This past week, all the mainstream media could talk about were the great speeches by Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton. However, we did not hear much commentary on the President’s speech. Was it perhaps because his message fell flat or has the magic of 2008 simply disappeared?
In 2008, then candidate Barack Obama garnered an audience of over 40 million viewers on the evening of his speech. Everyone was extremely impressed with his orating skills and his message. This year, although he brought in more viewers than Mitt Romney, Obama only brought in 35.7 million viewers. Last week in Tampa, 30.3 million Americans watched Governor Mitt Romney’s speech. What changed in the last four years to drive 5 million viewers away from the President?
It seems most likely, there is simply not the excitement about President Obama this election cycle like there was last time around. Perhaps now that Americans have seen what Obama’s policies have done, or not done, they have changed their minds about the President and his hope and change.
Even though President Obama still beat out Mitt Romney in views, maybe it’s not the numbers that watched that matter. Perhaps it’s the millions of people who did not tune in at all. Those are the people that both candidates need to win over. They are the ones whose votes are up for grabs. Though Obama won the number games this time, they aren’t as impressive as they were four years ago, like our unemployment numbers…