- Sun. Nov 22, 2009
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Q: Grade Barack Obama's performance this summer.
Democrats (87 votes)
Average B-
A 6 percent B 66 percent C 28 percent D 1 percent F 0 percent
A
"Very few missteps: He's on message, and his campaign operation remains the best presidential operation Democrats have had in a long time. The Obama wave continues advancing."
B
"Obama's campaign has had a few hiccups, but it is still a much better organized, financed, and disciplined campaign than McCain's."
"Obama has clumsily pivoted to the center, undermining his rhetoric about politicians who triangulate and position themselves. But that's exactly what he's spent his summer doing."
"We know he has to position himself in the center, but his vote on [the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act] and failure to stand up for the Constitution seemed out of character."
"With Obama, you wonder if he is simply very adept at playing defense and avoiding major trouble. And maybe that is sufficient."
"Obama has gained some stature but hasn't answered the basic question of his readiness well enough to maximize his potential vote."
C
"He hasn't screwed anything up, but the candidate of change will lose his luster if he starts to sound just like any other pol."
"He needs to do a better job of key message delivery. He was better during the heat of the primary."
"Flip-flopping a bit. And trying to find unity--post-Clinton."
"Obama's performance reminds me of a Dean Smith basketball team playing four corners offense and trying to run out the clock while it has a narrow lead. This is not a winning strategy."
"When it was his turn to shine Obama used the summer to take the luster off his campaign."
D
"From his ham-handed treatment of Clinton and her supporters to his visions of grandeur in speaking venues, Obama is giving support to the notion he is not ready for prime time."
Q: Grade Barack Obama's performance this summer.
Republicans (85 votes)
Average C+
A 1 percent B 44 percent C 42 percent D 13 percent F 0 percent
B
"He is winning, but why is he still almost even with McCain? Something is just not right."
"Put the Hillary matter to bed, asserted his control over the convention, avoided mistakes or controversy: Playing it safe."
"No major mistakes; a few flip-flops. He seems to avoid the traps that ensnare so many politicians."
"He has started to solidify his party and to demonstrate a willingness to not be wedded to shrill, liberal policies. Finally, his recent advertising is very solid."
"Has opened questions on his own about consistency and depth. Otherwise, he's been strong."
"No major mistakes. Very cautious approach, but risk aversion doesn't and won't play in the fall."
C
"He's been handed a golden opportunity with a pot of cash and an enthusiastic base of support, but he still can't seem to get a real lead on McCain."
"By moving so fast to the center and embracing positions he only recently scorched Hillary for taking, Obama has managed to look calculating and cynical. Not exactly the paragon of new politics he claimed to be at the start."
"I think he has gotten some things out of the way by changing his positions on select issues. But the mainstream media still give him a pass, and will swoon at the convention."
"Still leads by a few [points]. Still making unforced errors, but doing so in an environment which is very forgiving."
"His drift toward center was more of a lurch, but it made some sense. He should have said something new in addition to or other than his flip-flopping."
D
"The new Obama slogan: Learn--and change positions--as you go."
"He's frittering away his core equity that he's new, different, and principled."
Q: Grade John McCain's performance this summer.
Democrats (87 votes)
Average C-
A 0 percent B 17 percent C 44 percent D 38 percent F 1 percent
B
"McCain gets a B for his outreach to Hispanics and for good strong statements on trade and opportunity."
"On his ability to seize the initiative and set the tone for the fall campaign, especially in light of his relatively poor financial position and the shackles of the current administration around his waist."
C
"McCain's campaign continues to be a bunch of tactical fits and starts of little consequence."
"Didn't take advantage of his brand and the long Democratic primary. Should be in the lead, or very close to it."
"McCain and his campaign have their sea legs now but still don't know in which direction they're going to sail."
"What performance? John McCain is looking more and more tired."
D
"The McCain surrogates have been a disaster."
"This campaign can't figure out if it's running a primary or a general election."
"His strategy appears to be to put all his eggs in the national security basket. And that basket will likely not be big enough."
"Very strong in Colombia."
F
"Would have to repeat, except there is no second semester to this summer school."
Q: Grade John McCain's performance this summer.
Republicans (84 votes)
Average C
A 0 percent B 21 percent C 57 percent D 21 percent F 0 percent
B
"Holding his own at this point in fundraising. And recent changes have his campaign ready for the final few months."
"Move on offshore drilling was outstanding. But his speech on the night Obama clinched the nomination was horrible."
C
"No coherent theme has emerged. He needs somehow to provide arationale for four more GOP years."
"Didn't take advantage of his window."
"Lethargic, low-key, taking weekends off. When is he going to become the fightin' Johnny McCain?"
"Still within striking distance. And the campaign has indicated a more aggressive approach, which signals a hint of competence they hadn't had."
"Just showing up is half the battle, but it's not enough to win the game."
D
"They're still close because Obama has damaged himself, but this effort hardly seems to have the energy or vitality needed to take on a gifted politician like Obama."
"There's no surer way to repeat the mistakes of the past than to bring back the Bushies."
"McCain hates scripted campaigns. But guess what: Scripted campaigns win. Find a message, and hammer it home."
National Journal Insiders
Democratic Political Insiders Karen Ackerman, Jill Alper, David Axelrod, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Deb Callahan, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Jim Craig, Jerry Crawford, Stephanie Cutter, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Michael Donilon, Tom Donilon, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Eric Eve, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Gordon Fischer, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Don Fowler, Gina Glantz, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Michael Gronstal, Marcia Hale, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Mike Henry, Leo Hindery, Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Shar Knutson, Kam Kuwata, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Sylvia Larsen, Jeff Link, Bill Lynch, Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Terry McAuliffe, Caroline McCarley, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O'Donnell, Scott Parven, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, John Podesta, Tony Podesta, Bruce Reed, Mame Reiley, Steve Ricchetti, Susan Rice, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, John Ryan, Wendy Sherman, Terry Shumaker, Phil Singer, Bob Slagle, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Darry Sragow, Karl Struble, Katrina Swett, Sarah Swisher, Eric Tabor, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Mike Veon, Rick Wiener, Bridgette Williams, JoDee Winterhof, and Jim Zogby.
GOP Political Insiders Dan Allen, Stan Anderson, Gary Andres, Saulius (Saul) Anuzis, Rich Ashooh, Whit Ayres, Brett Bader, Mitch Bainwol, Gary Bauer, David Beckwith, Wayne Berman, Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Ron Bonjean, Jeff Buley, Luke Byars, Nick Calio, Danny Carroll, Ron Christie, Jim Cicconi, Cesar Conda, Jake Corman, Greg Crist, Diane Crookham-Johnson, Fergus Cullen, Rick Davis, Mike Dennehy, Ken Duberstein, Steve Duprey, Debi Durham, Frank Fahrenkopf, John Feehery, Don Fierce, Carl Forti, Alex Gage, Sam Geduldig, Benjamin Ginsberg, Bill Greener, Jonathan Grella, Lanny Griffith, Janet Mullins Grissom, Doug Gross, Todd Harris, Steve Hart, Christopher Healy, Ralph Hellmann, Chris Henick, Terry Holt, David Iannelli, Clark Judge, David Keating, David Kensinger, Bruce Keough, Bob Kjellander, Ed Kutler, Chris Lacivita, Jim Lake, Chuck Larson, Steve Lombardo, Kevin Madden, Joel Maiola, Gary Maloney, David Marin, Mary Matalin, Dan Mattoon, Bill McInturff, Mark McKinnon, Kyle McSlarrow, Ken Mehlman, Jim Merrill, Mike Murphy, Phil Musser, Ron Nehring, Terry Nelson, Neil Newhouse, David Norcross, Ziad Ojakli, Jack Oliver, Van B. Poole, Tom Rath, Scott Reed, David Rehr, Steve Roberts, Jason Roe, David Roederer, Ed Rogers, Dan Schnur, Russ Schriefer, Rich Schwarm, Brent Seaborn, Rick Shelby, Andrew Shore, Don Sipple, Robin Smith, Javier Soto, Fred Steeper, Bob Stevenson, Eric Tanenblatt, Heath Thompson, Jay Timmons, Warren Tompkins, Ted Van Der Meid, Dirk van Dongen, Jan van Lohuizen, Dick Wadhams, John Weaver, Tom Wilson, Dave Winston, Ginny Wolfe, and Fred Wszolek.
About Insiders Poll
- A weekly survey of members of Congress or political operatives about topics in the news.