not let things get out of hand. He needs to do something to strenghten his base. Hillary needs to get really intense with her supporters and convince them to vote for Obama. McBush is grabbing 12% of the white women right now, and I'm not sure why. We can't afford to lose another election to the republicans.
Democrats, Republicans and others will be voting for Obama and Biden at the polls where it counts.
Obama better start worrying - because the rest of us Hillary suppoerts who have turned the corner and contributed to his campaign are really starting to wonder if he has what it takes to beat the Republic powerhitters.
Obama needs Hillary more than anything - starting with some tutoring on how to throw a punch and pulverize the other side - like she did him in the final stretch of the campaign she lost control of early on through poor strategy. Strategy is out the window now - not it's just a fight to the finish - and he needs to start fighting fast.
There are two months before the election. I think we'll see Obama and McCain run within a couple of percentage points of each other until the debates. I think Obama will come out ahead of McCain in the debates in the polls.
However, none of the means anything. As we saw in the primaries, the polls can be wrong, and they were wrong. It'll be a close election, just like the last two.
Why should he worry?
The economy keeps going down the tank. We have a 407 Billion dollar deficit thanks to GW. When November comes and things have gotten even worse who will be geeting the votes, Gezzer & Gidget?
If that was the case I'd be believing that the only party that can fix the mess of the last 8 years is the party who got us in the mess.
Oh are the people polling? most people aren't. Obama doesn't need to worry when he was 4 million NEWLY REGISTERED voters. it'll be 55 million when it's time to actually vote. the polls mean nothing. they are just there for political conversation, and to give the pundits something to quabble over.
Bill in Colorado said "There is no substance to the man."
I'm sure you speak from years of unique experience knowing Barack Obama personally.
You don't? Then your statement must be based simply on rumor, fear, or some other mind-control efforts on the part of the Republicans.
I don't claim to know what's in McCain's heart...I can only judge what's in his platform and his past record. And that has me convinced that he's likely to continue the downward spiral this country's been in for almost 8 years now. Enough's enough!
I don't believe the polls. And I have a degree in Marketing Research!
America is not dumb enough to vote for McCain/Palin.
Someone in an earlier post made a dangerously sweeping statement that the majority of independents and women are flocking to the McCain/Palin side due to McCain's choice of VP in Palin. As a woman and an independent, I'd have to say that's probably not true. Personally, I was insulted, as a woman, that he picked Palin as his running mate. If his major purpose was to persuade independents and women to vote Republican then he was sadly mistaken. I'm sure some in these groups will be turned by the Palin pick but I thought it was a poor choice. I'd have been more impressed if he'd chosen Kay Bailey Hutchinson as his running mate. I wish the Republicans would give women and independents a little more credit than to shove an inexperienced VP candidate (who is definitely not ready to run this country) and hope we'll buy it.
I think it will be a close race but I'm pulling for Obama...he gets my vote, and I'm certain many other independents and women as well.
You should be. You underestimate the stupidity and ignorance of America. You keep saying people are smarter than that and they will see the truth. LOL Really???? Take my advice and don't let the truth get in the way of a good story. Also be nice to my VP Pai(l)n bc she will be president after I croak.
...just keep hammering McCain and Palin on the issues, point out their lies and don't stand down to their campaign's pissy protests. With McCain supporting Bush's policies 89% in 2006, 95% in 2007 and 100% in 2008 – do you think the elephant can change it's color by just adding lipstick?
The only change will be that Bush is in Crawford and McCain will be in the White House. The policies will remain the same.
NO WAY! NO HOW! NO MCCAIN! NO PALIN!
I keep reading on these message boards on how great Biden is. I then have a question, why has he not been elected president in his many attempts?
As far as the argument that McCain has voted with Bush 95% of the time, I guess that means that he has gone against his party 5% of the time during the Bush admin. What is his percentage of going against the Republicians over his career.
Better yet with Obama's limited voting record, how often at the state or federal level has he broken with the Democrats?
No matter who makes a negative comment, the other side is going to think its unfair. Get over it.
Why worry, that "wild women" from Alaska.....is not going to be any one VP. or President....God will not let this happen. We simply can't afford to have such in the W...hite House. This goes to show you that the Repubs are willing to "scrape" the bottom of the barrel to get a candidate.
The Mccain camp's response via Ben Porritt about Biden's stem cell research inquiry was so outrageous I misspelled Palin's name in my initial response. We should all still be seething over such whining by the republicans and down right ludicrist response by Poritt to a perfectly good question by Biden.
John McCain may become the only president who rides on the coattails of a woman to the White House.
............
He's freaked out. The whole campaign is. This would have been game, set, match had he picked Hillary.
What a moron...his ego will be the demise of the Democratic party.
Once the American people look past the wrapping on the lipstick coated pit bull/barracuda, they will see there is nothing.
Senator Obama has his eyes in the right place:
On the future, not on what actually might end up being John's next trophy wife.
When the dust settles and the real truth comes out (like in the past about many of the SMEAR and LIES told regarding Gov Palin) Obama and his supporters will do what they do best and repeat the same old .... yawn... mantras
No more Bush....yawn..... more of the same...yawn
Obama must really think the American people ARE idiots but its clear McCain IS NOT Bush only those who wish it to be true believe it.
Don't know who I feel sorry for Obama or his supporters he mislead and gave FALSE HOPE to all these months.
Way to go Biden- call it like you see it. I am sick and tired of McCain/Palin- can't say anything because she is a woman. In the last few days, some of the things she said in her speech are untrue. She only said the first part of the sentence and then stopped and left out the true part. Well Pit Bull you better put your lipstick on because the truth is going to come out!!! No Way, No How, No McCain/Palin. Her stardom has worn off. You know when they say something is too good to be true, it probably is.
I agree with Obama that there is nothing to worry about. For one thing, 80% of the country correctly feels we're on the wrong track. Once they see how the McCain/Palin ticket will be offering the same disastrous economic and foreign policies we've had under Bush/Cheney, there's NO WAY McCain/Palin will be elected! For another, once voters realize how dangerous it will be having Palin only a heartbeat away from the presidency, and what it would mean if she had to sit down with the likes of Putin or Ahmedinijad during a serious world or military crisis, voters will NEVER choose McCain/Palin! We Americans don't like getting beaten up repeatedly or cutting our own throats!
OBAMA/BIDEN '08!!!!
Clubber Lange was not worried about Rocky either.
Obama's been up, he's been down, and his candidacy has always pulled through. The primaries were tight, but we won those also. We're gonna win in November.
Obama/Biden 08
Yes he is and so is his donors!! LOL!!