Political Strategery
February 27th, 2008In this article, about new media cynicism toward Barack Obama, the point is made that the Clinton campaign has wasted far too much money on its own big-name old-time pollsters and consultants, supermarket catering and pizza orders. Last night, I noted to a dear friend that Hillary’s handlers set her up for a nasty counter-punch from Barack Obama when they told her to make a semantic argument between “denounce” and “reject.” Obama stepped back, said, “I don’t think there’s a difference but if Hillary wants me to say I reject it, I reject it.” It was a graceful moment that made her appear small and nasty. It was unnecessary and foolish to engage him in a semantic battle because no one wants to hear such things. Another moment gone wrong: in the beginning, her flurry against Obama on health care came off as a passionate and vigorous appeal to the public, which I think voters will appreciate, but her temper tantrum (with a smile!) afterward, when asked the second question, undercut that message violently. That is something people are going to hang onto, and I was stunned when I saw her complain about the media using Saturday Night Live as her vehicle. It was like a moment out of a parody but it was all-too real.
The worst thing about it is that Senator Clinton did a fine job, overall, but she cut herself down a couple of times with poor decisions and it will hurt her.
On a different note, I’d like to recommend this piece. Is McCain too old? Some people believe that will be his undoing, but I think it’s hogwash because nothing suggests that Americans have a problem with aged candidates and now this history shows that the world doesn’t have problems with old candidates either. If elected, he’ll be fine, and as a candidate that will be the weakest way to attack him.
Iraq is the only way to do it, and that carries significant risks for Democrats.