To Obama: Stay Positive!

We're all impatient to end this primary and get on to the general election. The math, as we've known for months, makes it close to impossible for Hillary to win at this point. She is sticking it out, it seems, just to knock him down so that he'll be unelectable in the eyes of superdelegates, or that he'll lose in the general election so she can run in 2012. But here's my advice to you Barack: Don't take the bait!

Much of Barack Obama's appeal has been his positive messaging. For much of the campaign he has been able to successfully parry back against attacks while continuing to remain above the fray. But in the last days before the PA primary he started going more negative: on guns, health care and trade. Now there are stories circulating that suggest he'll drudge up old Clinton scandals.

Don't go there! It is not necessary. Be patient and people will continue to rally to the positive message as they have all along. There is a thirst for a new politics in this country. Hillary Clinton is so cynical that she will assassinate hope itself if that's what it takes to get power. But Obama only suffers if he fights the same game.

There is a time to go negative, but this is not it. We need to make sure that Hillary supporters come to Obama's side for the fall, and that we don't lose Independents in a slugfest.  The hard edge pleases us around here but it turns off a lot of voters who find him a refreshing change.

That's really all I wanted to say. Barack Obama will win this nomination. The only question is whether or not he continues cultivating the high road as he has done all along, or whether he gets dragged into the ditch by Clinton. The latter would make him a damaged candidate for the fall. The former makes him stronger. Stay positive!

•  He's gotta fight back

  I understand where you're coming from. Just a short three weeks ago, I mentioned that Obama should not go negative against Clinton. But look at the damage she's done to his reputation.

  Clinton is unelectable. She cannot win the nomination or the general election. Her negatives are too high. Obama, on the other hand, has the opportunity to still win the general election. Obama should bring up the honesty issue, and remind people why they need a president who does not mislead the American people. We've already witnessed Hillary being caught in a few whoppers, such as sniper attacks in Bosnia.

  I think Obama should not go into the Monical Lewinsky stuff but Whitewater, File Gate, her disastrous performance on health care are all fair game.

  One other thing, Obama needs to change the narrative. He needs some new campaign stump speeches. People are starting to tune him out because they've heard his stories over and over again.

  by wisconsin girl on Wed Apr 23, 2008 at 06:51:31 PM PDT

  •  I agree.

    The reality of politics is that eventually you have to beat the hell from your opponent.  John Kerry learned that much too late.

    by djtyg on Wed Apr 23, 2008 at 07:11:01 PM PDT

  •  Fight back yes? Different from negative?

    Defending yourself from attack is critical. But that's different than going negative. I'm talking about the mailers going out on trade and health care, or the robocalls on guns. That stuff is useless and just tarnishes his reputation.

    by Elrod on Wed Apr 23, 2008 at 07:17:29 PM PDT