Obama Connects in South Carolina (by John Nichols for The Nation)

[marmar]

BLOG | Posted 04/26/2007 @ 10:22pm
Obama Connects in South Carolina
John Nichols

Before tonight's Democratic presidential debate on the campus of the South Carolina State University campus in Orangeburg, the state's leading Democrat, Congressman Jim Clyburn declared, "Obama has the momentum."

Clyburn, the savvy No. 3 Democrat in the U.S. House, is not backing anyone for the Democratic nomination.

Rather, he was stating a fact. Illinois Senator Barack Obama ☼ has come on strong in South Carolina, which will hold the first-in-the-south primary of 2OO8, as he has in many other parts of the country.

Recent South Carolina polls tend to show Obama closing in on -- and, in one survey, actually pulling ahead of, the contest's supposed frontrunner, New York Senator Hillary Clinton ☼. The other candidates, including former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, who won the South Carolina primary in 2OO4, are dropping further and further behind.

So why is Obama doing so well?

...(snip)...

It was not that the senator's answers on questions about the Iraq imbroglio were closest to the sentiments of Democratic voters in the state, where polls suggest that the party faithful are every bit as anti-war as Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich. It's not that the senator was as specific on economic justice issues as Edwards. It's not that the senator was as specific on foreign policy as New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. It's not that the senator was as blunt as former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel, who suggested that the tough-guy, tough-gal language of the front runners with regard to a possible war with Iran was enough to "scare" him. It's not that the senator was as good at getting a laugh as Delaware Senator John Biden -- who, after moderator Brian Williams referenced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair's "reputation for verbosity," responded to a question about whether he had the discipline to work with international leaders by delivering a one-word answer: "Yes."

But Obama knew how to touch the hearts and minds of the crowd on the campus of a historic black university when the issue of displaying the flag of the Confederacy came up. Speaking in a state where the issue of flying the Confederate flag on the grounds of the State Capitol and other public buildings remains a hot topic, Obama did not play word games. He did not equivocate.

After the moderator asked where it might be appropriate to display the symbol of the southern struggle to defend the sin of human bondage, Obama replied: "in a museum."

The crowd roared its approval.

Other candidates, including Clinton, have come out against flying Confederate flags on public grounds. But Obama, whose campaign is easily the most competitive ever waged for the presidency by a person of color, struck exactly the right chord. And in so doing he connected with the African Americans and white liberals who form the base of the Democratic party in a state that will hold the second Democratic primary of 2OO8, and the first Democratic vote of the cycle in a state that is not overwhelmingly white. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=190489

[BeyondGeography]

1. That was the line of the night

Some of us noticed right away, and it's certainly a big reason why Obama won this post-debate survey of South Carolina voters:

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6434482

It also sailed completely over the heads of the pundits, who blathered incessantly about terra and the relative toughness of the candidates. Only Tucker Carlson mentioned the Confederate flag comment in passing, saying that it got the biggest response of the evening.

[Colobo]

2. Excellent!

[Left Turn]

3. Obama v. Clinton Debate

Sounds like the "debate" didn't advance either candidate, not like anyone expected it to. Here's CBS coverage on it...http://tinyurl.com/37ko4z

[bigdarryl]

4. Tell that to Mathews, Tucker Buchannon and Scarbough they were all having an ORGASM ...

saying Hillary was the most Presidential and Obama was to nervous and didn't have specifics on problems. It just goes to show you how out of touch these Washington pundits are from regular folks.

[illinoisprogressive]

6. they don't understand Obama and love the establishment candidate.

This is not helping hillary convincing those of us who are not excited about her. View her with suspicion. they cannot see they just drive home the same feelings that keep us from supporting her.

[illinoisprogressive]

5. Obama was the most presidential and the most underrated

those of the pundit class do not understand Obama or how he connects. It's not appreciated when he is not doing his stump speech. they don't see the quiet depth and intellegence. They don't understand why he won't go for the easy red meat stuff.
They perfer the standard establishment and yesterday style of hillary.
Or the netroots fanize poster boy Edwards.
I thought Hillary did pretty well but, was not more to me than coming off as the competent senator she is. I did not feel like she made me want her as a president. I saw a very good senator.
I want to like John Edwards. I really do. But, I cannot get over the red light inside me of suspicion or the constant unreasonableness of his fans. It makes it difficult to like the man when the fans insist he walks on water.
I cannot help the suspicion and the feeling of his programs sounding like the stuff from the 70s.
I would like either to really grab me and make their case and make me feel comfortable about them.
I an not being mean. I just have that feeling inside. And I really want to like them.