Completely Unnecessary

Is it the finally-stated preference of a highly-coveted superdelegate? Will this finally tip the balance of power?

Worlds of no.

Here’s the deal, I missed the primary for Democrats Abroad because I was at The Killing Fields. It was obviously much more delightful than online voting, but still the opportunity to have my voice heard and vote counted was lost. Woe.

But it was good, in a way, because I really hadn’t made up my fucking mind. I like both Obama and Clinton; I think they’d both be good presidents. Obama is from my home state and his speeches inspire. Clinton is a great debater and has a vagina, just. like. me.

I should say, first, that I’d be more than happy with either candidate as the nominee, and will happily throw my blood, sweat and tears behind either. I think a Democrat will win the election either way, but I also like to hedge my bets.

I am, to Jeremy’s great consternation, a political pragmatist. And with McCain as the presumptive Republican nominee, it’s time to get practical. And to again use my blog as a soapbox for which the public has not clamored.

Here is my thinking:

1. McCain is good at pulling independents. The only person in the race that seems to have an equal draw on this coveted group is Obama. A 50/50 split is better than many of them breaking McCain’s way.
2. The media love McCain. His talking points and his spin become the news; they ignore his gaffes. His ‘comeback kid’ story is going to be a highlight of the General, especially because the media love reveling in a story they created. The only person they seem to love as much is Obama. Clinton will spend the entire General getting hammered by the media, who will do the RNC’s work for it.
3. McCain seems as though he’s going to use Iraq as the centerpiece of his campaign. Obama doesn’t have an Iraq vote to account for, which will allow him to hammer McCain on this issue in a way that Clinton just won’t be able to match. America wants out, and Obama never wanted in.
4. Thank Kennedy (and Reagan) for this, but Obama makes McCain look old. On TV, when they go head to head in the debates, it’s going to matter. We got slammed in ‘04 by the Rove Machine, which made the Dems appear to have a ‘feminine’ candidate in contention against the ‘virile’ Bush. Turnabout is fair play, especially when we don’t have to play dirty for the advantage.

It’s funny, I’m so excited about both these candidates that I’m completely unexcited about having to choose between them. Even as I’m writing this, something in me is like, ‘but Clinton…’

But there it is. I think their presidencies would be pretty similar, so I’m shopping for a candidate. Against McCain, I think Obama is the stronger candidate, which I didn’t necessarily think was the case against other Republicans. I think he’s the best match for McCain’s strengths.

We need enthusiasm to wrench the Senate away from the grasping hands of Joe Lieberman and get finally health care passed. And lots of other stuff, too, but those are the first two that come to mind. I think Obama’s ‘New Camelot’ is the easiest way to do it. It’s political expediency, but after the last seven years, I want a lock.

Against McCain, Clinton is just uncertain enough to make me choose between them.

Anyone else have opinions?

*- You haven’t been waiting for it.

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