Election 2008: What’s Really Going on in American Politics

Tony Snow

Snow candidly and adeptly analyzed the presidential campaign for all three candidates.

He reported that Sen. Hillary Clinton does not connect with voters and has an extremely low trust rating. “How you come across the camera lens creates an immediate impression with the viewing public—Hillary doesn’t connect and she doesn’t communicate warmth.” He noted that Bill Clinton is both a strength and a weakness to her campaign as she fights to establish an individual identity based on her own record as a U.S. Senator.

Sen. Obama has a winning personality and communicates well on camera but he is challenged by the weakness inherent in a campaign that stresses hope and change with very few details. He has limited experience and has spoken out on issues and later has had to retract his words, saying that he “misspoke.” He has also demonstrated a damaging naïve in regard to international affairs. In spite of these weaknesses, Snow predicted Obama will gain the Democratic nomination.

Sen. McCain has unmatched experience but is a maverick who is extremely intense on many issues and very forthright about his beliefs. His biggest challenge, according to Snow, is getting Republicans to like him and gaining the backing of conservatives in both parties as well as independents. “This election will be determined by independents,” he said. Snow predicted McCain will win the presidency in the same way he emerged as the Republican candidate: “He will be the last man standing.”

Snow urged attendees to look beyond political campaign messages that portray the nation as being in trouble with each candidate claiming to be “the only person who can solve these problems.”

He notes that the nation enjoyed 52 months of continuous employment growth before seeing slight increases in unemployment within the last several months. “Even today the unemployment rate is less than it was during the Clinton Administration,” he noted. He added that crime is down across the nation, as is teenage pregnancy and drug use.  

“Everyone is talking about what’s wrong with our country but no one is discussing our accomplishments. We are a country dedicated to freedom. We pride ourselves on being good and decent, and we continue to be the dream machine of the world,” he said.