Sometimes politics is all about gut reaction; our eyes tell us lies we want to believe. I can't help but feel Hillary Clinton is right and the tide is turning despite the maths. This feeling from Obama's inability to land the knockout punch and this in turn comes from his failure to erode her support in her core demographics, most notably amoung blue-collar workers. Essentially, the progressive coaltion that he wants to build is fragmented between the two candidates.
Drastic change needs now to happen. Exit polls have shown that the main issue on peoples mind is the economy however, like the issue of national security, the issue will in effect by the people who trust to be the steadiest pair of hands. This is what lies behind the Clinton offensive, undermine Obama on one issue and naturally peoples assesment of his competencies in others is diminished. She has been given free rein to peddle the 'politics of fear' and guess what? It works. Looking over the Pennslyvania exit polls shows that Clinton seized the advantage amoung those who decided at the last minute.
However, there is scope for a fight back. Her remarks on Iran show the dangers of a Clinton Presidency. Its time to raise in people the fear of a barbaric collective collective punishment of the people of Iran. Its time to raise the fear of an already shattered Iraq collapsing as an incensed Shia respond to such an attack; not to mention the impetus it would give to Al Quaeda. If people think Iraq was a disaster then this would be ten times worse. It is most definatly time for Obama to debunk the myth she is a safe pair of hands, her comments show she isnt; in fact, his more measured commitment to 'appropiate action' shows the reverse to be true. She would go storming in and ask questions later; he would asses the situation. Calling her 'Annie Oakley with a gun' maybe a witty riposte but practically it isn't very damaging; what would be is making people think of the cost of a Clinton Presidency in terms of lives lost.
Another issue needs raising by the Obama campaign and that is the question of her character. Her recent venom directed towards Move On shows that she is more than willing to turn on the Democratic Party as a whole if her will is not done; let's be blunt, she would do or say anything to get into power (and has been caught doing this). She needs to be seperated from her base and Obama hasn't effectively done that; if he fails there could be wider implications for the Novemeber election. My feeling is that to her base he largely comes across as a flashy idealist who lacks her grit and guile; this is another good reason to be more determindly combative. Politics is dirty, politics is rough. Much though we look to the stars we must also wrestle in the mud.