Mark Penn: Obama Independent Support Would "Evaporate" In General Election

Election Central:

On a conference call with reporters just now, Hillary pollster Mark Penn sought to make the case for her electability by dredging up bad memories of the GOP and right-wing media's successful efforts to redefine Al Gore and John Kerry, arguing that Hillary wouldn't succumb to such tactics....

...Penn said that Hillary has "withstood" this process, while Obama would find that his independent support "would evaporate relatively quickly once he faced the Republicans." Penn added that the GOP "is already playing the national security card against Obama."

Read the whole story: Election Central

Comments

[JerfyT]

Mark Penn becomes more and more like Karl Rove every day

[cambio]

HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAA!! It IS opposite day!!

Wow, that was good, haha. Is Penn talking about possible skewed perceptions of Obama? Did he fail to look at the polls (he is a pollster right??) that show Hillary's unfavorable rating is already at 50%, BEFORE the Republicans have a chance to go after he again? Looks to me like the Republicans did a damn good job on her already, what makes he think she can defend against them? It looks like they've won the first couple rounds, and the only reason she is still standing with 50% is because they haven't had a reason to go after her for a while, and they are waiting for us to be stupid enough to nominate her.

Haha, way to "withstand" the GOP attacks Hillary, you already have one foot in the electoral grave from the Republicans' standpoint. And you are actually arguing that Obama's independent support might evaporate??? YOU DON'T HAVE ANY INDEPENDENT SUPPORT TO BEGIN WITH IDIOT!!!!

HAHAHAHAA! Give me a BREAK! Talk about throwing stones from a glass house built on jenga stilts!! What a total idiot.

See, this is that 180 degree Orwellian craziness that I'm talking about...at­tacking someone on their strengths and your own weaknesses. Haha.

Take a look at the polls Penn, they all say McCain would destroy Hillary, even before the GOP machine takes another swing at her. Ohhhh, that brightened my day. Thanks Mark.

[lynnn]

Also you know all the Republican women will line up to vote for Hillary (bc she is also a woman). I mean I haven't seen facts or figures about it, but I knows it, my left knee is tingling. When my left knee tingles it means that either it is snowing or that Republicans are going to vote for Hillary (more than just Mann Coulter). Oh wait it's snowing. Darn it knee!

[Dorian]

Whenever I hear someone say that Republican women will vote for Hillary, I wonder what they've been smoking.

[johnhummel]

I think there is a fundamental flaw to Mr. Penn's theory. In 2004, for example, nobody knew about John Kerry, save for the Dems who showed up at the primaries. Nearly the same thing was true for Gore - he was "that VP guy that's kind of boring".

So the Republican spin of "Oh, Gore lies" (though he never did) and Kerry's flip-flops and the Swift Boating worked - because nobody knew them.

The Republicans then used their massive campaign to tell Americans what Gore and Kerry were - even if it wasn't true. And since most people didn't know about them, it worked.

In 2000 and 2004, independents didn't go out to primaries or caucuses. This time, though, they are participating. Which means they've already decided who they like. Which means they aren't going to go "OMG - I saw this TV ad and I don't like Obama any more!" They've already committed time and energy into showing up and getting involved.

In 2004, independents weren't really engaged - nor was most of the Democratic base. This time, they are - and if we know anything about human nature, it's that once they make up their mind it's harder to get them to change it once they've gotten involved.

[HowietheScreamer]

Not only that but Gore and Kerry both spent too much time before trying to smack down the Repubes and their lies. I don't think ANY Dem is going to make THAT mistake again.

Gore and Kerry were either trying to be "Gentlemen" or were just too pussified. The Repubics have NO honor or morals. They will DO anything, and they need to be smacked down FAST.

I think Obama has done just fine against the Clintonian version of the Repubic shitsplatter gun. Besides, the Repubes don't even LIKE their candidate. If Obama wins the nom, most of the Repubes will stay home. Just look at the primary numbers Dem v. Repube. That's ALL you need to know.

[Dorian]

Gore lost because voters were mad at Clinton. Kerry lost because voters didn't particularly like him. All the Republicans did was give people a hat to hang their displeasure on. The problem Hillary is having with Obama is that voters like him more than they like her. Their policies are all the same.

[SubparDude]

:
Amazing what some people will say after a $4.5MM payment for services rendered.

That's what Clinton paid Penn last month.
:

[lexicoscott]

he posted his opinion regarding what he thinks about the independent vote in this article.

But, opinion from anyone but an Obama supporter is lewd, crude and rude.

You all just damned Hillary for an opinion that Penn made... regarding independent voters.. why? hate, fear?

Your man has it in the bag remember? What's to fear, why would it matter what Penn says. Penn (slimy..ok­) did not mention anything reference a slanderous remark in THIS ARTICLE..

Yet the posters have.. and that makes you no better then his slimy arses. He made an opinion about what he thinks independent voters will do in the general. Disagree, but to insight hate and rhetoric..­.

anyone see the point here? What do you have to fear since your man has it in the bag...

hate hate hate, anger anger anger, the new Democratic Mantra...

Vote McCain, he's the hell you are accustomed too.. donate today: www.johnmccain.com

[AdLib]

You can't be that naive and be an adult. Mark Penn has simply shared his opinion? As a public service? An opinion for which Hillary is paying him $3 million and we the public are paying him $0.

BTW, as for hate, how could a good Repub like you have completely missed last week's Conservative Political Action Conference? The hatred there was spread with a spoon, Laura Ingrahm, Ann Coulter, the Mittster, it was a Hate-a-thon of everyone who isn't wealthy or an evangelical.

Try a bit of perspective next time, it might help pass the smell test.

[lexicoscott]

actually if you read my post, I said in this article he was sharing his opinion. I also stated he was slimy... but you missed that with all your hatred didn't you..

and AdLib, maybe you should have read some of my other posts, just to show how way off base you are...

Thank you for proving my point...

Ever heard of sarcasm?? "Vote McCain, he's the hell you are accustomed too.. donate today: www.johnmccain.com" but maybe you can't hear anything unless it states "Obama for president"­.. nice objectiveness you show in your post... nice injection of hate, and bias. talk about naive..

[horacekent]

Aside from Karl Rove, is there anyone more replulsive looking than Mark Penn?

He reminds me of a character from the "Austin Powers" movies.

Everytime I see him, I can help but picture him naked, in fron of a focus group, asking them, "Do I make you horny?"

Besides that - you'd think with Obama kicking the crap out of his client Hillary, he'd have other things besides the general election on his mind. Before that comes, he has stop getting punch in the face by Barack everyday.

Go Obama!!

[NABNYC]

Let's see. The intent of negative advertising (which we assume will come from the Republicans) is to try to create a negative attitude in the public towards the Democratic candidate.

Hillary Clinton has the highest negative ratings of any of the candidates -- going back to when we had 16, or 20 people in the race.

Hillary Clinton did not "withstand" the Republican assault on her character. The Republicans succeeded. I guess the argument of her union-busting campaign manager is that it's hard to think of much more s**t the Republicans can dig up on Hillary, since she's already been buried in it.

Of course she can't blame this entirely on the Republicans. Her husband spends his life promiscuously bedding a series of females none of whom are named Hillary, and takes money from everyone.

And Hillary has spent her years in the Senate supporting Republicans and doing nothing for Democrats.

Those 1 million Iraqis who are now dead because of Hillary Clinton also make her look kind of bad.

Maybe they should re-brand her and go directly for Republican support. They could call her Hillary the Slasher Democrat.

[ProudNeoCon]

Are you sure it is 1mm and not 10 millions? Maybe be even 100? Well maybe not 100 million - it is hard to kill the entire country several times over...

[lexicoscott]

ah yes, I keep forgetting the entire country stopped and asked to her to make the final decision on Iraq and said to her "yours is the only vote that means anything", lets throw away all the other voters and take her vote as the deciding vote.. putting all those lives on Hillary's head... awesome..

stretching the truth severely there.. but please continue to spin it how you see fit..

[PragmaticProgressive]

I'm not sure what his basis for this assertion is.
Or that in a general election that this (attack machine) would apply more to Obama than Clinton.
It also might be nice to enter the general with independents to lose rather than none at all.

[deb813]

Well if he could somehow survive the slimy Mr. Penn I'm sure he can survive the Republicans. You can tell a lot by the people Hillary has out there talking on her behalf and it isn't good.

[Dorian]

I wonder if it's Penn's idea to trot out people like Lanny Davis to speak on Hillary's behalf. All Lanny Davis reminds me of is Clinton's impeachment.

[Bushgirlsgonewild]

It was just revealed a few days ago that the former Minister Ted Haggard recently visited the White House several times.

That, combined with 8 years of secret Jeff Gannon visits, probably means that everything in the White House has dried astroglide on it.


Including Barney.

[lynnn]

Poor dog.