Obama’s Work Has Just
Begun
June 3, 2008
As of today, Barack Obama seems to have enough delegates
to secure his nomination for President representing the Democratic Party.
This is certainly a historical moment for the United States. A young black
man rising in a short time to become a presidential nominee is incredible
and good for America.
Obama as the presumptive nominee has one big problem. He
has to get elected this fall to be President and nothing in American
politics will insure he is. Just because millions like him does not mean he
will be successful. His opponent and his party will be working very hard to
defeat him using facts and lies and attacking every word or position he has
on everything.
Republicans are politically hysterical as they are
depressed after loosing seats in 2006 and this year. They know they are in
trouble and are not sure what to do about it. What they do know how to do is
to fight and do it down and dirty, pulling no punches. Telling lies is part
of their strategy as we have seen in 2000 and 2004.
This then points out the other problems Obama has to get
elected:
-
He must
never underestimate his opponents. Be prepared for anything. Remember
his opponents will come from all sides including the Democrats feeling
disaffected, slighted and marginalized.
-
He must
reach out and get support from Hillary Clinton and her supporters. He
cannot win without them. For example he and his supporters must stop
implying whites are racists if they support Hillary. Her supporters were
with her before there was a candidate Obama.
-
He must reach out
and direct his message to undecided voters including many, many Republicans who are
disenchanted with their party and their presumptive candidate.
-
He must “Get out
the vote” and understand that young people do not vote like
they say they will. They never have, at least not for the last 30 years.
Those who supported him in the caucuses where he did well, will not turn
out in large numbers this fall. But he needs to keep trying.
-
He must
understand his weaknesses which are: lack of national political experience, his liberalism and his blackness including his church. He must not let those things get in the way of
his message.
Obama’s “road to the White House” has just started. How
handles his candidacy will show how he will act as President and all sides
will watch that.
