I seem to recall reading somewhere--gosh, I think I remember someone saying this would have no effect on Obama and that everybody would just get over it in three days.
Well, six weeks later, and we haven't gotten over it. In fact, Obama's image has slipped, and my bet is that it's not over yet.
Democratic voters are not as positive about Barack Obama as they were a month ago. Somewhat smaller percentages of Democrats describe Obama in favorable terms, and he has lost his lead over Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination. Nationally, Democratic voters are about evenly divided between Obama and Clinton; Obama holds a slight 47% to 45% edge. In late March, the Illinois senator held a 49% to 39% lead over his New York rival.
The tightening Democratic race reflects a modest but consistent decline in Obama's personal image rather than improved impressions of Clinton. Fewer Democrats ascribe positive qualities to Obama than did so a month ago, with white working-class Democrats, in particular, expressing more skeptical views of the Illinois senator. Since late February, his unfavorable rating has risen six points among all Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters. At the same time, Clinton's unfavorable rating among Democratic voters also has increased by seven points.
Compared with a month ago, race and class are now bigger drivers of preferences in the Democratic contest. Obama has lost ground among whites - especially white working-class voters - who now prefer Clinton by an even larger margin than they did in late March. Her lead among whites who did not attend college has increased from 10 points in March to 40 points today, and her lead among white Democrats who earn less than $50,000 a year has increased from two points to 24 points. Clinton has taken a 10-point lead among white male Democratic voters - erasing Obama's advantage with the group - and she now runs better among Democrats under age 50 than she had previously.
This is a combination of the bigot Wright effect and Bittergate. Sure, there are still some moonbats out there trying to say Obama's not an elitist, but his base isn't the beer and pretzel crowd. Call it "Son of What's the Matter With Kansas?"
These aren't voters that are going to vote for Obama in a general election. Ok, some portion of these guys will vote for Obama because they're yellow dog Democrats. But a lot of them will see Obama as the elitist and radical he is and those people will vote for McCain.
More popcorn, please.
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