I hate to break it to some of you here at DU, but...

[blondeatlast]

very little of the public is paying attention yet.

Really. Ask your friends/co-workers/neighbors. They couldn't care much less at this point and even more shocking, most will care very little a month or two from now but will still vote.

Not everyone is a political wonk like me. When I found out, I had to sit down and breathe deeply.

It's the shocking truth. Hard to believe, but it's true.

Amazing!

[Beregond2]

1. So true. And a point I have tried to make before, but in vain.

[Marrah_G]

2. Most people dislike politics and avoid it.

[katty]

7. yes, the line I hear is, "o, I'm not political...don't really care"...

clueless and allowing those 'in politics' to just decide FOR THEM.

[sharesunited]

3. What's even more shocking is the basis upon which most of them will cast their vote.

[Virginia Dare]

16. Like voting for the guy they most want to have a beer with..

that worked out real well didn't it?

[WeDidIt]

4. Considering only 87% of those polled by Zogby even voiced a preference

you've pretty much hit the nail on the head.

[Phoonzang]

5. Yeah they'll start paying attention after Labor Day. Which

coincidentally is when the Republican Convention starts. Hooray. That makes things look better.

[StuffyJones]

6. This is the fault of the GOP--they campaign on gov't sucking

And then they use gov't to make money. Shameful shit. We need to do good things with gov't and learn to GIVE people stuff. Not just tax breaks, people always hate taxes.

[gateley]

8. Agree! nt

[golddigger]

9. Couldn't agree more. Everyone out there doesn't live and breathe

politics like DU and other websites.

[Strawman]

10. Right

Devos, the Republican who ran in MI last year, got out to a lead with a bunch of ads early like McCain is doing. I was worried. Then came the debates, then came Granhom's ads closer to election time when people were tuned in. She won easily.

At the end of the day people have had enough of the Republican brand of bullshit and are ready for a change. It won't be easy, but I'm confident ultimately we will prevail because people are ready for something different.

[groovedaddy]

11. True enough BUT our local dem party just had a booth at a

major art fair and got plenty of Obama supporters expressing their gratitude that we were there. We raised money too. The repubs did very little - saw a few McCain supporters walking through the crowd (tee shirts gave them away).
Most people just passed by the booth but it's still good to do these visibility actions as the have a cumulative effect. We also had Obama fans. Some of our volunteers walked the crowd holding bundles of the fans waiting for people to come up and ask for them. They went fast.
So, yeah, most people aren't paying much attention yet, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do anything.

[Lerkfish]

12. could you explain what you're referring to?

the Zogby poll?
McCain's IQ?
PUMA?
what?

[blondeatlast]

13. Politics, period. nt

[Marrah_G]

19. Politics in general- most of the public steers clear of it

Most don't want to talk about it or have made up their minds over 30 second sound bites and have zero interest in looking any further into things.

[Doctor_J]

14. Yes, and low interest helps the GOP

One of their major linchpins is discouraging people from voting.

[TooBigaTent]

15. This is exactly why a reasoned, intellectual strategy that Dems like to run will fail.

Among those 'political wonks' who take the time to learn the truth about the candidates and their positions, Dems will do just fine. But interested and informed voters are the minority.

Most will vote based on a slogan, catchy tv ad, or meme they have heard repeated endlessly by the media and consider themselves an 'intelligent' voter. These are the ones who decide elections.

Trying to educate them is doomed to failure, at least in our current system.

So, if all they absorb is a simple (McCain = lower taxes and Obama = higher taxes) message, that will carry them all the way through election day.

OTOH, if the message they hear and attend to is something like McCain is a lying, psychotic, traitor - that would stick with them.

This is not to dispute your contention. Rather, your observation should be a guide for how the Obama campaign should be run.

[Virginia Dare]

17. They'll vote their gut reaction to "the man"..

or who they think that man is. That's why it's so important to control your own image and not let the other candidate shape it for you. This is exacty what McCain is trying to do with the BritBrit/Paris ads.

[azmouse]

18. Here in AZ 28% are still undecided.

You're right. People just aren't paying attention yet.

[1Hippiechick]

20. No, it's tragic and the biggest charade that we play on the world.

We fight wars in other countries to supposedly "introduce" the oppressed to our Democracy which is supposed to give people a voice in their government. Do we also provide electronic black box voting equipment to control THEIR elections? Now ain't THAT a shame!