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Clinton and Obama : Very Different Approaches

An interesting dichotomy is emerging in the responses of Clinton and Obama to the questions asked by moderator Tavis Smiley and the panel of reporters.

Clinton has repeatedly emphasized what she has worked to accomplish while in the Senate. On HIV, Hurricane Katrina recovery and several other issues, Clinton has made sure the audience at Howard and watching on television knows she has been there and done that. It's no surprise as Clinton's strongest point over Obama is her experience versus his inexperience.

Obama, on the other hand, has sought to paint nearly every question in broad terms -- focusing on the big challenges that face the country. Obama has "the vision thing" down pat, and the more he can focus the debate on his plans to fundamentally change the political debate and dynamic in the country, the better he does.

As the debate winds down, watch Clinton and Obama to see their different philosophical approaches to the questions.

-- Chris Cillizza

By Eric Pianin |  June 28, 2007; 10:20 PM ET
Previous: Obama Has a Nice Moment, Too | Next: The Debate (And First Round Draft) End


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Posted by: eyhxs bvyiuehn | July 8, 2007 9:20 AM

John Edwards is not experienced. If you ask anyone in North Carolina (Democrat or Republican), they will tell you that he was one of the worst senators in the state's history. (That's why he did not carry the state in the Kerry-Bush election.)

I am begging Obama supporters to wake up. I am a proud supporter of Senator Clinton. However, I recognize her "negatives." People have a preconceived notion about her, and some people are resolute in their notions. She is not going to win over a lot of people. Barack can win over people because he has no obvious negatives. However, he has not negatives because he is not experienced enough in NATIONAL politics. The little state and local political accomplishments cannot add up to the national legislative iniatives Hillary tried to accomplish as First Lady and as a Senator from New York. She failed and succeed at a number of things. She's experienced. Senator Obama is promising and that is his appeal. He not experienced with Washington or national politics. Obama supporters should play that up insteading of denying the obvious.

Finally, the specifics matter in a primary election. Primary voters are smart and dedicated Democrats. Barack has young voter and moderates who are not yellow dog Democrats. He has to get them to the polls. Hillary's supporters actually man the primary polls.

Posted by: | July 2, 2007 2:47 PM

John Edwards is not experienced. If you ask anyone in North Carolina (Democrat or Republican), they will tell you that he was one of the worst senators in the state's history. (That's why he did not carry the state in the Kerry-Bush election.)

I am begging Obama supporters to wake up. I am a proud supporter of Senator Clinton. However, I recognize her "negatives." People have a preconceived notion about her, and some people are resolute in their notions. She is not going to win over a lot of people. Barack can win over people because he has no obvious negatives. However, he has not negatives because he is not experienced enough in NATIONAL politics. The little state and local political accomplishments cannot add up to the national legislative iniatives Hillary tried to accomplish as First Lady and as a Senator from New York. She failed and succeed at a number of things. She's experienced. Senator Obama is promising and that is his appeal. He not experienced with Washington or national politics. Obama supporters should play that up insteading of denying the obvious.

Finally, the specifics matter in a primary election. Primary voters are smart and dedicated Democrats. Barack has young voter and moderates who are not yellow dog Democrats. He has to get them to the polls. Hillary's supports actually man the primary polls.

Posted by: | July 2, 2007 2:46 PM

Chris,

I have respect for your insights into the political arena, and am a regular viewer of "Countdown." However, I would like to respectfully disagree with your categorization of Obama being "inexperienced."

I do not think you are given proper recognition to the wealth of experience that Obama has on his Curriculum Vitae. It includes far more than tenure in the U.S. Senate.

He spent eight years in the Illinois State Senate where he was at different times both in the majority and minority. His time there earned him the respect of his colleages both Democrat and Republican as someone who was willing to work with people on both sides of the aisle on issues.

This has even led to one prominent Illinois Republican to agree to speak on Obama's behalf in television commercials being seen in Iowa. "His negotiation skills and an ability to understand both sides would serve the country very well," State Senator Kirk Dillard - R.

Beyond that, he spent several years as a community organizer in Chicago which means that he was working to get the community members needs met by working with the political system and the people. He led a voter registration drive which brought in 150,000 new voters.

That alone is impressive organizing.

His undergraduate degree was in political science with an emphasis in international relations, and he lived abroad for several years as a child. This gives him first hand perspective of how America is perceived by others on the globe.

Obama has worked as a civil rights attorney and has taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago.

I like the idea of a president having a firm grasp and respect for the U.S. Constitution as opposed to the current occupant(s) who have shown contempt for our governing documents and rule of law.


I believe that Obama has the intellect and the vision to attempt to address all the myriad of problems that the next president will inherit from this morally bankrupt administration.

He has the ability to bring people together in a constructive manner to work tenaciously at finding solutions that we can all work to implement.

In fact, I think Obama's experience is far more impressive than John Edwards's.

Ideally, I would love for Barack Obama to serve two terms as president, and then spend the rest of his days on the U.S. Supreme Court trying to fulfill the legacy of the late Thurgood Marshall.

Posted by: McCabe | June 30, 2007 2:03 PM

I posted this over on the blog about Obama's "nice moment" but it's worth repeating. The absolute best line of the night was Obama's pointed remark that the problem with Hurricane Katrina was that we need a president who is in touch with needs of the people BEFORE the hurricane strikes and that part of the reason we had such a tragedy is the assumption by Bush that "everyone could jump into their SUV's and load up with some sparkling water and check into the nearest hotel."
Obama has - by far - the most life experience to put him in touch with the problems and everyday struggles of the vast majority of Americans. He got to be editor of Havard's law review not because he was born rich, but because he is brilliant and works incredibly hard. Although many of the Democratic candidates would be an improvement over Bush, Obama alone can truly relate to us real Americans. He's got my vote.

Posted by: Laurie | June 30, 2007 11:42 AM

What is emerging is that Senator Obama is the candidate demonstrating true leadership qualities. Senator Clinton is emerging as the angry white woman, who has not demonstrated any leadership ability. She may have experience in Congress but that cannot be translated into a demonstration of her leadership skills.

125 years ago by our most brilliant historian, Henry Adams proposed a test. The American president, he wrote, "resembles the commander of a ship at sea. He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port to seek." The Constitution offers every president a helm, but the course and the port constitute the first requirement for presidential greatness. Great presidents possess, or are possessed by, a vision of an ideal America. Their passion is to make sure the ship of state sails on the right course. If that course is indeed right, it is because they have an instinct for the dynamics of history.

"A statesman may be determined and tenacious," de Gaulle once observed, ". . . but, if he does not understand the character of his time, he will fail." Great Presidents have a deep connection with the needs, anxieties, dreams of the people. "I do not believe," said Wilson, "that any man can lead who does not act . . . under the impulse of a profound sympathy with those whom he leads -- a sympathy which is insight -- an insight which is of the heart rather than of the intellect."

Senator Obama has the vision for a better America and understands the character of our times - that we need to change the way we do business in Washington. He is a born leader.

Posted by: Andrea | June 29, 2007 4:22 PM

I thought all Hillary did was to pander particularly when she exclaimed "if AIDS/HIV was the leadding cause of death for white women there would be an outrage in this country". Unfortunately the audience fell for it particularly the women. Being the only black candidate on stage Barack could have had a lot "success" doing that. I am glad he did not give to the temptation and instead went for a more thoughfull approach.

Posted by: Ogboubli | June 29, 2007 12:39 PM

Hillary threatening to start another war in Africa is not something her supporters should be proud of.

Posted by: vamonticello | June 28, 2007 11:04 PM

I found myself just waiting for Clinton to speak which surprised me. I think she clearly came off as the most knowledgeable and specific and (kind of) passionate. In an ideal world Kucinich would be the fron runner. He's the only one I actually believe.

Posted by: sequoia | June 28, 2007 10:34 PM

It is hard to pay attention to Clinton, considering she is yelling most of the time. It's really annoying. This is combined with how quickly she begans to speak when she does not have much time.

Obama seems much more comfortable than he has in the other debates, and is getting off some really good points. I see what you're saying about the "vision" thing.

Posted by: demgirl | June 28, 2007 10:28 PM

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