Why Obama Won, Why McCain Lost

by Judith Miller  •  Nov 5, 2008 at 11:11 am
Cross-posted from The Fox Forum

http://www.judithmiller.com/2008/11/why-obama-won-why-mccain-lost

Why Obama Won

Obama won by electrifying the nation, inspiring hope, raising incredible amounts of money — a lot of it in small donations — and embodying change. He won because he condemned a failed war while vowing to win another, and by demonstrating his competence in overseeing a brilliant campaign. And he owes his great victory partly to the incompetence and extremism of the Bush administration.

Why McCain Lost

McCain lost because he could not separate himself from that now deeply unpopular Republican base and because he was hit with macro-economic disaster in the campaign's final weeks. But even if the economy had not collapsed, McCain would have lost because he undermined his strongest advantage –- his heroic service and reputation as a patriot — by selecting an unqualified running mate. America, it turns out, didn't want to risk having a soccer mom as commander-in-chief.

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