Issues and “character”
Friday, August 29th, 2008I have heard it said that if presidential elections were decided solely on issues, the Democratic candidate would win every time. The reason that Republicans often do win is because they always try to make the election about something else: Character. Perceived character, I should say, because the odds of getting an accurate assessment of someone’s character through observing a political campaign is about as likely as finding mystical enlightenment while watching a rerun of Gilligan’s Island.
I haven’t seen any recent polls, but I believe the American people prefer Obama’s health care reforms over McCains. I think they also prefer his Iraq strategy, his economic plan, his tax reforms, his views on reproductive rights, and so on. If elections were chiefly about issues, Obama would have a 20 point lead over McCain right now, and he’d keep that lead right through November, winning a landslide victory.
What do you think? Which party’s policies on health care reform, education, taxes, the economy and Iraq are more in line with public opinion? Which party is sewing the most doubt about the other candidate’s character?