The expected bounce in polling coming out of the Denver convention has evaporated and for the most part the polls show a race dead even yet again and Zogby shows a two point lead for McCain.
There are number of reasons for this and in making comparisons to various polls and seeing some of the raw data that we subscribe to as premium members, it confirms a number of traditional notions: the earlier conventions tend to have higher bounces for candidates as the people watching them tend to not have had their minds made up and are more easily swayed by the festivities and speeches. Secondly, in the case of the Democrat convention where most of the attention was focused on the Hillary factor, the message was somewhat muddied.
However, when given the opportunity during the slightly unfortunate presentation in front of many screaming "fans" the presentation was the message and the unfortunate media bias that we have chronicled here reached a crescendo- which ultimately we think will not prove helpful to 0bama's candidacy.
The zenith of this was obviously found on MSNBC with the triumvirate of Matthews, Schuster and the increasingly bizarre Olbermann. Beyond the political, their antics have damaged NBC news credibility even off the cable network.
The McCain announcement of Palin was handled with much more of an eye to traditional tones, with high school cheerleaders, a low stage and a simple podium. As I watched the announcement the cheerleaders were even shouting into the audience for "who wants T-shirts" which seemed like just the middle America Saturday night game feel that Republicans should be pushing; versus the Obama/ Hollywood, pre-produced spectacle.
Governor Palin's entry into the race has been received very poorly on the far left which is probably a good sign for the Senator's selection of her. She's also proven to be a formidable fundraiser having raised over $10 million for the campaign since her announcement.
She has unfortunately, still had to go through an announcement that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant but is planning on keeping the baby and marrying the father, which will alternatively give the liberal bloggers something to talk about and be shocked at the idea of marriage.
It will prove to be a non-issue in the campaign unless those on the left do not hold themselves in check where it will prove to be damaging to them if they attempt attacks.
The Democrats are in a very peculiar position where they must be careful of alienating many in their own base by overly attacking the governor after having just shown first, little respect and then fear; of Hillary Clinton.
They're inappropriate showing of anger has already got them in some trouble with their reaction to her announcement as a vice presidential candidate, followed quickly by their calling hurricane Gustav proof that God is on their side.
By god I can only assume they mean some combination of Jehovah/Allah/Darwin/Confucius or more simply-Jehalldacon the all knowing, all seeing God of government interventionism.
If Republicans do not overdo this convention, use Gustav as a method to show competence and present a message as opposed to a medium, then things are looking much improved.
