For an elaboration on why the McCain/Palin hate mongering is a losing strategy see Abby's post.
I feel like McCain is doing a great job appealing to the bottom 16th percentile.... And “shoring up” the bottom 16th percentile isn’t going to win him any elections. There’s just not enough population there.
Let me tell you what I’m not saying: I’m not saying that people who are voting for McCain are stupid. But I think that their support for him must come from the work he’s done in his political life BEFORE the last few weeks or their allegience to their party, because the way his campaign has gone, the only new people left listening are likely people who don’t quite comprehend complex policy. Shouldn’t the smart “winning chess move” kind of thing to do right now be appealing to the swing votes? Surely swing voters are not too impressed with what they are seeing.
Attacks get people at a gut level. They are easier to hurl than calm, non-responsive even thinking. These frothed up crowds are the product of that kind of campaigning, and they are dangerous. In fact, I’m scared now EVEN IF OBAMA WINS. That isn’t strategic chess-playing. That’s reckless irresponsibility, because creating seething anger among groups of people is never a good idea!
I very much agree. McCain has shown poor judgement throughout the entire process.