…does it clearly benefit Republicans to make her [Pelosi] a campaign issue?
After all, the GOP would rather not nationalize the midterm elections. Better for Republicans that voters assess individual candidates district-by-district than treat the midterms as a referendum on a fast-sinking George W. Bush or a GOP congressional leadership defined by scandal and gluttonous pork spending.
Braying about a Speaker Pelosi, the theory holds, simply reminds people about the implications of their vote beyond their district in a way that could really benefit Democrats.
From: MORE ON THE PELOSI PREDICAMENT: New Republic, D.C.
Now I am old enough to remember when election campaigns were about policies, not strategy. The shift is no doubt media driven, but must be a the forefront for the parties or they would be forcing policy into the news.
So I guess we’d better get used to just selecting the cleverest tacticians and forget about what they might do in power.
That point aside, given that the US invented the centralized ‘presidential’ campaign, is it really possible to localize campaigns at will? My experience in several other countries suggests that the central party machines are incapable of devolving responsibility and the media and voter is now trained to look to the simplified, centralized message.
4 comments:
You mean the status quo? You reminded me of the guy I knew in Tasmania who invented the circular ballot paper.
He was upset that if your name came further down the alphabet than C you couldn't get elected.
Names listed alpha and voters simply going down the list...
Really gets you wondering about the whole basis of politics.
I'm always struck by people who are more interested in politics as a spectator sport than the policies behind it. They can quote stats and argue strategies all night long. But try to talk ideas with them and you just get a vacant look.
Yes, sad to say. There is an increasing trend to play down actual policy. The alternative really only shows how shallow and callow our politicians have become.
yes- i totally agree with Abi and see it the same way. Kind of sad.
Very interesting the way people have mixed feelings on this.
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