In his op-ed column today in the NY Times A Gift to the G.O.P., Bob Herbert talks about, to use Obama's phrase, the "urgency of now."
This should have been a year, writes Herbert, when the Democrats should have enjoyed a message driven campaign that
.... hammered the Republicans over the economy, the war, energy policy, health care, appointments to the Supreme Court, the failure to rebuild New Orleans, and so on
Instead the Democrats are imploding from every direction. From the "the fratricidal conflict that was made unnecessarily bitter by Bill and Hillary Clinton" to the "incredible shrieking pastors from the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, a place that might be good for the soul but is potentially ruinous for a presidential aspirant. "
Is there a chance to come out of this mess?
Only if they hurry. The party will have to exhibit extraordinary unity, coming together quickly to heal the wounds of this long and bitter primary. Senator Obama will have to develop (again, quickly) an exceptionally compelling economic program while trying to strengthen his appeal across ethnic and class lines
I agree strongly that Obama needs to create an economic program that speaks across class and race lines. Moroever, I have little doubt that Obama will do this in the months to come. This is his strength. He is after all an organizer who knows how to bring people together.
As far as a quick healing of the wounds and extraordinary unity among the divided campaigns I am less confident, one can only hope.
Update Always nice to read the hopeful comments of people at Daily Kos.