Palin Pushes Florida Undecideds To The Left

St. Petersburg Times:

Five weeks ago, the St. Petersburg Times convened a group of Tampa Bay voters who were undecided about the presidential election. Their strong distrust of Barack Obama suggested it was a group ripe for John McCain to win over.

Not anymore. The group has swung dramatically, if unenthusiastically, toward Democrat Obama. Most of them this week cited the same reason: Sarah Palin.

Read the whole story: St. Petersburg Times

Comments

[GBartrem]

Thank God this Palin is decintagrating before our very eyes.

[PT6]

Right it is time to close the door on this one!

She had two "good weeks of stories" which everyone seem clear about now.

This is more than the five minutes she deserved!

We do not need another politician who ignores the legal system and refuses subpeonas. We have that now.

[BannedInBoston]

People are beginning to realize that shooting moose and bears is probably a better qualification for, well, shooting moose and bears than it is for Vice President....

[American04]

Anyone that needs to question if a book in an American public library can be ban (removed) needs “maybe a sharper microscope put on her”.

Anyone that believes that spirits can enter their body needs “maybe a sharper microscope put on her”.

Anyone that has a degree in journalism and can’t answer questions from a journalist needs “maybe a sharper microscope put on her”.

Anyone that supports a group that advocates state separation from the U.S. needs “maybe a sharper microscope put on her”.

Palin quota “maybe a sharper microscope put on her”

If you ever forwarded an e-mail, now's the time to do it

[ErnestineBass]

I, too, believe spirits can enter the body...

during happy hour.

[arrowpg]

Happens to me all the time. Good one.

[BannedInBoston]

But the exorcism can be a real b.itch....

[TruthWillPrevail]

I was at the the BO rally here in Jacksonville, FL and there were literally thousands of people waiting outside by the fence at the Metropolitan park where he spoke. I was amazed at the amount of support for BO here in Northeast FL. It used to be dominated by the repuplicans in the last 2 elections here but I've heard people are sick and tired of what has happened in the last 8 years under Bush's administration. It's got pretty competitive down here but hopefully FL will do the right thing and vote smart this time around!

[loria]

That is good to hear. Way to go Jacksonville! I heard there were thousands at the rally in Charlotte, NC and that they had to open on overflow area to accomodate the crowds. That is in what is supposed to be a red area of a red state in the midst of the very red South. I think the times are a changing.

[MSgt]

The Palin affect is dead.

[Colingavignet]

Did anyone notice the comments in the original article.
They were strongly unfavorable to Obama, more so than on national sites such as CNN or fox, that never has any comments.
Could the repubs strategy, seeing the small number of people who use the internet in this party, be to concentrate on swing areas such as tampa bay to owerflow the comments with repub opinions?
This explanation would be kind of reassuring because I can't understand that so many posts on most news sites are favorable to obama despite the polls being so close.

[k1k2lee]

Those sites are generally populated by idealogues, not by the averave voter and certainly not the independents who are not deeply sunk into a party line. Don't worry, but I would also jump in and start giving some pushback, for the benefit of the independent readers or few independent participants that show up. That's what I do regularly and tell them of my greatest fears - i.e. the plan to tax health benefits as outlined by Bob Herbert in the NY Times and the deregulatory practices of John McCain that led to this mess and how he wants to deregulate the halth insurance industry the same way. Those are the things that hit most peple the hardest - certainly hit me that way. So I like to pass it on.

[PacoPup]

Being more universally accessible, the blog comments are probably MORE representative than the polls. Do you know anyone who's ever been polled? I don't and I know an awful lot of people. The polls have also been proven to be skewed toward more Republican respondents in order to make them seem closer (admitted by Gallup a couple weeks ago and by ABC just this week).

[LilyMaskew]

I answered a poll about 10 days ago. My son is a union member. They called and asked for him, but he was working so I answered their questions. It's true that I am not an Independent, but a staunch Democrat. Usually union members are dems.

[gigi09]

The polls are deceptive. When I see thousands and thousands of people showing up to see/hear Obama compared to the smaller group of republicans. Also, I look at the money that Obama collects so much more than McCain. I am not buying what the polls are telling us. I do believe we still have a lot of work to do, by no means do we intend to take anyhing for granted...we will win in November! The thought of McCain/Palin is sickening!

Obama-Biden 08!

[OB-GYN]

We all should hunker down and work for Obama. Talk with friends/neighbors, work at the local HQ, bring them food to keep them going, and donate NOW, as in a couple of weeks there won't be time to do the ads.

Also, keep on guard for October changes, be fluid, new people on Repubs side, new attacks. Find out where Obama or Biden or Hillary are campaigning (politico lists three days in advance or such) and go.

We don't have this sown up yet. Donate, donate, canvas. Let Barack concentrate on anything but fundraising.

Sending off another donation tonight.

[Bluejay00234]

No not the economy, not even the war..just Plain. RME!

[UplandBob]

MichaelMoore, Bill Ayers, Oprah, Rosie O'Donnell, Bill Maher, Sean Penn, Matt Damon, etc. all extremely liberal moronic celebs for the "messiah." Yeah, they are not out of touch with the mainstream. Bunch of sheep told who to vote for by actors.

[FaceYourFears]

There's a hell waiting for you!

[UplandBob]

Atheist democrat, really silly.

[loria]

The trolls are back. I thought they might stay in hiding considering the terrible week McSame and Failin had. But, UplandBob is back without one intelligent thing to say. He talks about the celebs that actually get out there and do something for the world. And he calls them out of touch.

[YouDisgustMe]

huh? lol

[Bluejay00234]

And shall we add your name to the list, because here you are concerning your little self with O. Gawd I love when people claim to hate him, yet spend their lives consumed with thoughts of him. How special.

[exPatPatti]

Like Hannity.

[decolonizeme]

Yeah, they are not out of the touch with the mainstream. Bunch of sheep told who to vote for by actors like Fred Thompson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Ben Stein.

(at the least Democrats are in league with good actors.)

[Americatortures]

And Jessica Simpson...who supports Shrub!!!

[exPatPatti]

And don't forget Jon Voight. Father of the year-

[LMT]

Well, we can only hope that the naked truth about Palin's total lack of knowledge of anything on the national/international level will be laid bare in the VP debate. I doubt her talking in circles and saying nothing will really cut it against Joe Biden even with the kindergarten-level questions promised for her.

[Americatortures]

I wonder if they'll ask her about the book,"MY PET GOAT"???

[Ides]

FTA:
"I really wanted someone youthful and someone who could relate more to the future generations," said Republican Jim Soltis, 70, of Holiday, who is weighing his desire for expanded health insurance access with maintaining Bush's tax cuts. "So I keep watching and watching and hoping for Obama to say the right things, and he's not saying them."

--------------------

This amused me the most from that article. Jim, let me explain something to you if you happen to read this (and I doubt you will). You are 3 generations older than those kids just old enough to vote. The reason you don't think he's saying the right things is because you don't relate to future generations. It's not that you can't, it's just that you don't share the same values.

Obama, for the most part, does. You can't have it both ways. If you want someone who relates to the younger generation, chances are he'll share the same politics as the younger generation.

Likewise, Jim, I see that you're hoping for expanded health-insurance and lower taxes, but this is the exact same problem. Again, you can't have it both ways. Either you lower taxes or you get expanded health-insurance.

[FaceYourFears]

If only Jim could read this!

[loria]

My thought exactly. This is what has helped get us in this mess. We want what we want, but we don't want to have to pay for it.

[loria]

Also, it makes me wonder how much Jim makes. If it's not over $250,000 he doesn't have to worry about an increase in his taxes. If he does make over $250,000 a year, I am surprised he is concerned about expanded healthcare. My guess is that Jim wouldn't see a tax increase with Obama, but he's bought that it's tax and spend with the Dems. All we have to do is look at the last eight years of Bush and then consider the Clinton years) and it would be clear to everyone that the real spenders are the Republicans, and that they are no friend to most of us.

[jamarib2mom]

She spoke to a crowd at a retirement community today! Wow Plus she is not talking to the press!

[Bec01]

I was just listening to Sara Palin's speech here in Florida and she mentioned that she and her husband own a fishing company and how Obama will hurt the small business owners. Does anyone else think it is a conflict of interest to be Governor of a state in which you own a business? It just seems a little off to me.

[jamarib2mom]

Yea i heard her speech as well telling people Obama was going to raise taxes. How her family has small businesses in Alaaaaaska!!! Like nobody else in the world own businesses!

[Bec01]

She did say her and her husband own a small fishing business, not in the past have owned. Who knows, maybe she is lying again..lol. I still think it would be odd that they would own their own business as the governor and first dude.

[warsaw]

You know there are ways for small business not to be hit with a corporate tax. You can file as a subchapter S corp, or an LLC. Those all flow to your personal tax return to be taxes at non-corporate rates. That's what many small businesses do. It's called tax planning. So what McPalin is saying is not accurate. Not all small businesses will be hit with a tax increase. It's just fear mongering.

[judyc]

What about McCain's beer business?

[Zeev]

Her husband owns a fishing company and works as a supervisor for a BP oil field.

Hes also a part of the STEELWORKERS union.

Don't oil workers have their own union?

Just something I noticed. I'm not exactly an expert on unions can somebody please explain this too me. :S

[springsm]

I think owning a "fishing business" means he owns a boat and spends some time in the summer fishing. I don't think that has ever been their livelihood. Licences to fish in Alaska from a commerical enterprise are hard to come by...they no doubt, have one. She has exaggerated a great deal of what she is.

[loria]

I thought they used to own a fishing company quite a few years ago. Her husband works for BP even though he originally took a leave saying it would be a conflict of interest for him to be emplyed by an oil company while his wife was govenor. He went back to BP within months of her election. I guess that conflict of interest doesn't bother him now.

[seattlefemdem]

Well she's gonna need that business when they lose this election and all of Alaska is no pissed off because they now know of her BS manuevers. Don't think they'll be asking her back to the big dance

[Americatortures]

Wait until the Floridians who worry about Obama's religion find out Palin's preacher....the one who "laid hands on her" to help her become governor, was actively witch hunting against a woman in Kenya!! This was reported on MSNBC on Countdown with Olbermann on Friday!!

[UplandBob]

No one watches keith Olbermann except for small minority of airheads.

[oscartucker]

I am not an airhead! You don't know me!!!

[YouDisgustMe]

...while geniuses, like you (of course), watch bill o'reilly and sean hannity

[Americatortures]

I guess that makes my facts incorrect in some way????

[Bec01]

I am not an airhead either.

[Americatortures]

What do you watch...sesame street and Hannah Montana???

[mafina]

Please tell me which Governor Palin is running for VP, Sarah or Todd? Seems like old skido Todd is calling the shots for both Governor and VP slots.

[soapington]

Bingo.

[usakaput]

NO WAY ,NOT THE FIRST DUDE,OK

[loria]

So, if Todd's the First Dude of Alaska, what will she call him if, God forbid, she is somehow president one day?

[soapington]

Regardless of their political beliefs, religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender, age, or taste in footwear, I guess people just don't like to be insulted. And the choice of Sarah Palin insults everybody.

[vegangoddess]

I don't beleve at all that this election is about race, or gender, or sexual orientation or income bracket, or blue or red or repub or dem or indy or young or old. I sincerely believe that this election will be about INTELLIGENCE vs IGNORANCE! Ignorance won the last 8 years, it's time for Intelligence to be the victor for the next 8.

Vote Obama / Biden '08 or prove that you're not as smart as a 5th grader!

[dlscio]

I hope you're right!!!! I really do.

[Americatortures]

If it is...ignorance wins..because there are so many more "low-information" voters who vote against their best interests...especially blue-collar workers with little education!!! ....the bitter folk Obama CORRECTLY identified months ago!!

[Clarabell]

I hope you're right too. But can you really answer all of those "5th grader" questions correctly -- doesn't the prize go up to a million dollars? Only saw it once, but I would like to know how many contestants made it to the end.

[Colingavignet]

The problem is I've never met a single person who would self descibe himself as ignorant, have you?