Obama's Closing Argument

Dec. 27, 2007 — -- Drawing a line in the sand, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, made an impassioned "closing argument" speech in Des Moines today, one week ahead of the Iowa caucus. His new stump speech has a big close: "This is our time. This is our moment!" Obama implored as the crowd cheered.

"And if you will stand with me in seven days — if you will stand for change so that our children have the same chance that somebody gave us; if you'll stand to keep the American dream alive for those who still hunger for opportunity and thirst for justice; if you're ready to stop settling for what the cynics tell you you must accept, and finally reach for what you know is possible, then we will win this caucus, we will win this election."

Those words from the senator from Illinois brought the packed auditorium to its feet.

Obama did not mention any of his opponents by name, but the references to Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, were obvious.

"I don't need any lectures on how to bring about change, because I haven't just talked about it on the campaign trail. I've fought for change all my life," Obama said. "There's no shortage of anger and bluster and bitter partisanship out there. We don't need more heat. We need more light," he added, a riff on Clinton's "turn up the heat" slogan.

Obama zoned in on the Clinton's main argument: that she is the candidate of experience and change. "You can't at once argue that you're the master of a broken system in Washington and offer yourself as the person to change it."