Here's what Obama has to do to win.

[calteacherguy]

Convince America he has skills equal to Hillary Clinton to formulate an effective foreign policy, protect the nation, and be an effective Commander in Chief.

The greatest concerns Democrats have with Clinton are her trustworthiness, evasiveness, and divisiveness.

The greatest concerns Democrats have with Obama are his experience and ability to be "strong" Commander in Chief (national security concerns). But..they trust and like him more than Clinton already, and that's a big plus.

This puts Obama at an advantage. It won't be as easy (or even possible) for Hillary to undo concerns about her trustworthiness and evasiveness as it will be for Obama to assure voters he is ready to lead, protect the nation, and formulate an effective foreign policy.

Advantage Obama.

[polichick]

1. If Obama wants to have even a prayer of winning...

He'd better eat his ridiculous words about the baby boom generation BUT FAST! (See related threads.)

[ClarkUSA]

4. He wasn't saying anything critical about the baby boom generation.

He was talking about being the most capable of: a) transcending the vicious two-sided political partisanship that has poisoned
the well of governmental politics since the 60's and b) uniting all Americans of all political persuasions into working together
to make this country work towards a brighter future, which is not a surprising point given his strong crossover appeal and
strength among independents and moderate Republicans.

That's my quick take, anyway.

[polichick]

5. But those battles have not yet been won BECAUSE of those...

...he wants us to unite with. We have a long way to go on civil rights, the environment, peace, etc. and we won't get there by constantly compromising with the Republicans, who are even more against those things than they used to be.

[ClarkUSA]

6. "Working with" does not mean "compromising" core progressive principles in his book.

He has said as much (I don't have a link, sorry).

His career bio, especially in the Illinois State Legislature, is illustrative of his ability to get Republicans to come over to our side
in order to get progressive legislation passed. Beneath that velvet exterior lies a steel spine and the soul of the ghetto community
organizer he once was.

[AndyTiedye]

7. His Selection of Donnie McLurkin for His Fundraiser Suggests Otherwise

Nothing progressive about that. He was throwing progressive under the bus to pander to the homophobic religious wrong.

"Working with" does not mean "compromising" core progressive principles in his book.

[ClarkUSA]

14. That's a completely false analogy.

I was speaking of passing legislation with the help of Republicans, and yes, he helped pass landmark LGBT
rights legislation while he was in Illinois.

See: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3692459#3694914

[ClarkUSA]

2. The 200+ foreign policy experts who've endorsed Obama need to cut a commercial.

More information is here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3692752&mesg_id=3692752

[surfermaw]

3. With what we have that is easy to understand

I suppose the nation is thinking about what we have in office as President now and are afraid to trust most any one at this point.

[Colobo]

8. Obama is convincing Iowans of that...

and after they make him the winner, then the rest of the Nation will follow. Gobama.

[CyberPieHole]

9. If they "like him more than Clinton" why isn't that reflected in the polls?

He's still lagging behind. I think Obama's lack of experience combined with his irresponsible practice of missing important Senate votes does not bode well for America. What Obama needs to win, is experience. Bush has proven to us that the presidency should not involve "on the job training".

[illinoisprogressive]

10. Funny how people think he is inexperienced when he had 8 years in the state

on top of his 3 in the US senate. Plus, he was known as a policy wonk in the state senate.

[rucky]

12. Dodd, Biden, Richardson, Kucinich

just sayin'

I like Obama for other reasons, but to hear the debate between him, Clinton and Edwards over who's most experienced is sorta silly, considering who they're sharing the stage with.

[Odin2005]

13. I'm getting the feeling that "inexperienced" is being used subconsciously as a ephemism for...

..."not a Baby Boomer" At least that's what the knee-jerk bashing that occurs when Obama criticizes the politics of division created by Boomer culture warriors seems to be indicating.

[rucky]

11. You mean be more like Biden?

:evilgrin: