Legal Commentary

The Philly Jefferson Jackson Dinner: Hillary vs. Obama

By Jeralyn

Philadelphia Democrats held their Jefferson Jackson Dinner tonight. Both Hillary and Obama spoke separately.

Hillary rose above Bitter-Gate, never mentioning it, and included Obama in her praise:

"Neither Senator Obama nor myself could have dreamed we would be right here asking you for your votes," Clinton said, praising the pioneers of the civil rights and women's rights movements. "We are the beneficiaries of the work and sacrifice that so many of you and countless Americans have done over so many generations."

Obama went on the attack: [More...]

But Obama did talk about it, asking supporters to stand by him "if you understand that people really are angry, they really are fed up, some of them are really bitter, because Washington has forgotten them."

"It's not me who's out of touch," he continued. "It's folks that think that somehow folks are happy when they're out of a job and they lost a pension and they don't have heath care and their schools are underfunded. I know exactly what folks are going through."

"And," Obama added for good measure, "I go to church."

Which pitch do you think was more effective? Did Obama assume Hillary was going to attack him and misjudge? Obama will win the Philly vote -- maybe the only part of PA he takes -- but was anger the right response?

Update: Hillary spoke for only 5 minutes. It wasn't a sit-down dinner and the crowd apparently wasn't paying attention. I haven't seen any reports on how long Obama's speech was.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on April 14, 2008 (boomark / email).