I was taking a peek at National Review's blog "The Corner" today to see if there was any inside info on turnout and private expectations for today's Florida Rethug primary, and I ran across some comments that stunned me. Keeping in mind that as partisans they're always going to exude the utmost confidence about their ideas and candidates, it's worth reprinting here how they are afraid of Obama.
The standard disclaimer: "I apologize if this has already been diaried and I missed it."
More below the jump.
These are comments by National Review bloggers after Obama's South Carolina primary win.
Kathryn Jean Lopez, whose favorite recent Senator is Rick Santorum:
I tell you, he almost had me tonight until he talked about the war that shouldn't have been authorized and reminded me there are real policy issues at stake in this election! But listening to his inspirational, rallying speech tonight it's clear and obvious that if he's the nominee, he will be tough to beat.
Mark R. Levin:
As I watched Obama's speech, I tried to imagine an Obama-McCain match-up. And I think McCain would get his clock cleaned, despite early polls and predictions to the contrary. McCain cannot unite conservatives (due largely to years of hostility toward them, regardless of endorsements) and he will not win over enough Democrats and Independents from Obama to make win.
Peter Wehner:
Barack Obama's speech tonight was simply exceptional — and a reminder of why he is one of the most remarkable political talents in our lifetime. He was able to speak in ways that seem to rise above conventional politics, even as he was able to masterfully push back against the Clinton attacks of the last several weeks. His capacity to touch and stir authentic emotions is remarkable. And unlike Clinton and especially Edwards, the Obama message is about unity, not divisions; and hopes rather than grievances. If Obama wins the Democratic nomination, Republicans have a great deal to fear. He has tremendous break-out potential.
His weaknesses remains his record and his views, which are conventionally and utterly liberal — and that matters a great deal.
Politics is, at the end of the day, about ideas and philosophy, not simply rhetoric. But, as all the great presidents have shown, rhetoric matters, too. Beyond that, Hillary Clinton is a conventional liberal, as is Obama; the difference is that Obama is a graceful and dignified person who draws people to him rather than drives them away. He is impossible to dislike. And when you see Obama and Clinton together, or back to back, is there any doubt who is the more impressive person — or the more formidable political figure?
Mark Steyn:
Actually, Mark [replying to a previous post by a fellow blogger], Obama is Kennedyesque in one respect: on the stump with supporters (in my experience), he's cool and a little remote and detached - and, like JFK pre-death, oddly unknowable. Maybe it's just in comparison with that oozing phony Edwards touting the same old mawkish driveling anecdotage from town to town.
Anyway, I don't suppose that's what Miss Kennedy means. All she's saying is that a big chunk of the country (and not all of them Democrats) want someone new, young and glamorous - and, if he's a member of an approved minority group, so much the better. He'd be tough for any Republican candidate, but, if Michael Graham's right, the Clinton machine will take care of the problem. Still, I'd be wary: With Obama in the Veep slot, there'd be enormous pressure to elect, accompanied by endless media stories about whether Americans were "finally mature enough" to vote for a female/African-American ticket.
This is all anecdotal, of course. And there are a couple other bloggers at The Corner disparaging Obama's general election strength.
But ultimately as an Obama supporter I take heart in reading what "the other side" has to say about my preferred nominee. They've got a built-in bias, after all, of disparaging all our candidates.
The Rethugs might be on their way of nominating their best general election candidate in McCain (although I hope Romney can win today and yet pull out the nomination), and I only hope we do the same.