So far, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois has not yet gripped the Democratic nomination. However, many including many Republicans believe that Obama will be the eventual nominee of the Democratic Party. Still, Senator Hillary Clinton of New York is in the race. Clinton has yet to drop out and refuses to do so. This is a possible indication that Clinton may soon lose the nomination to Obama.
Now, Obama is focusing his attacks on presumed GOP nominee John McCain of Arizona. At the same time, McCain has been focusing his attacks more on Obama than Clinton. Even the Republican National Committee (RNC) has focused attacks on Obama rather than Clinton. It also furthers the indication that Clinton’s chance of securing the Democratic nomination is slim to none. In short, Clinton’s campaign looks to be struggling to stay afloat.
While Clinton is still in the race, Obama looks to divert his attention from her and focus it on McCain. Right now, Obama is preparing his strategy to combat McCain in the general election. He is going after various voting blocs: the White Working-Class, Independents, Latinos, Catholics, and Jews. These voting blocs will be crucial in the general elections come November.
As the Democratic race continues, Obama has campaigned in states that have already completed through the contests. At the same time, Obama has sent teams to various swing states. So far, this strategy is to link McCain with US President Bush in regards to Iraq and the tax cuts.
Iraq has been the main platform of McCain, who has said that this issue will either make or break his campaign. A CNN/Research Opinion Corp. poll taken back in April reveals that the state of the economy is the top subject to most Americans. The issue of Iraq had come in at a distant second. The poll reveals that while McCain edges over Obama and Clinton in Iraq, the two have the advantage over him in regards to the economy.
Still, it will not be an easy task for Obama. Working-Class White Voters have been a voting bloc that had supported Clinton. It was one of the voting blocs that have been crucial to Clinton’s victory in the April 22 primary in Pennsylvania. The branding of being an elitist has not helped Obama much with that critical voting bloc.
While Obama has appealed to Independents, that same voting bloc has appealed to McCain as well. Both Obama and McCain have appealed to Independents. Clinton has not fared as well with Independent voters.
The Latino vote is up for grabs as well. However, this proves to be a balancing act for McCain on the issue of immigration. Strategists have said that McCain needs to be in good standing with the Latino community. At the same time, McCain has yet to secure support from the conservative bloc of the GOP. McCain’s stance on immigration appeals to the Latino community. However, it alienates him from the conservative members of the GOP.
The Catholic and Jewish Voting blocs are also up for grabs. However, the Catholic Voting bloc seems to coincide with the Latino voting bloc. A survey shows that Catholicism and Protestantism have been losing members in the United States. Most Catholics under 30 are Latino.
This is a simple strategy to use against McCain. However, simple does not necessarily mean easy. Carrying out this strategy against McCain is easier said than done. Obama would have to look more appealing to those voting blocs. Also, the RNC already has ammunition to use against Obama in the future.
Several months back at a GOP donor event, a five-point attack plan has been launched against Obama. So far, it looks as if the GOP is ready to acknowledge Obama as the Democratic opponent this fall.
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