Similarities to Clinton land Obama in a tough spot

[DeepModem Mom]

Boston Globe: Similarities to Clinton land Obama in a tough spot
To stay positive, he refrains from attacking character
By Scott Helman, Globe Staff | October 30, 2007

The Iraq war. Healthcare. Diplomacy. Iran.

In the nine months since launching his insurgent campaign for president, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois has seized on a slew of issues in trying to set himself apart from Senator Hillary Clinton of New York. But with Clinton's dominance unabated, there is little evidence Obama has made headway on any of them.

Poll after poll shows Clinton not only leading the Democratic field, but also leading on issues on which Obama has sought to gain advantage. Likely voters say that they see Clinton as the best candidate to fix Iraq. They trust her over her rivals to solve the healthcare crisis. And they believe she would bring change to Washington.

Part of Obama's problem, analysts say, is that despite how hard his campaign is working to highlight its differences - he is vowing again this week to take her on more directly - he and Clinton are simply not far apart on major issues. "It's Wal-Mart and Kmart - they're occupying the same space," said Benjamin Ginsberg, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore

That, analysts say, puts Obama in something of a box: If he and Clinton are too alike on substance and policy, Clinton's character should be his prime target - but to attack that would undermine the unifying, positive message of his candidacy. Obama's best hope, analysts say, is his organizational strength in the first state to vote, Iowa, where polls show a tight race....

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/30/similarities_to_clinton_land_obama_in_a_tough_spot/

[Cameron27]

1. Interesting

thanks

[MethuenProgressive]

2. Excellent analysis.

If he wants the VP spot he should act like himself, not like a Republican.

[Forkboy]

3. Been saying they're virtually the same all along.

Which is why neither one is high on my list.

It's also why the fights between the camps are so hilarious.

[journalist3072]

4. There is one major difference between Obama and Clinton

Clinton has class; Obama does not.

[Bitwit1234]

5. You said it....the trashing and bashing he has started has dropped

his ratings for a lot of people. Is this man so desperate to win the nomination he will resort to the republican way. Hell he might as well be a republican.

The Hillary bashers on the journal are calling Hillary republican light well he is full out non stop republican. He'll win at any cost...and let the people who really supported him fall by the way.

[journalist3072]

6. Precisely...eom

[cuke]

7. Going negative always hurts the one going negative

Obama is dead man walking. He can't possibly distinguish himself