Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has the best chance of winning both the Democratic nomination and the general election, MSNBC talk show host and political pundit Tucker Carlson said at an AU College Republicans event Wednesday night.
"If you're betting on this election, be careful, but here's what to look for: Foreign policy to come back as an important subject and for the Obama campaign to do something crazy," Carlson said.
Carlson, host of the MSNBC show "Tucker," spoke about his predictions for the presidential campaign, shared a variety of stories about the individual candidates and discussed general public opinion, including the overall Republican disdain for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.
"Let's just take a moment to appreciate the things that we're meant to enjoy - children, sunsets, puppies, Hillary losing," he said. "Let's enjoy it."
Obama is just an overall more likeable person and has shown more respect toward his opponents, Carlson said.
"If you don't already agree with [Clinton], you will not be won over," he said.
The two factors that could lead to Obama losing the election are a disaster abroad or overly enthusiastic supporters, Carlson said.
"Americans hate and fear zealotry," he said. "The last thing they want is change."
Carlson shared stories about covering Arizona Sen. John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign and his days in Texas with President Bush.
McCain's biggest problem is that he hates Republicans and they know it, he said.
"He has this constitutional desire to give people the finger," Carlson said.
However, he also said McCain was the only candidate he wants his children to grow up to be like.
Everything is a personal issue of honor to McCain, which is why he doesn't pay attention to little details, Carlson said.
"John McCain steps in front of the bully and socks him in the face," he said.
Carlson said that when he met Bush years before he ran for president, the idea that he was dumb never crossed his mind.
"There's a disconnect between who he is in private and who he is on television," he said. "When you watch Bush on TV, it's like watching a drunk man trying to cross an icy street."
Rich Myslinski, executive director of the College Republicans, said he enjoyed Carlson's stories.
"He brought a humor to the subject that's much needed," he said.
College Republicans President Will Haun brought Carlson to AU. The two met at a McCain event and bonded over their mutual love of Chef Geoff's, a restaurant on New Mexico Avenue, Myslinski said.
