LeadBolt wrote:JohnStOnge wrote:Obama's going to win. I've written before that he is the more telegenic and charismatic candidate. That matters more than any policy position does. Also, to the extent that policy positions matter, Romney is handicapped by having done the health care thing in Massachusetts. Santorum was right, I think, in pointing out during the Republican primaries that a candidate who did what Romney did with health care when he was a governor isn't going to be able to effectively use the health care issue. One somebody says, "You did the same thing" he can try to make fine distinctions all he wants but it won't fly.
I think that policy positions do matter to the majority of voters but the problem is that those voters already have their minds made up. They have a world view that leads them to vote for the Republican candidate or they have one that leads them to vote for the Democratic candidate. The problem is that we have the vaunted people in the "middle' who have no clue as to what direction they want to see the country go in for the long term. They flop back and forth. And I think an awful lot of those people are more influenced by how good somebody looks and sounds than anything else. Advantage Obama.
I hate to admit it, but I agree with your analysis. Recently most national candidates have been
elected by the clueless few without convictions who value appearance over substance. No matter what you believe about the substance of either candidate, Obama looks and sounds better than Romney.
They have been NOMINATED by the majority of involved voters in each party. This typically leaves us with two candidates perfectly willing to play the campaign finance game. The rational and sometimes radical middle is left with no choices but a pair of corporate bots. The rational and radical middle are far and away the most informed voters on the block. They ride the fence because they take a look at the choices each go around and think..."blehg".
I would take my liberal ass vote and gladly send it towards Paul, Gary Johnson, or Buddy Rohmer in a heartbeat if they were viable. But they are not viable because they have the potential to shake up the entrenched power - heaven forbid.
It's always about the money and re-election. That is what needs to be changed.
