In 2008, Obama’s tactics were considerably different than they are today and will be in the future. His strategies were primarily based on the economy and restoring it but they seem to be shifting towards social issues in present day electoral battlegrounds. What are some of his best tools you might ask? Well, the environment, abortion, gay rights, and of course the fight against Al Qaeda.
Obama intends to undercut the issue of the economy with the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden during his term. His argument could go something like this: killing a highly dangerous man was more important than the fall of the economy in America. Although to an extent, killing Osama may have been a victorious move on Obama’s part, it still shouldn’t give him any leeway on the issue of the economy. America needs a sense of security but at the same time, a stable economy. What will he do for us in the long run? Or will he just keep giving us excuses?
The presidential candidates go back on forth mocking one another and scrutinizing one another over one matter or another. Over the weekend, Obama accused the Republican candidates of displaying a “kind of smallness” for not ciritcizing a debate audience that booed a gay soldier that served for our country. He used this as a tool against his challengers and questioned their ability to be president. Smart move, Obama.
What did voters like about Obama in 2008 and what are they looking for in present day America?
Obama’s supporters were those in high income homes that supported his scope of social issues because they tend to be less religious and more tolerant of homosexuality and abortion rights says Dante Chinni, Patchwork Nation’s director. Obamas victory was based greatly on the “monied” suburbs which exit polls showed as suburbanites and college graduates that earned more than $200,000 a year. Today, the danger lies within the economy. Will these people steer towards the republican side or will their stance on social issues or will they remain on Obamas side? John Harwood of the New York Times writes that “their distance from the Republican right on social issues gives Mr. Obama a tool for fighting back,” and he may be right.
Obama isn’t the only one using “social issues” as a tool for re-election. Harwood writes: In Colorado, the incumbent Democratic senator, Michael Bennet, survived the 2010 Republican wave after he “shifted a chunk of the conversation off the economic and onto social issues.” Unfortunately though “It didn’t work in the 2009 race for governor of Virginia. Democrats tried to cast the Republican nominee, Bob McDonnell, as an extremist on social issues; Mr. McDonnell, now governor, focused relentlessly on the economy.
What’s fortunate for Obama as Harwood says is that Republicans can’t capitalize on national security but he can. Nor does any of the Republican candidates have any foreign policy experience; once again, Obama does. Those are major topics in the white House race, but who’s coming in first?
Rick Perry is a highly religious dude from Texas that opens his campaigns with prayers and insists that the climate changes aren’t scientifically proven to be man-made. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney, a former finance executive has focused greatly on the economy.
Who will take the lead for the election? We have a long way to go.
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