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→2008 Presidential Campaign: terrorism message
In September, John McCain chose Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, marking his candidacy with the first possible female Vice President. She was a socially conservative Christian, and her proven opposition to abortion energized the Republican base and helped make in-roads on the female vote. McCain took the lead after the Republican National Convention, baffling Democrats who felt that tying him to Bush sealed any GOP chances. John McCain's campaign quickly suffered from news of a national economic crisis, which rapidly was cast as the fault of George W. Bush and the Republican Party. McCain's support for the free market was very unattractive at the time, as many middle class families wanted a promising message of economic intervention and stimulus initiatives.
In September, John McCain chose Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, marking his candidacy with the first possible female Vice President. She was a socially conservative Christian, and her proven opposition to abortion energized the Republican base and helped make in-roads on the female vote. McCain took the lead after the Republican National Convention, baffling Democrats who felt that tying him to Bush sealed any GOP chances. John McCain's campaign quickly suffered from news of a national economic crisis, which rapidly was cast as the fault of George W. Bush and the Republican Party. McCain's support for the free market was very unattractive at the time, as many middle class families wanted a promising message of economic intervention and stimulus initiatives.
As October rolled around, media reports began to surface on Barack Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers, a domestic terrorist who had worked with Obama during his community-organizing past. McCain capitalized on the issue, making mention of the terrorist during Town Hall meetings and in the Presidential debates. Media reaction was mixed, as Fox News continued the story, while most other outlets were all too happy to disregard the issue. John McCain's crowds also became rowdy when discussing the issue, making jeers of "terrorist" during campaign events. Bad publicity surrounded the campaign after a woman in Lakeville, Minnesota said she had heard Obama was "an Arab".<ref>Amie Parnes and Lisa Lerer. "McCain avoids trouble from crowds." October 1, 2008. Politico. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/15147.html</ref>
In the closing weeks of the election, as many news sources and electoral projections had claimed that McCain's chances of winning were slim to none, John McCain cultivated a strong following in western Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and several Southwestern states, tightening the race in many battleground states. Barack Obama's lead shrank from a 7-8 point lead to a mere 5 points in the last two weeks of October, and strong campaign efforts threatened prospects of an Obama victory in Pennsylvania. John McCain shifted through several messages comparing himself to his opponent, underscoring the risky Socialist policies and the extremist past that detracted many from Senator Obama.
In the closing weeks of the election, as many news sources and electoral projections had claimed that McCain's chances of winning were slim to none, John McCain cultivated a strong following in western Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and several Southwestern states, tightening the race in many battleground states. Barack Obama's lead shrank from a 7-8 point lead to a mere 5 points in the last two weeks of October, and strong campaign efforts threatened prospects of an Obama victory in Pennsylvania. John McCain shifted through several messages comparing himself to his opponent, underscoring the risky Socialist policies and the extremist past that detracted many from Senator Obama.