Actually, the overall thing that will decide the election is the economy. If the pukes can convince the masses that the economy is in the shit can and they can convince the masses that they have a viable plan to get us out of said shit can then it will be a very bumpy ride for us. Sorry if that offends but I have been saying this for quite some time.

If they could do that Obama would be sunk - but they can't do that. First off they have no plan for that, they never have had one. To the extent that Republicans are evidencing any honesty in this election they are running purely on ideology. They assert that in the long run America will be better off with an unfettered private sector unhindered by intrusive government controls - or even government competition (hence privatize everything). But even sane Republican true believers understand that their philosophy is never a short term fix to high unemployment and a stagnant economy. That is why when modern Republican Presidents are in office during a recession they support government spending to get out of recession - it is the only way to get unemployment down that can remotely be tuned to election cycles.

My point is that a sluggish economy is now factored into this election. That is the only reason why a President who is personally rather popular, Obama, has not pulled away from an unpopular opponent , Romney. There is no Romney plan to speak of, just a Romney indictment of Obama. So voters will be voting on which Party should be given control of government. They are not happy with how things have gone under Obama, but can the Republicans (and Romney) be trusted with the Presidency? Medicare and Social Security are central to that question.

I honestly believe that if this country had higher voter turnout the Republican party would be on its last legs.

There is NEVER the attention there should be on getting people registered to vote. A lot of people don't know you have to be registered or when the deadlines are!

A lot of people don't think there is a difference between the two parties. A lot of people don't think it matters who's in charge. The Republicans are trying to disenfranchise millions of voters.

So our biggest job is to properly communicate the Democratic platform and to get people voting. Most Americans don't want what Republicans are selling, I think that's abundantly clear. They just have to say so with their vote instead of staying home.

No argument there. But winning over undecided is also part of the equation. If Democrats can reduce the current Republican advantage among seniors, for example, we can clinch Florida and Ohio. If we do that Romney can't win.

Yes it ultimately comes down to communication the Democratic Platform, which ultimately comes down to defending middle class interests (and those of the poor obviously also but the electoral fight is over the middle class). Core to that has always been providing an economic safety net for when times are hard and people have to struggle. These are those times. That safety net includes Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance, and whatever the former food stamp program is being called nowadays. If we don't defend our legacy it will be turned against us.

then I know we aren't doing our job. Obama/Biden need to make the future of Medicare and Social Security and the Ryan Budget the centerpiece of their campaign and I'm not sure why they haven't.

would have you believe.

My mom is a senior, and has a large group of friends (granted, Democrats) and they all see through the Romney/Ryan lies.

I just find it difficult to believe the Obama campaign isn't preparing a massive, devastating counterattack on this issue. I don't know how or when it will be unleashed, but I think it's coming.

As far as the election, I also find it difficult to pin it to one issue. The economy is huge, but most I've spoken with do not blame Obama entirely for that, and recognize the steps he has taken to repair it.

Also, despite Queen A's attempts to portray her husband as the Easter Bunny, a Caramello bar and a plate of meatloaf and mashed potatoes all in one, his favorability ratings remain extremely low.

Republicans don't have to emphatically win everyone over to their position, they just have to muddy the waters suffiectly to blunt a Democratic advantage. I'm sure also that the Obama team plans to hit Ryan/Romney hard over Social Security and Medicare, but timing means a lot in a campaign like this. That is why the Obama team was so aggressive in negatively defining romney early. IMO Democrats have left an opening for Republicans to strike hard first on Medicare and Social Security, but I would love to be wrong.

I think the debates are especially important this election.

I think Romney is going to get caught in his own web of lies on this one.

and work generational divides regarding no money will be left for you if you don't help us change medicare

And a link from www.barackobama.com full of it: http://www.barackobama.com/romney/ryan/?source=footer-nav

AND an up-coming convention airing in full next week (be patient, it's coming up).

AND national debates (the Biden vs. ryan one will emphasize that) thereafter.

Let's contribute to help pay the ads (and all those new offices too).

http://www.barackobama.com/

To someone like me who is not in a swing state and is just seeing general coverage of the campaign in the media (including Democratic spokespersons) it seems like Democrats have been pushing the Ryan/Akin connection much more than they have been attacking Ryan's positions on Medicare and Social Security. I thought the spot that aired with Cutter today was fairly typical of what I've been seeing.

Communicate with the campaign often to focus on the important matters like this.

If they don't receive enough requests (and small donations, if possible), they may kind of 'skip' focus a little here and there, and it's human. The Rich-beyond-imagination rw racist machine will spare no millions to muddy the waters full force.

http://barackobama.force.com/questions

...we have to attack. We cannot afford to play defense. That's why we're hammering "women's issues."

Nad if we don't attack on Social Security etc. we will end up on defense regarding it.

...keep in mind that most Americans don't watch the news or read newspapers. They form prejudiced opinions over small snippets of second-hand information bolstered by familial and demographic tradition. Our elections are dominated by "low-info voters." We can't stop their attack no matter what we do.