I’ve had a number of emails from folks suggesting I am disrespecting the hardworking campaign canvassers and volunteers working hard on the Obama campaign for having reported that at least two paying guests at the Obama fundraiser last night in Philadelphia thought that there was a bit of “inevitability” woven into the evening.
First, I mean no disrespect to any campaign workers. My comments are not about you and what you are trying to do. My comments were about a dinner and the atmosphere there.
Second, my job is not to get Barack Obama elected. I respect those trying to get him into the White House and generally think on most days that that is what I want to — but don’t confuse this blog as an advocacy shop for Barack Obama or for John McCain.
Most importantly though, if the Obama team is going to succeed, it needs to feel and hear feedback — just like I do on this blog and elsewhere. I stand by the report I offered.
Hillary Clinton ran on “inevitability” at one point during her primary challenge, and this, I think, contributed to her losing. I believe it would be a mistake for Obama to tilt in that direction — and while some say that that observation is not what they are seeing, I am hearing that kind of trend from multiple sources.
So, best thing to do is for the campaign to hear the comments whispered by some of their paying supporters, adjust, and move on. Obama is probably going to win this race — but there are hiccups that can occur and too much confidence about the end game can be harmful. . .from my point of view. And given that this is my blog, my point of view is what matters here.
But I do wish all canvass workers and those in the field for either campaign, but particularly Obama’s in this case, all the best. The more I get to know Obama, the more I tend to like him and what he stands for — but I will not acquiesce to what I consider to be sloppy or misguided politics or policy. Those that want a blog just to be part of the sound machine in favor of Obama with no questions or feedback really need to read other stuff.
One more interesting thing on the dinner though is that it was the biggest fundraiser — as measure by funds raised — in the history of Pennsylvania, estimated at $5 million.
One of the funnier things I have heard out of the evening was that the hosts didn’t seat Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell at Obama’s table — and Rendell spent much of the evening letting just about everyone in earshot know he was none too pleased. . .
More later.
— Steve Clemons
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