I have been a loyal TPM reader for many months now. I read
it everyday, checking it frequently. I believe Josh Marshall has put together a
site that has been peerless in reporting on Washington events. Rarely have I
read anything I thought unnecessary, or biased.
Until this past week.
I have been frustrated with the idea, repeated several
times, that Obama is taking a beating, or being bitch-slapped or whatever other
pithy phrases have been posted. It’s almost as if there is no campaign on, and
Obama’s role and his campaign role is to swat at the pesky flies of the fading Clinton
campaign.
I don’t care what Mark Penn says. I don’t care what Clinton
says about Obama’s ability to be commander in chief, nor whether she says he’s
not ready for the 3:00 am phone call, nor whether she calls for Powers’
resignation, nor whether the Clinton campaign makes the ludicrous claim that
Obama won’t take big states like NY or CA in the general because he couldn’t in
the primaries, nor whether the Clinton campaign this is up for the super delegates to decide, nor whether the Clintons are telling us how wonderful it would be for Obama to be VP, nor
whether the Clinton campaign and the press are making such a foolishly big deal over their 4-delegate
win Tuesday, less than Obama picked up in Alaska.
Obama has been busy doing what he needs to do, and does
best, building a national campaign that will be victorious in November. He has
been campaigning in Mississippi. He found time to create a commercial for
Foster. According to Kos, he found time to send hundreds of volunteers to
ensure Foster’s victory. When I visit his web site and see all the events being
planned for the remaining contests, I recognize just what a juggernaut he
continues to build, day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month. He is taking his
skills as a community organizer and developing a true grassroots nation-wide
community organizing behemoth that not only will steamroll hapless republicans
this fall, but will be positioned to help him with his difficult legislative
agenda including ending the Iraq war, addressing global warming, and providing “national”
health care.
Looking towards the future, it is likely, come June 3rd,
that he will have won 35 state contests to Hillary’s 17. (Counting PR and DC.)
He will have amassed a lead of 170-180 pledged delegates. Also, he will likely
be tied or ahead in super delegates, and most important, he will have won the
popular vote.
His coat-tails going into November are looking increasinging
awe-inspiring. His ability to attract first time voters, independents, and even
republicans is truly remarkable. There are a lot of reasons that democrats
continue to make record turnouts in primaries and caucuses. But it is undeniable
that the Obama candidacy is a major
factor. The democratic success in 2006 is looking more and more like just a
warm up to a looming blow-out for democrats in state houses, governships,
representatives and senators.
Whatever metric you choose, whether it be new voters, total
voters, new contributors or total money raised, Barack Obama is knocking down
records. His momentum is unstoppable. Yes Hillary will likely win PA, WV, KY
and PR, and maybe squeek out another state or two. She is a tough competitor,
and she’s not going to roll over for Obama until there is no hope for her
campaign. And she apparently has no compunction about going really negative
hoping something might stick.
But Obama has made it clear he is running a different
campaign, and his strategy has worked. His campaign is hardly reeling from
Hillary’s win in Ohio and Rhode Island. As Kos points out this afternoon, this “week
from hell” for Obama has him 15 delegates compared to one week ago. Obama is
not suffering. He’s winning, and winning big.
So why must this site paint this ridiculous portrait of an
Obama on the ropes, taking blow after blow with no response? TPM is painting a
picture of an Obama in free fall, being bitch-slapped by the Clinton campaign.
Why are these last gasps of the dying Clinton campaign represented as something
Obama has to worry about? Why does he have to prove himself to this site that
he will let no slur go unchallenged, or else he paints himself as weak, not in
command, unable to assert himself?
Obama’s doing just fine, thank you. If the Clinton campaign
wants to wade around in the mud, it’s not slowing him down. He’s picking up
another state tomorrow, and another pile of delegates, quite likely more than
Clinton won in her all-important firewall contest a week ago. There’s no rush
for him to soil himself. There’s going to be plenty of negative campaigning
from the republicans, and for now Obama serves himself and the country by
avoiding the muck. To many, it makes him appear Presidential.
