Obama ..... fine- tuning

[MoJoWorkin]

Another good write-up from the Dallas Morning News Editorial board:


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/DN-texpres_23edi.ART.State.Edition1.4687709.html



Debate shows what's right with Obama message


12:00 AM CST on Saturday, February 23, 2008


This has been a busy week for the Democratic side of the presidential campaign in Texas – a barnburner of a rally for Barack Obama at Reunion Arena and a critical debate in Austin where Hillary Clinton was unable to chip away at his momentum.

In many ways, Thursday's debate was emblematic of what's wrong with the Clinton message, what's right with Mr. Obama's and why this newspaper has recommended him as the better Democratic candidate.

Both candidates were strong and passionate; they agreed more than they differed during the debate on the University of Texas campus. But, as he has done during the entire campaign, Mr. Obama emerged increasingly self-assured and focused. He presented a sharp contrast to Mrs. Clinton, whose sharpest criticism, a clumsy and hollow plagiarism accusation, deservedly fell flat and drew boos.

And unlike Mr. Obama's packed-to-the-rafters Dallas speech, a Clinton campaign stop Friday at an Oak Cliff parking lot lacked both energy and turnout. It had the feel of a tired, fading campaign.

Mr. Obama is increasingly fine-tuning his voice as Mrs. Clinton has lost hers. That is what we would expect from a man focused more on the future than on the past. Mr. Obama continues to dispel claims that he's not ready for the Oval Office, and he does it with poise and without divisive, negative politics.

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The Illinois senator continues to grow into his own front-runner role, as evidenced by both his style and substance in the Thursday night debate. He strikes us as, between the two Democrats, most capable of healing our nation's racial wounds while reshaping our image around the world.