Why every Democrat in Oklahoma has Obama as their running mate.

 By Kyle Loveless

 It is a common tactic used by both parties, and honestly, I am tired of it.  When President Bush was in office, and his approval and numbers were abysmal, Democrats all across the nation in swing districts and states wrapped the unpopular President around the GOP candidate’s neck.  That even happened AFTER Bush had been in office.

 Well, in Oklahoma the shoe is on the other foot.  President Obama and his unpopular stances in bailouts, health care mandates, and just being un Oklahoman, has made it easy and popular to have just about every state wide GOP campaign make President Obama their target.

 We are seeing this front and center in the Republican Governors Association’s ads against Lt. Governor Askins.  We have started to see it in the legislative races all across the district, and those Democrats who were electors or some type of party officials that elected President Obama, get ready it is coming.

 The question is – why is tying an unpopular President around a local candidate more effective than a positive track of why the specific candidate is better for Oklahoma?

 People complain about negative campaigns, but they will be with us like death and taxes, because they are almost as certain in elective politics.  Why – BECAUSE THEY WORK.

 The secret to a negative attack is to have people think you are responding to your opponents attack first – whether it is perceived or legit.  For example, Kevin Calvey was behind, had lost momentum by coming in second in the CD5 GOP primary just a month or so ago, and had to make up the ground.  How do you make up the ground?  You either build your organization (takes time), build your name ID (takes time and money), or you out work your opponent.  The final option is to try to erode the numbers of your opponent. 

Calvey essentially had to go negative to have any shot of beating Lankford.  Between the two – Calvey had on paper the more extensive resume.  However, you can’t just say in a TV ad – “I am more qualified”, so he brought up the idea that Lankford “went negative” on his military service.  What?  Really?  Well from that Calvey then proceeded to beat Lankford with TV ads, and direct mail things that had 9/11 families against Lankford, in essence the counter punch completely was not appropriate level of response and the voters had a significant backlash against Calvey.

 Going negative was the last thing Lankford was going to do – because he was the “anti” politician, he could not run a campaign like those before him.   There were two things voters knew about Lankford – he was in charge of Falls Creek youth camp and he was not your normal candidate. 

 Calvey and Lankford then went on News 9 for a televised joint segment where both candidates were there, answering questions.  Calvey then proceeded to use his wife’s complications from her pregnancy to say that Lankford had gone negative, and it was just way too far over the line for most voters.  Lankford in what was the line of the political scene so far, when attacked by Calvey about the families of 9/11 – Lankford stated that those folks have not even MET him and to top it off, on 9/11 he had family in the Pentagon!  Lankford may not be a politician per se ( I say that he is, but a very good one) but that line ended Calvey’s chances right there.  Lankford had been sitting on that line for months, because I attended most if not all of the candidate forums, and he never brought up his family being in the Pentagon on the morning of 9/11  - wow that is powerful counter punch)

 As you can see, a candidate can go overboard with the counter punch but most times if done correctly a counter punch as in boxing can be more effective than a direct negative attack. (See Ryan Leonard against Scott Pruitt)

 A case in which a candidate played the victim was a few years back by was a candidate who was behind accused the other candidate of being abusive at their kid’s baseball game.  Well, the counter punch was so effective, it was a auto dial from the candidate’s wife saying that he was defending her honor and she was proud of him and he would do it again if confronted.

 So, if you are a Democrat in Oklahoma on the ballot this year, beware, because that is not the Rose Garden you will be in, you may not know it, but you have President Obama as your running mate.

 Askins – you have already seen the ads tying her to Obama through immigration.

 Corn – he might be the last candidate to have a tie to Obama because he is a moderate.

 Jim Priest – the Obama health care lawsuit unless you are willing to join, forget about it.

 Paddack – education is probably the issue other than health care that hits us all, and with 744 on the ballot – however this is on where on its face there is no tie to Obama – but watch out if there is

 And on down the line to all state officials and candidates we (GOP) will paint you being best friends with Obama. 

Why – it is easy, it is effective, and people in Oklahoma really don’t like Obama.