National Journal Poll - Democrat Convention
The 'Grok was chosen by National Journal to be part of a set of bloggers answering their questions concerning the Democrat and Republican Conventions. Normally, National Journal is "by subscription only" but they have opened the door here (go look down the page to the INSIDER POLL).
Here are the bloggers that were chosen:
Left of Center Bloggers:
Tom Oriel of 2008 Democratic Convention Watch, John Aravosis of AMERICAblog, Michael Shaw of BAGnewsNotes, Kari Chisholm of Blue Oregon, Brad Friedman of Brad Blog, Steve Benen of Carpetbagger Report, Markos Moulitsas of Daily Kos, Brad DeLong, Howie Klein of Down With Tyranny!, Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake, Digby of Hullabaloo, Cheryl Contee of Jack And Jill Politics, Steve Soto of Left Coaster, Barbara O'Brien of Mahablog, Taylor Marsh, News Hounds, Chris Bowers of Open Left, Amanda Marcotte of Pandagon, Tracy Viselli of Reno And Its Discontents, Lee Papa of Rude Pundit, Susie Madrak of Suburban Guerilla, Jeralyn Merritt of TalkLeft, Sean-Paul Kelley of The Agonist, Mark A.R. Kleiman of The Reality Based Community, Meagan Ortiz of VivirLatino.com, Oliver Willis.
Right of Center:
Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs, Jim Hoeft of Bearing Drift, Betsy Newmark of Betsy's Page, Bob Parks of Bob Parks' Black & Right, Bob Owens of Confederate Yankee, Lucianne Goldberg, Skip Murphy and Doug Lambert of GraniteGrok, Ed Morrissey of Hot Air, Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit, Matthew Sheffield of NewsBusters, Soren Dayton of The Next Right, James Joyner of Outside The Beltway, Walter Olson of Overlawyered, Patrick Frey of Patterico, Steven Taylor of PoliBlog, Michael van der Galien of PoliGazette, Scott Johnson of Power Line, Jon Henke of QandO, John Hawkins of Right Wing News, Rob Port of Say Anything, Debbie Schlussel, David Gerstman of Soccer Dad, Jay Stephenson of Stop The ACLU, Jonathan Adler of Volokh Conspiracy, Susan Duclos of Wake Up America, Steve Clemons of The Washington Note.
Here's what the questions were. Note: I've given my answer (Bolded selections below); go to the link to see the aggregated answers. The neat thing about this poll is that we were invited to also give comments - go ahead, click and smile!
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Batch 3
1. What would you most like to see Obama accomplish in his acceptance speech?
Establish that he’s ready to be commander-in-chief
Show he grasps Americans’ economic problems
Make the sale with Clinton’s supporters
I didn't like the choices so I created my own: Accomplish absolutely nothing!
No comment was asked for, but seeing that we're bloggers, I have one anyways!
Being a conservative and a partisan, I wish him good health, a nice life, and a great retirement (but not a Presidency).
National Journal Result
2. How big of a bounce -- if any -- will his convention give Obama?
15 or more points
10-to-14 points
7-to-9 points
4-to-6 points
1-to-3 points
No bounce
No comment was asked for, but seeing that we're bloggers, I have one anyways!
Given what is going on right now, with the "Biden dip", I doubt much of an upswing for at least a while (if ever).
National Journal Result
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Batch 2
1. Which Clinton, Bill or Hillary, will make the stronger case for Obama in their convention speeches?
Bill
Hillary
Comment:
It is obvious that there is no love lost between Bill and Obama. After all, Obama is blocking Bill's attempt to get back into the White House!
National Journal Result
2. Who is Obama most like—John F. Kennedy, Jackie Robinson, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, or Colin Powell?
Jimmy Carter
Bill Clinton
John F. Kennedy
Colin Powell
Jackie Robinson
Comment:
He is as much a political animal as Clinton (but not as good at it). I think he will be as effective as Jimmy Carter, especially if the Dems fail to gain the Senate's 60 seats they need to pass what they want.
National Journal Result
3. What should be the focus of Biden’s acceptance speech?
Tying McCain to the Bush administration
Boosting Obama’s national security credentials
Criticizing the Bush administration
Criticizing McCain on national security
Comment:
It may be fun to see Biden twisting himself into knots in taking on "my good friend", Senator McCain, and keep a straight face....and keeping it short.
National Journal Result
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Batch 1
1) Pick the demographic group that Obama most needs to sway during the convention:
Women
Whites over 45
Blue-collar workers
Comment:
(None from me this on this question)
National Journal Result
2) Do you think Michelle Obama will help or hurt her husband’s candidacy in the general election?
Help
Hurt
Comment:
She really has come out with 'statements' that when strung together, do no help to cause with those that believe America really is a great place to be - has been, is, and will continue to be. Her kvetching showed results as the campaign yanked her off the stage. It will be amusing to see the makeover that is done but I think the damage is done.
National Journal Result
3) What portion — if any — of the Democratic convention program should be devoted to tearing down John McCain and the Republican brand?
More than half
About half
About a third
About a quarter
Hardly any
Comment:
Too much and it will be a turn off (ditto for the Rs at their convention vs. Obama). Of course, as a Conservative, if they say too much about what they really want to do, that might be a turnoff to moderates and people like me.
National Journal Result
4) What do you expect Hillary Clinton will focus more on in her convention speech?
Attacking John McCain
Burnishing the Clintons’ image
Praising Barack Obama
Comment:
National Journal ResultPriceless question - the Clintons. It truely is all about them.
