Newsvine Q&A: Chuck Todd on U.S. Politics

Chuck

What will you do on Nov. 5?

lol

But seriously, a basic one this week... how can a layperson... if you could pick a specific age that it seems viewpoints change on this election which age would that be? and why do you think that is? looking at the factors you see before you in your research.

Hi Chuck. I don't know if this is in your purview, but do you consider section 8 of the proposed "bailout" legislation to be constitutional?

Sec. 8. Review.

Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.

And if it stands and passes, does it mean the plan cannot be altered, even by the SCOTUS? Do you know where the candidates stand on this particular aspect of the plan?

Hey Chuck,

What did you think of Bush's address about the economic crisis?

Is there a danger here in not having anyone who seems to be in charge of our government? I started to think this during the Georgia/Russia incident, it is like we have three different players but no one is in charge or responsible. Can we trust any of their motives at this point? I can't put it into words very well but it seems like this is bad government and bad for the country... no matter who you are for in the election. Not sure what my question is but would like your insight regarding what is going on.

Hey Chuck!

When I don't have time to read all of the Q&A, I scan through and read only your responses. I don't necessarily disagree with a couple of things you said, but I'm hoping you're wrong. With every passing week, I become more panicked that Obama won't pull this thing out. And after reading your comment about wanting more of a discussion than you simply answering our questions, I feel I have your blessing you post my two cents on the current state of the race...

Chuck Assertion #1: 70% of undecideds will break for McCain. Isn't it pretty consistent historically for the independents/undecideds/swing voters to support the non-incumbent candidate? I know, I know. This is a "historic" election. But if you're right about this, then it's over, isn't it? McCain will win.

This is just a novice supposition on my part, but don't you think it would really take a lot of super deep-seeded racism to get a lifelong, partisan, anti-Bush Democrat to actually vote for McCain? I can understand the theory that some white rednecks in PA or VA or something can't bring themselves to vote for the black guy....but to actually vote for McCain? I just don't see it in large numbers.

Chuck Assertion #2: Sarah Palin is helping the GOP with down ticket races. How can this be? If a voter is conservative enough to vote for a "Palin" Republican running for the House, wasn't that voter already going to support McCain? If your contention is that she will bring people out on Election Day who would have stayed home otherwise, that makes a little more sense to me. Can you elaborate on that a little more for me?

One last thing, and this is a question to my fellow liberal bloggers here...to what degree do you want to see the Obama campaign take the gloves off and really try to take McCain down? I'm not talking about tough talk in his stump speeches, I mean really go after McCain. A few months ago when both candidates were saying they were going to run a respectful race, I thought it would be a breath of fresh air to not see this election get so nasty. I'm way past that now. The first time I voted was in the 2000 presidential election. I was 19 years old, and I can re-live that entire night in my head from about 6:00 when they called Florida for Gore. I'm not over the fact that he lost now, and knowing what an absolute disgrace Bush has been and and long-lasting effects his presidency will have on this country, I doubt I will ever get over it. I am truly embarrassed and ashamed of my President. With that being said, I desperately want to be on the winning team this time. And I think the Democrats should do whatever it takes to ensure Obama becomes our next president. Anything up to and including photo-shopping Sarah Palin in bed with a moose is fine with me. I have a mental block when I try to envision that woman as second in command to the world's only superpower. We will need God to bless America if we see a McCain-Palin administration.

Do you still think Obama's not connecting with voters on the economy, that instead he's benefiting from current economic fears?

And following up what you said earlier in the week on MJ, what was it about Edwards' speeches that you think appealed to voters' economic concerns that Obama & McCain haven't yet hit upon?

Chuck,

Thank you for allowing us to have an audience with you. One doesn't find many political directors taking direct questions, so I applaud you. I posted this question the last go-round but didn't get a response so I'm trying again!

Three questions for you:

1) I've heard numerous complaints from the McCain campaign and the Republican operatives of the "liberal bloggers" who are then merged into the "liberal media". Are the everyday Joes like us, who add their commentaries to the political soup, having more of an impact on this election than what is being mentioned? Of course, the widespread myths, lies, or "untruths" have a place in the technology game but where do we fit in the picture?

2) The McCain campaign and the Republicans continue to push Gov. Palin's executive experience as by-far trumping Sen. Obama's experience. Why do they continue to use this argument when she has only had 20 months of executive experience AND Sen. McCain has no executive experience himself?

3) Are you amazed that a US governor had never met a head of state until the UN? I know my state's governor (Washington) has hosted numerous heads of state while visiting our state's industries (i.e. Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks) and research facilities. Most importantly, we expect our governor to travel around the world to promote Washington state's exports (apples, wheat, airplanes, technology, travel).

Thank you,
A. Roman
Seattle, WA

Chuck,

in ref to the proposed 700+ billion dollar USG sponsored economic Wall Street bailout....how can the American taxpayer be assured that overtime none of the funds will be funneled off and end up overseas to support freedom fighters or their quest.

Drew

So many questions I don't know how you will have time with the upheaval that the next 48 hours might be, so here's my question:

1) Why on earth in light of the current crisis has there not been a decision to change around the subject focus on the debate on Friday? Wouldn't it make sense to have the two men who one of will be our next President talking about this issue both in the short term - the 700b and the long term fall out?

2) Do you believe there is a connection between the McCain decision late yesterday afternoon and the debacle of an interview Palin gave to Couric, particularly because McCain landed over at CBS later int he day?

3) With the current timeline to election day is it even feasible to shift the debates around and are we as a nation suppose to buy the proposed change date as Oct 2nd (currently the slot for the VP debate) as coincidental?

Hi Chuck, Must have been a very busy week for you. lol I just want to preface my question with a small personal comment or two. I was already pretty stoked about this election what with a black man and a woman neck and neck for the Dem nomination. I chose to support Obama back in November of last year because I thought that a) America was ready for a black candidate and b) I thought he would make a better leader than anyone else in the field. It's been a wild campaign up until now, too, considering how often McCain has been dodging issues and values. He just gets a pass on his Keating 5 scandal; no one looking into the mystery of his POW time and why he has been so anti-POW anti-GI in his career; not much made of his wealth and character issues. But that's for another posting. So if it's been a wild ride so far, imagine how I'm feeling after the latest McCain ploy where he is attempting to scrub the debates. Wow. Lots of fun wondering where this will end up... The other comment I want to make is that my wife is being featured on the national Obama site. We got interviewed by a local person about our canvassing activities and the interviewer liked the story so much she submitted it and the rest is history. If anyone cares, my sweetheart can be found at:

Ok, now that I've got that off my chest, question time. Chuck, in your heart of hearts, do you think this ploy by McCain's handlers was meant to ultimately dump the VP debate, postpone the VP debate, or just postpone the debates themselves since McCain's polls were heading south and they needed to put a halt to that. And a follow up, someone posted a bit about how McCain is running out of campaign cash and that this is a ploy to merely stop having to spend money for a couple of days. As always, your comments are welcome. Charlie M.
stlouisactor.newsvine.com

OK, one more thing and then I'll shut up for awhile. Last week, there were an awful lot of questions about polling in general and polling specifics. Chuck, do you know of a reliable and informative website where novices can learn about the science/art of polling?

With most people's attention focused elsewhere, did Joe Biden "choose" the right time to have his gaffes? What are your thoughts on his VP campaign of late?

Ok, the url to find my wife on Obama's national webpage didn't take so I'll try again:

>

If anyone was interested....

Chuck,

The NBC/WSJ poll had McCain up with independents 51-38, but Obama still ahead. Given the party affiliation gap, what percent of independents do you think Obama needs to win? Is the affiliation gap likely to stay at around 7 points, or will it tighten?

Also, assuming the debate happens tomorrow, who do you think is winning the expectations game?

Chuck,

1. If you were hosting this debate on Friday, what are two questions you would like to ask each of the candidates?

2. If it does become more obvious that Bill Clinton is not enthusiastically supporting Senator Obama, will that hurt Obama's chances?

3. My favorite interviewer is Bill Moyers. Who is yours?

Thank you for doing this forum. I really look forward to reading your comments and the comments of the participants.

Chuck -

How would you rate the following Senate races:

1) Minnesota
2) North Carolina
3) Mississippi (Wicker v. Musgrove)
4) Louisiana

Does Obama being on the ballot help or hurt conservative Dems in red districts like Travis Childers?

Chuck,

Do you think it will be lost in the news cycle or highlighted that McCain stated yesterday that he was returning to Washington because it was obvious to him that no deal was imminent and now was proven wrong?

Will this fact get any political traction?

Thanks.

Given that Brett Favre should have stayed retired and the Titans are showing themselves as a force to be reckoned with, on Sun Nov 23, 2008, will the Titans beat the Jets by more than the Nov 4. electoral gap, or less?

Chuck!

Sorry if this is repetitious, but I don't see this asked above...who do you think will give the better performance in tomorrow night's debate? I know I'm a pretty *cough* partisan Obama supporter, but I really think McCain is walking into something that could be the nail in campaign's coffin.

I think McCain has shown that he's WAY off of his game this week, not to mention he appears to be losing the gamble he took just yesterday by trying to look like the country's economic savior. His confidence has to be at an all-time low going into tomorrow night. Obama will be rested and ready.

Another advantage I think that Obama has is that, from everything I've heard, expectations for both candidates seem to be fairly even. I think he may benefit even more from not having to live up to the same high expectations voters had for his acceptance speech in Denver. And on a side note, how contentious do you expect this first debate to be?

Thank you!!

Chuck

Coburn confirmed on CSPAN this morning that he called both men and Obama returned his call. Thus it seems logical that Obama got the ball rolling and not McCain or am I missing something?

By making this big splash, our attention has been turned away from the Rick Davis 15K per month and his almost 2 Million dollars from Freddie and/or Fannie. Will we hear about that again?

Why is the Witch Pastor in Palin's life not getting the attention Wright received from the press?

I keep hearing it is leadership that McCain is showing by suspending his campaign and returning to Washington. What I don't understand is why suspension was necessary beyond grandstanding. Could he have just returned to Washington quietly and perhaps talk to Obama privately about cancelling so we would not know unless it became mandatory to cancel?

How can he say he is sooo concern now yet did not contact anyone about what was going on in Washington these past few days and did not read the original report. Now all of a sudden, he cares?

If he has suspended his campaign, why is he still doing Presidential interviews and Palin remains on the campaign trail today? It seems like this is all for attention and with the help of Republicans and Bush, they are going to try to make this an issue for McCain to pretend he owns. What am I missing?

Chuck -

Are any of these states -- Minnesota, Oregon, Maine, Washington, West Virginia, Montana -- legitimately in play?

Also, while most states have gravitated back to their respective redness/blueness, IN and NC are two states wildly off script from '00 & '04. IN can be explained via geography (although that's probably too simplistic), but why North Carolina?

I'm sorry, I just have to. Sarah Palin, from First Read today:

"I agree with the Bush Administration that we take the fight to them," she said outside the firehouse when asked if she would have conducted the war on terrorism differently. "We never again let them come onto our soil and try to destroy not only our democracy, but communities like the community of New York. Never again."

I just love the small hometown feeling of Manhattan, don't you guys? I can hardly tell it apart from Wasilla or Juneau.

Hi Chuck,

My question is about the debates. Has a presidential debate ever been canceled before? Or what happens if Obama shows up but McCain doesn't? How do you think that will affect McCain?

Chuck -

I think that it was brilliant of the democrats to announce that they had reached a deal on the bailout package before the Bush/McCain/Obama meeting took place today - in essence - stealing the ability for McCain to claim victory on the proposal and making the "suspension" of his campaign seem like a poltical ploy. Your thoughts?