Specific foreign and domestic issues are a major part of the messages that Congressional candidates portray in their campaigns. Paul Herrnson states “Most house candidates and campaign aides maintain that the bulk of their message focus on policy concerns rather than the candidate’s personality, a claim borne out by examinations of their campaign and materials.”
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| Arcuri & Hanna |
Most recently the NYC mosque issue has been brought up between Michael Arcuri and Richard Hanna. In an ironic turn of events Arcuri and Hanna have gone against their parties opinions on the issue with Arcuri opposing the mosque and Hanna in support of it.
Hanna has said of the mosque situation:
“It's extremely easy to understand why people are upset by this, but this country was founded by people who were running away from religious persecution. So how can we become what we have beheld and found contemptible in other places?”
In response to this Arcuri swiftly sided with opponents of the mosque:
“The pain felt by many Americans from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is still very real, and I can understand how the thought of building a mosque near Ground Zero could reopen those wounds. For the sake of the victims and their families, I think another location should be chosen.”
Arcuri believes that Hanna is not as moderate as he’d like voters in Upstate New York to think. Jeb Fain, Arcuri’s press secretary has said, “It depends who he’s talking to. I'd say that a lot of people support Wall Street reform, but Hanna opposed it. I wouldn't say that makes you a moderate in upstate New York.”
An overview of this debate and the other happenings of the Arcuri vs. Hanna race can be found in this Times article.
The mosque issue is one of several including job security, social security, education, and health care that each candidate must strategically address if they intend to have any chance of winning their race. Taking a particular stance on a particular issue could potentially mean more votes for one candidate and a loss of votes for the other.
The mosque issue is one of several including job security, social security, education, and health care that each candidate must strategically address if they intend to have any chance of winning their race. Taking a particular stance on a particular issue could potentially mean more votes for one candidate and a loss of votes for the other.
I think that the mosque issue is such a big deal and people feel so strongly for it, one way or another, that it is hard to take a stance on it. Like you said, if they declare a side, they are going to lose important votes
ReplyDeleteI agree with the previous response. Candidates should really remain as politically centered as possible during campaigns so not to lose crucial votes. Because both Arcuri and Hanna proclaimed their opinions about the mosque issue, I believe it will without a doubt divide them among voters.
ReplyDeleteBy taking a stance on the mosque issue, both candidates are just asking to divide the vote. I agree with BSchramm that both candidates should remain as neutral to the subject as possible in order not to lose any votes. Both candidates are taking opposite positions on this controversial issue which is sure to effect the race. It will be interesting to see to the degree this has an impact and how the public responds.
ReplyDelete