Generic Pre-Debate Blog Post
So the narrative running up to the debate at my alma mater tonight is, “How will Hillary turn things around?” Will she go negative/aggressive. Will nice-Hillary or nasty-Hillary show up. Even if she hits a “home run” will it be enough?
Do I have that right?
[Dear media tools: that’s “Convocation Center,” not “Convention” Center.]
Note that the story isn’t about what Obama will do, that the nomination is his to lose with all the momentum he’s gained over the last month.
I’m not complaining, just making the observation. Obama is just chugging along — saturating the airways, overloading auditoriums — which is boring to write or talk about. Hillary may or may not hit on a winning strategy, but it certainly seems like her campaign is trying anything and everything hoping something sticks. It certainly is interesting if nothing else.
Tonight very well may be the last time we see these two in a debate. That alone makes it significant. I believe that as long as Obama keeps his cool, he wins. Senator Clinton needs to win “Tiny Tuesday” by such a significant margin even Texas and Ohio “wins” won’t be enough unless she scores a true blow-out. A good debate performance is just one step, and probably not enough.
What she really needs is something she can’t control, which is the unstated truth that this nomination is now Obama’s to lose, and he can if he finally “loses it.” She needs him to try some kind of, “There you go again” moment that lacks any sense of graciousness.
Hillary needs to goad Barack into saying, “Shut up, Bitch.”
Ain’t ever going to happen, but wow, would that be good TV.
