Dataset of the Day: Do McCain and Obama Need Geography Lessons?
October 31st, 2008by Kevin Burke
About the Author: Kevin Burke is a member of the FortiusOne analysis team. Read more from this authorMuch has been made during the 2008 Presidential Campaign about the errors John McCain has made about geography. He made a reference to Czechoslovakia still existing and also said that the countries of Iraq and Pakistan border one another.
These are major world geography errors that McCain has been heavily criticized about, but he has been good about not making geographical errors about his own country. These errors belong to Barack Obama, the other candidate for President. Obama has on several occasions during the 08 Campaign made errors about geography throughout the U.S. including calling a city/state he was visiting by the wrong name. He has done this on three different occasions in Sunrise, FL, Sioux Falls, SD, and the state of Wyoming. He also was recorded saying that there were 57 states in the USA, that Kentucky was closer to Arkansas than Illinois, and referred to Brownsville, Texas as Brownville, Texas. The map below shows the locations of where Obama has made Geographical Gaffes. The map can be found on Maker! at this link: Obama’s Geographical Gaffes, USA, 2008 Campaign.
These mistakes were probable mere slips of the tongues or occurred from being tired while campaigning. Not much should be made from the errors in my opinion, but since my work deals with geography I must say I’m a bit saddened.
Popularity: 14% [?]
October 31st, 2008 at 11:01 am
Classic post and I like your geographically-slanted eye
I’m saddened too, but I guess if I was on the campaign trail and continually managed by a handful of people, I might make a few mistakes too… except for those in my own country… I hope.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:52 pm
kevin is back!
November 4th, 2008 at 4:02 am
[...] slip of tongue, or a clue to future foreign policy? Kevin Burke has noted similar geography hiccups from Barack [...]