Score one to Obama
James Forsyth 6:08pm
On Tuesday night after the last vote in the Democratic primaries has been cast, Obama will speak in the very hall in which John McCain will accept the Republican nomination in September. It is a smart move by his campaign as it pushes the general election story-line front and centre, relegating Hillary Clinton to the third paragraph of the article. It also sets up an inevitable comparison between Obama’s speech and McCain’s convention address—a comparison that is unlikely to be favourable to McCain who is not in the same league as Obama as a set-piece orator.
The other thing which Obama’s choice of venue suggests is that he might have enough super-delegates lined up to gain an overall majority of delegates on Tuesday night. This would allow Obama to finally declare victory and do so in a general election swing state. The challenge for the Obama campaign, though, is not to get Hillary Clinton’s hackles up; they need to allow her to leave the race at a time of her own choosing. For that reason, Obama might hold back from saying that he is the Democratic nominee on Tuesday night even if he has the necessary amount of delegates.
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Comments
Water
May 31st, 2008 7:17pm“The challenge for the Obama campaign, though, is not to get Hillary Clinton’s hackles up" yes, I don't think anyone (camp Obama or otherwise) wants to see what’s lurks beneath the vilely plumage.
TrevorH
May 31st, 2008 7:22pmA smart move by his campaign would be to say something serious instead of vacuous. Never mind the venue.
' Don't get Hillary's hackles up. ' Mission Impossible.
Kevyn Bodman
June 1st, 2008 4:28amMcCain 'is not in the same league as Obama as a set-piece orator.'
True.
What a pity that that is so important.
How about experience, policies and judgement?
Obama has finally left his church. If he gets to the White House he won't be able to wait for 2 decades to make decisions in the way he did on this matter.
McCain will be taking the oath next January; Obama can go back to writing vacuous books and being an orator.
Water
June 1st, 2008 2:53pmObama is not finished by any means and Mc Cain hasn't won as of yet. It's going to be a battle of epic proportions, but, come time, Obama may clinch it (there’s no denying the possibility). This said it’s good to hear that Obama has left the old church; of course it isn’t to say he shouldn’t find a new one. Anyhoo I’ve spent too long on this computer in the last few weeks, time to take a break for a period.
Nick Kaplan
June 1st, 2008 2:53pmKevyn; Sadly I think people like oratory and rhetoric, whether insightful or, in Obama’s case, empty. For this reason the competition will be close, sadly it is by no means a sure thing that McCain will win.
Water
June 1st, 2008 3:47pmI have to admit Obama by no means subject to holistic rhetorical emptiness, none the less I must get away from this computer. Shalom, this is my word (and I’m not going back on it) no more typing for a period. Adios for now, my regards to Mel, James and the rest of the Speccie gang catch you soon ;)
Nicholas
June 2nd, 2008 7:46amObama may be America's Tony Blair. If he wins I foresee an era of left wing madness engulfing the USA. I wonder which minority pressure groups and barmy zealots will jump on his bandwagon and ride into power, with who knows what consequences for the USA?
Here we have the tangible results of 11 years of national socialist destruction and madness posited on the promise of "change" and the "new dawn". The worst aspect has been the divisiveness in society created by the fascists of the diversity and multi-culturalism industry.
Don't do it America. You will lose ancient freedoms in the name of "progress".
Ian C
June 2nd, 2008 9:40amThere is likely to be plenty of contrast between McCain and Obama in this venue - I can just see the GOP speechwriters sharpening their pens to about how Kennedy talking to Kruschev darkened the fate of Eastern Europe for longer than it would have been - or even how it caused the Berlin Wall to go up and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Gifts on a golden platter.