The Bumper Sticker Indicator
I listen to Marketplace, and I always enjoy the odd financial indicators that economists sometimes look at. Like how increased freight comes ahead of good economic news, or how fast food restaurants see increased profits in hard times.
It's hardly scientific, but I feel like I've gotten a good impression of where the enthusiasm is in this election based on campaign bumper sticker sightings. I commute four days a week from Philadelphia to Baltimore. Yes, I know I make Al Gore cry. I feel terrible. The point is, I see about 200 miles of I-95 every day, so my bumper sample group is diverse.
I see dozens of Obama stickers every day, but I can go weeks without seeing a single McCain sticker. To be honest, I can't remember the last time I saw one, and I am looking. In fact, I've seen more Bush Cheney stickers from 2004 than any McCain 2008. Going back to early 2008, I've even seen more stickers for Romney and Guiliani than McCain. McCain might be holding his ground in polls, but the view from my Subaru tells me no one cares about his candidacy.
Have you noticed the same thing where you live?
Well I live in NH and I'll admit to not driving all that much lately. Work out of my house, riding the 'bent around town more than driving blah blah blah. However I did make a trip last week into Boston and back out (150 miles or so) and I saw exactly one McCain Bumper sticker as opposed to numerous Obama stickers and car magnets. And yard signs forget it.
August 12, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is the enthusiasm gap made visible. I saw an Obama poster in a window in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
August 12, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I walk to work, but I do see Obama stickers on the parked cars. I can't remember seeing any McCain stickers, either.
August 12, 2008 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just a thought about why people choose to put bumper stickers on their cars.
I have put one bumper sticker on my car in my life time. It is a Veterans for Peace -- "Another Veteran Against War with Iraq" -- bumper sticker. I put it on my car to make a statement.
Can it be that more people care to make a statement that they support Obama than care to make the statement that they support McCain?
Can it be that the vast majority of those who will vote against the Democratic Party candidate do not care to make a statement they support McCain?
August 12, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain bumper sticker? you might as well tattoo loser across your car's forehead.
August 12, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I drove from Western NY to Charleston SC & back about 2 weeks ago. We were consciously watching for bumper stickers to get an idea of what people were thinking. While we didn't see a lot of Obama stickers, we saw a smattering in each state we passed through; but on the whole round trip we saw only one McCain sticker.
August 12, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink