It's certainly not an original comparison, and I've certainly used the analogy ad nauseum in diaries and comments on this and other sites. But, Obama is playing the 2008 election like a masterful boxer. Many comparisons have been made between Obama's campaign strategy and Muhammad Ali's classic rope-a-dope approach to letting an opponent literally box themselves out of a match, while opening themselves up to a devastating counterattack.
Well, in perusing through the L.A. Times' candidates galleries, look what I found! Yes, that portrait hanging above Obama is Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston after a knockout in their heavyweight championship rematch. This photo dates back to 2004, and shows Obama editing his DNC keynote address.
http://www.latimes.com/...
Channeling a heavyweight champion -- not a bad role model for winning an election.
OBAMA - SPORTS FAN
Obama knows his sports (his interviews on Ed Schultz's program always include some talk about sports, and Obama's very much up to speed on those topics), and if he's taking cues from Ali, that means that he's taking a very strategic approach to this contest, and McCain's falling into a vintage puncher's trap.
For all the talk about elitism, Obama can talk football or basketball like any average Joe. He just happens to have other interests as well.
MCCAIN THE PUNCHER VS. OBAMA THE BOXER
John McCain's all-offense/no-defense style of campaigning is stylistically opposed to Obama approach of strong defense accompanied by strategically timed and directed counterattacks. This campaign is very much like a puncher vs. boxer matchup in boxing. McCain's the puncher, while Obama's the boxer.
A puncher always has a "puncher's chance" of landing one blow in just the right spot that will knock out an opponent.
But, punchers typically fade down the stretch, and if they cannot land an early knockout, then they are susceptible to getting knocked out themselves in the later rounds. And more often than not, if the contest goes the distance, then the boxer will usually win out on points over the puncher.
THE CAMPAIGN AS A BOXING MATCH
The political comparisons with boxing matches are legion and yes, cliched. But, it seems that this season more so than in past elections, the comparison is quite apt.
Obama knows that a boxer basically has to weather the early flurry from the puncher, so he primarily took a defensive posture early on. He knew that McCain and the entire GOP slime machine would throw any number of innuendos and manufactured controversies (call them low blows, which in boxing are illegal so long as they are visible to the referee and judges).
But, starting with the week prior to the DNC, Obama began to counterpunch after McCain's initial volleys failed to connect. And Obama's counterpunches did land and did do damage to McCain.
McCain tried another flurry of direct punches and low blows. Some of them did connect, but no major damage to Obama.
But, rather than try a more strategic approach, rather than a merely tactical one, McCain decided last week to disguise yet another low blow, and this time it not only missed, but McCain left his entire frontal side exposed. Obama landed some blows that have now left McCain staggered.
THE SCORECARDS
In boxing terms, Obama's now clearly ahead on points and we're into the late rounds. McCain's entire strategy is nonexistent other than keep punching and hope something lands. Obama now has a weakened opponent, and can pick his spots from which to try a knockout blow of his own (e.g., Keating 5, McCain's gambling habit, lobbyist ties, etc.).
But, he cannot let down his guard and presume that the judges will give him the match should it go the distance (we already know what can happen if a contest goes to the judges -- e.g., Gore-Bush 2000). Keep the big picture and the overall strategy in mind, stay focused on the opponent and remember what got him to this point.