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MEDFORD — Barack Obama refers to the past couple of weeks as a tough, turbulent stretch.
And why not?
His foreign policy adviser quit for calling Democratic presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton a "monster." Then he had to distance himself from his longtime pastor's fiery statements, a controversy that threatened his image as a uniter. He trails in polls in the upcoming Pennsylvania primary. Obama also watched his lead wither in national opinion surveys.
"There's no doubt we had a turbulent couple of weeks but we've had turbulent weeks in the past," Obama told reporters Friday. "... It's not going to be a smooth straight line. There's times when the campaign is going well and there's times the campaign is not going well."
But as bad weeks go, things certainly could have been worse.
Obama received generally favorable reviews for his somber speech on the nation's racial divide, though it didn't completely silence the criticism over his former pastor's rhetoric. Then Florida and Michigan indicated they would not hold new primaries to replace the contests that favored Clinton but violated party rules. Campaign finance reports showed him far ahead in the money race. And finally, he picked up the much sought-after endorsement of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson — one Clinton also had coveted.
Most importantly, as the Illinois senator prepares to takes a break from campaigning for a brief family vacation, he retains a nearly insurmountable lead in pledged delegates and is winning the nationwide popular vote.
With weeks to go before the next primary, imagery and perception matter.
It's almost impossible for Clinton to catch Obama in the delegate count, but he can't clinch the nomination through primaries alone. That leaves both candidates trying to woo superdelegates, the party leaders who can vote for whomever they choose.
Clinton's campaign says Obama's recent struggles prove she is the better candidate to face Republican John McCain in the general election. Setting aside the difficult delegate math, Clinton says the turbulence in Obama's camp proves he hasn't been vetted and would be vulnerable to Republican campaign tactics.
Obama's campaign tells a different story. Supporters credit him for addressing the furor over the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's comments head-on and for speaking from his heart. Obama's bad week, supporters say, revealed him to be confident, cool under pressure, even presidential.
"We had a couple tough weeks and I assume that when I'm president there will be periods where we're tested in these same kinds of ways," Obama said.
Clinton has used similar themes to get through difficult patches in her own campaign. She has cast herself as a fighter, someone who has pressed through difficult times and is ready to lead when facing a problem as president.
"I think everybody here knows I've lived through some crises and some challenging moments in my life," she said during a Democratic debate.
Not long ago, Clinton was the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. Then, after a series of defeats and a staff shake-up, her campaign appeared to be struggling. Now, Clinton is polling strong in the April 22 Pennsylvania primary. Her campaign believes, when the races are over, it can make the case to superdelegates that she has momentum and deserves their support.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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- Regions: United States , Medford/Klamath Falls
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- Public Discussion (14)
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{"commentId":1610563,"authorDomain":"djehuty"}
Clinton's campaign says Obama's recent struggles prove that she is the better candidate to face Republican John McCain in the general election. Setting aside the difficult delegate math, Clinton says the turbulence in Obama's camp proves that he hasn't been vetted and would be vulnerable to Republican campaign tactics.
If she could even conceive of writing, herself, a brave speech like that. Or, better still, if she could even conceive of a brave future like that - then she might be a candidate in the same league as Obama.
{"commentId":1610563,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"djehuty"}
- 18 votes
#1 - Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:28 AM EDT{"commentId":1610635,"authorDomain":"mikerupert"}
Good point, Djehuty. I think overall, Obama handled it pretty well. I would like to see those on the right who support Fallwell and the likes, who've made really extreme hateful comments in the past to address that issue, if at all possible.
{"commentId":1610635,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"mikerupert"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":1610587,"authorDomain":"stan-smith"}
"Clinton's campaign says Obama's recent struggles prove that she is the better candidate to face Republican John McCain in the general election. Setting aside the difficult delegate math, Clinton says the turbulence in Obama's camp proves that he hasn't been vetted and would be vulnerable to Republican campaign tactics."
Such analysis is infantile. It explains why Hilary has slipped from the inevitable nominee to the position we now have! Obama's response shows the resilience and fortitude one sees in a true leader.
{"commentId":1610587,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"stan-smith"}
- 10 votes
#2 - Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:49 AM EDT{"commentId":1610678,"authorDomain":"mscyprah"}
Such analysis is infantile. It explains why Hilary has slipped from the inevitable nominee to the position we now have! Obama's response shows the resilience and fortitude one sees in a true leader.
Exactly, Nathaniael, which is what it really boils down to and what any country needs.
{"commentId":1610678,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"mscyprah"}
- 6 votes
{"commentId":1610600,"authorDomain":"sirmonkey"}
True, probably not as rough as quitting cigarettes... or pot, or cocaine.
First his foreign policy adviser quit for calling Democratic presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton a "monster."
Really, Power revealed (what we all already knew) in an interview... that Obama would not actually withdraw troops immediately, and that this was a campaign plan, not an operational plan and would be "revisited" upon becoming president and gaining access to real information on the situation.
Also, her policy of "threatening withdrawal" to strong-arm our allies in Iraq was not looking so hot. The "all troops out by March 2008" position was already changed to the "campaign plan" of out in 2 years except embassy protection & training. Also, her prior (accurate) details of the "mass evacuation" of Iraq after the withdrawal don't sound as rosy as "withdraw and U.S. is free and clear and terrorism vanishes".
Plus, zero mention of air support for Iraq. Boy is Obama confident about the Iraqi Air Force or what. Perhaps overconfident. I know they're doing amazingly well, but shouldn't his plan include U.S. air support for some time?
Then he had to distance himself from his longtime pastor's fiery statements, a controversy that threatened his image as a uniter.
As for Wright, it is hard to consider this situation as an accident. He was embraced by the campaign. They had to know there would be controversy. One has to assume it was intentional, not a surprise situation at all. Part of the overall unfolding events:
The Obama campaign tells a different story. Supporters credit him for addressing the furor over the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's comments head-on and for speaking from his heart. Obama's bad week, supporters say, revealed him to be confident, cool under pressure, even presidential.
Speaking of addressing issues head-on... I'm still waiting for an answer to Russert's question about Wright, Farrakhan and al-Gaddafi that came up way back in the Ohio debate... What of meeting with a lead Islamic Socialist terrorist of the 80's? Where is the head-on answer to that?
{"commentId":1610600,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"sirmonkey"}
#3 - Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:59 AM EDT{"commentId":1611824,"authorDomain":"torpeau"}
>Speaking of addressing issues head-on...
Rest assured that we will hear more about Wright & Obama from now on. If Obama isn't derailed by this as he seeks the nomination, the "Swiftboat people" will keep reminding us of this thru the election.
{"commentId":1611824,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"torpeau"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1612052,"authorDomain":"sirmonkey"}
Thanks for the tip on how people will attempt to marginalize the issue.
I'll keep that in mind while patrolling the rivers of Cambodia with my bud Kerry. Yes, we both are in fact, still active as secret operatives working below the radar in places you would not believe. Luckily they've raised the age requirement for our exciting line of clandestine work ;)
{"commentId":1612052,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"sirmonkey"}
{"commentId":1610663,"authorDomain":"greenpagan"}
It's practically a blip now.
But the "typical" anti-Obama types will continue picking at the scab...until the day of their doom.
====
{"commentId":1610663,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"greenpagan"}
- 9 votes
#4 - Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:39 AM EDT{"commentId":1610682,"authorDomain":"mscyprah"}
Well, greenpagan, when people fear change they will usually resist until one day, they wake up and realise that they are left behind, fossilised in the past, because that inevitable change would have rushed past them in the process!
{"commentId":1610682,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"mscyprah"}
- 7 votes
{"commentId":1610706,"authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
With Obama, we will have logical change without the fear mongering of the current administration. McSame will keep us there for 100 years and he can not even remember the difference in the sects without help from Lieberman. Scares me. Hey, he can take a punch under stress too and remain composed and logical.
{"commentId":1610706,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"Rixar13"}
- 11 votes
#5 - Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:05 AM EDT{"commentId":1612106,"authorDomain":"dtagair"}
Obama gets the attention taken off Rev Wright and on to his passport invasion by a company that works for him--and he media appropriately plays down that Clinton and McCain were also violated.
Sounds fishy to me. As usual Obama has gotten by without really addressing the question at hand--how could he remain a member of a church for 20 years that has an anti-white and ant-American doctrine, go to the church's website and see for yourself what it believes in and then make your mind up for yourself.
{"commentId":1612106,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"dtagair"}
#6 - Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:32 PM EDT{"commentId":1612186,"authorDomain":"sirmonkey"}
I think I've got the right web site. There is an about-us page. And prior versions in the wayback machine:
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.tucc.org/about.htm
Though it seems foreign to me, I'm only slightly uncomfortable with people taking an interest in specifically in their own race, or a specific race. I find it to be justified and certainly within peoples freedoms of association and speech and such. Taking interest in another continent is also well justified. Indeed Africa is important on many levels, both practical and as a heritage to be proud of. It is arguably a heritage we all share.
I am somewhat curious about details of "RECONCILIATION", "RESTORATION". But for me it is particularly the nitty gritty details of "ECONOMIC PARITY". Some are privy to communism and socialism as means of economic parity. Can anyone clarify the approach that this church advocates?
{"commentId":1612186,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"sirmonkey"}
{"commentId":1612447,"authorDomain":"njb"}
HRC can only think of 1 thing: what she wants.
The state of the nation be damned.
{"commentId":1612447,"threadId":"238823","contentId":"1384729","authorDomain":"njb"}
- 2 votes
#7 - Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:46 PM EDT{"commentId":1612494,"authorDomain":"LeanderWapshot"}
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