This has been the week when Barack Obama's inevitable move, at least rhetorically, to the political center has accelerated and become unavoidably obvious. As usual, Charles Krauthammer has a crisp and on-the-money take.
Obama's strategy is obvious. The country is in a deep malaise and eager for change. He and his party already have the advantage on economic and domestic issues. Obama, therefore, aims to clear the deck by moving rapidly to the center in those areas where he and his party are weakest, namely national security and the broader cultural issues. With these -- and, most important, his war-losing Iraq policy -- out of the way, the election will be decided on charisma and persona. In this corner: the young sleek cool hip elegant challenger. In the other corner: the old guy. No contest. [...]As Obama assiduously obliterates all differences with McCain on national security and social issues, he remains rightly confident that Bush fatigue, the lousy economy and his own charisma -- he is easily the most dazzling political personality since John Kennedy -- will carry him to the White House.
Obama's steps are more than a bit clumsy, especially for a politician who's supposed to be above politics. But he's only got the summer to make his move, since putting away Hillary took longer than expected. So he's got to move fast and take his chances image-wise. Either that or he's really such a newbie that it's ineptitude.
Posted by Alan at July 3, 2008 09:11 PM