Posted by Scott McClellan
You could feel the electricity in the room as Hillary Clinton took center stage. Having just hit one at the buzzer to send the primary into over time, the euphoria could not be contained. It’s fascinating to watch for anyone interested in politics.
Clinton’s first message was she’s back and she’s in it to win. Don’t expect her to go anywhere anytime soon. Then she quickly turned to the defining difference between herself and Obama—tested experience ready to lead on day one, especially as commander-in-chief, versus promises from someone who will need on-the-job training. Expect her to keep going to this theme as the race moves toward Pennsylvania. She made sure to reference her recent message of who do you trust to answer the 3am phone call.
Clinton also made it very clear she will listen to and work for the people, and move in a very different direction from the Bush policies on Iraq, health care, the economy and energy.
While she was focused mostly on drawing the contrast with Obama, Obama was saying the night was a wash with no change in the delegate lead he had. Then he kept his sights clearly on defining the choice between himself and McCain, who he said offered more of the same course and same tired answers—in other words more of the same policies of Bush. For Obama, it was more of his fresh start and hopeful change for America (as opposed to Clinton’s tested leadership theme).
But Obama better not get too far ahead of himself. He is still in a fight for the nomination. With Democrats still battling it out, expect McCain to keep his targets set on using this time to define the Democratic frontrunner Obama and paint his policies as too far to the left of America. Obama cannot take his eye off the primary and during that time McCain has an opening to sharply define the choice largely on his terms and keep himself in the media mix. It’s a dilemma Obama’s team simply cannot like.
The one thing that is sure for Democrats in their otherwise uncertain future is that the Washington punditry will continue living a dream trying to sort out the end game of this primary.
One Comment
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