It’s wait-and-see on Obama and McCain in Boom Town
Dante Chinni
Posted: 09.10.2008 / 8:22 AM PDT
In the past week, polls have shown a somewhat dramatic shift in the presidential race, with Sen. John McCain gaining momentum and Sen. Barack Obama slipping.
The question, most people wonder, is why? Some polls say the bump has come from women. Others point to men.
But viewed through the eyes of Eagle, Colo., our growing and diversifying “Boom Town” community, the race for the presidency hasn’t changed all that much since the end of August. On the whole, people in this well-educated and well-off community say they haven’t seen or heard any dramatic shifts in opinion.
Patchwork Nation’s approach of looking at community types rather than specific types of people we think yields a different understanding of how places respond to changes in the palette of election issues.
Eagle, for instance, is a mix of males and females of different ethnicities and backgrounds, but the community’s issues and experiences create a different frame through which to view the election. And, thus far anyway, the McCain bump does not seem to have materialized there – “although the selection of Sarah Palin as VP really drew interest,” according to Kathy Heicher, a Patchwork Nation blogger and reporter for the local Eagle Valley Enterprise.
“Most people around here did not know who she was. More than a few people have joked that her selection would be comparable to putting the mayor of Eagle on the ticket as VP,” Ms. Heicher wrote in an e-mail. “I would say the Republican community is surprisingly silent on Palin. Like everybody else, they’re still figuring her out, [though] they are solidly behind McCain.”
Eagle County Sheriff Joe Hoy writes that he’s heard some comments about Alaska Governor Palin being “impressive,” but “not much more.” The city and county seem more concerned with the local county commissioners race, he writes.
Growth and expansion – and how to manage and pay for them – are big topics in Eagle as they are in many “Boom Towns,” and those local races may be stealing oxygen from the race for the presidency. In fact, the county commissioners battle was generating a lot of heat in Eagle, Heicher wrote, with local Republicans focusing heavily on too much spending.
But Palin seems to have rallied some Republicans in the area.
Heather Lemon, a former Republican county commissioner, wrote that she attended this weekend’s rally for Senator McCain and Palin in Colorado Springs, three hours from Eagle. “More people like Palin. I think they see McCain as the more serious and real work candidate,” she wrote. “She was a good choice since she shows spunk and makes the party look different than Bush. Won’t hurt. People vote for who they like not who is the better candidate. They like her. So that will help.”
But will it help in places like Eagle? Some women in the community have said they were turned off by the Palin pick. These women are not the working-class waitress moms for whom Palin has appeal. Still, for the moment anyway, the jury appears to be out in this Rocky Mountain community as people wait to hear more.
“Boom Towns” like Eagle are communities we have identified as critical in the 2008 race. The vote in these places went slightly for President Bush in 2004 after going slightly for then-Vice President Al Gore in 2000.
On the whole, they have slightly more evangelical adherents than the average county, and they also have more people of the Jewish faith. And in general, these communities tend to be going through serious discussions and debates about local government as the communities change.
All those things added together could present opportunities for McCain and/or Senator Obama. Eagle, in the battleground state of Colorado, is at least garnering interest from the Obama campaign. The campaign’s Eagle office is having its grand opening Wednesday.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:29 am PDT
Your article focuses only on Palin and McCain, but nothing on Obama. Have you ever considered that McCain’s poll jump has more to do with Obama running out of steam?
September 10th, 2008 at 9:34 am PDT
An interesting possibility Louisa, but I think you’ll find historically that most post-convention bounces are about the party that just had the convention and what they’ve been able to do to take control of the debate.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:55 am PDT
Yes, Obama’s campaign does seem to be running out of steam. It’s really nothing that new–he’s talking the same liberal ideas we’ve heard many times. (He is, after all, the furthest left member of the senate. Biden is #3 on that list.) Lots of promises, but it all comes down to creating bigger government that gets paid for by you know who.
Palin has excited a lot of people because she’s shown integrity in both her willingness to take on her own party, and her willingness to cut back on wasteful spending. She’s a true conservative, and people resonate with that.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:07 am PDT
Thanks for the accurate, thoughtful article. It was nice to read something that contained fresh, real reporting.
As to the comments here - Palin has indeed taken on the old Republican guard in Alaska but she replaced them with new Republican extreme religious guard. That’s how far her willingness to take on her own party goes. As for spending, she’s not as bad as the previous Republican who held that office, but she’s still in the pocket of the oil companies and still manages to charge her taxpayers a per diem cost for living in her own home. A true conservative - I don’t think so. A new kind of conservative (Cheney lite) - yes.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:15 am PDT
She was quick to call herself a Pitbull with lipstick. The comparison to a pig should not be that offensive. Her lies surely make her smell bad.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:25 am PDT
I’ll grant you, she’s a politician, to some extent like any other. But she doesn’t seem to have her finger in the pie quite as deep as most.
She’s not in the pocket of the oil companies–she actually fought them in Alaska, and won. And her expenses as governor, per diem and all, are something like 1/10 of what governors before her were taking. No, not perfect, but pretty good.
As far as Republicans go, I heard an Alaska state representative–a Democrat–describe how she had better relations with Alaska’s Democrats legislators than with the Republican ones!
September 10th, 2008 at 10:49 am PDT
Naush, I disagree. Obama’s comparison to a pig with lipstick would be offensive IF it were actually a comparison. “You can’t put lipstick on a pig” is an old saying, and John McCain has used it many times himself in the past year. Obama used the phrase when referring to the similarities between McCain and George W. Bush, NOT when referring to Sarah Palin. Here’s the full quote, not taken out of context:
“John McCain says he’s about change too, and so I guess his whole angle is, ‘Watch out George Bush — except for economic policy, health care policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy and Karl Rove-style politics — we’re really going to shake things up in Washington.’ That’s not change. That’s just calling something the same thing something different. You know you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig. You know you can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change, it’s still going to stink after eight years. We’ve had enough of the same old thing.”
It was the McCain camps decision to accuse Obama of being sexist because, quite frankly, it was politically expedient to try and paint him as a sexist.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:05 am PDT
Sarah Palin brings something fresh and new to politics. Everyone was surprised and shocked when named because she’s not one of the Washington crowd, she’s an outsider and not well-known. But the only reason Obama picked 65 year-old Joe Biden was because of his foreign relations experience. I’m sure if Obama had the chance, he would have picked a much younger mate, someone like Evan Bayh - but then….how many people in the country know Evan Bayh?? — to many, he’s also an unknown.
So, chill everyone. Give Sara a break, women should feel proud. I’m not comparing Sara to Hillary (by no means), but if Hillary is good enough to be in the White House as Pres, Sara is just as capable to be VP.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:20 am PDT
She worked for the Stevens guy.The one in jail plus she lies so much you think she honest.No one goes the extra mile to check the facts anymore.Mc Cain and the G.O.P never ever do what they say when we vote duh! The basic is idea is cool but then little govt means more govt …more cops more jails more army more war but less high school programs less roads medical less education. All the time no fix to the problem for real because to fix one problem might fix them all.
Take education ,better education less people in jail, less health problems and creating jobs by inventions and smarter tactics in the market.
Less people in jail ( think public works but money goes to victim family or there family) Homes not so broken and crimnal learn skill so not eager to start back to crime.
To fix the problems of today erases the fears of tomorrow
Its sad that people are so scared of the future that ride with a anybody back to the pass
September 10th, 2008 at 11:22 am PDT
Forest, you shouldn’t have ended your quote of Obama where you did. Right after that, he started talking about Gov. Palin.
His “lipstick on a pig” comment was insensitive at best, and insulting and demeaning at worst. Yes, it’s a common phrase. But the connection to Palin’s often repeated joke about hockey mom’s and lipstick is unmistakable.
He should show some class, apologize and put the issue to rest.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:23 am PDT
past . typo
September 10th, 2008 at 11:41 am PDT
Palin calling women dogs is so offences and if she was a man she would be kick off the ticket. Two case going on now but she on the way to be V.P ?Yes there sexism but to men. Hiding from the people and the media ??A man fire his sister in law what would happen /
September 10th, 2008 at 11:46 am PDT
Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain “will make Cheney look like Gandh
September 10th, 2008 at 11:56 am PDT
If you were running for President and wanted to downplay that you propped up an administration that got us into a horrendous mess, wouldn’t you want your campaign to stick to personalities and talk about lipstick and pitbulls and blaming the media (the very media that loved you)?
To those who are flirting with voting Republican, ask yourselves, and answer honestly, whether things in this country work properly any more - financial institutions, airlines, infrastructure, government - you name it. The gang that ALWAYS says government doesn’t work has spent eight years in office proving it.
And we don’t need people in the White House lecturing us about morality.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:13 pm PDT
That’s right - keep focusing on this meaningless drivel while Republican economic policies literally take money out of your and your children’s pocket and re-distribute it to the wealthiest 1%. If you are middle aged and middle class, and think that your children will have the same opportunities as you, then you are wrong. Quality of life for the middle class has only been maintained through more people (both spouses) working, and through working longer hours and more days. The trend is not sustainable, and without significant policy changes your kid’s economic future is actually quite bleak.
http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~saez/saez-UStopincomes-2006prel.pdf
Of course, the current policies are Republican policies - and McCain has no plans to improve things for the average worker. They just hope that people will be distracted enough with this trivial stuff that you never actually read any of the details. It worked twice for Bush.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:21 pm PDT
Natoir….I don’t recall Palin calling women “dogs”.
Don’t forget that nothing gets to the President’s desk for signature before first being passed by both Houses….and who’s running the Senate??? Pelosi and the Democrats. You can’t blame everything on the Bush Administration. They didn’t tell people to go out and purchase a $400,000 home whey they were earning $12-$13 and hour. Bush has been telling Congress and the Senate for the longest time to drill here so that we do not have to depend on foreign oil - the Dems have opposed it — now, it seems Ms. Pelosi is thinking about it.
I know things are bad, but I think that it’s due to all this bickering between both parties. As is the case in California and it’s budget (72 days without a budget)…one party wants to raise taxes, the other does not - one party wants to cut programs, the other one does not. The Dems are so liberal they want to keep all programs intact and not raise taxes. Where will all the money come from? They are billions in the read…there’s more money going out than coming in.
Don’t just blame the Republicans, the Dems also have alot to do with our woes. Both parties need to focus on the problems people are facing and try to agree on issues for the good of the country and not their party. COUNTRY FIRST!
September 10th, 2008 at 12:31 pm PDT
Frankly, I find this entire election insulting. I’m offended by the entire process and the people touting any of the candidates are extremely offensive to me.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:33 pm PDT
Why do you find the election insulting and offensive Edmundo?
September 10th, 2008 at 3:41 pm PDT
It never ceases to amaze me that people can play the ‘AGE CARD’ or the ‘GENDER CARD’ WITH IMPUNITY, but not the ‘RACE CARD’! Perhaps we could play the ‘Big Floppy Ears Card’ with Obama! OBAMA HAS SENT A SMALL ARMY OF 30 LAWYERS AND INVESTIGATORS TO ALASKA TO “VET” GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN. HAD THE DNC AND BIASED MEDIA PROPERLY “VETTED” OBAMA — HILLARY WOULD BE THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE. YEP — OBAMA CAMPAIGNED OVERSEAS. WILL WE EVER KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY HE HAS RECEIVED FROM MIDDLE-EASTERN ‘MUSLIM’ COUNTRIES? HE REFUSED ‘TOWN HALL’ MEETINGS WITH McCAIN SO ‘AMERICANS’ COULD QUESTION THEM BOTH — WHY? FOREIGNERS CAN’T VOTE IN THIS ELECTION. OBAMA IS RUNNING AROUND LIKE A CHICKEN WITH HIS HEAD CUT OFF. PEOPLE ARE SCREAMING ABOUT THE ABORTION ISSUE! Abortion is not a big issue for me. I believe it would take an act of Congress to reverse the current law. I don’t think it will ever change. I do care about other issues that are on the table. The problem I have is Obama won’t discuss issues — he’s too busy bashing everybody! I BELIEVE GOVERNOR PALIN IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AND CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN. SHE IS AN HONEST, ALL-AMERICAN CITIZEN WHO UNDERSTANDS US. I MAY BE FROM A SMALL TOWN, BUT I’M NOT BITTER. I LOVE MY COUNTRY. IF I WERE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, I WOULD REQUIRE ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND ANYONE ELSE ASSOCIATED WITH GOVERNMENT TO TAKE REGULAR “LIE DETECTOR TESTS”! JOHN McCAIN SHOWED GOOD JUDGMENT IN CHOOSING THE GOVERNOR FROM ALASKA. FOR THE PAST WEEK, GOVERNOR PALIN HAS BEEN DOING HER JOB-CAMPAIGNING ACROSS AMERICA. IN HER “SPARE” TIME, I’M SURE SHE’S GETTING PREPARED TO SEND HER SON OFF TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY (SOMETHING OBAMA HAS NEVER DONE). LET’S GIVE HER THIS WEEK. NEXT WEEK, I’M SURE SHE WILL MEET WITH ANY REPORTER WHO WISHES TO INTERVIEW HER. WHY IS OBAMA SPENDING ALL HIS TIME BASHING PEOPLE? HE CERTAINLY ISN’T DISCUSSING ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US. PERHAPS HE CAN’T — WITHOUT HIS 300 ADVISORS AND TELEPROMPTERS??? BIDEN SAID, “A WOMAN ON THE TICKET IS A STEP BACK FOR WOMEN”???? IS HE NUTS? WHY IS OBAMA ATTACKING HIS OPPONENT’S #2 PERSON ON THE TICKET? SHE?S NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. JOHN McCAIN IS. WHY IS OBAMA ATTACKING PRESIDENT BUSH? HE’S NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. JOHN McCAIN IS. I’M VOTING FOR THE HONORABLE LT. GEN. JOHN S. McCAIN IN NOVEMBER! EXPERIENCE DOES MATTER!
September 10th, 2008 at 3:47 pm PDT
When an old man has to hide behind a young woman’s frocktail, while claiming to be a leader,he is clearly saying, that in that relationship the woman wears the pants. That is what we are seeing in the Palin / Mccain team. She is the draw and he is the tout,a shameless and nefarious act hiding behind a woman and at every word from his opponent cries sexist, a code for stirring racial awareness and passions.This very man that promised a campaign void of the bitterness, gall, and deception of Carl Rove and lee Atwater, has impunged his own integrity as he continues without addressing the issues that are important to the electorate. He is again trying to manipulate the electorate with a falacious contention that he had judgement about the surge, but says nothing about the war the he encouraged and voted for that has taken the lives of over 4000 of our sons, daughters, fathers and mothers, while at the same time several thousand more lay wounded and disabled, and the country is out of $10 Billion a month. He does not mention his judgement about that.Only if he is a fool he can believe the surge came before the war.If not he is trying to make fools of us and he should be denied the POTUS.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:28 pm PDT
Please voters! Please read George Orwell’s book “1984″ before voting. I love my country so much that it hurts me terribly that we’re heading for ruin with “newspeak” and “doublethink”.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:25 pm PDT
George Orwell was a democratic socialist and a conservative in the classical sense, which entails a belief in limited government, an isolationist (or at most, defensive) foreign policy, low taxes, resistance to drastic change, and a healthy respect for individual freedom. Quite different, in my opinion, from the moralistic authoritarianism that passes for “conservative” in America today, but let’s not get into that…
Orwell wrote 1984 between 1944 and 1948, in the immediate aftermath of World War II. Europe had just witnessed a strain of totalitarianism unlike anything ever seen before or since. To Orwell, it was clear that modern government was capable not only of influencing people’s actions, but of controlling their thoughts, making any sort of resistance impossible by definition. He feared that Britain, having been devastated by a stronger enemy almost to the point of ruin, would turn away from liberal democracy and embrace either fascism or socialism.
September 10th, 2008 at 6:02 pm PDT
September 10th, 2008 at 8:54 pm PDT
Christian you have to be someone very close to the PALIN-MCCAIN camp.
You are reporting lies about the OBAMA camp. If any one running around like a chicken with his head cut off is John Mccain—- he’s hiding behind Palin’s
skirt. Just wait until PALIN-GATE/TROOPER-GATE scandal is thoroughly investigated.
HOPEFULLY,THE DEMOCRATS WILL EXPOSE PALIN LIES AND DECEPTIONS. A GRIZZLY BEAR
IN SHEEP CLOTHINGS.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:20 am PDT
Need a break from - Schmit/Rove/Davis/McCain/Bush Attack Machine?
Democrats and Obamacans’s courting all Republican and Independent Voters!
Obama’s message rings of a “Beautiful day coming to America” which is similar to Reagan’s “Its morning in america again”
America can wake up to a beautiful day in November.
U2 - beautiful day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omFdpnSu57U
Obamacan’s - “The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.”
William F. Buckley, Jr. quote
The real change team for the last 19 months
Change we can believe in.
Vote Obama/Biden ‘08
September 11th, 2008 at 6:14 am PDT
Seems Senator Biden has now openly admitted that Senator Clinton is more qualified to the be VP than himself. What does this tell one about Senator Obama’s judgement. For a man to have to change churches because his pastor comes under fire for making outrageous statements also speaks of his judgement.
We all have to analysis which man we believe to have the best judgement when we cast our vote on 4 November. Make the old Ben Franklin T and list all the good judgements and bad judgements for each candidate before making that final vote.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:49 am PDT
This article makes the most sense. We must remember that even though McCain did not get the crowds, he was not far too behind in the polls, sometimes even running neck and neck before the intro of Gov. Palin.
So, now they are getting the crowds, and are still not ahead by that much. All it means is that the race got tougher, and more polarized.
How independents vote in the Nov election will tell who wins.