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warning: politics
So, I've been reading about the two candidates and their rallies in the St. Louis Metro Area... (cut, for those who want to avoid politics)
Obama was there on Saturday, smack in the middle of downtown St. Louis, and drew a crowd of 100,000.
McCain was there on Monday, smack dab in the middle of... St. Charles, and drew a crowd of 2,000.
Somehow, I don't think St. Louis, St. Louis County or St. Charles County are gonna be goin' red this year.
There are, of course, some mitigating circumstances for McCain's low turnout:
1. Monday. Not everyone can get a Monday off from work, especially if they're middle class or lower. Yes, meeting a presidential candidate is pretty damned awesome and not likely to happen all that often, but paychecks? More important.
2. Location, location, location. I can't imagine anyone told the McCain campaign they were shooting themselves in the foot by choosing a place that isn't exactly easy to get to if you don't own a car, can't afford the gas, or don't want to drive that kind of distance.
A. Driving? Traffic on 70/270 is a bitch, always has been and probably always will be. If you're poor, gas is a consideration, and there's not even a point in wasting it.
B. Public transportation? Don't make me laugh, St. Charles has continually voted down items to expand the Metrolink (light rail) and bus systems from St. Louis/St. Louis County. (wouldn't want them poor black people actually stepping foot in the bastion of White Flight) -- note: I haven't been in the area in a while, so I don't know if they've continued this trend.
By contrast, downtown St. Louis is accessible from all over. My parents are 20+ miles SOUTH of downtown St. Louis (St. Chas is about that north and west), and they made it there by driving to a Metrolink park and ride lot and riding the train in. (Dad apparently talked to one of their state senators, which just makes me laugh, 'cause, that's my dad for you.)
Which leads me to: if McCain truly cares about the little guy, the middle class and lower class, then why does he continue to hold rallies in places they can't get to that easily? In WI, he held his rally in Cedarburg. Not exactly Main Street, USA. More like Country Club Lane, USA.
Somehow, I'm not seeing him being much of a difference from the regime that came before him.
Obama was there on Saturday, smack in the middle of downtown St. Louis, and drew a crowd of 100,000.
McCain was there on Monday, smack dab in the middle of... St. Charles, and drew a crowd of 2,000.
Somehow, I don't think St. Louis, St. Louis County or St. Charles County are gonna be goin' red this year.
There are, of course, some mitigating circumstances for McCain's low turnout:
1. Monday. Not everyone can get a Monday off from work, especially if they're middle class or lower. Yes, meeting a presidential candidate is pretty damned awesome and not likely to happen all that often, but paychecks? More important.
2. Location, location, location. I can't imagine anyone told the McCain campaign they were shooting themselves in the foot by choosing a place that isn't exactly easy to get to if you don't own a car, can't afford the gas, or don't want to drive that kind of distance.
A. Driving? Traffic on 70/270 is a bitch, always has been and probably always will be. If you're poor, gas is a consideration, and there's not even a point in wasting it.
B. Public transportation? Don't make me laugh, St. Charles has continually voted down items to expand the Metrolink (light rail) and bus systems from St. Louis/St. Louis County. (wouldn't want them poor black people actually stepping foot in the bastion of White Flight) -- note: I haven't been in the area in a while, so I don't know if they've continued this trend.
By contrast, downtown St. Louis is accessible from all over. My parents are 20+ miles SOUTH of downtown St. Louis (St. Chas is about that north and west), and they made it there by driving to a Metrolink park and ride lot and riding the train in. (Dad apparently talked to one of their state senators, which just makes me laugh, 'cause, that's my dad for you.)
Which leads me to: if McCain truly cares about the little guy, the middle class and lower class, then why does he continue to hold rallies in places they can't get to that easily? In WI, he held his rally in Cedarburg. Not exactly Main Street, USA. More like Country Club Lane, USA.
Somehow, I'm not seeing him being much of a difference from the regime that came before him.
no subject
FYI, Metrolink now goes over past the Galleria and into Brentwood - it breaks off at the Forest Park stop or something like that (we took it with kiddo). Still arguing about not wanting the connections to be too direct to East St. Louis or Wellston, of course. But I think they are investing *something* in it. The Hanley lot got a brand new parking lot that was pretty full when I took it a few weeks ago.
no subject
But the Metrolink being extended into St. Chas? Oh, horrors.