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How far with Obama's coattails stretch?

Jun 16, 2008 - 04:06:15 CDT

How far with Obama's coattails stretch?
Maddock

By JOSHUA SWANSON

With Barack Obama's meteoric rise and historic victory at the expense of the once inevitable Hillary Clinton, the jockeying to ride the coattails of Obama, or avoid the anvil of Bush, begins. Hoping to ride the coattails of the political rockstar and fundraising machine that is "Change We Can Believe In" are the Democratic candidates in the country's 11 gubernatorial contests. Of these contests, outside of Missouri, the race in North Dakota could prove one of the more telling indicators of how long Obama's coattails stretch. However, coattails eventually give way, fading into the red carpet. And, make no mistake, North Dakota remains a red carpet as far as its statewide politics. However, the winds are changing and a new political prairie fire may be sweeping our plains come fall.

How does this carryover into the campaign of State Senator Tim Mathern, the Dem-NPL candidate tasked with preventing Gov. John Hoeven from serving 12 years as the State's chief executive? While "Beat Benson With Burdick" may have worked in 1960, it would be incredibly foolish for Mathern to hinge the success of his campaign on linking Hoeven to Bush as many campaigns across the country will do this summer and fall. North Dakotans will associate the failures of the Bush administration with George W. Bush, not John Hoeven - although Hoeven does endorse many of Bush's policies.

Yet, the Hoeven campaign has to be disappointed that Obama is atop the Democratic ticket. Excitement is running at fever pitch for North Dakota Democrats in hopes Obama can become the first Democrat to win the state since Lyndon Johnson did in 1964. In February, nearly twice as many Democrats as Republicans turned out to cast their preference in the State's primary. A poll conducted in March by SurveyUSA showed Obama carrying North Dakota over John McCain 46 percent to 42 percent. While skeptics questioned the polls veracity, a month later an estimated crowd of 18,000-plus packed the Alerus Center to hear the new Democratic torchbearer.

These favorable conditions are great news for the North Dakota Dem-NPL and provide the seeds for the upset Mathern hopes to cultivate come harvest this fall. Mathern echoed this in a recent statement applauding Obama's hard fought victory. The bedrock of electoral success is a solid message and platform, which Mathern was quick to address, taking the time to focus on the Democratic principle of advocating for the working and middle-class. "We put the interests of working and middle class Americans first. Too many working people in North Dakota are struggling with rising costs of everything from gasoline to health care. Gov. Hoeven paints a rosy picture of the economy, and while it might be rosy for some, too many people are feeling increasingly squeezed by high costs and wages that can't keep up," Mathern asserted.

While he faces a tough test in unseating the incumbent, Mathern has the right message and can only benefit from the coattails of the most promising and inspiring presidential candidate in a generation. Whether those coattails will stretch to and through the Peace Garden State remains to be seen, but so far, it looks like there's plenty of thread in the fabric.

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Comments

LJK wrote on Jun 17, 2008 12:26 AM:

" Aaron- the people in the over $250,000 income bracket already pay more than 30% in taxes. All that money gone to taxes every year- and the yet no one in that bracket got a dime from the "economic stimulus" package. That can't be said about the lower income levels. I've had it- people are just griping because of the income levels while ignoring the massive amounts of taxes being paid out. If you want to make it fair, have everyone pay the same percentage. "

fp wrote on Jun 16, 2008 11:45 PM:

" beesh and dewdrop thanks for outing yourselves as the backwoods rascist`s that you are. You don`t deserve an intelligent man like Obama. You deserve grampa munster and his 100 year war.Thank goodness that you hicks live here where you really don`t matter in the big picture. Obama will be the next president so get used to it or take your advice you gave liberals for eight painful years and "get the hell out of the country.NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

Reality Check wrote on Jun 16, 2008 9:51 PM:

" Falling for the grand illusion of change? There would be change if the Dems are elected sure, but at whose expense? The responsible, hardworking, taxpayers. They talk of change, but do they he ever mention how all these changes and social programs are going to be accomplished or paid for, no, because that would alienate the majority of the voting population even in their own party that supports the entitlement generation. Take for example Universal Healthcare, the message sounds like everyone without it will be provided with health care without burden, which is the illusion. What it really means is everyone who doesn't have healthcare will be forced on a government or sub par program that they will be forced to pay for, oh and when they knock on their doors and say where is your premium money, of course they won't have it or they would already have healthcare, guess who pays for them? All the responsible, hardworking taxpayers that I sighted above and yes the middle class. Why? Just the people who can't shelter their earnings like the 250k and up. Starting to see through the illusion?? Higher taxes, empowering the lazy and irresponsible, and appeasing to the new generation of entitlement. Supporters need to demand the details of this so called Change because once the candy coating is gone you are only left with a bitter pill. "

Beesh wrote on Jun 16, 2008 6:42 PM:

" Aaron,
Obambi SAYS he'll cut taxes but then you look at all the entitlement promises he's making and it begs to differ. Obambi and his babies' momma will have to hold a whole bunch of bakesales to get those promises paid for. I sure as heck won't be part of it. "

Aaron wrote on Jun 16, 2008 4:43 PM:

" At no time has Obama (or his campaign) said he will double taxes. He has stated he will cut taxes for the middle class. He recently stated he would enact a payroll tax for income over $250,000, which is well deserved. Why should people makng under $250,000 have to pay a payroll tax, while those making more than $250,000 and can afford it don't pay it? "

Dewdrop wrote on Jun 16, 2008 10:30 AM:

" Karen, McCain will not double YOUR taxes... Obamba and his Mama will! Also remember that Michelle Obama said 'She has never been proud of the US before her husband ran for president.' She is a very privileged woman and she has never been proud of her country? What a sad woman!

Obama wants CHANGE? Yet he is the one that belonged to a racist church for 20 years! HE is the one that has friends that are terrorists, that bombed places in the USA! That is change? WE CERTAINLY DO NOT NEED CHANGE LIKE THAT! "

mike wrote on Jun 16, 2008 10:30 AM:

" I agree with you Karen. . . While I do not agree with burdening our children and grandchildren with a huge national debt, I also do not believe it can be attiributed exclusively to a single politial party. Both parties are spending too much. "

Karen wrote on Jun 16, 2008 9:33 AM:

" Hey Dubbles, can you afford McCain??? "

Brenda wrote on Jun 16, 2008 9:15 AM:

" I agree with Dubbles, we can't afford Obama, and since Mathern agrees with Obama in every facet, especially the tax and spend attitude, North Dakotans won't be able to afford him either. "

Grumpy Old Republican wrote on Jun 16, 2008 8:34 AM:

" Just wait until the smear campaigns (from both sides) begin. The media will eat up all the smear they can get, and Obama will be crucified. His bright shiny image will be plenty tarnished by November, and ND voters will again vote Republican for governor and president, and keep the Three Amigos ticket intact in Congress. "

zzz wrote on Jun 16, 2008 8:32 AM:

" Hoeven-Dalyrimple 59 percent, Mathern-Boucher 41 percent. Can't even call that a moral victory. "

Don Julio wrote on Jun 16, 2008 8:17 AM:

" Obama's coattails won't be even long enough for him to win North Dakota himself. How will they help Mathern? "

Dubbles wrote on Jun 16, 2008 8:11 AM:

" I cant afford Obama. "

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