The Flipside Of Palin Firing Up GOP Base -- Firing Up Dem Base

Sarah Palin's speech last night did everything the McCain campaign wanted it to do, which is really one thing - fire up the right-wing base.

For all the talk about how poised Palin was - as if people expected her to come out and drool and speak in incomplete sentences - the core of her speech was nothing more than recycled right-wing attacks. The self-proclaimed "pitbull in lipstick" gave the base what they were looking for, and hadn't gotten from John McCain.

If the speech was about reaching undecideds, the sarcasm and attacks would have been dramatically toned down. While negative ads can have an effect on undecided and soft voters, vicious attacks coming from the candidate's mouth very rarely do. That the snide tone was intentionally called up is all the evidence you need -- McCain's campaign determined Palin's speech needed to rally the base, not win over new voters.

But there's a flipside of firing up your base with attacks -- it fires up the other side's base too. For every hardcore supporter of the radical right that was jumping up and cheering at home, there was a progressive jumping up and shouting profanity at their TV.

While it may seem that the Obama campaign has owned the battle to get the base fired up, there was a certain bit of calm among Democrats, especially with polls showing a very healthy bounce coming out of Denver. That kind of calm results in less money raised, people less motivated to get out and knock on doors, or hand out campaign lit.

Sarah Palin just lit a fire under the left.

And it's not just Obama supporters, either. As reported here on Huffington, a focus group of undecided Hillary voters had a negative reaction to Palin's speech. While she attacked Obama, who certainly isn't a favorite of those former-Hillary supporters, she also attacked and mocked the very progressive values that Hillary champions, and has been for 30 years. If Palin has nudged those voters to Obama, continued red-meat right-wing attacks from her will only serve to firm-up Hillary's supporters' resolve to defeat McCain/Palin.

It's all a very, very calculated risk, from a McCain campaign that already proved its willingness to play some Russian Roulette with the selection of Sarah Palin. If Palin can bring GOP base turnout up to the same raw vote numbers as Obama's base turnout, we've got a very real race. If she can't, and continues to fire up Obama's side, and drives Hillary supporters into his camp, then the McCain team just shot themselves in the head.

Read more reactions from HuffPost bloggers on Sarah Palin's speech

Comments

[susanmjp]

the silver lining in this palin "coming out party" is that it is uniting dems more than ever before!!! Its a surge!!! im so relieved to know that we can actually be a majority here-- and that there are millions just like me who arent swooning and drooling and cheering over her references to snowmobiles, hockey moms and the pta. the only thing she missed was bringing out the apple pie. stay tuned. i felt like i was watching a new fox reality show, "you too can be in the white house" with jeff foxworthy as the host!!! im quite sure Saturday Night Live will have a hard time spoofing this spoof.

i call her, "the hairdo". that would make a great campaign button--no picture of palin, just a pile of hair.

to everyone who is as stirred up and insulted as i am----------thank you!

[TrueIndy08]

well, I know after listening to her, I made sure to donate to Sen Obama... he and Joe Biden are the two we need to put this country back on track... and hell, to bring my hubby home from Iraq and make sure he doesn't have to go back!!!

[desert dialogue]

I stopped in the middle of mccains speech to write this as it is incumbent upon all of us to act quickly.
Of course I don't think i will be missing much. So far same stump speech, no how are we going to do it.

But what tweaked my interest was his statement; "I fought lobbyist who stole from Indian Tribes."
He was referring to Abramoff: there was a triumvirate, Abramoff, Norquist, and Ralph Reed.
Ralph Reed the christian coalition leader was involved in using conduits for hiding big money from Abramoff.
$82 million was bilked from the Indians as Abrahamoff set Reed up to oppose gaming casinos while he (Abramoff) was lobbying for it.
Even Bush "pointedly ignored" Reed with all his problems.
John mccain is still embracing Reed a la the fundraiser Reed held for him a few weeks ago.

more details on above on my.obama.com ( desert dialogue.) many went to jail. many still under investigation.

[1will]

The Democratic base was already fired up. Cults are like that. So......the Right is now fired up and that's supposed to be a bad thing for them because the Left is saying, "Palin said mean things about Barack!!!"
Palin was a good pick and has made this a race. You should fear her.
There's some heavy censorship here lately. 1/3 of the comments (mine) never get posted.

[StandUpAmerica08]

Palin eloped with her high-school boyfriend, Todd Palin, on August 29, 1988, when she was 24 years old.[7] "It was a shock but she did it because she knew we couldn’t afford a big white wedding", her mother said.[109]

44-19=25

Track their oldest son is 19 going on 20 this fall.

Was Sarah pregnant when she married Todd?

[geese1920]

What Sarah Palin said last night should fire up the democratic base. It should fire up anyone concerned for the future of the middle class in this country. But, where is Hillary Clinton right now and why is she not out there in the public view hitting Sarah Palin back hard on the issues she has fought for so long to uphold? Palin is a dangerous woman, and we as democrats must do all we can to hit back hard on these issues. And we must set the record straight about the lies and misinformation Palin spewed last night in her speech. I have read comments from Kathleen Sebelius and from Debbie Wasserman Schultz, but I have not heard anything as of yet from Hillary Clinton. She is the strongest female voice in the democratic party right now, and she needs to be out in the forefront to take on the republican attack dogs spreading scurrilous information about Barack Obama. Palin demonstrated last night how she is willing to fight, and now it is up to us to respond. The gloves are off. As Wayne and Garth have said so often, Game On!

[ECB]

Last night I watched Larry King and there were two Hillary supporters, Debby W. Schultz and Kiki (don't know her last name). They were EXCELLENT. During the primary I really did not like them that much, being a Obama supporter. However, they proved that they are loyal Democrats and not petty individuals. The Hillary supporters are the best defense against Palin ! It is clear that Palin is NO Hillary Clinton !
HILLARY AND HER SUPPORTERS ROCK !

[ivywoman]

I just want to inform Huffington how angered I am about the Republican Convention, and especially Rudy Guliani's remarks about Sen. Obama. Mr. Guliani literally made fun of Barack, attacked his character, his moral values, and criticized his work as a community organizer. I'm very appalled at the fact that Mr. Guliani, and other republicans belittle community development, and the projects of finding people steady employment. That is why this country has plunged downward at this time, because the republicans just don't see the importance of American lives.

I was really insulted by Sarah Palins speech at the convention. Not one time did she tell the Americans how she was going to help bring change to Washington. All she did was attack, and insult Community Organizations by stating that she actually had responsibilities. Community Organizations are responsible for HIV Aids clinics, the education of our youth, employment, and on the job training opportunities.....etc. My associates and I are really hoping that some way Community Leaders can come together, and push back on the McCain campaign on their insulting remarks of Community Organizations. As Democrats, we cannot allow for our communities to be under attack like this by Republicans that want another 4 years in Washington. I know you are busy, but if you can, please respond to this memo. On the behalf of community organizations, I denounce those insulting remarks belittling Community Organizations.

[margardner]

I'm an Obama supporter who is now more fired up than ever!
Have taken the next semester off just to be able to canvass and knock on doors.
Community organizing is an honorable thing. My small coastal community in California kept huge building projects from being built by millionaire developers. They have fought to keep the town's rural flavor and it's small town atmosphere.
Don't tell me community organizing is not important.
Sarah Palin, you have fired up the base. The Democratic base!

Fired up, Ready to go!

Obama/Biden 08'/12'

[NikkiB]

Yep I cursed at the tv then sat down at the computer and sent another donation to Obama.

[redsongia]

I send him 5 dollars every time someone refers to him as "Barack Hussein Obama"

pass it on.

[psychmaj323]

LOL, me too.

[TheLadyInTheVan]

ME TOO!! She's doing Obama a favor with the funding, it seems. What an atrocious woman. Her nasty, sarcastic attacks on people who work in their communities were repulsive. If anyone believed all that "McCain's a nice guy" crap then this woman's dreadful behavior should set them straight. She's a good speech reader though, I'll give her that. Robotic and scary, but she certainly didn't hesitate once....If they think she's going to appeal to working moms they're out of their minds. I'd run a mile from her if she was in *my* PTA!

[Bronxcutie]

Obama's coffers have been filling since Sarah Palin attacked him repeatedly in St. Paul last night.

An Obama aide confirms Drudge's report that Obama has raised about $8 million from more than 130,000 donors and is on pace to raise $10 million by the time McCain reaches the stage tonight.

UPDATE: Obama spokesman Bill Burton says, "Sarah Palin's attacks have rallied our supporters in ways we never expected. And we fully expect John McCain's attacks tonight to help us make our grass-roots organization even stronger."

[NYC07]

10mil has been raised ! as of 8:15 pm

[blaqntelligence]

I watched that BS debacle last night.
Came on here today. Read some blogs. Tried to remain objective. Read some more blogs. Then read the blog about that westmoreland whoever calling the Obama's uppity. Remembered this backwood nobody and her smug nastiness. Probably has never been to Chicago but sneers at a Community organizer. Spinning in all directions to keep her own sloppy life out of the public eye, making sure the camera catches her 17 year old daughter and the "redneck" boyfriend holding hands, but deflect attention away from the five month pregnant belly.
I got mad. Donated some more to Obama.
NOW I'm ready to kick some republican ass, politically, of course.
As soon as my blood pressure and heart rate return to normal.
I know just the remedy: Another donation.

[marytny]

He's a Georgia congressman who only legislature-kind of- was
trying to get the 10 commandments plastered everywhere.
Steven Corbert asked him to name them...he could name 3....

I wonder if the 2 Afro Americans at the RNC are seen as uppity too?

[Musicalita]

You are absolutely right about the Republicant measures pissing off us Democrats -- I just spent a couple of hours emailing friends, colleagues, and family members to contribute to Obama's campaign and nearly all have responded they will do so. I'm also taking some vacation time from work so that I can go out-of-state to help with the Nevada voter registration drives coming up. And this is behavior from someone who has never been that politically active before even though I've indeed contributed dollars. We just MUST continue to renew our fire and courage to take back our government. We can all dare to help! Be audacious!

[johnnygoodwud]

thank you all for your support to obama. i too am a supporter. we will be adding more cars to the 'O' train which by the way is now running on hydrogen. i think it will soon be standing room only,,,,,,,,tickets, tickets please

[Sylvarose]

Her speech fired me up...I donated to Obama this morning.

-sr