What do you think about McCain's campaign manager saying "this election is not about the issues"?

Question

Rick Davis, campaign manager for John McCain's presidential bid, insisted that the presidential race will be decided more over personalities than issues during an interview with Post editors this morning.

"This election is not about issues," said Davis. "This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/09/mccain_manager_this_election_i.html

What do you think about this statement by McCain's campaign manager? Is this why they're running ads comparing Obama to Paris Hilton? Does this indicate that McCain doesn't think most Americans are intelligent enough to base their decisions on the issues? Considering how close the race is, is he right?

Answer 1

Because its absolutely true.

People in all media are talking about the candidates not the issues.

What is media focused on now?

Palin's Pregnant teenage daughter.

Answer 2

The Republicans fail on the issues. That is why they are running from them.

Answer 3

Davis also acknowledged that it is critically important for Palin's speech at the Republican convention to define who she is to the American public, but said that her acceptance speech was a generic, "masculine" speech prepared before the pick was made and that Palin has adapted the speech to her own needs and personality. How much breathing room the script affords her, and how it's perceived, remains to be seen.

It sounds like the Republicans are going with a different game plan.  How will it resonate?  In my neighborhood -- solid middle class  -- there are 5 empty homes, mostly owned by the banks that foreclosed.  The home next door to me is vacant as of 2 days ago.  The young owners had an adjustable mortgage and bought when the Southern California market was strong.  The house is now worth well over $100,000 less than the purchase price they paid only a few years ago.  Then there's the war: over 4,100 U.S. soldiers killed so far. And how the war has affected our economy, our debt, and our future.

The race is tight, no doubt.  I think the debates are going to be carefully scrutinized this time around by independents, undecided voters, and marginal Democrats and Republicans alike.  Therein, perhaps, lies the key.  There is where, I believe, Obama will gain votes, or force McCain to depart from Davis' strategy and work on the issues.

People are more engaged this election than for any election in recent history. A black on the Democratic ticket.  A woman on the Republican ticket.  But our country is in a bad way.  The dollar is in poor shape. The unemployment rate.  The recession.  The candidates will be talking issues.  Davis is trying to lower expectations, but I don't think most people will be having any of it, and in the end McCain will have to play to the issues or concede the race to Obama.

Answer 4

I agree.  Obama worshipers are voting for him because he is black.  If they voted on issues, Hillary would be the nominee.

Answer 5

I think it explains much, actually.

Ron Paul's campaign was about the issues.

If you don't like the way they campaign, vote for a different party.  There are more than 2.

Answer 6

To them it's about continuing the Bush presidency.

Answer 7

I think that's a valid statement in many respects.  Obama isn't really a strong candidate on the issues but he's created a cult of followers based on his personality.  Obama has cast himself as this big celebrity - he's already written several autobiographies and he's only in his 40's.  Obama can't win on the issues which is why he discusses them so infrequently.  Instead he speaks vaguely of "hope" and "change".  Well, who is going to argue against hope and change?  No one really until you begin to dig and try to decipher what the h**l he means by "hope" and "change".  

It's also a valid statement in that the mainstream media seems incapable of covering the issues and the candidates' detailed position on the issues.  They're so entranced with the whole Obama phenomenon that they've lost their ability to think.  

Answer 8

I would say he is dead on.  Hardly any issues have been raised.  What are the issues?  Iraq is coming around and so is the economy. Look at oil falling.....do you know why oil is falling?  Because our government got their nose out of the free markets and let them work themselves out.  This has become about character of the candidates rather than issues, and I am curious to see the outcome.  I will admit this is a very exciting race!

Answer 9

Because as always, the repubs do not actually talk about the real issues.  They rely on smokescreens and wedge issues.

1.  Abortion- Nixon, Ford, Reagen, Bush1, Bush2=NOTHING

2.  Guns- nobody is taking your guns its a smokescreen perpetuated by the NRA and the gop

3.  g**s- who cares, they have always been here and always will-non issue

BUT THESE ARE THE REPUBLICAN ISSUES THAT GET YOUR VOTES....

NOW-go to each candidates state govt website and research them, what they have done in the past.

VOTE for the candidate that represents you best...

Answer 10

ROTFLMAO !!!

This is the same guy that thinks choosing a Bimbo VPOTUS with a knocked up unmarried teenage daughter is 'what America really needs"

BWAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 11

Perhaps, but America has a right to question Palin just as they did Obama.

Tucker Bounds is a crybaby too.

He got b*tchslapped by Campbell Brown!!

All she did was ask him a question about Palin's executive experience and Tucker pouted and whined like a baby!!

Answer 12

look at this format ? Y! has 85% of the questions it seems is about Palin or her daughter getting knocked up..is this election turned into

a *women* thing?

more women vote then men.  do the math.  women are more likely to

cross party lines then me..do the math ..sparky

Answer 13

He's just speaking the truth.  A small percentage of people vote according to issues.  Why do you think 97% of black people are voting for Obama?  Because of his issues?  Doubt it.

Answer 14

First of all, you base the premise to your question on a falsehood, or should I say, misconception. Obama won't debate. He won't tell us about himself. He's hiding. Of course this race is the epitome of the notion of the 'Cult of Personality'. Obama wants it that way. He cannot win on his own merits.

BAM>>>! The truth hurts. Run, Obama, Run.