The Emotional Ties That Bind
I was on the phone this past week with a friend I used to work with when I was at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. I worked in Springfield and he worked in Chicago. He told me two things. First, he couldn’t believe the State Senator he used to share an elevator with in 2002, and who always had good words to say to him, was now the President-elect of the United States. Second, he now believes in America anything is possible and he feels pretty good.
And that’s why Barack Obama will be the next President. And why Mitch Daniels, to a lesser degree, was re-elected Governor. Hope, optimism and the promise of a better tomorrow is usually a winning strategy. Of course you need to throw in a ton of money and a heck of an organization and that will always help. I’m amazed at how many people who think they understand politics, but can’t seem to grasp the fact that voting is as much an emotional decision as it is anything else. Why do you think so many Democrats switched over and voter for Daniels?
People fundamentally vote for who they like or against who they can’t stand. George W. Bush was a lot more likeable than John Kerry. Bill Clinton was more likable than Bob Dole. Obama was a lot easier to like than Hillary Clinton. And everybody loved Reagan. If you wince at the idea of making a decision based on emotions, I ask you to look at your spouse or significant other and why do you put up with them, or in the alternative, why do they put up with you? Obama and Daniels are living proof that positive campaigns (coupled with all that other stuff) can work. Despite the sniping, whining and conspiracies surrounding birth certificates and inaccurate information about the state’s investment portfolio.
Now of course, both men will have to deliver in what are definitely going to be rough economic times ahead. But if they can keep the good will that they’ve built up by adjusting their plans accordingly and staying emotionally connected to the electorate they should do just fine.
