Monday, May 5, 2008

Can Obama Play The Victim Tomorrow?

So far in this tumultuous democtatic primary season we've seen two candidates wear the inevitability tag. Early on it was Hillary Clinton buoyed by big money and near universal name recognition. To be sure, she came into the race with high negatives but it did not appear anyone else in the field could beat her amongst democrats. That all changed when Barack Obama began raising awesome amounts of money and attracting millions of new voters and independents to his campaign. At one point, Obama reeled off 11 straight wins sending Hillary down for the mandatory eight count. All of a sudden Obama was the inevitable nominee.
But every time Hillary looked like road kill, she slipped into her victim costume or cried. It worked. Women particularly older women rode to her rescue. They related to a woman of a certain age getting tossed aside by the good looking young guy down the hall. Obama started looking a little smug and entitled. Then, of course, enter Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his one man wrecking crew. Obama has been forced to spend the last few weeks distancing himself from the venomous preacher. It's been painful to watch.
Here's what I'm wondering. Has the pummeling of Barack Obama reached the point where he's now the victim? Is the media seen as piling on? Has Hillary overplayed her hand by keeping Rev. Wright alive? Will the voters in Indiana and North Carolina untie Obama from the railroad tracks? If they do it's game over for Clinton. I think Obama will do much better tomorrow than people think.

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