Rush Limbaugh's Operation Chaos - did it help Obama become president?

November 25, 7:19 AMProgressive Politics ExaminerKaren Harper

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Rush Limbaugh

A few days ago an acquaintance told me that he had voted for Barack Obama in the presidential primary race because Rush Limbaugh told him to.  Apparently Rush Limbaugh urged listeners in some states that allow crossover voting, to vote for Hillary Clinton in the primary while in other states, he urged listeners to vote for Barack Obama. 

In May, Limbaugh urged his conservative listeners to vote for Clinton to try to keep the Democratic party divided even though he claimed he wanted Obama to be the Democratic nominee. 

 "I now believe he would be the weakest of the Democrat nominees," Limbaugh, among the most powerful voices in conservative radio, said on his program. "I now urge the Democrat superdelegates to make your mind up and publicly go for Obama."

"Barack Obama has shown he cannot get the votes Democrats need to win -- blue-collar, working-class people," Limbaugh said. "He can get effete snobs, he can get wealthy academics, he can get the young, and he can get the black vote, but Democrats do not win with that."

Limbaugh predicted that Obama would "lose and lose big come November."

When Clinton won in Indiana, some felt that Rush Limbaugh's loyal followers played a role. 

Some conservative political observers  credited Limbaugh's followers with skewing the polls so that it appeared that more Democrats had registered when in truth it was Republicans who had registered as Democrats in the primary in order to follow their leader's orders to create chaos for the Democrats. 

Some Democrats were understandably upset and worried that the Limbaugh Operation Chaos would be successful.  In May Limbaugh proclaimed 'Mission Accomplished' for his Operation chaos.

In the Indiana primary, polls revealed that 52% of Republican crossover voters voted for Clinton and only 48% for Obama. 
"Interestingly, exit polls indicated that Republicans who crossed over to vote for Obama generally said they would do the same come Nov. 4. While Republicans who crossed over for Clinton said they would switch again to back McCain come the fall." 

Though Rush Limbaugh claimed his Operation Chaos a success, it's very unlikely that his loyal following had much of an impact on the election.  Rush Limbaugh is first and foremost an entertainer.  His first consideration in all things is to keep his listeners hanging on to his every word and like the proverbial snake oil salesman, he is good at what he does.  He has a very loyal following because he is the consummate entertainer. 

In the end, Barack Obama won the election because he was the best candidate.

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