Because of their different campaign themes and messages (Clinton: tough and experienced fighter; Obama: fresh-faced uniter), they have taken different approaches. But the result is the same: This isn't beanbag.
“The Clintons understand cutthroat politics from A to Z, and they're willing to use the whole alphabet,” said Thomas Schaller, a University of Maryland, Baltimore, political scientist and an expert in Democratic politics.
Schaller added that the Obama campaign has its own roster of up-and-coming jugular hunters.
David Lublin, an American University political scientist, noted the “pious” atmosphere of Iowa, which has been apotheosized by press and politicos alike. No longer in the sanctified confines of those states, Schaller mused, the candidates may feel freer to take shots.
Obama is somewhat hindered, however, Schaller noted.
“They boxed themselves in as the 'Go clean' candidate. No good political deed goes unpunished,” Schaller said.
In other words, Obama's positive message of unity doesn't allow him to engage in the elbow-throwing that has been the staple of winning presidential campaigns in recent decades.
That hasn't prevented his surrogates, his union supporters or his staff from doing dirty work out of Obama's view.
So, for instance, an Obama press aide in South Carolina, where as many as half of Democratic primary voters are black, compiled a dossier of clumsy and inflammatory statements coming from Clinton supporters on Obama's race.
Obama then called for peace. Clinton followed up with a similar statement — no doubt aware she was being tainted in a voter bloc she needs.
Obama disowned his staff's tactics, as if he was unaware of what was happening in his own campaign.
The whole episode came across as Obama as noble peacemaker, even though the underhandedness of it was fairly transparent.
By using surrogates to make attacks, Obama remains above the fray. So state Sen. Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, hosted a conference call Thursday and said, “The Clinton attacks on Barack Obama's record are dishonest and frankly offensive to Nevadans.”
For her part, Clinton explicitly campaigns as the candidate who has taken the beating from the Republicans and will happily hit back. She has called this part of the campaign “fun.”
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