The Power of Conservative Talk Radio (Insight Report)
Wednesday, February 20th, 2008Allen: The power of conservative talk radio?
Commentary by former Sen. George Allen
Sen. John McCain pulled out a convincing win in last week’s Chesapeake primaries in Virginia, Maryland and D.C., despite fervent philosophical opposition from leading conservative talk radio show hosts.
America’s strong, conservative, nationally syndicated talk radio hosts such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin and Laura Ingraham have not been subtle about their disapproval of McCain as the Republican presidential nominee. But although this great conservative “air force” of talk radio voiced their displeasure in McCain based on legitimate policy differences (many of which I agree with them), listeners still voted for him in the greater Washington area.
Conservative talk radio has an enormous audience—tens of millions of listeners. But how much power does talk radio have in influencing voters? According to the Associated Press, in Virginia, regular listeners of conservative talk radio voted 51 percent for Governor Mike Huckabee, while non-listeners voted 57 percent for McCain. However, in Maryland, frequent listeners voted 49 percent for McCain, while non-listeners voted 28 percent for Huckabee. The poll found that in both States, “the more often people listened to conservative talk radio, the less likely they were to vote for McCain.” So what gives? How then was McCain able to sweep the Chesapeake primaries?
As a listener of conservative talk radio (as well as sports and country music), here is my analysis: local conservative talk radio show hosts were more sympathetic to McCain, looking more to the matchup with the Democratic presidnetial nominee. WMAL’s Fred Grandy and Andy Parks, and Chris Core and Richmond’s WRVA Jimmy Barrett, although not completely in agreement with all of McCain’s policy positions, were less strident in their opposition to McCain. Grandy, Core and Barrett are considered conservatives and took a softer line against McCain, but questioned his conservative credentials nonetheless. It is possible that voters in the area who are frequent listeners of these talk show hosts adopted their views toward McCain. McCain won by significant margins over Huckabee in the Washington suburbs of Northern Virginia and Maryland –the WMAL listening area, which has a greater proportion of Maryland than all of Virginia – and in the Richmond capitol region of Virginia – the WRVA listening area.
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February 21st, 2008 at 2:44 am
We’ve all got to unite behind McCain if we want to effect any sort of +++++ CHANGE…I really respect Michael Reagan, Rush, Hannity, esp. Ingraham, but we’ve got to set our personal qualms aside and get the best man up to the podium. McCain knows hardship and has experienced war first-hand — has Obama? No!
Obama simply ’shows up’ before the Senate to vote on bills, for little more than 3 years, and we now say he is principled and has deep conviction? Come on — wake up, America!
On what issues has the man ever really taken a firm position? None.
My advice to McCain’s campaign: Call on a vibrant, young and politically conservative Democrat to serve as running mate because — let’s face it — much of America is overly impressionable (maybe former Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in TN, Harold Ford?)
February 24th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Mccain has to separate himself and give people a reason to vote for him.Here are a few examples-no one is talking about the doctors overcharging-150.00 for 5 minutes for example-One reason is the insurance against law suits -also they overcharge medicare,medicaid and insurance companys -the federal government to review the 10.00 headache bill or 5.00 for provided toothbrush while in hospital -power companys turning off older peoples lights in the winter if they dont have bill paid ,make employers of illegals pay fines for each year illegal has been in the us (illegal must have worked in us 10 years or more-rest go home) this insures hard workers stay,employers will see any future employment of illegals cost them,no lying by illegals about how long been in the US.Democrats like to say ‘pay fare share’ ,well lets use this term for employers of illegals -This would show who is really truely compassionate about illegals in the political and business world and who has been full of bull.I am not for amnesty and do not think this would pass because half the same people who were for amnesty would not vote for it because it would send a chill up the spine of businesses who hire illegals and thus they would put pressure on ‘moderate republicans.Just a few suggestions for starters.