Why did Obama win the presidency?

Posted by Marc Hodak on January 25, 2009 under Economics | Read the First Comment

For this quiz, your choices are:

1)  Because of his well-articulate vision for a reshaped country

2)  Because of deep voter concerns about the state of the economy and strong disapproval of President Bush

3)  Because the media was in love with Obama

4)  Because he bought it

Would it be redundant to say my money’s on #4?

My favorite aspect of the ’08 election, by far, was the irony that McCain, running as a reformer, was shackled to campaign finance reform spending limits that he himself had created.

Obama, on the other hand, was able to go for the big bucks, outspending McCain 2-to-1.  I know, the fact that Obama could ignore spending limits after promising not to do so perhaps points to #3 as a contributing factor.  But it still comes down to the cash, baby.