Free Republic

TO: SEN. BARACK OBAMA FROM: WILLIAM GALSTON SUBJ: ADJUST OR LOSE DATE: SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 I'll get right to the point: You are in danger of squandering an election most of us thought was unlosable. The reason is simple: on the electorate’s most important concern – the economy -- you have no clear message, and John McCain has filled the void with his own. This is more than my opinion. The Democracy Corps survey released yesterday proves the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Backed by a wealth of persuasive detail, here is the nub of their conclusion: In the absence...

There was a moment toward the end of the Democratic presidential debate in Cleveland last Tuesday when it was easy to feel sorry for Hillary Clinton. The former First Lady hadn't done much since the top of the show to endear herself to anyone who wasn't already voting for her, what with the health care hectoring and the whining about always going first and the old evil eye trick. But as Barack Obama was talking about how Mrs. Clinton doesn't owe anyone an explanation as to why she's a worthy opponent, the sad reality of Hillary Clinton's predicament conjured a...

Momentum in politics often shifts when a political leader or party overplays their hand. When Republicans rushed to pass legislation to prolong the life of brain-damaged Terri Schiavo earlier this year, I noted that much of the public saw it as grandstanding. I also wrote that the beginning of current GOP woes started with the party's Schiavo strategy. Now the Democrats may be having their turn at costly misjudgment. Their closed-door meeting of Democrats-only in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday of this week was designed with drama in mind. They wanted to bring renewed attention to their claim that the...