Dear Mr. Axelrod:

I saw your interview last week with Katie Couric and I think everything went well, except for one point that flashed a huge red flag the minute I heard it--when you said that Obama did too many "iconic" rally-type speeches at the beginning of this campaign.  I respectfully disagree.

In my humble opinion, the one way to jump-start some momentum before the Indiana and North Carolina primaries is something totally within Obama's  power to do--return to those rallies.  Even better, Obama should give a major anti-war speech about the war in Iraq before May 6 in Indiana, and use the big-rally format.  My reasons are listed below.

In my rabid search for political news regarding the Democratic nomination I somehow ended up clicking a link which was like a portkey (for those Harry Potter fans) to a new website (to me, anyway).  There I found a story with video about the aftermath of the Pennsylvania Primary and a news reporter's interview with activist Tom Hayden.  Below the fold is the interview.

The Clinton campaign traffics in disinformation, repeating lies until people believe them.  They flip reality 180 degrees, as in "maybe I'll make Senator Obama my running mate", the implication being that Clinton is ahead in this race.

The absurdity of such a line isn't lost on us, who know that Obama has, by every measure, already won.  But lots of people don't.  Yes, there are articles out there, e.g., the Slate delegate calculator, the excellent analysis by JedReport.  But most of the electorate haven't read them.  They rely on CNN and MSNBC for their news, and I have yet to see them honestly report the numbers in this race.  In Pennsylvania, there are probably many people who do not know how far behind Clinton is. Some may actually believe that a win in their state could put her ahead of Obama.  That is, to quote another Clinton, a "fairy tale."  

We have to get the truth out there, folks.  The media doesn't have to call Obama's lead "insurmountable", but they need to report the numbers. I think the facts will show that Obama is already the winner, and when that happens, the bottom may just fall out of the Clinton campaign.  

This is an open letter to you, Senator Obama.  I am a huge supporter. But I'm just an ordinary person, and I need to ask you an important question and don't know any other meaningful way to go about getting your attention.  I know you are a very busy person, with tons of issues to deal with everyday, but I have been watching this Democratic contest very closely since you won Iowa, and there is one thing I am really very concerned about.  Of all the casualties of this long, drawn-out campaign, the biggest one of all is HOPE.

Where has the HOPE gone, Senator Obama?