After winning the Iowa caucus on the democratic ticket, the pundits were all raving about Obama and for good reason. He got a big financial boost from the victory but didn't his support basically come from an unprecedented number of new young independent enthusiasts? Historically speaking, younger people don't get out and vote in big numbers in a general election.
Obama's public speaking skills and remarkable ability to think on his feet certainly make him a viable candidate for the office of President of the United States. In my opinion, his acceptance speech in Iowa was indeed memorable. I remember another candidate with such impressive oratory skills, Bill Clinton.
As the primary victories increase for both Barack and Hillary, the rhetoric heats up. The South Carolina primary campaign saw the Clinton machine ruffle the feathers of some in the Democratic Party as Bill Clinton made several calculated remarks in reference to Barack. With the Clinton machine's money and power backing, one tended to see Barack as the underdog, taking all the flack but he won South Carolina by a significant margin.
Rumor had it that the democratic party "big wigs" asked President Clinton to tone down the rhetoric. He, of course, didn't and then, seemingly out of the blue, the Kennedy family endorsed Obama. With a great deal or grandiose gesture, Ted Kennedy , complete with Caroline, JFK's daughter, standing by his side declared his undying allegiance to Barack Obama in his run for the presidency!
The playing field has been leveled. It's the Clinton machine against the Kennedy machine, politics as usual. The mantra has become Barack for change for the future, Hillary, same old Washington bureaucracy. However, now Barack has become the golden boy of the Kennedy clan. How can we speak of Obama as an inspirational hope for the future when he is now immersed in the past. Bill and Hillary are light weights compared to the Kennedy political clout.
In watching the roller coaster of political primaries on the democratic side, both candidates exhibit admirable qualities. Barack inspires, stimulates, enthralls his audience when he speaks; however, for me he's just a little too ethereal. Hillary, on the other hand, doesn't have the mesmerizing ability of Barack or Bill to leave the audience breathless but I like her down to earth, planned out proposals.
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