If Obama has that much of an advantage over Obama with fundraising from troops, why does everyone seem to report that McCain does better at supporting our troops?
quote: According to an analysis of campaign contributions by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Democrat Barack Obama has received nearly six times as much money from troops deployed overseas at the time of their contributions than has Republican John McCain, and the fiercely anti-war Ron Paul, though he suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination months ago, has received more than four times McCain's haul.
quote: In each of the other branches -- including the Navy, in which McCain served when he was taken prisoner during the Vietnam War -- Obama leads by significant margins.
"That's shocking. The academic debate is between some who say that junior enlisted ranks lean slightly Republican and some who say it's about equal, but no one would point to six-to-one" in Democrats' favor, said Aaron Belkin, a professor of political science at the University of California who studies the military.
quote:"One possibly mundane explanation (for the tilt in contributions from deployed soldiers) is that the Obama campaign has just been so much savvier with web-based donors. It may be a logistical question," Belkin pointed out.
I would love to see this brought up in a debate between the two.
Posted by T:man (Member # 11614) on :
I imagine obama already knows this.
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
I would guess that McCain does have more actual support amongst the troops, but that Obama supporters are more willing to put their money where their mouth is. Same as the rest of the population -- most polls show them running neck and neck with a slight advantage to Obama, but he's had way more individual donors than McCain has. For whatever reason, he's getting people to donate who have never donated to a political campaign before.
Posted by T:man (Member # 11614) on :
I doubt it, I don't think many of them still want to be there. *sarcastic* oh yay only 5 died last month an all tome low!*end sarcasm*
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Simple: By accepting such donations, Obama is draining the troops' bank accounts. As support for them goes, this must surely be negative! McCain, by taking much less money, is supporting the troops far better. Obama is a traitor!
Posted by DarkKnight (Member # 7536) on :
From the article...
quote: A former West Point professor, Jason Dempsey, noted that the small set of contributions from deployed troops at this point in 2008 -- just 323 donations -- should not be extrapolated to form conclusions about military personnel overall. "If, on a bad day, a guy gets that letter that says [his tour has been extended] from 12 to 15 months, that could spur a quick donation and expression of anger," he said. "Donating helps members of the military express their political views privately."
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
The same impetus that could lead someone to toss Obama $50 could lead for them to vote for him. If they are that frustrated with what's going on, I think it'd probably take something pretty big happening over there or here to change their vote back.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
323 donations. Wow.
Then there are soldiers like my brother who strongly supported Romney or Huckabee who may have expressed a preference for Obama during the close of the primary. Possibly even Paul supporters, though they tend to be of the "never say die!" variety.
Does my brother still support Obama? I'm not sure. I'll have to ask him. But I'm pretty sure it was "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" mentality.
Posted by Redskullvw (Member # 1549) on :
Based on contributions made during the 2008 election cycle through June 31, 2008.
Republicans received $851,219. Democrats received $519,459.
Just pointing out the obvious even though the opposite is seemingly editorialized in the linked article.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Aw, geez. I didn't even think of that. It's right there. And they have the gall to say:
quote:That's shocking. The academic debate is between some who say that junior enlisted ranks lean slightly Republican and some who say it's about equal, but no one would point to six-to-one" in Democrats' favor, said Aaron Belkin, a professor of political science at the University of California who studies the military. "That represents a tremendous shift from 2000, when the military vote almost certainly was decisive in Florida and elsewhere, and leaned heavily towards the Republicans."
Trying to link it to the 2000 election. What a moron.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
Sssssshhhhhhhhooooooooccccckiiiinnggggggg.
You mean the troops aren't deaf dumb and completely stupid? WOW!
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote:Originally posted by ElJay: For whatever reason, he's getting people to donate who have never donated to a political campaign before.
That part of it is the easiest part. He's the first presidential candidate to treat the internet like an important tool in campaigning and fund raising. I've donated money to his campaign, and I did it because it made it doable. No candidate before this election cycle was getting donations from college students and people in their twenties without a fixed income and a house and home phone number. It's so simple it's insulting that it hasn't been done before.
The fact that Obama is more savy with web based donations is not "purely logistical." It's demonstrative of his entire strategy.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
quote:You mean the troops aren't deaf dumb and completely stupid? WOW!
Read the article and look at the data. The troops aren't the stupid ones.