Essential Difference Between Obama and Clinton

Workout notes I had to delay my workout until 6:25 as I forgot that I had to dig Barbara’s car out. Ok, that is an exaggeration, but we did get a few inches of this yucky white stuff and I did have to clean her car, clear a way (she is still recovering from her foot operation).

Still, I got in a 5 mile “run” on the treadmill (home) in 51:20, and 3 mile walk (36 minutes), and then 20 minutes of yoga.

Did I tell you that I detest snow?

Democratic notes: Here is an interesting take from a St. Petersburg (Florida) newspaper:

[...]Clinton, of course, is the safer choice, largely because she has been in the national eye for 16 years. If anything, we may know too much about her. She bills herself as the candidate of competence and experience who is “ready to lead from day one.” However, like many voters who have cast ballots so far, we find Obama to be a more promising choice and a more inspiring voice in these troubled times. His message of hope and change has resonated with voters, including independents and young people. He speaks of the kind of change many Americans yearn for in their politics and their government – not just turning the page on George W. Bush’s presidency but changing something more fundamental in Washington.

What separates these two candidates are not the issues, where their differences are minimal, but the values and vision they would bring to the presidency and the kind of political character they have displayed so far.

In Clinton, we see the past; in Obama, we see a fresh start. Clinton is a divisive political figure; Obama’s appeal transcends racial and party lines. She exudes competence; he radiates optimism. She came to the campaign with a sense of entitlement; he came to it with a sense of possibilities. She can be evasive, even misleading; he can be refreshingly candid about his own shortcomings and his political mistakes. She represents business as usual in politics; he at least offers the hope of something better. [...]

Hat tip to PoliticalAl2008 at the Daily Kos.

Obama and Clinton: essential differences

I think that the debate outlined the essential difference between Obama and Clinton:

Clinton:

Politics is not a game. It is the most serious of business. We have seen that over the last seven years. We have seen what a difference it makes when we have a president who is indifferent to and insensitive about the real-life struggles of Americans, and I want to be the champion that once again gives Americans the feeling that they have a president who cares about them and can produce results for them. And that’s what I intend to do.

Obama:

OBAMA: Well, I don’t think Dr. King would endorse any of us. I think what he would call upon the American people to do is to hold us accountable, and this goes to the core differences, I think, in this campaign.

I believe change does not happen from the top down. It happens from the bottom up. Dr. King understood that.

(APPLAUSE)

It was those women who were willing to walk instead of ride the bus, union workers who are willing to take on violence and intimidation to get the right to organize. It was women who decided, “I’m as smart as my husband. I’d better get the right to vote.”

OBAMA: them arguing, mobilizing, agitating, and ultimately forcing elected officials to be accountable, I think that’s the key.

So that has been a hallmark of my career, transparency and accountability, getting the American people involved. That’s how we’re going to bring about change. That’s why I want to be president of the United States, to respect the power of the American people to bring about change.

There it is: Clinton wants to be the people’s champion (i. e., vertical relationship), Obama wants to empower the people to do it themselves (horizontal relationship).

Note: Daily Kos poll as of this morning:

Who won the battle?
Edwards
36% 5010 votes
Hillary
15% 2141 votes
Obama
48% 6679 votes

| 13833 votes

Note: Obama is still “over polling” in terms of debate performances; it isn’t a surprise that his style appeals more to the Kos community than it would to the Democrats “at large”.

Interestingly enough, 53% of the same population has HRC winning the nomination to 33% for Obama and 14% for someone else (Edwards?).

I’d say that Clinton has the edge; if this were a football game she’d be up 10 points in the second half. A comeback by us is possible, but we are certainly the underdogs. So I had better get busy walking my routes this weekend!

But Obama’s position now reminds me of, well, Reagan’s in 1976. Not quite there, but working his way. Obama vs. an incumbent McCain in 2012? Or, maybe Obama running to succeed Clinton in 2016? Who knows. I certainly don’t.

South Carolina Democratic Debate: Obama wins easily.

Well, in tonight’s hotly contested debate, Hillary Clinton came out swinging at Obama. She attempted to attack him on heath insurance (she wants to force people to buy insurance whereas Obama wants to focus on making insurance more affordable to begin with), on his “present votes” (standard part of working in the Illinois legislature) and made the ridiculous charge that Obama had a slum lord as a client (he answered beautifully). Edwards tried to join in just a little bit.

Obama held his cool, responded well and made his points; he was “the adult” up there.

Hillary Clinton actually got booed once.

I feel very good about the outcome!

Some interesting points:
1. Edwards intimated that McCain was the likely Republican nominee and indicated that he ran best against him.
2. Obama attempted to defuse the “race” question by pointing out that all of the candidates were genuinely interested in racial justice.
3. Obama said (in an answer to a question) that MLK wouldn’t endorse any of them but rather hold them accountable. Perfect answer!
4. Obama also countered the “fear mongering”; HRC said that she thought that she would hold up better to Republican attacks on national security. Obama framed this as “not living in fear”.
5. Obama also attempted to make an “honesty in campaigning” an issue and that works well for him, and will continue to work well for him so long as Bill continues to lie and mislead on the behalf of Hillary.
6. Clinton attacked as if she were behind in the polls; in my opinion she looked desperate and downright sleazy. Obama played as if he were the front runner. Clinton even got booed once.
7. Body language wise, O looked like a winner when he walked off.
8. Edwards was ok, but he was mostly “same ol, same ol, “mill worker’s son” stuff.

I’d grade them: O: A, JRE B+, HRC B-
But someone who isn’t a big time political junkie might see it differently.

Some highlights:

Obama highlights

John Edwards (only one video up right now; campaign money matters!)

Hillary Clinton highlights (yes, this is the only one her campaign has up right now)

Early Response on the Daily Kos:

Who won the debate?
Clinton
11% 40 votes
Edwards
35% 124 votes
Obama
53% 188 votes

| 352 votes

Now this thread has been move to the “front page” so:

33% 899 votes
Hillary
15% 413 votes
Obama
52% 1429 votes

| 2741 votes

So evidently, I don’t see things that differently than most.

one more iteration:

Poll

Who won the battle?
Edwards
33% 1313 votes
Hillary
14% 591 votes
Obama
51% 2049 votes

| 3953 votes

Bottom line: yes, I know that I am out of touch with most people. But after debates, I usually have a gut feeling. After this one, I felt very, very good. But then again, Kerry swept the debates with Bush (as did Gore) but Bush won the elections; well “sort of” in the case with Gore.

Update: as of this morning, we had over 12,000 votes at it was O 49, HRC 15, JRE 35, which is roughly the same spread.

Now you might find a, ahem, less biased account of the debate here:

The gloves came off quickly Monday night as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama traded blows just days before the South Carolina primary, and two weeks before voters in 24 Super Tuesday states weigh in on this wide-open presidential contest.
Former Sen. John Edwards, who has yet to win an early contest, threw his own punches but was unable to firmly position himself in the middle of the Clinton-Obama scrum. It probably worked to his advantage, because he was never really put on the defensive like Obama nor appeared as aggressive as Clinton.

But it might be too late for Edwards to turn around his campaign in what is shaping up to be a two-candidate race.

Still, there was no clear winner in this Democratic slugfest, the most contentious yet, unless you count John McCain, the Arizona Republican senator who took the gold in last Saturday’s South Carolina Republican presidential primary.

Edwards all but crowned McCain the Republican nominee, while Clinton and Obama also mentioned him as the possible GOP nominee. McCain is now part of the Democratic lexicon.

While the debate was in Myrtle Beach, it had national implications. Clinton is leaving South Carolina for a few days, a sign that she might be conceding the state to Obama. But in doing so, she is laying the groundwork for a Super Tuesday showdown when 1,681 delegates are up for grabs.

The debate focused on pressing issues such as the looming economic crisis, health care and illegal immigration, but the most memorable moments were the sharp — and at times personal — exchanges between Clinton and Obama[...]

and

Here’s some quick post-debate thoughts:

John Edwards got himself back in it — he showcased his style and his key issues, and is clearly back in the game. He showed he continues to deserve to share a debate stage with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and voters here will likely give him another look after tonight.

The debate showcased the remarkably different primary strategies of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. She’s going for the partisans that have historically constituted the overwhelming majority of primary voters. This is clear over and over again in her language, every time she talks about “fighting Republicans.”

Obama, on the other hand, talks a very different game — he repeatedly said tonight he can forge consensus, and will work with Republicans.

Clinton’s strategy of going for the partisans in the primaries has shown itself to be a winning one time and again. But this election season has been anything but normal — and it’s possible that after eight years with one of the most partisan presidents in history, even partisan Democrats want a consensus builder.

Clinton is running as the anti-Bush, while Obama is running as the un-Bush. Which will primary voters prefer? [...]

This debate clearly proves Obama is the frontrunner — at least in South Carolina. The other two candidates are teaming up on him, and it’s a role he’s not accustomed to in debates. Hillary Clinton has always been the center of attention. How things can change! [...]

Hillary Clinton just drew the first boos of the night. She said Barack Obama doesn’t take responsibility for his votes, and took issue with his ‘present’ voting in the Illinois Senate.

It’s evidence the nastiness between the two is beginning to backfire.[...]

Time grades it O: A-, HRC: B+, JRE: B+.

Had the audience on his side from the beginning, reflecting his strength in the state and among the African-American groups who co-sponsored the debate. Went in prepared to be tough — and ready to unleash his frustrations after several unnerving weeks of intense Clinton-Clinton double team attacks — but was repeatedly thrown off by Senator Clinton (with the occasional assist from Senator Edwards), who discharged a series of pointed accusations (his words of praise for Reagan; his “present” votes as a state legislator). Nevertheless, seemed willing (or at least resigned) to battling both Clintons. Chose to abandon the politics of hope for “new” politics, apparently out of necessity, but it muddled his focus. While he made some strong points, he was often on the defensive.

Clinton

Unrelenting, fierce and armed with full-on opposition research against Obama; her focus appeared to be on Super Tuesday rather than on the South Carolina audience. Yet at times seemed heavy-handed, cutthroat and even mean-spirited —[...]

Edwards

Took his now-familiar position in the shadows, as the two front-runners duked it out with alarming intensity.

Bottom line: O did well in terms of setting himself up to win South Carolina. HRC was prepping for Super Tuesday. We’ll see how her negativity plays.