Jeremy lassen (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} jlassen) wrote,@ 2008-05-06 11:37:00 |
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You know what the Pundits are talking about?
They AREN"T talking about McCain. They aren't talking about the latest 527-swfit boat attacks on Obama. They ARE talking about democratic party candidates. Sure they aren't talking about meaningful policy issues, but they never do that anyway. They talk about haircuts and earth tones and love canel. But right now, they ARE focused on the very presidential looking Obama, and his come from behind epic 8 month long battle which he is winning. And aside from a few sound bites, they are pretty much ignoring McCain.
Some people feel the extended primary, and Clinton's refusal to conceal defeat is a bad thing. I'm going to look at the silver lining for a moment. The extended primary has meant that every state has experienced massive Democratic party voter registration. It's gotten more people involved, and this level of turn out and involvement will have a very real and positive effect come November.
On the less measurable, but equally real side of things, Obama gets to have a "play fight" with an opponent who can nit pick at Obama all day long... use republican talking points, but use them ineffectively, so that the obama campaign is already immune to these challenges when the republican 527's come out to play. I mean really. How much traction is the Rev. Wright issue going to get in October? It's been played out already. Hillary co-opting the Gas Tax thing lets a democrat define it, and Obama defeat it on his terms.
Now, I'm not suggesting that the extended Clinton campaign is part of an extension of Dean's 50 state policy. And I'm not suggesting that the Democratic nominees are playing at horse race and attacking each other as a way to game the media. I don't think there is that level of co-ordination or political savvy in the democratic party.
But maybe there is. Maybe it is all part of some master plan. Maybe the word has been passed to the super delegates to not commit until all the primaries are over. Maybe Pelosi and Dean's calls for super delegates to make their picks are just play acting. Maybe the media has bought this ultimate campaign tactic hook line and sinker. Maybe Hilliary Clintion IS in fact taking one for the team. Maybe she is making knowingly making a caricature out of herself, and sacrificing her image among Obama supporters, in order to pull one over on the media. Maybe...
The surest way to confirm that this was in fact one big campaign tactic will be to see Hillary placed on the Obama ticket. If they run together, that is a slam dunk confirmation. But even if they don't, that doesn't mean that they didn't. And wouldn't that be the ultimate "I'm a uniter" move... After a long, protracted bitter battle, Obama the peace maker reaches out to his rival and puts her on the ticket. That would get almost as much media traction as the extended primary battle itself.
Let me dream of a better world. One where the Democratic Party leadership is competent, and not in a perpetual circular firing squad.
:)
They AREN"T talking about McCain. They aren't talking about the latest 527-swfit boat attacks on Obama. They ARE talking about democratic party candidates. Sure they aren't talking about meaningful policy issues, but they never do that anyway. They talk about haircuts and earth tones and love canel. But right now, they ARE focused on the very presidential looking Obama, and his come from behind epic 8 month long battle which he is winning. And aside from a few sound bites, they are pretty much ignoring McCain.
Some people feel the extended primary, and Clinton's refusal to conceal defeat is a bad thing. I'm going to look at the silver lining for a moment. The extended primary has meant that every state has experienced massive Democratic party voter registration. It's gotten more people involved, and this level of turn out and involvement will have a very real and positive effect come November.
On the less measurable, but equally real side of things, Obama gets to have a "play fight" with an opponent who can nit pick at Obama all day long... use republican talking points, but use them ineffectively, so that the obama campaign is already immune to these challenges when the republican 527's come out to play. I mean really. How much traction is the Rev. Wright issue going to get in October? It's been played out already. Hillary co-opting the Gas Tax thing lets a democrat define it, and Obama defeat it on his terms.
Now, I'm not suggesting that the extended Clinton campaign is part of an extension of Dean's 50 state policy. And I'm not suggesting that the Democratic nominees are playing at horse race and attacking each other as a way to game the media. I don't think there is that level of co-ordination or political savvy in the democratic party.
But maybe there is. Maybe it is all part of some master plan. Maybe the word has been passed to the super delegates to not commit until all the primaries are over. Maybe Pelosi and Dean's calls for super delegates to make their picks are just play acting. Maybe the media has bought this ultimate campaign tactic hook line and sinker. Maybe Hilliary Clintion IS in fact taking one for the team. Maybe she is making knowingly making a caricature out of herself, and sacrificing her image among Obama supporters, in order to pull one over on the media. Maybe...
The surest way to confirm that this was in fact one big campaign tactic will be to see Hillary placed on the Obama ticket. If they run together, that is a slam dunk confirmation. But even if they don't, that doesn't mean that they didn't. And wouldn't that be the ultimate "I'm a uniter" move... After a long, protracted bitter battle, Obama the peace maker reaches out to his rival and puts her on the ticket. That would get almost as much media traction as the extended primary battle itself.
Let me dream of a better world. One where the Democratic Party leadership is competent, and not in a perpetual circular firing squad.
:)
