Mudslinging
It looks like the Democratic primaries will be a war of attrition, from here on out. It seems clear to me that Obama will win; his lead at this point is nearly unsurmountable. But the race is still close enough from Clinton to stay in. Unfortunately, at this point, it seems clear that Clinton has a lot more to gain from ugly campaigning than Obama does. As the Economist notes:
A campaign that degenerates into name-calling and mud-slinging will hurt Mr Obama more than it does Mrs Clinton. He has campaigned on messages of “change” and “hope” so he faces an unenviable choice in the long run-up to Pennsylvania. If he lets the Clinton team fling the brickbats without retaliation she may set the tone of the campaign. But respond in kind and his message of a new politics is tarnished. Even though he is behind there in the polls, Pennsylvania cannot come soon enough for Mr Obama.
Time to settle in. I hope Obama weathers it without having to stoop too low.
