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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Think Right, Move Right.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Results from two races — Hillary Clinton in West Virginia and Democrat Travis Childers in Mississippi — offer a window into November’s general election.
“The White House is won in the swing states, and I am winning the swing states,” Clinton said after her West Virginia blow-out, 67-26. Sure, the demographics were favorable to her. The state’s 95 percent white, poorer and more rural than most. But it was an impressive win, nevertheless.
Barack Obama’s inability to sell himself to voters across the country who fit the demographics of the West Virginia Democratic voter will sink him in November. Once past race, he is the standard-issue liberal Democrat that the nation rejects repeatedly. Hillary’s point is valid. The states she’s taking are the ones that will determine whether she, Obama or John McCain occupy the White House next January.
Obama, looking past Hillary, appears determined to run against George W. Bush — something the campaign’s obviously polled, but hardly makes any sense to those of us who see a world of difference between Bush and the maverick McCain. “This is our chance,” said Obama in swing-state Missouri Tuesday, “to build a new majority of Democrats and independents and Republicans who know that four more years of George Bush just won’t do.”
And then, said the broken record: “This is our moment to turn the page on the divisions and distractions that pass for politics in Washington.” Take a look at this Congress, where Obama’s party dominates, and identify one program area that represents an effort or even a willingness to “turn the page.” Pages may turn, yes. But back to the earlier how-to chapters on building the welfare state.
Interestingly in West Virginia, half of the voters polled believe Obama shares, to some degree, the views of the Rev. Jermiah Wright. Six of seven of those voted for Hillary.
The other race that offered insights into November was in the 1st Congressional District of Mississippi, where Democrat Childers defeated Republican Greg Davis in a special election to replace Roger Wicker, who was appointed to fill Trent Lott’s Senate seat.
Childers won 51-49 in a district Republicans have held since 1994. He won the way Democrats win statewide in the South: As a pro-life conservative who appeals on gun rights and social issues. Republican may be a tarnished brand this election cycle but in the South at least, Conservative is not.
The message for the general election: Think Right, Move Right.
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