Hand Sell

Here, according to the Rasmussen Reports Tracking Poll, is where we are two weeks after John McCain launched the most vicious and mendacious negative campaign in living memory.

Two weeks during which Barack Obama met with our troops and their commanders in the field, consulted with allies, and addressed a world hungry for hope, with words meant to motivate and inspire as much as to demonstrate a masterful understanding of and rational approach to the issues that matter.

Two weeks during which Barack Obama met with economists of diverse ideologies but similar determination to address the multiple crises confronting the majority of Americans.

Two weeks during which Senator Obama released a detailed Economic Emergency Plan informed by his meetings and in response to the news that joblessness has soared. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12237.html

Two weeks during which John McCain continued to sell the snake oil of offshore drilling as a panacea for high energy costs, and during which Barack Obama reiterated a call for a comprehensive alternative energy bill while insisting oil companies help offset the high cost of gas by paying a windfall profits tax that would benefit consumers.
Here, Rasmussen says, is where we are:

McCain is currently viewed favorably by 55% of the nation’s voters, Obama by 51%. That is the lowest rating for Obama since he wrapped up the nomination. Obama is viewed favorably by 83% of Democrats, 22% of Republicans, and 47% of unaffiliated voters. For McCain, the numbers are 87% favorable among Republicans, 26% among Democrats, and 61% among unaffiliated voters. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Barack Obama wants to think well of people. He believes that if he is honorable and sticks to the issues, presents himself as a prudent diplomat, able statesman, trustworthy steward of our environment and guardian of our founding principles, Americans will vote for him.

We share that belief, or we wouldn’t be supporting his campaign.
It’s possible to infer from the poll numbers in the context of these past two weeks that we and Senator Obama have it all wrong about our fellow citizens.
But I believe the implications are merely that we have work to do.
We can’t counter with a similar smear campaign; we're the good guys.

We can run a retail operation. Each of us can hand-sell the candidate. As simple as it sounds, it's proven effective. Create opportunities to talk about Senator Obama. And send e-mails to everyone in your address book, from college classmates to former neighbors...the ones you promised to write when you moved away but hadn’t found time before now. Seal the deal by letting them know how to vote: http://www.votefromabroad.org (Democratic Party Sponsored voter registration site) or http://overseasvotefoundation.org (non partisan voter registration site)

The past two weeks have affirmed that facts don’t win elections: perceptions do. And the best perception that your friends and associates can get of Barack Obama will come, not from one of his paid political spots, but from you.