It's not just the economy, smart guy
At the risk of flogging a long-dead horse, let me say that I think Obama's strength in the polls has to do with his performance in the debates and on the campaign trail, rather than with the financial crisis per se.
I keep going on about this because it annoys me to hear pundits attribute Obama's recent success to the financial crisis alone - as though Obama is passively benefitting from the fact that voters are generically penalizing Republicans, as though it has nothing to do with Obama's qualities and deeds.
The first debate was decisive - it was the turning point. And every public appearance since then has served to confirm Obama's stature in the minds of voters.
The more people see of Obama, the more they get to know him, the more comfortable they become with him as President. His demeanor and his words reassure people, and tend to confirm the best assumptions about him (he's hyper-intelligent; he has excellent judgment; he's cool under pressure) and contradict the worst (he's inexperienced; he's an empty suit, all charisma and no substance).
The financial crisis has brought out these qualities, and has brought out some of the opposite qualities in McCain, whose behavior has tended to contradict the best assumptions about him (he's experienced; he knows how to react to crisis) and confirm the worst (he's clueless about the economy, out of touch, out of control, a gambler...).
Yesterday in Toledo, Obama addressed the issues head on and offered some new proposals. He also demonstrated the qualities of calm, reasonableness and (perhaps above all) sure-handedness that have made increasing numbers of Americans feel confident in his leadership.
I keep going on about this because it annoys me to hear pundits attribute Obama's recent success to the financial crisis alone - as though Obama is passively benefitting from the fact that voters are generically penalizing Republicans, as though it has nothing to do with Obama's qualities and deeds.
The first debate was decisive - it was the turning point. And every public appearance since then has served to confirm Obama's stature in the minds of voters.
The more people see of Obama, the more they get to know him, the more comfortable they become with him as President. His demeanor and his words reassure people, and tend to confirm the best assumptions about him (he's hyper-intelligent; he has excellent judgment; he's cool under pressure) and contradict the worst (he's inexperienced; he's an empty suit, all charisma and no substance).
The financial crisis has brought out these qualities, and has brought out some of the opposite qualities in McCain, whose behavior has tended to contradict the best assumptions about him (he's experienced; he knows how to react to crisis) and confirm the worst (he's clueless about the economy, out of touch, out of control, a gambler...).
Yesterday in Toledo, Obama addressed the issues head on and offered some new proposals. He also demonstrated the qualities of calm, reasonableness and (perhaps above all) sure-handedness that have made increasing numbers of Americans feel confident in his leadership.