Follow us on

Listen Live To Athens News & Weather Station Online Anywhere, Anytime

recent on-air advertisers

Now Playing

Athens News Leader Online
Listen Live To ...

Jamie Dupree's Washington Insider

Posted: 9:06 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, 2008

Team Clinton Zeroes In On Barack Obama 

By Jamie Dupree

With crucial battles in Ohio and Texas still two weeks away, the Clinton Camp has tried in recent days to chip away at Barack Obama on a number of fronts.

None of the attacks have been on issues that are deal breakers or anything, but in sum, it has been an effort by the Clinton camp to undermine Obama's credibility.

First, there was the issue of Obama moving away from his pledge to take public financing of his campaign. Able to raise huge sums of money, suddenly the idea of limiting your fund raising doesn't make as much sense. But for your opponent, changing your mind on that is a Reason To Jab.

Yesterday, it was the issue of "Whose Words Are They?" At issue were some Obama "riffs" from his speech that were very similar to stump speeches of Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts.

It wasn't really a Joe Biden moment, but it did give the media something to write about, something that was different than what the Obama Camp wanted to focus on for the day, I'm sure.

Does it really matter in the end?

"I really don't think this is too big of a deal," Obama said at a news conference.

But if you go to You Tube, the Clinton people are posting videos comparing Obama to Governor Patrick.

Like I said - it's not a deal breaker or anything, but if you are Team Clinton, you are trying to create some doubt in the minds of voters and trying to get focus some critical attention on Obama.

Obama reminds me a little of Ronald Reagan right now - not in terms of politics - but in that Obama might be a bit of a Teflon Candidate.  So far, he hasn't been tarred and feathered with much by the media and a lot of things just seem to bounce or slide off.

That's what makes Hillary Clinton's effort to overtake him so difficult and what makes some Republicans wonder whether it will be a hard job as well for John McCain in November.

   
   
 
 
 

© 2013 Cox Media Group. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad ChoicesAdChoices.