Captain Future's Dreaming Up Daily: The Table Is Set

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

The Table Is Set

The Democratic National Convention begins today, and the table is set. Some commentators on Monday were explaining the complete lack of a Romney bounce following the NRC on the dynamics of the race this year--one theory is that each party has pretty much nailed down its voters, with a few percentage still undecided.  The Romney non-bounce supports this theory. But now comes the Democratic convention.

The Romneyryans were harsh and negative, and much of what they said about President Obama was untrue. Nobody had much to say about why Romney would be a good President (most speakers talked about themselves.) Most of all, they didn't present specific solutions, they didn't even discuss the major issues.

They instead presented the Democrats with a golden opportunity to give voters what they didn't hear and what they need to hear: a positive vision, specific accomplishments and specific solutions, a way forward. And there's plenty of opportunity along the way to set the record straight on those GOPer lies.

Then they've got President Obama. They're unlikely to fritter away the intro time, but they've got video of a lot to remind people of--especially all the wonders of 2008. And then President Obama speaks. If the end of his new stump speech in Toledo on Monday was an indication, he's going to light a fire. Since 1996 the Gallup poll has asked people to rate convention acceptance speeches. The highest marks went to Barack Obama in 2008. 58% said it was excellent or good.  Most of the others were either a little above 50% or a little below. None before this year got below 47% (John McCain in 2008.) Until Mitt Romney last week--he got 38%. And a smaller audience as well.

I'd say the table is set--not only for a successful convention, but for momentum in the polls and in the campaign.

Some are worried that the same enthusiasm of 2008 isn't there. It's true there aren't those great songs. Where are the songs? What are those music business and Hollywood folks doing? But news of this dearth has been greatly exaggerated.  The number of people contributing to the Obama campaign has just passed 3.1 million. That's more than contributed in 2008, and there are a couple of months to go. Even Politico had to admit that enthusiasm among convention Dems is high--much higher than GOPers.

It may be that the enthusiasm is just out there waiting. After all, there were no primary elections to get excited about, to focus on. The Dem convention is the match that should set that enthusiasm on fire again. That's the opportunity. The table is set.