Can Obama Really Win?

The Broward Times › October 19, 2009

Linked as:

Summary

He called [Barack Obama]'s pro-gun control stance "bad politics. " He thundered that the NRA would talk about Obama's gun control activism. [Wayne LaPierre]'s admonition was an ominous warning that the powerful gun-lobbying group would oppose Obama if he ran for president, and so would millions of other passionate gun owners that take their cue from the NRA.

Obama's pro-civil liberties votes and the 100 percent rating he got from the ACLU won't help him dodge the soft on crime label on the issue of crime and punishment. Illinois senate Republicans praised Obama as a flexible politician and consensus builder who listened to the views of his Republican opponents.

Conservative interest groups will tar him as a liberal Democrat who will bend way over to pander to labor, minorities, and women. Obama's record on civil liberties, civil rights, abortion, and spending issues will endear him to millions of voters. But it will alienate millions more. And they vote in the crucial battleground states that are the key to the White House for a presidential candidate. That's a key candidate Obama won't hold.