The Obama Effect

Having spent almost the last two years spinning their talking heads on television, political pundits are now engaged in some Monday morning quaterbacking to describe how Obama’s campaign managed such a decisive win. Republican infighting is pointing at McCain’s inconsistent message and Palin’s diva endeavors, while Democrats are hailing Obama’s call for change and fresh ideas.

The reality of the millions of new voters is one point both camps agree on, and behind the scenes their seems to be a consensus on how it actually happened. The problem is no one in either campaign wants to be the one to discuss the reasons publicly. The surveys and the exit polls show it, but no one wants to talk about how the vote was decided by young, unemployed white males who have not graduated college.

Phil Benson, a sophmore at Tom Dooley University, explains the situation as he knows it. “If you want a date at this school, and I’m talking a real date– not some study hall thing–you’re going no where by supporting McCain. I mean, the girls supporting McCain, they wear granny panties, they’re a snore. Most guys are like me, were just riding Obama’s coattails.” His assumptions are confirmed by a female student in the same year at Dooley University. Clara Osenworth, a chemical engineering major, explained that, “It’s gross. Like going out with a guy who supports McCain is like going out on a date with my father; it’s disgusting.”

McCain campaign workers were hoping for what is often described at “The Bradely Effect”. They believed that these young males would tell pollsters one answer in front of their female friends, but then go with McCain when it came time for their secret ballot. Unfortunately,a conservative nature worked against them in this case. “I couldn’t take a chance”, said Phil Benson, “Dude, I had to play it safe. Women can look into your eyes and see what you ate for breakfast! I have three years at this school still, four or five if my student loans come thru; I’m not throwing all that away just to vote my convictions.”

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