TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross
AP: 83936683-436d-4935-a69a-6b654a1f4852
The president's surrogates tried their best to cut down Mitt Romney on the weekend talk shows, but Obama seems to be losing his lead. (AP Photo/file)

The Twittocracy speaks

BY Dave Ross  on October 8, 2012 @ 8:27 am (Updated: 7:34 am - 10/10/12 )

The president's surrogates tried their best to cut down Mitt Romney on the weekend talk shows.

But the polls show the president's lead slipping, Politico released a new poll, and even though most of the calls for this poll were made before the debate...

"Now among those who say they're extremely likely to go vote, Romney leads Obama 52 to 46 percent," said one report.

Compare that to three weeks ago when Mr. Obama was AHEAD among "extremely likely voters" by 3 percent. And look which groups are losing enthusiasm.

"Democrats, particularly constituencies like African Americans, Latinos and younger voters have changed their response from extremely likely to vote, to maybe they'll vote," the report continued.

Remember how people used to say debates don't really matter, nobody pays attention?

Well, not only do people watch and pay attention to debates, but debates seem to have a unique ability to set off a mighty wind of social media commentary that can clearly change behavior every bit as effectively as a professional ad campaigns. The United States is now officially a Twittocracy.

Here we thought the Supreme Court's corporate personhood decision would put the big money PACs in charge. And yet more and more of us have come to understand that those paid ads are contrivances. Whereas a comment from a friend - or consensus of a hundred friends - might just change your mind.

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (20)


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  • mobeta wrote...
    Barry Zero the impostor of BHO! He got owned and he will get smoked again. There is no where to hide!
    October 8, 2012 7:47 am
    We're sure we know what happened to Barry Zero at the last debate. He found that very nasty place between his total incompetence and his malignant narcissism, with the self-deluded grandiosity that deflates like a balloon rapidly when subjected to the sharp point of reality. Leftists love to whine and moan when that their failures are the fault of everyone else but themselves. The point at which their socialist utopia meets the low balance of the checkbook is the most uncomfortable place for a leftist to occupy.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Speaking of Twits............
    October 8, 2012 7:52 am
    Remember when a twit was...... well........ a twit?

    Dave, I do now think that what we have this year is not so much voters looking for a reason to vote FOR Romney or Obama, but looking for a good reason not to. ... And that's something that makes the bases squishy. ... And that's why every quirk and gaff this year is of magnified importance.

    Think, now. Has Mitt drooled on himself in the debate last week, it likely would have been all over. NOT because Barack inspired the public, but because the GOP base would have had reason to wait until next year.

    With Obama looking disinterested (or looking for his teleprompter?) and getting his hinney hung, a lot of his 2008 base all of a sudden just might not vote. .......... AND have a good excuse when they talk to their 'friends' about it.

    So, Dave. You seem to BE right. Unless something changes, right now friends won't let friends vote for Obama.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    For once, all these reply posts make better since of my 'twits' lead in.
    October 8, 2012 4:00 pm
    Come on, people. Dave probably works all night on these commentaries. The least a few of us can do is keep to topic instead of personal pissy fit tangents.
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  • The Chuckster wrote...
    This, even with the medias obsession for the man??
    October 8, 2012 8:23 am
    Could it be true that the mainstream media is not trusted anymore? ........actual statements made by media "Obama stands above it all, he is godlike " " I just got a thrill up my leg". " He is perfect". "Mr. President, what's it like to be so loved?". People are tired of it
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  • rational wrote...
    twitter fits the American culture...
    October 8, 2012 9:04 am
    Americans have been dumbed down and lost their ability to read and think logically and critcally. It only stands to reason that a medium that eschews the length of post adequate to fully convey a presentation of anything more than what celebrity was wearing the dress of which designer would appeal to the dumbed down populace.
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    I am REALLY into brevity
    October 8, 2012 9:08 am
    and can't stand Twitter.B.T.W I am on it.
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  • MittensRomney wrote...
    Please please please, allow ME to decide when I will win or not if I chose!
    October 8, 2012 10:03 am
    I won my first debate, and that means everything I said was the truth. Besides, we all know being the president is really about talking. Its has nothing to do with personal finances and taxes, why George Bush himself proved that point once or twice during his presidency that even talking a good talk is not important as long as your keepers are there. Thats why even though I gaffed several times before the debate, I proved I could talk after I practiced hard enough, better than that big eared guy who tried to trick us with facts, we don't need any facts! We need good liars! Or, I mean my opponent is a liar but I am not and yet, we don't need him we need me. So there.
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  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    ROSS we get it
    October 8, 2012 10:37 am
    Obama is GOD Republicans are Evil Wealth redistribution is OK as long as its not your money.
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  • mpgunner wrote...
    Obama "tired"
    October 8, 2012 12:22 pm
    I read a lady defending Obama's "tired" performance that he had a day job. Another great example of how delusional (or hopelessly optimistic) an Obama supporter is.
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  • mnpat wrote...
    "The president's surrogates tried their best to cut down Mitt Romney on the weekend talk shows."
    October 8, 2012 12:51 pm
    Yes you and the others did their best Dave...and I'm sure you will continue your spin long after the elction.
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  • flipper wrote...
    Slipping?
    October 8, 2012 4:04 pm
    President's lead isn't slipping...it's gone. He can't think on his feet and when he does, he weakens the country. Literally.
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