Politics

No You Can't, Part II

By Matt Cooper

I still think Obama will win this thing in the end because of the math--his lead in delegates--but not if he talks about the math. Candidates win when they talk about the aspirations and needs of voters--and diminish the other guy. And arguing that the states that remain are more or less moot because your delegate lead insurmountable makes him cocky, arrogant, Clintonesque. (Once more I note, El Spouse-o works for Clinton.) The impression that Clinton was inevitable is large part of what did her in; now the Obamaites and their accolytes in the press are making the same case. But it's the kind of argument that only fuels the passions of those who are yet to vote. Don't act like Microsoft, circa 1999 or you'll end up like Microsoft, circa 2008. If Obama just goes back to issues and shrugs off the delegate math with a this-will-all-sort-itself-out it'll be a lot better for them than the candidate getting down in the weeds. To top it off, Obama complained about his press coverage yesterday which is pretty amusing if you think about it. Like I said yesterday, Hope is a great message. Math isn't. Whining's even worse.

Full post as published by Portfolio.com: Capital on March 06, 2008 (boomark / email).