WP, Eugene Robinson: The Electability Thing

[DeepModem Mom]

The Electability Thing
By Eugene Robinson
Friday, February 1, 2008; Page A21

....Did someone mention John McCain? Maybe I'm missing something, but I haven't completely bought into the consensus view that the Arizona senator would be the tougher opponent for either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.

I assume that if McCain gets the Republican nomination, true-believer conservatives will agree to a cease-fire and fall in line. They might do so more quickly and more passionately if Clinton is the Democratic nominee, but it's crazy to imagine that Rush Limbaugh and his ilk would give Obama an easier time than Hillary. And McCain's apostasy does, at least superficially, seem likely to attract more support from independents than Mitt Romney's newfound orthodoxy.

But after George W. Bush's military misadventures -- with more than 150,000 U.S. troops still in Iraq, the Taliban resurgent in Afghanistan, and the United States and Iran engaged in what amounts to a new Cold War -- are independents going to vote for a man who promises that "there will be other wars," as McCain has said? With the U.S. economy at a near standstill and soon-to-retire baby boomers watching their home equity and their 401(k) savings accounts evaporate, are people going to elect a man who admits he doesn't understand economics all that well? And while Chuck Norris deserved to be slammed for the way he talked about McCain's age, it is an issue....

***

Clinton's big problem is The Whole Clinton Thing -- the specter of Bill's return to center stage, the all-too-familiar politics of triangulation, the psychodrama of the marriage, the fact that they've already had eight years in the White House. The prospect of a Restoration so energizes Republicans that the party would try its best to forgive McCain's transgressions or Romney's artificiality in the interest of unity against a clear and present threat. It would be total war.

Obama has the magic, no doubt about it. Of all the major candidates, I believe he has the most crossover appeal; I know dyed-in-the-wool conservative Republicans who are so mesmerized by his oratory that they say they would actually vote for him over McCain or Romney. But the "experience" question is real, and if he's not careful, it has the potential to sink him. One bad stumble during the fall campaign could be enough to convince voters that he's not ready.

Obama may have the best chance to win big in November and receive a broad mandate. But if he were to make mistakes, he may also be more likely than the others to lose big.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/31/AR2008013102548.html?nav=most_emailed

[DURHAM D]

1. I think Eugene has become rather sad.

His Obama puffing has become difficult to watch.

[JimGinPA]

2. His observations are right on the mark.

Obama is far more electable. Period.

[REDFISHBLUEFISH]

5. Not really. Repubs are lying in wait

But Republicans will not coddle him. They will in hopes he gets nomination. After that his negative press will increase faster then you can imagine.

Drugs, Tiesto corruption that FLY in the face of his "change" mantra, His inexperience, His changed veiws (yep he is incnsistent) and other things will be ALL over the airwaves.

He would lose by minimum 5 points.

Kerry was a shoe in too...Far left SHOOTS the center then expects support.
McCain willget the center, and by a WIDE margin...vs Obama.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. I do think he's more favorable toward Obama on TV, but thought...

his assessment in this column was an interesting, and pretty fair-minded, take on the electability of all four candidates. I'm an Obama supporter, but like Hillary, and try to be a neutral poster of articles. In the last few days, there have been lots of Obama articles, and they, in fact, have been for the most part glowing.

[maximusveritas]

4. At least he's trying to be fair instead of just attacking one candidate

like some other supposedly liberal columnists do.

[Captain Hilts]

6. He's a blatant Obama supporter. Which is okay, if only he would admit it. nt