Barack Obama's Worrisome Campaign

In the latest Washington Post poll, Barack Obama continues to lead John McCain among likely voters 50 percent to 46 percent. This, after sinking hard in the polls from the summer through the respective political conventions.

That Obama leads at all - and that lead has diminished from the previous survey - has more to do with, as the Post reports, "negativity about the country's financial prospects" than any particular proposal or piece of rhetoric the candidate has put forward. Despite his clear ability to energize people and haul in buckets of cash, there have been and there continue to be elements to Obama's campaign which are troublesome harbingers of what kind of president he could be. One who's distracted and reactive, rather than focused and proactive. One who's constantly moving to a rhythm set by others.

In the Democratic primary Obama was constantly reacting to nontroveries - Jeremiah Wright and his vanishing lapel pin - and was unable to decisively "finish off" Senator Clinton.

He bit at McCain's accusations that he had not spent enough time overseas. He traveled to the Middle East and Europe to great international acclaim but a public yawn here at home. That cost him. Obama had enjoyed an average 7 point lead over McCain in the polls in late June. By the time he held his rally in Berlin that differential was cut in half.

When the conflict in South Ossetia began, Obama read tepid remarks and equivocated.

The force of Obama's monumental acceptance speech was blunted by McCain's selection of Sarah Palin, then made worse by Team Obama's seeming inability to coherently respond to Palin on the Republican ticket.

Early September saw a ten point shift in favor of McCain.

Then the bottom dropped out of the economy and John McCain could not hide from the stink of deregulation run amok.

Between now and November 4th Obama may need to do literally nothing to get into the White House. Just let John McCain arbitrarily suspended his campaign when he sees fit (or in the case of Michigan, fully suspend it), and let the Couric/Palin interviews continue.

Perhaps there is some sweet science to be admired in the tactic of merely allowing your opponent to implode. The rope-a-dope of politics.

It may be the only campaign style Obama knows.

The bolt of the decisive fight isn't in Obama's quiver. In his last major campaign his opponent, Jack Ryan, was forced to drop out of the race prior to Alan Keyes getting airdropped into Illinois as the great black hope.

But the presidency in general - and I believe 44th presidency in particular - does not and cannot suffer come-what-may-isms. It doomed Jimmy Carter, and it doomed any number of Democratic candidates who never made it to the White House.

Let's hope president Obama, different from candidate Obama is more proactive rather than deus ex machina.

For more Obama news and opinion, visit www.thatminoritything.com

Comments

[Over50WhiteWoman]

Married to a black man, I kind of see this a little differently. Obama has to be very careful he doesn't come across as that 'angry black man', as erratic (like McCain lately), or as too quick to rush to judgment like our current president. His calm, cool manner in the face of these latest crises is why we like him.

I disagree about his response to the South Ossetia thing--McCain jumped to conclusions without sufficient information. The Russians weren't 'INVADING' Georgia, they were 'protecting' ethnic Russians from burning, looting, murder by Georgian militias. Having heard the interviews with those poor, now homeless Russian victims, I at least understand why they did it. It never hurts to wait until all the information is in before weighing in on something. It's a complex situation there and McCain once again showed his reckless, dangerous temper in response before he had the facts.

Obama has demonstrated great leadership in government so far--opposing loose nukes, opposing the Iraq war, standing up to corruption in government, and carefully navigating this extremely partisan country to put together enough votes to win. We have yet to see how that works for him.

I have no trouble trusting a cool, calm black man. I probably would have a lot of trouble trusting a black version of John McCain, which this writer seems to advocate.

[baghdadjoe]

OMG - Obama is winning.. I'm so WORRIED!!

[dontomas]

Obama is damned if he does damned if he doesnt it seems. A couple of weeks ago all the pundits were complaining that he does not attack enough, now he does a few attacks and they complain that he should just keep on track with issues. The bailout is something no politician wanted to touch, its just too divided an issue. If BO had come out strong for the bailout he would have been hammered for it, like everyone else he did not like the concept but found it necessary. He will be more aligned with his original policies once he gets in, lets face it he has to please everyone right now. He is ahead in VA of all places so he must be doing something right.

[lelectra26]

Is this a joke?

[Hegemoneyhoney]

I'm going to vote for Obama but with trepidation and misgivings, for exactly the reasons you so clearly state. During the Senate vote on the "bailout" last week, I so hoped Obama would deliver the kind of floor speech that, in fact, Bernie Sanders delivered; instead, Obama delivered his rote stump speech that was completely unsatisfying and off the mark. If only Obama could get even just a small infusion of Bernie Sanders, Dennis Kucinich, Bill Moyers, Jim Hightower - SOMEBODY who still remembers what it means to be a Democrat (before Clinton remade the party into the new Clinton cult of personality version of Uber Money-Grabbing Republicans), my vote for him would be born of enthusiasm and trust, rather than uncertainty and worry. I think there are a lot of us out here who will vote for Obama but are voting for the guy who gave that first speech back at the 2004 Democratic convention that was so stirring, the guy who early in this long campaign still sounded a little bit like a progressive thinker, rather than the later insipid, watered down Obama. I cut him slack because I know he has to do certain things just to get elected, but I want so badly to believe him and trust him and wish he could get that Bernie Sanders/Kucinich/Moyers/ Hightower infusion, not the Bill Clinton flim-flam. I long for an election where we could vote with certainty, clarity and integrity.

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

I don't think a "floor speech" is what anyone on wall street wants from a presidential candidate. They got plenty of this from others (both dems and republicans) and where did it leave us? The DOW is under 10,000 and the world economy is getting sucked into our undertow.

There is a time for grandstanding, but this surely isn't it.

[tdpubs]

I'm sorry but we live in the USA. The majority of people are not left leaning liberals. They don't have a clue about the Constitution and the guarantees of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness embedded in the Constitution for each and every citizen. They only understand what corporate media promotes to their emotional triggers.

There is a reason why Bernie and Dennis are not, nor will be running successfully for the highest office in the land. They are honorable and truthful men who cannot bend their minds and principles to fit the needs of of the ignorant.

Unfortunately Senator Barack Obama is the closest thing we'll get until we have a media that truly believe in government for the people and by the people. All I can say is let's take it one step at a time.

[viflyer]

Well said!! It is so easy to just say stand up for your beliefs and the people will follow. I have seen too many honorable people say that and loose in this country of ignorant votors.

We NEED to get Obama in there. If he has to play the game some to do it than so be it. Remember, he is trying to move a country full of people that have been brainwashed by almosr 30 years of Reaganomics, deregulation, anti- liberal propaganda. people realize that things have gone terribly wrong but they are confused and don't know who to blame. I don't think at this pivitol moment it is time to stand up and be ideological.

It is going to be along hard road to bring this economy back, and we will need liberal programs and initiatives to grow this economy from the BOTTOM up. The Republicans have left us a wastland while the few rich look down from their castles and laugh at us. Just look at how the CEO of Leman handed out 22 billion in golden parachutes at the same time he was begging for help from the governmnet. Republicans a are a greedy, ruthless bunch, from our small towns to Wall Street. They care little about this country and are the REAL traitors. Once again it will be up to Democrats to save us.

[dizmo4]

Part II.

The second part of Obama's strategy is to do what Bill Clinton did in 92 which is to focus on what matters to the voters, that is to make the election about THEM not about HIM. Obama does this by not getting dragged into a battle of character with McCain. That means that Obama CAN'T be constantly on the attack, rather he needs to provide voters with a reason to vote FOR him.

Kerry lost in 2004 because he was the anti-Bush candidate. He never gave voters a reason to vote for him. McCain is succumbing to the same strategy which is the merely knock down Obama and become the anti-Obama. That'll work with the base but isn't likely to convince very many undecided voters. By focusing 100% on the economy and only responding to attack ads when necessary, it gives the impression of a weak campaign or a reactionary campaign. Nothing is further from the truth. Hitting McCain hard may feel better but it isn't going to win the election.

Finally, the idea that Obama hasn't "finished" off McCain simply isn't the case. His job was to get swing voters comfortable enough with him to vote for him. Obama's done this and moreover, with 28 days left his lead has began to gel with voters. They're comfortable with Obama, they like him. Provided Obama doesn't turn in a horrendous debate performance, this election is over. Obama has won.

[BGDiNLV]

Thank you dizmo,hat more do these guys want from O? If everybody is so damn brilliant,then sign up to run his campaign!! Otherwise sit back and get ready to vote. The man is up by as much as 10 points in some polls and has broken the 50% mark.Everybody stop complaining,and let the campaign do what they have been doing for the last 2 YEARS AND THAT IS WIN!!!!! We democrats almost seem sometimes that we are scared to win.Man up everybody,because just getting O in the hite will not be enough.e will have ALOT of work ahead of us. So stay vigilant.

[dozaa]

Yes! Volunteerfor the campaign and phone people in swing states. I did today and it feels great!

[OCKerouac]

Al Gore was taken down because of a misquote about 'inventing' the internet...

John Kerry was taken down because he didn't react quickly enough to some cash-hungry veterans and continued to enjoy windsurfing.

This is the FIRST Presidential election since 1992's 'It's The Economy Stupid' that the big issues are ultimately going to outweight the small issues, and while a big part of that is because of the financial meltdown, another big part of it is because the Obama campaign has consistantly changed the rhetoric every time McCain tries to bring it back to 'silly season'.

The conflict in South Ossetia was McCain's ticket to winning the whole darn thing. He could have talked up the American military, talked up the strength of our NATO alliance, rallied the enlisted, and their famalies to his side through reminding all Americans that we are on the right side of this violation of international law, but instead he chose to give a lame 'We are all Georgians' speech. He sounded like Michael Dukakis, not a war hero and POW...

The Obama campaign is going to win this the same way great sports teams win championships, through a combination of great play, and taking advantage of your opponents mistakes. Obama has demonstrated plenty of both during this election.

[dizmo4]

I'm not sure what campaing you've been watching but Obama's campaign has been anything but worrying to those that paid attention to things other than daily tracking polls ( or even understood daily polls in context.

Most daily tracking Polls i"ve seen ( gallop especially) show Obama doing very well on Monday, then the spread tightening by Friday. This pattern has been going on all summer and quite honestly has more to do with who answers the phone when than anything else.

Obama's winning in every major battle ground state -- FL, NC, VA, CO, NM, OH, NV, NH, PA, etc. Thats what matters. National polls are entirely meaningless. Obama's strategy has always been a state by state strategy going back to the primaries -- he understood the delegate math far better than Clinton ever did. Likewise, he understands the math of individual states far better than John McCain. He understands that ultimately it comes down to turnout , turnout, and turnout. He needs to win big in blue counties but also limit his losses in red counties ( something Kerry failed to do). He generally has a 3:1 field office advantage in every battle ground state. Its the ground game that ultimately wins. Staffers and volunteers doing door to door canvassing and making calls are what ultimately convinces swing voters, not the 30 second attack ads.

The national media overplays the TV ads effectiveness since by doing so it increases their importance. TV ads are just one component.

[HappillyAlive]

Obama has followed a solid and consistent strategy--register hundreds of thousands of new voters, talk the same policy until people "get it", and don't throw mud--stay a stateman. Obama is going to win--not because of the games, but because of his intelligence, character, and forbearing.

His strategy should act as a model for others.

[MrBadger]

"It's better to be lucky than good."

So far, Obama seems to be both. He has been very luck in his opponents and how they have conducted themselves. But, he has also been very good at putting together the right grass roots organization to get the job done when it needed doing. And let's face it, beating the Clinton machine was NOT just luck. And yet, in the end Obama managed to get the victory without destroying the party base.

Obama has been playing it very smart. Like a good chess player, he is letting his opponent create his own problems and then capitalizing on them. No point in sacrificing a major piece unless you see a certain win, or have nothing to loose. Obama seems to be doing what is needed.

I will say this in defense of the article. Had not this economic crisis come along, Obama would have to have ratcheted up his campaign much faster than he appeared to be doing. Nor do I think he should count on this negative economy carrying his campaign all the way to Nov 4. He aught to run his campaign in the next for weeks as if the economy was going to pick up any minute. Remember the tortoise and the hare. Obama, don't get caught napping at the finish line! We need you elected!

[Shellly]

I do not know why you would even bother to write such nonsense.... for an african american who no one even knew about until about 4 years ago to come along and go up against one of the most formidable political machines in America, the clintons, is a class act all on its own.

Remember it was Hillary clinton who was changing her message weekly, and changing campaigning staff. Her campaign was the one who ran out of money....

Sen. Obama planned on campaigning in all 50 states. He knows that the republican's was going to be trying these tactics and stunts that we see today...

He knew it wasn't going to be easy. He warned all of us... when you don't have an agenda to run on, you paint your opponent as someone to run from.

You need to question the McCain campaign on what is going on over there...

[hartkid]

Here Here! I want my 45 seconds back.

[norkas]

please read Johns Mc cain articile about his military history in rolling stone magazine you will be shocked.Just google it and read it and send it to everyone you know.

[kresnels]

I appreciate the examination from a different perspective, but I fail to see how you can make a compelling accusation for Obama being a do-nothing: If your opponent is creating more negative response for himself by simply opening his mouth, or by being branded as complicit with the party that he is representing, why go on the attack? It simply diminshes your standing. McCain and his flailing around like the Star Wars kid serves as the best testimony to how he deals with pressure and a multitude of issues that can't be controlled.

We've heard the accusations pointed at Obama: no track record, he seems "too smart," he is too distant and aloof. Let's say all that is true, with no apology. Your other choice is a man for whom the economy "is not a strong point," actively supported an administration directly responsible for many of the issues facing our nation, and is continually claiming nobody understands him due to a media conspiracy or because he just pisses people off. In short, the same guy we've had for the last eight years, with the same people.

Even if you accept McCain's record, he is currently behaving less than presidential. As McCain has reduced himself to shooting from the hip, swatting at flies, and offering more of the same, Obama can begin the process of acting like the leader and colalition builder that many already see him to be.

[littleblackcat]

Right on the nailhead, kresnels. You did forget one detail in your assessment of mccain, the man is stupid enough to put a knows-next-to-nothing regarding world affairs, the economy, and United States infrastructure problems in a position to possibly be PRESIDENT!!! If we think we have troubles NOW, what will we face if THAT comes about?

[kresnels]

I appreciate the examination from a different perspective, but I fail to see how you can make a compelling accusation for Obama being a do-nothing: If your opponent is creating more negative response for himself by simply opening his mouth, or by being branded as complicit with the party that he is representing, why go on the attack? It simply diminshes your standing. McCain and his flailing around like the Star Wars kid serves as the best testimony to how he deals with pressure and a multitude of issues that can't be controlled.

We've heard the accusations pointed at Obama: no track record, he seems "too smart," he is too distant and aloof. Let's say all that is true, with no apology. Your other choice is a man for whom the economy "is not a strong point," actively supported an administration directly responsible for much of the issues facing our nation, and is continually claiming nobody understands him due to a media conspiracy or because he just pisses people off. In short, the same guy we've had for the last eight years, with the same people.

Even if you accept McCain's record, he is currently behaving less than presidential. As McCain has reduced himself to shooting from the hip, swatting at flies, and offering more of the same, Obama can begin the process of acting like the leader and colalition builder that many already see him to be.

[gossamer]

Heaven forbid, a campaign based around *issues* rather than culture wars.

It is not left to chance that Obama and his campaign consistently talk about real issues while his opponents have consistently talked about petty, culture war politics. McCain wants to talk about "trusting someone with these 'affiliations'" Obama talks about the economy, tax cuts, an energy-based job market, and healthcare.

McCain wants to talk about Sarah Palin, Obama talks about helping people who's mortgages are in jeopardy.

It seems the author may not be looking at the Obama campaign in the broader context. One in which Obama's campaign strategy of bringing the discussion back to the real issues is one that works when real-live Americans are focused on issues too.

[undecidedaboutPOTUS]

I live in California's central valley; in 2000 and 2004 there were BUSH/CHENEY bumper stickers all over the place on cars and pickup trucks.

I have been looking, (I travel an average of 50 miles per day) for bumper stickers for the Republican ticket. To date, there has not been ONE McCain/Palin sticker or house sign. This part of California is very "non-liberal" ; quite conservative.

Therefore, it seems to be the title is correct, but NOT in the way the author thinks. Obama's campaign is very worrisome to McCain/Palin because more and more conservative areas want real change. If the California Central Valley is any indication, conservative voters want REAL CHANGE, they want Obama/BIden.