Editorials

Unless something extraordinary happens, Sen. Barak Obama will be the Democratic presidential contender this fall. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign is falling apart even as we speak. It is now Obama’s race to lose.

I predicted Hillary would be the first woman elected president of the United States, but like some other political pundits, I underestimated Sen. Obama’s appeal. And I overestimated Clinton’s political skills. Her campaign had too many cooks in the kitchen.

Win or lose in the fall, or even if he is defeated by Hillary, which seems more and more unlikely, you have to give Obama credit for running a great campaign. He has put together a winning combination of Millennium Generationers, liberals, cross-over conservatives, and, of course, black voters.

On the other hand, the Clinton campaign looks like a truck trailer tire going flat as it speeds down the highway. The blown tire is starting to throw off hunks of rubber as it self-destructs. Campaign managers and assistant managers are given the heave-ho, position papers are force-fed to the public, and even the former president, Bill Clinton, is red-faced and wagging his finger at press and public.

It appears as if the candidate is grabbing all she can and throwing stuff in front of the Obama campaign to slow him down.

Meanwhile, John McCain has things locked up on the Republican side, and he got another piece of good news Sunday when Ralph Nader announced a third-party bid. Nader will draw a percentage of liberal voters away from Obama.

If I were advising the Obama campaign, I would keep hammering on the economy and saying things like why are we spending billions in Iraq and Afghanistan building their schools and hospitals when our are in need? Charity begins at home.

At the end of the day, the best campaign issues are pocketbook issues that impact all of us.

↑ Top