Obama last

Question 1

What were 5 reasons why Obama initially won the election to the US Senate in 2004?

Answer 1

• He had demonstrated his commitment to public service and to the ‘black’ issues as a black community organiser in Chicago an Illinois state senator
• Voters were attracted to his ‘American Dream’ as he emphasised the struggles of being black American.
• Democratic Party were supportive as they were desparate to have a black Senator
• Media was positive on Obama
• ## His Democratic National Convention Speech in 2004 was truly inspirational and set a precedent for his future success

Question 2

Why were Obama’s opponents in the Democratic Nomination unsuccessful?

Answer 2

• Hillary Clinton emphasised her entitlement to the nomination
• Hillary Clinto emphasised political experience however many Democrats were seeking change and something new.
• She raised less money than Obama
• She failed to exploit the internet
• Her campaign team lacked strong cohesion
• Obama focussed way harder on the campaign than Clinton
• Bill Clinton alienated black voters by claiming that Obama was only doing well because he was black.

Question 3

How did Obama’s personality and oratory skills benefit his appeal to voters?

Answer 3

• Obama was an inspirational speacher who used repitition to convince Americans.
• He was self-confident and highly motivated rather than being critical against his opponents
• He projected youth and dynamism which hadn’t been seen before.

Question 4

How were Obama’s new election strategies beneficial to his campaign?

Answer 4

• Money was raised from tens of thousands of small donors
• The Obama website encouraged visitors to register their interest and they would be regularly emailed and urged to contact other Obama supporters
• He used Facebook and Twitter to spread his message

Question 5

What were 3 of Obama’s major policies?

Answer 5

• A speedy exit from the Iraq War, an issue that he had long opposed
• The promotion of renewable, green energy wherever possible
• More freely available Obamacare. (healthcare)

Question 6

Why was the Republican candidate John McCain viewed as unpopular?

Answer 6

• George W Bush’s unpopular policies regarding the Iraq War caused voters to fear another Republican President.
• Many voters had blamed the Republicans for the near financial crash in September 2008 during the US Presidential campaigns, leading to McCain losing his lead in the polls
• As Economic issues were the main concern of 63% of voters, many were against Republican economic policies

Question 7

Why was Obama’s personality seen as more appealing to American voters in 2008 than McCain?

Answer 7

• Obama’s American Dream life story continued to attract voters.
• McCain was older and was seen as grumpier wheras Obama was more focussed and confident
• Obama was more appealing in televised debates
• Obama was more reassuring after the 2008 Financial Crisis wheras McCain was panicked.
• ## McCain’s vice president nominee Sarah Palin was feared due to her ill-informed personality as well as being unable to answer questions on the financial crisis.

Question 8

Why was Obama’s financial approach to his campaign much better than McCain’s?

Answer 8

• Obama raised more money through his exploiting of the Internet.
• ## Obama didn’t accept federal funding of his campaign because that limited the amount a candidate could use out of his own campaign funds, wheras McCain had always taken a principled stand on money buying office so he took federal funds.

Question 9

Why was Obama’s election strategies more appealing than McCain’s?

Answer 9

• Obama’s use of the Internet was revolutionary
• Obama’s team out-spent, out-advertised and out-organised McCain’s. `

Question 10

What was the significance of Obama’s victory?

Answer 10

• Obama’s victory was seen as historic as a black president had been elected 43 years after the Southern black population had been guaranteed the vote.
• Emphasised racial eqaulity and a new, post-racial America.

Question 11

What were the negative responses to Obama’s victory?

Answer 11

• His reliance on the minority vote and the fact that older white Americans were disillusioned with McCain and the Republicans.
• White supremacist websites crashed due to the amount of traffic online after Obama’s win
• Race controversies as right wing politicans and extremists claimed that Obama wasn’t a ‘real’ American. (Obama became the first President to release his birth certificate).

Question 12

What were negative black responses to Obama’s victory?

Answer 12

• Obama wasn’t in touch with the situation of the black poor
• He dismissed racism as an ongoing problem and told white Americans that it was all in the past which didn’t reflect some sections of society.