Obama’s Challenges: Closing Thoughts — DNC Final Night
Email9:48 pm MT: From Rick Klein, author of ABC’s The Note: Sen. Barack Obama’s convention speech offered twin challenges — one to his opponent, one to the voters he wants on his side. And to all audiences listening, he showed he is ready for a fight.
To Sen. John McCain, the message was stark: He will meet his challenges on McCain’s own terms. On foreign policy, the economy, and most noticeably national security, Obama signaled a willingness to engage McCain, with a bite he hasn’t shown in the past.
To the country, his challenge was trickier: Accept this non-traditional candidate and channel your hopes into him. He offered a long list of policy proposals designed to appeal to the broad middle, and offered his own biography to answer the caricature being peddled by the McCain campaign.
"I don’t know what kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine," Obama said.
This was not Obama’s best speech, but neither was it supposed to be. Four years ago, he was introducing himself and sparked a movement; now, as he showed Thursday night, he’s trying to win an election.
His choice of tactics risks tarnishing an image; one Republican official monitoring the speech said he spent nearly 20 of his 44 minutes speaking on the attack.
But perhaps that’s the point: To Democrats who are sick of losing elections, there are worse things than rallying behind a fighter. And to a country that wants a change in direction, Obama offered himself up as — yes — a hope.
Check back tomorrow for more in tomorrow’s Note.
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Obama has his attack dog, his message, and an uncanny ability to motivate and mobilize his supporters. I’m withholding judgement until the repubs get their shot, but I just don’t see how McCain can deconstruct -let alone recreate- what Obama did tonight.
Posted by: Publius | August 29, 2008, 12:17 am 12:17 am
Obama kicked McCan’t and the Repubs butts tonight.
KICKED THEIR BUTTS.
Posted by: 08AMA ALL THE WAY! | August 29, 2008, 12:22 am 12:22 am
As a former Democrat it is,to quote an actually principaled Democrat, excepting the “peculiar institution of slavery”, self evident that the grand view of The Ordained Leader of the party of Devine-Hollywood, even more colorful than Boss weed of NYC has learned his script well. But is but a script and not a reality As to your net works partial credit. Mr.T Moran did not swoon as much as Mr.C Mathews and loose all of his virility to Bar H. O’Bama. Still people of my descent are not usually so inspired by their own gender.
As per off shore concerns one might say “DRILL OR DIE”
Posted by: tom maude | August 29, 2008, 12:27 am 12:27 am
Hail to the next Chief! Extremely well done Sen. Obama!!! Howard Gallas, Reno, NV.
Posted by: Howard Gallas | August 29, 2008, 12:30 am 12:30 am
McCain was destroyed tonight!! Every talking head on EVERY CHANNEL (except FOX Noise) AGREES!!
A PERFECT END TO A PERFECT CONVENTION!!!
I SMELL AN OBAMA LANDSLIDE!!!
The pollsters are out in full force on the phones tonight and McCain and the rest of the Republicans are in a FREEFALL!!!
Obama/Biden 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Davis | August 29, 2008, 12:31 am 12:31 am
THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION NEXT WEEK AND McCAIN’S SPEECH WILL BE A JOKE COMPARED TO THIS!!!
The Republicans lost the election tonight!
Obama/Biden 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Davis | August 29, 2008, 12:34 am 12:34 am
Where are all the Republicans?
Afraid to show yourselves? Have you crawled back into “that cave” with Bin Laden??
Come tell us how horrible Obama did tonight, make your racial slurs and smears!
Tell us how great the Republicans are now, and tell us how great your convention will be next week.
I dare you…………
Obama/Biden 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Davis | August 29, 2008, 12:46 am 12:46 am
Obama proved himself to be the same politician we have seen so much of. Too many promises, no specifics and the undereducated believe the lies.
Posted by: Sluggo | August 29, 2008, 1:20 am 1:20 am
Nice to see the ‘free press’ is being controlled by an Obama censor.
Posted by: Sluggo | August 29, 2008, 1:22 am 1:22 am
Shut up and do something already.
Posted by: Mack | August 29, 2008, 1:25 am 1:25 am
Obama’s speech tonight has nothing new inside. Typical liberal propaganda. He has shown he is nothing more than a traditional politician with a Chicago thug style. On the other hand, I am kind of tired of his speech skills too (President Clinton is much better).
Posted by: George | August 29, 2008, 1:28 am 1:28 am
I don’t need to be challenged by a done nothing empty-suit. Save the BS for the cult followers.
Posted by: Mack | August 29, 2008, 1:29 am 1:29 am
Chairman Mao with an afro.
Posted by: Mack | August 29, 2008, 1:35 am 1:35 am
I don’t get it! Gore, Hillary & Bill all gave great solutions in their speeches. They said Obama will do this or that. BUT Obama didn’t say he’d do anything specific, I’ll vote for Hillary, Gore or Bill. But who is Obama, what is on his agenda, what is his characther, what is his experience and accomplishments ? The president is the decider in the end. Obama hasn’t sold me on him.
Posted by: ObamaWho? | August 29, 2008, 1:36 am 1:36 am
obamawho?
WHAT? You just proved that you have the attention span of a magget!!!!
Here, I’ll help you out…
Google Obama’s speech tonight. In it (If you can make it that far…) He specifically says “Let me spell out specifically what that change is…”
I’ll be more than happy to tell you, but I’m going to allow you the chance to prove me wrong about your attention span…
Posted by: DemsUnited | August 29, 2008, 1:45 am 1:45 am
Vote for the old guy!! Lets keep the good times rolling!!! Four more wars, four more wars…
Posted by: I'm a POW remember | August 29, 2008, 1:54 am 1:54 am
how true it is, that those who are still spiritually immature, are the very ones with negative criticism.They possess no real vision being absorbed with the ways of the earth. This speech delivered by our next president, viz barack obama was excellent.Here is a Powerful and Wise Soul, that our country needs right now.May God bless you obama,and may GOD BLESS America.
Posted by: rev norbert | August 29, 2008, 2:17 am 2:17 am
unfortunately, those attacks will not stick to McCain, who is too well known to be defined by Obama people. Obama offered a laundry list of government spending. McCain group can just go one by one to dispel them, and then ask a question, Can Obama deliver? look at his affordable housing policies in Chicago. The results: 39 defunct housing projects, 11 in his own district.
McCain can run this in a new ad — what has Obama accomplished? his housing policy, his education reform (40million spending with no impacts), his urban garden project (10 million spending with not a single garden built). There are too many holes in Obama’s record, one good speech will not fill them.
Posted by: amy | August 29, 2008, 2:54 am 2:54 am
Amy, the first word in your post was “unfortunately”, howevery your post was pro- McCain. I think you meant “fortunately”, the attacks won’t stick.
Anyway, the attacks will stick. While you criticize Obama for at least TRYING to help in the community, you can thank McCain and his cronies for the NATIONAL HOUSING MESS we’re all in now.
Posted by: DemsUnited | August 29, 2008, 3:06 am 3:06 am
George,
Thug style how dare you. Obama had 84,000 people captivated literally. I would image your use to trash and the unethical behavior in which Bill Clinton exhibited while in office. Obama is the epitome of class, something that you lack. Obama is a family man who would never bring shame to his family.
Posted by: Theresa | August 29, 2008, 3:09 am 3:09 am
Mack,
Let’s not go there, and you apparently have a problem with afros. This is the problem some of you white folks you really think your privileged. Quick to undermind other ethnic groups. Who is Obama? A man of integrity, that is why he will clearly be the Commander and Chief of this United States of America. So, for all you jokers that can not accept the fact that its Obama and all about Obama “Get A Life”
Posted by: Theresa | August 29, 2008, 3:39 am 3:39 am
Obama and Michelle made a success of their lives and they did it in the last 8 Years. Obama has associated with dubious and uncertain people (AYERS, REV. WRIGHT etc.) and associations (ACORN) during the last 8 years. He has absolutely no military experience, a few legislations which reflect his EXTREME liberal views. What does he bring to the White House, few good speeches using a teleprompter and the promise of “hope” and “change” with no details? Obviously “hope and change” does not apply to his family or his friends, well except his friend Rezko the criminal going to jail for voter fraud and more.
Posted by: Ann | August 29, 2008, 6:10 am 6:10 am
ann
your attacks are as lame as mccain—
the crown prince of the hanoi hilton will learn a lesson on truth.
remember the forestal
Posted by: rodney | August 29, 2008, 7:25 am 7:25 am
mccain has picked a vice president —he isnt telling us who—-wow i am dieing of boredom—-very original mccain.is he a vietnamese person from the hanoi hilton.
Posted by: rodney | August 29, 2008, 7:39 am 7:39 am