# Obama's is still a name to conjure by **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 30, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494 "2014-12-30T00:50:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/1 "2014-12-30T00:50:36Z")
So, we keep on hearing about how massively unpopular Obama is, and how this is going to torpedo Democrats’ chances, and so on. But I noticed something interesting the other day: You know all of those ads that say “Obama encourages homeowners to refinance their mortgage”, or the like? They’re still running. Advertisers still think that being seen on the same side as Obama is a winning move. At whom are all of these ads aimed, if the country hates Obama so? Why don’t they ever feature any other prominent politician? And how is this reconciled with the approval ratings the polls tell us? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/2 "2014-12-30T01:05:20Z")
Any president, no matter how unpopular, will still appeal to at least 30-35% of the populace. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/3 "2014-12-30T01:06:16Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Any president, no matter how unpopular, will still appeal to at least 30-35% of the populace. Or 48%, as the case may be. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/4 "2014-12-30T01:09:05Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So, we keep on hearing about how massively unpopular Obama is, and how this is going to torpedo Democrats’ chances, and so on. But I noticed something interesting the other day: You know all of those ads that say “Obama encourages homeowners to refinance their mortgage”, or the like? They’re still running. Advertisers still think that being seen on the same side as Obama is a winning move. At whom are all of these ads aimed, if the country hates Obama so? Why don’t they ever feature any other prominent politician? And how is this reconciled with the approval ratings the polls tell us? Huge swathes of Democrat politicians did not agree with you in last months elections. These politicians are not dumb. If politicians know one thing it is how to best get re-elected. I trust their instincts on re-election more than I trust the commentariat, or some poster on an internet forum. Almost to a man/woman they distanced themselves from Obama. Im also of the opinion that there is a natural equilibrium in US politics. That a resurgent Republican House of Rep. and Senate almost automatically increases support for a Democratic President. It renergizes the base, it makes centrists more wary of an overly powerful Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/5 "2014-12-30T01:11:42Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Or 48%, as the case may be. Nice cherrypicking of which polls to highlight. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/6 "2014-12-30T01:17:48Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > Huge swathes of Democrat politicians did not agree with you in last months elections. These politicians are not dumb. If politicians know one thing it is how to best get re-elected. I trust their instincts on re-election more than I trust the commentariat, or some poster on an internet forum. Almost to a man/woman they distanced themselves from Obama. Did you even bother to read the OP or just a few key words? The question asked was, _given the President’s unpopularity_, why do some internet advertisers still invoke his name? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/7 "2014-12-30T01:18:53Z")
THat’s pretty weak tea. I wouldn’t exactly use the strategies of fourth-rate marketers as a barometer. You know who first rate marketers are? The guys who run election campaigns. They focus group and poll as well as any private corporation. Being seen as associated with Obama was not the recommendation most of them gave to their clients. Then of course, there’s the pollsters, who at this point have measuring Presidential job approval down to a science. You can rest assured that the President is unpopular. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/8 "2014-12-30T01:27:58Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > Nice cherrypicking of which polls to highlight. I dunno. You guys were highlighting the polls which show him lower than Nixon. The most recent polls show an increase in Obama’s popularity. Deal with it. Or cry about it, I don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/9 "2014-12-30T02:38:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Velocity** : > > Any president, no matter how unpopular, will still appeal to at least 30-35% of the populace. Did Bush get these kinds of ads, too? If he did, I don’t remember it. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/10 "2014-12-30T02:52:38Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Did you even bother to read the OP or just a few key words? > > The question asked was, _given the President’s unpopularity_, why do some internet advertisers still invoke his name? And the op just happened to post this in the Elections section of straightdope. I have not seen the adverts in question. I simply know that the main experts on a President’s popularity are the very ones who ran screaming from him very recently. The op wished to point to indications of Obama’s popularity. It would be remiss of me not to point out indications to the contrary. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/11 "2014-12-30T02:59:34Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I dunno. You guys were highlighting the polls which show him lower than Nixon. The most recent polls show an increase in Obama’s popularity. Deal with it. Or cry about it, I don’t care. Well it’s nice to know your only being as biased and misleading as the most partizan Republicans. That makes your dubious quoting of polling stats all OK then. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/12 "2014-12-30T03:15:54Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > Well it’s nice to know your only being as biased and misleading as the most partizan Republicans. That makes your dubious quoting of polling stats all OK then. Crying about it is your option, then? ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/13 "2014-12-30T07:53:44Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Crying about it is your option, then? No, I simply pulled you up on it. If I wanted to read an ultra biased political view with cherrypicked stats I would read the online edition of Mother Jones. When I see the same underhand tactics displayed on a public messageboard I respond accordingly. \*You \*would probably do the same. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/14 "2014-12-30T12:01:34Z")
Just a heads-up: The so-called “experts” who ran away from Obama lost. Maybe they don’t quite know as much as you think? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/15 "2014-12-30T12:24:22Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I dunno. You guys were highlighting the polls which show him lower than Nixon. The most recent polls show an increase in Obama’s popularity. Deal with it. Or cry about it, I don’t care. The average shows a 1% increase. Mainly due to CNN finding a big jump in his popularity, which they trumpeted in a banner across their site. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/16 "2014-12-30T12:27:37Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Just a heads-up: The so-called “experts” who ran away from Obama lost. Maybe they don’t quite know as much as you think? Possible. There was probably a prisoners’ dilemma at work. The focus groups probably showed that being a vocal supporter of the President was suicidal for the average Democratic incumbent running in a red or purple state. Yet if all the Democrats had stood by the President and touted his accomplishments, maybe there would have been a different result. But no one endangered Senate candidate could do it and expect to get anywhere when other Democrats were doing the opposite. The President can’t escape blame either. He not only didn’t take a leadership role, he actually went out of his way to undermine Democratic incumbents’ message by saying he was on the ballot and that he understood that candidates had to pretend to not support him, even though of course they did. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/17 "2014-12-30T14:34:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Just a heads-up: The so-called “experts” who ran away from Obama lost. Maybe they don’t quite know as much as you think? Nah, politicking is their job. I find it hard to believe that dozens of them made the exact same wrongheaded re-election decision. I trust their expertise on this matter more than any armchair expert. I also have to assume most of the election teams of these politicians backed the decision to run from Obama. That’s literally 1000’s of years of electoral expertise right their, all running away from him. But hey, if you think you know best then why dont you just go along and apply for a strategists job with the DNC. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/18 "2014-12-30T14:41:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Did Bush get these kinds of ads, too? If he did, I don’t remember it. I don’t recall them, but then I haven’t seen any of the Obama ads either. The demos for Obama support trend much younger and on-line oriented, so if there is a difference it could be just that. As for politicians turning away from Obama, it’s a strategy that doesn’t work very well, although sticking with him may not either. Dislike by association is a common problem outside of locked in districts and states. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/19 "2014-12-30T14:51:12Z")
It can be done, but you have to be genuine in your opposition and clearly an independent. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe never had to worry about Maine voters identifying them with aspects of the GOP that they didn’t like. And Jon Manchin is probably similarly safe in West Virginina. What doesn’t work is being one thing in DC and another thing in your home state come election time. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494/20 "2014-12-30T15:27:11Z")
A lot of those ads seem to play on the subtext of “Obama is a socialist and giving things away” which doesn’t indicate popularity. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-is-still-a-name-to-conjure-by/708494.md?page=2)