Update: Barack Obama loses Indiana, 49.1 % to 50.9%, a narrow margin in a primary which was expected to give Hillary a 5-10% margin. While on the numbers, this is fairly bland (the candidates split the delegates evenly), the blow dealt to Hillary Clinton’s expectations is serious. And politics is all about expectations. My earlier, blasé prediction about tonight’s events may prove wrong.
Many scattered points to make. First, I’d like to congratulate Barack Obama for pulling in to an effective tie at the last minute in Indiana. This most recent success, coupled with polls suggesting that the Wright fiasco may have been overblown, bode well for Barack as he moves on to the race’s end game. More importantly, though, it’s time to build the party, and the evidence still suggests that we’ll have to play dirty in the general election. Let’s make our peace with that fact and do it.
On Barack Obama’s recent successes, apparently people are not themselves concerned about the Wright/Obama connection, but are concerned about its effect in November. To me, these data suggest that the Wright issue goes to that nebulous quality – electability – which only matters to you when you perceive that it matters to others. Perhaps we’ve overthought this primary season. Wouldn’t be the first time.
Moving on, while Hillary thinks it’s time to move on and continue her campaign – “now it is on to West Virginia, Kentucky and Oregon, where people are eager to have their voices heard” – I think now is the time for the party to pick a side. Luckily, the internet agrees with me (once, twice…), so let’s see.
And a coda. I do not lightly lightly make suggestions that Democrats use disingenuous campaign tactics, but the fact that Limbaugh is still trying to corruptly influence the primary proves that we cannot play nice, and expect to win. It’s time to pick a side, stick by it, build the party, and play dirty, so that we can later have the opportunity to place nice: “I must study Politicks and War, that my sons may have liberty to study Mathematicks and Philosophy.”
More importantly, though, it’s time to build the party, and the evidence still suggests that we’ll have to play dirty in the general election. Let’s make our peace with that fact and do it.
Ames, you keep trying to rationalize the necessity of dirty politics, but let me mention a comment made by Chris Matthews this morning. There were only two presidential candidates in this election who made a point to avoid negative politics, John McCain and Barack Obama. Looks like America rewarded them.
Posted by Progressive Conservative | May 7, 2008, 9:35 pmThe point of the Limbaugh example is that, yes, America wants a candidate who avoids the negativity, but that it can occur behind the scenes, at arm’s-length from the candidate him (her) self.
Posted by Ames | May 8, 2008, 1:14 am