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Bill Maher posed 'wild card' questions. |
Campaign Notebook
Bill Maher is big draw in online debate
An experimental online "mashup" - a build-your-own Democratic presidential debate - has attracted 1.1 million viewers in the past 10 days, many of them young people drawn to the interactivity of the Internet. But the most popular participant was not a candidate.
Comedian Bill Maher, who asked one of four questions posed to eight candidates, attracted viewers 42 percent of the time. He quizzed the hopefuls about the Ten Commandments; marijuana legalization; the relative dangers of sugar, coal dust, and terrorism; and the climate-changing impact of cows.
The most viewed candidate was Senator Hillary Clinton, Democrat of New York. Of all the video clips, viewers watched 35 percent of hers. Senator Barack Obama, Democrat of Illinois, was next with 25 percent, followed by former senator John Edwards at 13 percent.
The debate was taped two weeks ago, and the three Internet sites posted the video on Sept. 13.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Independents' declaration
Michael Brooks is exactly the kind of voter the Republican Party can ill afford to lose. But in a foreboding omen for 2008, it may have already done just that. The auto parts store worker from St. Charles, Mo., says he used to be a Republican but felt abandoned and is now an independent.
"For some reason or other, they didn't seem to be for the masses anymore," said Brooks, 59, citing a lack of help for middle-income earners. He said he voted for George W. Bush in 2000, thinking the Republican was "more middle of the road, for the people. Obviously I was incorrect."
Brooks is not alone. From coast to coast, droves of independent voters are tilting toward Democrats in their opposition to the Iraq war, their displeasure with President Bush, and their feeling that the country is moving in the wrong direction, according to data from Associated Press-Ipsos polls this summer.
Only about 3 in 10 independents approved of the job Bush is doing overall and on many domestic issues. About one-quarter backed his Iraq policy and said the country is heading in the right direction. That is closer to the meager support Bush gets from Democrats than to the solid majority backing Republicans usually give him.
Of course, independents are not a lock for Democrats. "I don't trust either political party," said Natalie Frank, 64, an independent from Crystal, Minn. "They're more for the big dollar than the individual person."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Remember Maine?
With many states setting earlier primary and caucus dates, Maine's schedule for party caucuses - spread out between Feb. 1-3 for Republicans and relatively late on Feb. 10 for Democrats - gives the large fields of candidates small reason to focus there.
As Maine Republican activist Dan Billings put it, "I have not observed any organized effort to build support in Maine or build an organization in Maine. With so many big states moving up in the process, winning the Maine caucuses is not going to have any impact."
Democratic Party spokeswoman Carol Andrews doesn't disagree but says Maine still offers fertile ground for candidates prospecting for cash and looking to recruit campaign help.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
