Last Saturday, Senator Obama announced that he would start confronting Hilary Clinton more directly and forcefully than he has in the past. Obama is trying to address the increasing concern among supporters that he lacks assertiveness and that this is the reason he has not been able to dominate Clinton in the presidential race so far. He feels that she has not been candid in describing her views on critical policy issues. Obama’s statement comes two months before the votes are cast for the Democratic nomination and after a long period in which his campaign has had to deny the perception that he does not have the forcefulness necessary for the presidency. In an interview, Mr. Obama said “now is the time” for him to set himself apart from Mrs. Clinton specifically. And its not that Obama wants to get in Hilary’s face, he said he wants to address how she has been obscuring her positions for political gain. Obama has been known to change the speeches written for him if he does not know for sure that he can live up to what he is saying. He feels he is more likely to win back the White House for the Democrats. When asked in the interview if Mrs. Clinton had been fully truthful with voters about what she would do as president, Mr. Obama answered no. He specifically mentioned her position on Social Security, Iraq and Iran.
Obama is very right to pinpoint proving his “forcefulness” as his priority. This will help him draw a distinction between his candidacy and his ideas about change and those of other candidates. In my opinion, he has only started to do that so far. His senior aides say that they have to spend a lot of their time taking calls from concerned supporters regarding Obama not challenging Mrs. Clinton more forcefully. If he doesn’t start to do so, he could lose the position of main opponent of Clinton to John Edwards and with that position gone, people will just stop paying attention to this candidate that has been able to hold on in this race for president. Do we think Obama has got that “big bad wolf” potential in him? Let me know your thoughts…..
Obama is very right to pinpoint proving his “forcefulness” as his priority. This will help him draw a distinction between his candidacy and his ideas about change and those of other candidates. In my opinion, he has only started to do that so far. His senior aides say that they have to spend a lot of their time taking calls from concerned supporters regarding Obama not challenging Mrs. Clinton more forcefully. If he doesn’t start to do so, he could lose the position of main opponent of Clinton to John Edwards and with that position gone, people will just stop paying attention to this candidate that has been able to hold on in this race for president. Do we think Obama has got that “big bad wolf” potential in him? Let me know your thoughts…..
4 comments:
Clearly Obama is feeling the pressure to prove his assertiveness with the onset of Hillary Clinton's recent double-digit lead in front of Obama. Unfortunately, I think that he has waited too long to finally stress the forcefulness a presidential candidate should have. Could it be too late for Obama to bounce back from such a large deficit? I guess we'll have to wait and see.
I definetly agree with Ana. It is obvious that Obama is starting to feel intimidated by Clinton's popularity and success in the presidential race. Much of his campaign has been him distinguishing the difference between his competitor, however, look where that has gotten him. Although many support him, Clinton is many steps ahead and it just might be too late for him to release his assertiveness in hopes of more attention. It is important that he uses this tactic, but would have been more beneficial earlier on in the race.
I do not think Obama needs to deliberately state that he will be more forceful. His voice should be his own, and if that means he is going to take a step back on certain issues, then so be it. If he feels strongly about a certain topic, then I would hope that he would voice his opinions across, but he does not have to say that he is going to try and be more forceful. This just makes him sound defensive.
I think Obama has so far been "playing nice" (at least nicer then most people would like) because he is going for the gold and the silver. I believe that Obama is thinking hey if I dont get the nomination I could possible get the VP spot. That way he gets some more experience, which most people would like, and he gets a more public position.
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