Obama appears to be the favoured candidate

Oct 18, 2008 Letters

Dear Editor,
Most Caribbean Americans, including virtually every Guyanese, I spoke with over the last week convincingly believe Democratic Senator Barack Obama is likely to win the U.S Presidency over Republican John McCain in the November 4th election.
A month ago right after the elections, most Caribbean-Americans had given up hope that Obama could win when McCain took (an average) six percent lead in most of the polls.
As I pointed out then, the race was not over as I believed that Obama had a chance if the economy declined precipitously. And that has happened and Obama is now riding high on his way to the White House.
Since the collapse of the economy three weeks ago, Obama has increased his lead over McCain.
It appears that Obama will win the Presidency but one should not completely discount McCain. He is known to come back from the political dead. But it will be an almost impossible task for the Republican maverick to pull off this one.
No Presidential candidate has come back from such a huge deficit (8 to 11%) in the polls to win the Presidency except Ronald Reagan who erased an almost 14% deficit to beat Jimmy Carter by a landslide in 1980.
But McCain is not the kind of communicator as Reagan was and this time around McCain is from the incumbent party unlike Reagan who was the challenger against an unpopular Carter, similar to how Obama who is a great communicator and is campaigning against an unpopular President Bush.
Although most Caribbean Americans feel Obama will win the Presidency, some of them are not voting for Obama because they do not trust him.
However, it does not matter how Caribbean Americans in NY or New Jersey vote because Obama will win both by huge margins.
I do not think McCain can catch up with Obama who has a lead of an average of about 8%. Over a dozen national polls are conducted by different pollsters every few days and all are pointing to an ominous sign for McCain. People are worried about the economy and their retirement benefits. McCain had failed to address the economic issues to show Americans he can run the economy unlike Bush who has destroyed economic gains made by the nation.
But McCain did well on the economy in the debate on Wednesday night (15-10-08) and could pick up a few percent support. It will not be enough to worry Obama.
Recent polls show Obama’s economic plan gaining ground among voters, and more Americans say they trust him to handle the crisis.
The polls also show a drop in McCain’s favourability ratings over the past month. Obama is also leading among women voters and all the minority groups except Asians.
Obama also has a slight lead among voters who consider themselves independent of both major parties.
Obama is also ahead of McCain in all the critical swing states such as Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, etc. If the election were today, Obama wins a landslide. But two weeks is a lifetime in politics and a major event could change peoples’ electoral mood.

Vishnu Bisram

Latest News

Obama appears to be the favoured candidate

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 11th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Minister Ramson hails Harpy Eagles Championship team following return...

GFF hosted first Referee Introductory Course for...

Ninvalle congratulates Harpy Eagles on West...

Wharton’s weighty five inspires Chase...

Vryman’s Erven Secondary wins inaugural...

Pele FC Alumni Corp. 2025 Youth Development...

Features/Columnists

The theatre of protest and the death of reason

Collaborative Government–Private Sector Action Imperative for a Resilient Trade Future

Resign or be removed

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Obama appears to be the favoured candidate

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 11th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]