Presidential Train Tracks
Since the last posting in these pages on the US Presidential Race, Giuliani’s Florida gamble lost and Edwards wisely recognized his remaining in the race would only delay the inevitable and hurt his party.
The Republicans, still searching for identity, are recognizing their constituents’ overall movement toward the middle and (with temper-tampering from right-wing radio) swallowing McCain’s long-standing domestic moderacy. Despite Romney’s finding his voice amidst the economy issue’s rise to the fore, his deep pockets can’t keep up with the mistrust he engendered this past year. Huckabee, appealing to the social conservatives, has found his purpose in pitching for McCain’s VP nominee and kicking deserved sand back at Romney at the same time.
Undecided/Independent Democrats are again being reminded of their recurring question “Is the Clintons’ drama and Hillary’s ability to galvanize the Republicans worth her issue positions?”. They’re allowing Obama the opportunity to do what he does best: inspire both the public and Washington reformers alike toward returning congress to the same sandbox and attract lost foreign diplomatic trust. RCP polling averages show a statistical dead-heat both nationally and in tomorrow’s delegate prize contests like California.
On this eve of the never-before experienced “Super Tuesday” where 22 states simultaneously engage in their primaries/caucuses, the parties’ positions with their candidates find themselves reversed from just days ago. Hillary is laying down the DNC inevitability crown in order to change strides for an expectantly longer competition with Obama while the recent 4-way Republican race now finds the RNC dusting-off its crown for its phoenix, McCain.
The last 3 dynastic administrations have fostered divergence of our left-right legislative train tracks, derailing progress. Clive Crook of Financial Times hits the nail on the head articulating how voters are choosing candidates who appeal to the middle so our train can once again see its wheels turn. We’ve not heard this discussed much outside pundit circles, but Huckabee, Obama and McCain have gained competitive momentum form this issue’s traction. Let’s see if they make it central to their evolving campaigns’ as we look down the tracks past Wednesday.
~ Benjamin Gipson serves as co-owner and managing partner of Rainmakers HQ, LLC, a business development and consulting firm offering project management leadership, online tools and education, and personal effectiveness coaching.
