Why are endorsements such a big deal?

[Writer]

I remember Gore's big endorsement of Dean in 2004. I don't think that helped Dean all that much.

Just a thought.

~Writer~

[goodhue]

1. They tend to sway voters

Which is why Obama is using them in TV ads . . .

http://www.startribune.com/nation/14522817.html

Obama's ads in Feb. 5 states feature prominent politicians
By JIM KUHNHENN , Associated Press

Last update: January 28, 2008 - 1:13 PM

WASHINGTON -
Barack Obama is airing state-specific ads featuring praise from elected officials, hoping the endorsements can help raise his profile in the race.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Kent Conrad of North Dakota are appearing in ads as Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, seeks to introduce himself to a large number of people only a week before coast-to-coast contests in 22 states.

* * *

http://www.startribune.com/nation/14522817.html

[movonne]

2. I think because a lot of them are super delegates..

[Proud2BAmurkin]

3. They never sway votes except for the weakest of minds. Primary voters are usually more saavy

[Occam Bandage]

5. Except yesterday you were talking about how valuable RFK Jr's endorsement of Clinton was.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. Well, he did say weakest of minds.

:shrug:

[Writer]

11. Well, that's another strike against Obama for my caucus on Feb. 5th.

I swear, being undecided sure has its advantages.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

14. No I said it meant the most emotionally but politician's endorsements don't sway me

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. I thought the Gore endorsement sure kicked Lieberman in the teeth.

Some people today are blaming Gore's endorsement for Dean's failed campaign.

I don't get that at all.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Most of them really aren't.

I think Ted Kennedy's endorsement might be the exception because of his stature in the Senate and the fact he's JFK's brother. To many Democrats, especially older ones, JFK is an icon like Reagan is to Republicans. Comparing Obama to JFK is a big deal for him.

[napi21]

8. I think that's right. Teddy's support means something to a lot of

peoploe, especially those of us who remember JFK & RFK. I don't think most other endorsements mean anything, especially those from newspapers and Hollywood stars. All they do is get the candidate some free airtime.

[pampango]

9. Agreed. In earlier times I think they meant more. They may still sway a few voters,

but I think most might listen to the rationale behind an endorsement and see if it resonates with them. If it does, then it might make a difference. Most endorsements, though, probably don't matter much.

[book_worm]

10. I would argue that a Gore endorsement in 2008 would carry more weight than his endorsement in '04

[Strawman]

12. Gore's 2004 Dean endorsement pales in terms of symbolism

Your point is a good one though. Who knows what Kennedy's endorsement will mean in a week after it is dorwned in a weeks worth of 24 hours political "news?" But it sure meant something to me and alot of people here. I really like Al Gore, and he has done a wonderful job of appealing to the reason of Americans, particularly after he was screwed out of the presidency and started raising Americans' awarness of climate change, but he simply isn't an inspirational leader with a broad appeal on par with President Kennedy. This was a leader whose picture was commonly found on the walls inside ordinary people's homes all over the world. Hard to imagine that in a cynical age like ours. The Kennedy endorsement taps into a deep-seated national longing among many Americans of all stripes to believe in this country and their government again. Many people mark the day John Kennedy died as the beginning of the end of that kind of belief. So for the Kennedys to stand up and say this is the man to bring that all back is powerful stuff. I suppose some might dismiss it as an empty spectacle, but it's an awfully compelling one, much more so than Gore/Dean.

[onehandle]

13. They get headlines. Not so much voters.

Repetition of a candidate's name gets voters. An endorsement is just another repetition.

[Bryan]

15. Endorsements can signal more tangible extension of support

Like stumping for the candidate or fundraising information (When Sen. Kerry endorsed Sen. Obama, he also gave the Obama campaign access to the millions-strong e-mail list that he'd accumulated in the '04 campaign).

[robbedvoter]

16. Kerry's mattered, because it snatched the donor list from Edwards. The rest

are as good as the headlines they get. Clark got a lot of cool endorsements in 2004 - from George McGovern to Michael Moore, Madonna and Joss Whedon.
But they don't sway voters.
I respect Clark 1000 times more than most anyone else in public life, yet his endorsement for Hillary months ago did nothing to make me support her.