The Wall Street Journal
September 5, 2008
Obama Camp Parries Palin Delicately
By CHRISTOPHER COOPER and COREY DADE
September 5, 2008
YORK, Pa. -- Barack Obama finds himself in the same delicate political situation he faced in the primaries: how to punch back against a hard-hitting female opponent without offending women. His campaign's emerging strategy is to criticize Sarah Palin's policies but play down the personal criticism, while keeping the focus as much as possible on her running mate, John McCain.
(snip)
Among the campaign staff, the marching orders Thursday were clear: Praise the Alaska governor's speech Wednesday night -- full of blistering attacks against Sen. Obama -- for its rhetorical flourish. Then note that the speechwriter, Matthew Scully, once worked for President George W. Bush. Then hammer the performance for its negativity and what Democrats say was its lack of substance.
Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden followed the script Thursday morning as he made the rounds of television networks with a critique of Gov. Palin's performance... Later in the day, in Virginia Beach, Va., a supporter spoke up before Sen. Biden, saying she understands "the difficulties of debating a woman." She urged the senator to "go at" Gov. Palin "the same way you would a man." The comment prompted an ovation from the crowd. Sen. Biden said he would take the advice. "I will take issue with her ideas as strongly as I possibly can," he said.
Sen. Obama himself has at times appeared to be itching to join the fight. Earlier in the week, he challenged Gov. Palin's thin political résumé -- a charge he himself often faces -- by ignoring her time as governor and talking only of her time as mayor of tiny Wasilla, Alaska.
(snip)
Sen. Obama's response to this criticism Thursday was puzzlement. At a brief press conference with reporters in York, Pa., he said he believed Gov. Palin's work as mayor was fair game. "I assume she wants to be treated the same ways that guys want to be treated," he said. "I've been through this for 19 months, she's been through it for four days or so." But at a campaign stop before a crowd of employees at a power turbine assembly plant, Sen. Obama demurred when asked to give a direct contrast between his experience and that of Gov. Palin. "I'll let Gov. Palin talk about her experience; I'll talk about mine," he said.
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