What exactly does Barack Obama stand for? What actual experience has he had that would leave someone to vote for him for president? On Thursday night in overwhelmingly white Iowa, the photogenic Illinois Senator overcame the doubts many might have harbored about him, and won a convincing first in the nation caucus victory. Not only did Obama win the Democratic side of the voting but he helped pull in thousands of new caucus goers, young enthusiasts, Independents, and even hundreds of moderate Republicans. He withstood everything Clinton and Edwards could throw his way and is now poised to take New Hampshire and sew up the Democratic nomination.
But in the midst of the well deserved hoopla, Obama strategists still need to concretely answer the two questions posed at the top of this blog. He calls for change but what type of change does he want. Sometimes he seems like a polished Kucinich, ranting against the war profiteers and getting the liberal base excited. Yet at other times he seems more professorial and cautious and not that different from the more moderate Hillary Clinton. In his victory speech he acted like he was the governor of Illinois claiming that people came to him and he pulled together a coalition that brought affordable health care to his state. The reality was that he was a state senator and not a chief executive.
Clinton backers need to be worried about the large victory Obama pulled out in a state lacking much of an African-American base and that vacillates between both parties. If he can do so well in middle America, what will stop him in the more urbanized New Hampshire and in a South Carolina that already has been wooed by his new friend and mentor, Oprah Winfrey.
Obama needs to define himself and continue to press the action. If he gives up the offense and does not answer the two key questions, he will let Clinton back in the race. The ball is in his court.
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