Obama perceived more moderate than McCain.

[Drunken Irishman]

Twenty-two percent (22%) characterize the Democrat as Very Liberal, down from 36% early last month.

...

McCain similarly has been seen as politically conservative by more and more voters, also hitting 67% a month ago, but he is still viewed that way by 66%. While19% saw him as Very Conservative in early June, that figure now has risen to 28%.

The Democratic candidate is viewed as a political moderate by 27%, up from 22% three weeks earlier, while McCain is seen as a moderate by 23%, down from 26% in the survey at the beginning of June.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/voters_perceive_obama_moving_to_the_middle

[Quantess]

1. That should be a no-brainer.

I'm happy that most people have the mental capacity to recognize that McCain is the one with extreme positions.

[TheDonkey]

2. Sounds like Obama's plan is working.

good, very good. The Anti-Dukkakis plan is in full effect.

[underpants]

18. and the RNC plan is failing

on both the "most liberal Senator" part and the "maverick" part

It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of slimeballs :bounce:

[Catherina]

3. And the center converges

The Democratic candidate is viewed as a political moderate by 27%, up from 22% three weeks earlier, while McCain is seen as a moderate by 23%, down from 26% in the survey at the beginning of June.

[NattPang]

12. Giving the Center a choice, instead of the GOP lying its way to the center

is more productive than ceding
those voters who make up the
majority.
They are now listening
to Barack Obama
while before,
they may not have.

The primaries lasted
longer than normal.
Obama had very little time
to accomplish the expected
pivoting to campaign for the
middle, the undecideds,
and the moderates.

The reason that H. Clinton did
so well in Ohio and Penn and Indiana,
was because she understood this
and she won those states.

Obama would be
a less than stellar politician
to not understand that a liberal base
does not include enough voters
to win an electoral college election.
He has to win whole states,
not just parts thereof,
as was the case in the primaries.

[Catherina]

15. He's very masterful. I won't dispute that but I disagree on the need

If he were doing this in 2000, I'd agree but in war America, where the majority of the country is sick of Bush, Republicans and lies, he doesn't need to go as far as he does.

The parts I heard of his speech today were masterful.

[Drunken Irishman]

19. Thank you.

People need to understand this on DU. This isn't just about the popular vote and if that were the case, Obama probably could get away with running to the left. However, we elect presidents based on the electoral college and for Obama to win there, he will need to succeed in states Democrats have not been able to succeed in the past two elections. I'm talking about Ohio, Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada and even North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia. Running to the left in this election cycle will not win him those states, in fact, it will almost certainly cost him them because they generally are more right-leaning.

[AtomicKitten]

4. Obama is tactically relieving the GOP of their ammunition.

[truthisfreedom]

5. At least someone in this forum is thinking about this sensibly. Thanks, people, for keeping your

wits about you. 8^)

[tridim]

6. An electoral landslide warning has been issued.

:bounce:

[Growler]

7. OH no!!!

According to half the threads on DU, this means Obama has ALREADY LOST!!!

:banghead:

[endarkenment]

8. That is why we have to keep pushing him to the left!

We certainly wouldn't want the voting population to think that our candidate was more moderate than the neo-fascist republican candidate. There are principles at stake here that are far more important than actually winning an election. Offhand I cannot think of what they are, but I am sure they are there.

[Fire_brand]

9. Chess people, chess

[Max_powers94]

17. I would not want to play chess against Obama

[Overseas]

10. Obama is much more moderate about wasting our tax dollars and natural resources

[sandnsea]

11. Great!

Thanks for some good news around here.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. Good stuff.

The people who are new to politics might not understand that you need to build yourself up as a moderate, before attacking your opponent as an extremist, but we do.

[Drunken Irishman]

14. Exactly. No one ever won a presidential election by attacking their opponent for being too moderate.

Seriously, you never do. If a candidate is being attacked, it's because they're too liberal or too conservative. Now you don't hear John McCain happily saying he's a proud conservative like he did at every chance he had in the primaries. Why? Because he knows that'll screw him over in the primary.

[grantcart]

16. good

[Renew Deal]

20. Mission Accomplished

;)