# Terrorist attack between now and November. Is McCain or Obama hurt (or helped) more? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 5, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884 "2008-06-05T15:03:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/1 "2008-06-05T15:03:24Z")
I’ll break it into some categories because I’m anal-retentive. 1. An attack similar to the [1993 bombing of the World Trade Center](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center_bombing): carried out by foreign terrorists on US soil, with a minimal loss of life, but in a place symbolic of American prestige and economic power. 2. An attack similar to the [Oklahoma City bombing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_bombing), carried out by domestic whackjobs on US soil with a larger loss of life. 3. An attack similar to [9-11](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11%2C_2001_attacks), carried out by foreigh terrorists on US soil and with staggering loss of life. 4. An attack similar to the [anthrax scare](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthrax_scare), with minimal actual fatalities but no clue as to the identity of the perpetrators. 5. An attack similar to the [USS Cole incident](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Cole_bombing), outside the US and with known perpetrators. 6. Other. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/2 "2008-06-05T15:07:17Z")
It helps Obama. It proves that the Republicans can’t protect us. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/3 "2008-06-05T15:09:14Z")
People won’t react to it that way. They’ll clamor for security and they’ll view the republican former war hero as the guy. The public’s reaction to an attack won’t be rational. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/4 "2008-06-05T15:12:09Z")
If there’s a major terrorist attack in America before the election, McCain wins. He doesn’t even have to campaign anymore. He’s the military man, remember. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/5 "2008-06-05T15:13:52Z")
Obama is helped. “We can’t protect the US because we’re wasting all that money in Iraq!” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/6 "2008-06-05T15:15:59Z")
[QUOTE=SenorBeef] People won’t react to it that way. They’ll clamor for security and they’ll view the republican former war hero as the guy. The public’s reaction to an attack won’t be rational. [/QUOTE] I don’t think so. I think those days are over. Do you really think any of the Obama supporters here, for instance, are going to go rushing to McCain? If people really cared about military cred, they would have voted for Kerry (and McCain’s cred is overstated anyway – basically he’s a failed bomber pilot who got himself caught by the enemy – that hardly makes him a military genius). If there’s another terrorist attack, it would get blamed on Bush, and McCain = Bush. There’s no way he can scrape that off anymore. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/7 "2008-06-05T15:30:14Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] It helps Obama. It proves that the Republicans can’t protect us. [/QUOTE] You have to stop confusing the way you would react with the way most Americans would react. It helps McCain, mostly. And not just because it’s a Republican/Democrat thing. It’s an experience/less experience thing, too. > [@](#): > > I don’t think so. I think those days are over. Do you really think any of the Obama supporters here, for instance, are going to go rushing to McCain? “Here” is extremely atypical of America. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/8 "2008-06-05T15:42:26Z")
Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I dunno about you all, but my history classes were full of dummies. The past 8 years of bullshit will be forgotten in an instant and McCain will win. Even if it’s not a landslide, enough folks will be scared enough to change their minds and give him the edge. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/9 "2008-06-05T15:45:19Z")
Foreign attack = McCain win. Domestic attack = depends on which nut-group did it. #4 & #5 = wash. Both would be blamed on Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/10 "2008-06-05T15:50:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Do you really think any of the Obama supporters here, for instance, are going to go rushing to McCain? For heaven’s sake - God Almighty could descend from the sky to endorse McCain and the Obama supporters on the SDMB wouldn’t blink an eye. I give it twenty minutes, tops, after a major terrorist attack on the US before some one blames it on Karl Rove. But overall, in the rest of the country, it would result in a net gain for McCain. We already know how he reacts in a crisis. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/11 "2008-06-05T15:59:00Z")
How does McCain react in a crisis? When have we ever seen that? I’ve seen Barack Obama remain as cool as a cucumber no matter what gets thrown at him. McCain flies off the handle at the drop of a hat and starts cursing at clouds. I understand that a lot of righties are dreaming about another 9/11 attack before the election. They feel it would save them in the election. They would dance in the streets if another 3,000 Americans got murdered. I just don’t think that would work out for them the way they think it would. Americans would not just go rushing blindly to the Republicans. The righties have to be careful about believing too much of their own demagoguery. The idea that a second 9/11 on Bush’s watch would somehow be good for his party is delusional in the extreme. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/12 "2008-06-05T16:06:09Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] The righties have to be careful about believing too much of their own demagoguery. [/QUOTE] There goes another irony meter! Let’s look at some [facts:](http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08.htm) > [@](#): > > “Regardless of who you may support, who do you trust more to handle [see below]: Obama or McCain?” > > “The U.S. campaign against terrorism” > > 5/8-11/08 McCAin: 55 Obama: 34 That’s %. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/13 "2008-06-05T16:08:06Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] How does McCain react in a crisis? When have we ever seen that? I’ve seen Barack Obama remain as cool as a cucumber no matter what gets thrown at him. McCain flies off the handle at the drop of a hat and starts cursing at clouds. [/QUOTE] It DOESN’T matter. You keep thinking about this reasonably and rationally. The last thing the American public is going to be after another terrorist attack is reasonable and rational. Any kind of real terrorist threat would result in a McCain landslide. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/14 "2008-06-05T16:13:44Z")
I don’t buy that. I know another terrorist attack would be right wing’s last, best hopebut I think the reaction would go against conventional wisdom. The timing would be seen by many as extremely suspicious for one thing. Don’t underestimate the amount of antipathy and cynicism which people feel towards the current administration. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/15 "2008-06-05T16:14:15Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] For heaven’s sake - God Almighty could descend from the sky to endorse McCain and the Obama supporters on the SDMB wouldn’t blink an eye. [/QUOTE] Considering the typical attitude towards religion around here, he’s probably pick up a few votes. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/16 "2008-06-05T16:20:19Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I don’t buy that. I know another terrorist attack would be right wing’s last, best hopebut I think the reaction would go against conventional wisdom. The timing would be seen by many as extremely suspicious for one thing. Don’t underestimate the amount of antipathy and cynicism which people feel towards the current administration. [/QUOTE] Two years ago you were telling us that it was only a right wing wet dream that Hillary would run for president. Just because the right wing may or may not want “x” doesn’t mane that “x” isn’t valid. And I don’t even know that “the right wing” is all that jazzed up about a terrorist attack. I’m sure a few nutjobs are, but there are nutjobs of all stripes out there. In fact, it may very well be that the Osama video released just before the 2004 election is what tilted it towards Bush. Remember that? ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/17 "2008-06-05T16:23:23Z")
The initial reaction will favor McCain. But after all of the crap in the past seven years, I think more people than usual will rethink their kneejerk reaction; so in the long term it may be closer to a wash. Feel free to ignore this related hijack: I’m already expecting the Bushitters to revive Terrorism Alerts, oh, about August. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/18 "2008-06-05T16:37:24Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] But overall, in the rest of the country, it would result in a net gain for McCain. We already know how he reacts in a crisis. [/QUOTE] By throwing chairs? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/19 "2008-06-05T16:40:59Z")
I was thinking more about how he reacts when people are shooting at him, but I suspect you already knew that. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884/20 "2008-06-05T16:44:29Z")
How do we know how he reacts when other people shoot at him? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorist-attack-between-now-and-november-is-mccain-or-obama-hurt-or-helped-more/451884.md?page=2)