One Year Ago, a Turning Point in 2008 Campaign: The Media, Hillary and Sarah Palin

It was exactly one year ago this week that there was a true turning point in the 2008 race for the White House. And it had little to do with Barack Obama. One might even say that it boiled down to the media helping to elect him -- but not by supporting him, in the way conservatives often charge. Instead, it involved coverage that very well could have hurt him, but that ended up rebounding in his favor, big time.

Of course, Obama might very well have won anyway, by a very narrow margin. But I believe that a true turning point -- though rarely noted -- actually came in the summer, at the Democratic convention in Denver. No, it was not the general good vibes about Obama, the ringing speeches by Teddy, Michelle, Bill and Hill, and by the candidate himself.

Rather, it was the electronic media's overblown coverage of the allegedly widespread threat by female Hillary delegates, and other Clinton fans, to bolt Obama in favor of McCain.

As you recall, the dissidents, known as "PUMAs," got massive face time on TV and, it was said, represented just the tip of the iceberg. And it was also said (by commentators, not just by the new, pro-Hillary media stars), that women, particularly older ones and suburban/blue-collar types who had voted for Hillary in the primaries, would likely abandon the Democrats in November.

There was no firm evidence for this, of course, and few pundits, on TV or in print, seemed to notice that the same handful of disgruntled Hillary delegates appeared on all of the shows. No matter. Obama's possible defeat because of the possible defections was widely predicted.

Why did this matter, since the mass defections never happened? Especially since here and elsewhere at liberal political blogs no one ever took the threats seriously?

Because John McCain and his people bought it, hook, line and sinker, as I explain in my book Why Obama Won. This explains the sudden (though often ill-explained) rise of Sarah Palin to the top of their VP list. The McCainites saw an opening, which really wasn't there, and went completely overboard. Not only did a female VP suddenly look like a great idea, but she would have extra appeal to the particular type of Hillary primary voters so hyped by the media.

The preposterous media coverage of the (few) unhappy Hillaryites at the Dem convention, which was aimed not at helping Obama but maintaining interest in the affair and the coming campaign, inspired McCain to select as his running mate someone who would virtually destroy his campaign.

Recall that after months of trailing, McCain came out of his convention with a bump that led to at least a tie with Obama in the polls -- then he plummeted very quickly as the truth about Palin seeped out. In addition, he had lost his chief calling card: an edge in experience on Obama. A week after the GOP convention ended, polls were already showing (as many of us, if not most MSM pundits, had predicted) that, if anything, women thought less of Palin than did men. And surveys continued to show that while she drew crowds she actually drove more people away from the GOP than toward it. In fact, it's a myth that Palin was broadly "popular."

Imagine if McCain had picked even a neutral figure such as a Pawlenty or, say, Kay Bailey Hutchison. Yes, Obama likely still would have won (he ran a fine campaign and the economy collapsed). But if McCain hadn't picked Palin, it would have been in a real nail biter. And Tina Fey would not have been named entertainer of the year, and we wouldn't have had that turkey slaughtering video to enjoy.

Greg Mitchell's new book is Why Obama Won. He is editor of Editor & Publisher.

 

 

Follow Greg Mitchell on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GregMitch

Comments

[attilathehoneycom]

There was never a real turning point in the 2008 Presidential campaign because this country was so busy bashing Bush - they would have voted for Flipper if the Soros "I hate America" machine wasn't in place - as it was. You are so not on the mark when you state that the media covered Obama but didn't support him. What planet do you come from to make such an insipid remark? Not only did the media support, cover but drooled over him so much they could hardly take notes. Anything positive that ever came up on the Republican side only made the obits in the NY Times - but if Sarah Palin made a verbal faux pax, it became a matter of National Laughter as 2nd rate comedian Tina Fey did parody after parody on her. Well, guess what...she­'s still here and conservatives love her. This administration is spooking the hell out of moderate Democrats and Independents by the type company he keeps, the legislation the majority of Americans DON'T WANT and the treatment of Glenn Beck that is being fanned by the sewage in the White House. It's not a great time for America - thanks to all who voted this President in office.
Attila Honey
www.attilathehoney.com

[PeanutButterJellyGirl]

I don't think your views are acurate. Americans are disgruntled because we are in a Major recession and we damn near toppled into a depression. The Republican Party is smaller than ever and getting smaller. Glenn Beck is a special brand of crazy that belongs in an institution ... not on Prime Time television. Sarah Palin gets more obscure by the day spewing garbage from her FaceBook page.

I knocked on doors, registered voters in the rain, called people across the country, wrote letters to local women, donated money to and ultimately voted for President Obama. You're welcome. I saved you from having that nitwit in office while our economy tanked.

[USVOTER]

I recall parroted comments from my in-laws (very selfish and 99% ME and only ME oriented people and repubs) saying they were voting for Hillary but if she was no longer in the running, they were going to vote for McCain. I asked them to clarify what drove them to say something like that? Why base an important vote on a person only and not issues that are a for the better of our nation? Not once did any of them consider anyone other than theirselves in the answer, yet were angry at me for exposing their ME ONLY factor with my question. Just to add, these people, I told my husband, would have been the Criers for the frightening goverments of past, turning in people to the Nazis and crying out falsehoods against someone they did not like, sending them to the Gulags. Freaking scary.

[MizFlagPin]

I remember it just like you told it. And knew the 1st time he brought her on stage that he had made a BIG mistake.

[Badgirl]

Sara Palin is ignorance personified.

[pantherburns]

Sarah Palin Weekend Update rap on Saturday Night Live? Priceless!

[Willow207]

Sarah Palin-"The Quitter" has a new bully pulpit-- Facebook!

Ha ha ha, has she gone viral yet? LMFAO

[LiberalForever]

A totally genius article. I am sure the book is fabulous.

This is exactly what happened, the repugnants thought they had found them a little cutie that the boys would love and the stupid boys did love her. High heels, tight skirts and NO brains. The perfect rethuglican wife and candidate.

I can see them now, in their smoke filled room.."Hey­, uh, you know, uh, Hillary got a lot of support..u­h, we need to get us a b^tch to run with paw paw mccain."

Thats what they got. That's why they lost. Well, mostly why they lost.

[godsense2]

Sarah's the most powerful non politician in America. "Death Panels" will have(and many will say already has) brought down Obamacare

[eatmorchikn 2000]

it hasen't brought down anything yet troll and there are still bill going thru congress and the senate, your wishful thinking is much like it was last year for the McCain/Palin ticket....­..

[okila]

I like Palin and i encourage her to run in all public elections. She should be put on the republican ticket right now. Will guarantee us about 16 yrs of Democratic rule (8 for Obama and the if Hillary runs hopefully stupid America will Put Palin against her and get torn to shreds). Thanks Sarah. Youre the best thing that happened to the Democratic party Donthca know!!

[SuZQ22]

WHO CARES!!!!! She is so ancient history except for those who are titilated by lunency and far right ideology. Please keep her out of the mainstream­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!

[Tigerpath]

How is Obama's 365 electoral votes to McCain's 173 electoral votes a narrow margin? hmmmmmm?

[colah]

Its obvious that Palin was a mistake, but she hardly represented enough votes for it to have been a "nail biter" as you claim. Yes, McCain would have done far better with almost any other choice, but you make little or no mention of the Bush-effect or the juggernaut that was Obamas campaign. These had far more to do with the overall outcome than the Palin choice.

[TFDNYC]

Note that the article said it WOULD HAVE been a nail biter had McCain chosen someone less polarizing.

[seattledemocrat]

It's been one year and I'm still waiting for McCain to apologize for Palin.

[Jeff Cunningham]

As Bill Maher has said: "I'll show you Obama's birth certificate if you'll show me Sarah Palin's high school diploma."

[redsongia]

Nice! I'll raise you Obama's certificate of proper christening for a copy of Palin's no doubt hilarious SAT scores.

[PeanutButterJellyGirl]

hahaha

[BushBites]

McCain made the same mistake Kerry did.

He took his campaign team's advice instead of going with his gut.

McCain/Lieberman would have been a better ticket, just like Kerry/Gephardt would have been a better ticket.

Choosing a veep to make up for a charisma-deficit never works.

[godsense2]

Obama would have really creamed McCain with Lieberman on the ticket. No Conservatives would have voted for that ticket. Palin made it as close as it was going to get against the 500,000,000 Obama machine.