What Goes On

Obama on a Roll - Andrew Sullivan

I think the basic question a lot of Democrats will have to ask themselves in the coming presidential election is whether they want Sen. Clinton as the Democratic nominee or if they want to win the presidency. I honestly have a hard time seeing how someone who inspires such a knee-jerk reaction in so many people can succeed in a national election. Sen. Clinton is in the same position as someone like Mitt Romney. Sure, they will carry the base if the base has no choice, but votes beyond the base will be hard to come by. Sen. Obama has the advantage of less negative associations while being a liberal Democrat through and through. I think what makes Sen. Obama so appealing to independents and disenchanted Republicans is his ability to state convictions. He's not afraid to voice his opinion, or at least something that looks like a genuine opinion. He has an aura of authenticity that is hard to beat.