Letters to the Editor
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Great example of why Obama is ahead in votes, delegates and states.
He's downplaying expectations, while doing all the legwork HRC's campaign can't be bothered with (remember: Ed Rendell personally extending the deadline for TeamHRC to field a slate of delegates, while Obama met the deadline with a full slate!). He's broadening the party, by reaching out to new people, rather than appealing to the base. This, in itself real, positive change.
This also demonstrates why Obama will be far stronger vs. McCain, regardless of HRC's performance in "big states" during the primaries: He's organized, methodical, and generally stays on-message, in the face of kitchen sink tactics that have ranged from silly to ugly. He keeps raising more money, keeps grinding it out on the ground with strong organization and operations. It's fair to say these campaigns are the biggest operations either candidate has been personally responsible for, so it's equally fair to consider them a yardstick of readiness in an executive role.
Both are undeniably large, powerful, generally effective, operations that have performed about equally to date, in support of two uniquely attractive candidates. But one of them has done it using different tactics (to the extent common sense and reality allow), brought fresh faces in record numbers to the party and the polls, and because of details like this, has done a little better.
Competence matters, after the past 8 years. Don't diminish the effort, and it's effect on the process so far... I think Howard Dean's been right to let the voters vote before anyone starts screaming about super-delegates, deals and brokered conventions. With 8 states left, including PA, there are plenty of Americans still watching, and ready to reward the candidate who makes the effort to reach them personally and directly with their message... a call to action rather than a cry of fear or anger. Obama's just being Obama in PA.
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