The Primary Season is over

Well, the primary season is just about over, and Obama is clearly going to be the nominee of the Democratic Party. Hillary may continue the fight, but I see no "Rocky" outcome here. The Democrats just cannot afford to nominate anyone but Obama.

Meanwhile, John McCain has rocked along for weeks as the certain Republican nominee. I am not sure that, in itself, is worth much. For the last several years, the Republican Party has been circling down the drain, and the Democrats clearly have the upper hand. The last two elections for vacant Congressional seats shows the disrepute that the party has sunk into.

McCain will have a hard fight to undo any of this, made easier only by the inexperience and leftish lean of Obama.

David Brooks, of the New York Times, who is rapidly becoming one of my favorites, blogs about the dilemma:

"...Obama has a much more liberal profile than he did several weeks ago. Moderate, independent voters are now less sure that Obama shares their values. Hillary Clinton voters are much, much more hostile toward him. His supporters look more and more like the McGovern-Dukakis constituency, and the walls between that constituency and the rest of the country are higher than they were weeks ago....."; and:

"...Republicans are going to take a look at Obama’s liberal profile and they’re going to be tempted to run a traditional right versus left campaign. They know how to beat Dukakis-McGovern candidates.

That would be a big mistake. Traditional Republicans can beat liberal Democrats when the Republican brand is in healthy shape. That is not the case now......"

His conclusion:

"...In 2004, only about 10 percent of the electorate was really undecided. Now about 36 percent is undecided. That’s a lot of votes to play for.

It’s now nearly certain Obama and McCain will be the ones to play for them. But both nominees are wounded. Both will have to change. "

Makes good sense to me. Maybe we will see some change this year. Will it be for the better?

UPDATE at 4:03 PM CDT:

The USA Today blog has a column up by Don Campbell that outlines some of the problems that Obama now has. Its a good story, and you can find it here.

Campbell discusses at some length Obama's lack of experience and the failure of the press to "vet" him earlier in the campaign. His conclusion:

"...Speculation aside, Obama has been ill-served by a press corps that seemingly was mesmerized by the large, frenzied crowds who turn out to see the Democratic rock star. Crowds can be deceiving: McGovern, nobody's idea of a rock star, attracted huge and exuberant crowds throughout the fall of 1972 — on his way to losing 49 states to Richard Nixon.

Better that Obama forget the crowds and concern himself with the several million older, moderate Democrats and independents whom he'll need in a close general election. They won't just listen to what he says, they'll try to peer into his soul. That's why the Wright story is important in assessing his candidacy.

More than two years ago, at a Gridiron Club news media dinner in Washington, Obama poked fun at his meager accomplishments when he told his audience: "I want to thank you for all the generous advance coverage you've given me in anticipation of a successful career. When I actually do something, we'll let you know."

But the joke was on the journalists then, and now that Obama is about to actually do something, it still is."

Amen.