Courting the blue-collar vote
04 November 2008 à 22h15
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Has Barack Obama won the American elections thanks to the financial crisis ? Probably.
Everybody thinks Barack Obama will win. And he probably will. But there is a group of voters who might have changed the turn of events : the white working-class.
Traditionally blue-collar voters support the Democratic party. But the situation has changed since the 1980s. Ronald Reagan managed to convince the white working-class to vote for him. This time they could also choose the Republican candidate over a Black candidate who is criticised for his elitism. McCain’s reputation as a war hero and his speeches against taxes have managed to win support. The choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate also appealed to blue-collar white men. Thanks to her looks, her National Rifle Association membership and her ‘Hockey Mom’ attitude.
And on the other side stands Barack Obama. The unresolved race issue in America makes his candidacy uncertain. His skin color is definitely a drawback when it comes to blue-collar voters. Forty percent of Americans admit that they have negative opinions concerning Barack Obama. The persistent rumor that Obama is actually a Muslim is working among the white working-class.
Obama can deny that he is a Muslim a million times but deep down some Americans will always think he is not « 100% American ». Republicans know that. They also know that if they make him look like a social elitist, just like John Kerry, it can prevent blue-collar voters from supporting him. Last April, Obama said decades of unemployment and unfulfilled promises from the government have left some Americans « bitter » and clinging to « guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations ».
McCain used that speech to paint the Democratic candidate as an elitist. « We don’t agree when senator Obama say that they cling to guns and religion because they’re bitter about the economy ». But then came the financial crisis, which is in a way the turning point of the campaign. As McCain backed away and took a break from his campaign, Obama showed that he was the one who could deal with the crisis. He proved that the government could address the working-class issues and fears : unemployment, spending power, poverty.That could be what blue-collar voters needed to see to make up their minds and finally choose Barack Obam
Everybody thinks Barack Obama will win. And he probably will. But there is a group of voters who might have changed the turn of events : the white working-class.
Traditionally blue-collar voters support the Democratic party. But the situation has changed since the 1980s. Ronald Reagan managed to convince the white working-class to vote for him. This time they could also choose the Republican candidate over a Black candidate who is criticised for his elitism. McCain’s reputation as a war hero and his speeches against taxes have managed to win support. The choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate also appealed to blue-collar white men. Thanks to her looks, her National Rifle Association membership and her ‘Hockey Mom’ attitude.
And on the other side stands Barack Obama. The unresolved race issue in America makes his candidacy uncertain. His skin color is definitely a drawback when it comes to blue-collar voters. Forty percent of Americans admit that they have negative opinions concerning Barack Obama. The persistent rumor that Obama is actually a Muslim is working among the white working-class.
Obama can deny that he is a Muslim a million times but deep down some Americans will always think he is not « 100% American ». Republicans know that. They also know that if they make him look like a social elitist, just like John Kerry, it can prevent blue-collar voters from supporting him. Last April, Obama said decades of unemployment and unfulfilled promises from the government have left some Americans « bitter » and clinging to « guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations ».
McCain used that speech to paint the Democratic candidate as an elitist. « We don’t agree when senator Obama say that they cling to guns and religion because they’re bitter about the economy ». But then came the financial crisis, which is in a way the turning point of the campaign. As McCain backed away and took a break from his campaign, Obama showed that he was the one who could deal with the crisis. He proved that the government could address the working-class issues and fears : unemployment, spending power, poverty.That could be what blue-collar voters needed to see to make up their minds and finally choose Barack Obam
