A funny thing happened on the way to the Democratic nomination. While the traditional media engaged in a feeding frenzy about Rev. Wright and the Clinton campaign threw the kitchen sink at Obama, he just kept moving towards the nomination, largely unfazed by the drama. Today's NY Times has an interesting analysis of the state of the Democratic primary, which captures that dynamic:
Still, despite a series of trials that have put Mr. Obama on the defensive and illustrated the burdens he might carry in a fall campaign, the Obama campaign is rolling along, leaving Mrs. Clinton with dwindling options.Obama just keeps his eye on the prize.
Mr. Obama continues to pick up the support of superdelegates — elected Democrats and party leaders — at a quicker pace than Mrs. Clinton.
On Thursday, he got a boost from a high-profile defection: Joe Andrew, a former Democratic national chairman appointed by former President Bill Clinton, said he had changed his mind and would back Mr. Obama. Even after Mrs. Clinton’s victory in Pennsylvania, Mr. Obama has held on to a solid lead in pledged delegates, those selected by the voting in primaries and caucuses.
Although Mrs. Clinton has cut into Mr. Obama’s popular vote lead, it would be difficult for her to overtake him without counting the disputed results in Florida and perhaps Michigan.
By and large, the group that matters most at this point — the uncommitted superdelegates, who are likely to hold the balance of power — still seem to view their decision the way the Obama campaign would like them to see it. They suggest that they are more sympathetic to the argument that they should follow the will of the voters as expressed by the delegates amassed by the candidates when the primary season is done rather than following Mrs. Clinton’s admonitions to select the candidate they think would best be able to defeat Senator John McCain and the Republicans in November.
I've been struck by the way the media really, really wants the Obama campaign to play the game their way. On Tuesday, after Obama did the press conference about Rev. Wright, I was watching CNN. I was struck by these comments:
VOICE OF CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. He used two words. He said he was saddened, and he was angered. And I tell you, this is not a man given to a lot of public emotion. I think we -- he has been kind of calm and cool throughout this entire campaign.It really sounded like the idea that Obama has been "kind of cool and calm" was a problem for Crowley. That's probably the buzz among the press corps.
I have not seen him -- and it may not have come across on the TV. It's hard to know when you're in the room. But he was clearly seething and he was clearly upset, particularly when he was asked about his future relationship with Jeremiah Wright.
The traditional media loves drama. The Clintons provide endless amounts of drama. But, while the drama is swirling, Obama just keeps moving towards the nomination. He has stayed focused. His campaign has been free of internal warfare. They've been able to largely ignore the hysterical punditry, who shouldn't have any role in the Democratic nomination process. As the NY Times put it, the Obama campaign is rolling along."
