I discussed ways McCain might get back in the race below, but if this report is to be believed, it’s a lost cause. These were the reactions a Republican consultant got from blue collar types in the upper Midwest after showing them the nastiest possible anti-Obama ads:
54 year-old white male, voted Kerry ’04, Bush ’00, Dole ’96, hunter, NASCAR fan…hard for Obama said: “I’m gonna hate him the minute I vote for him. He’s gonna be a bad president. But I won’t ever vote for another god-damn Republican. I want the government to take over all of Wall Street and bankers and the car companies and Wal-Mart run this county like we used to when Reagan was President.”
The next was a woman, late 50s, Democrat but strongly pro-life. Loved B. and H. Clinton, loved Bush in 2000. “Well, I don’t know much about this terrorist group Barack used to be in with that Weather guy but I’m sick of paying for health insurance at work and that’s why I’m supporting Barack.”
The consultant, who gave this account to Ben Smith over at Politico, called it “the two most unreal moments of my professional life of watching focus groups.”
