What have we already learned about Obama, McCain?

By Jay Warren
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: June 24, 2008

The fall campaign has already begun, and it’s only June. I guess it’s a sign of the times, as the presidential primaries started earlier this year than ever before. In fact the campaigns actually started in 2007!

So, what have we learned about the Obama and McCain campaigns so far? I would say one big thing: neither side is running the type of campaign we’ve seen from a Democrat or Republican in generations. They certainly aren’t conventional.

Obama seems more confident, less apologetic, and more ready to respond than most previous Democratic candidates. His campaign is adept at rapid response, they move with confidence, and appear a step ahead of their opponents. When’s the last time you could say that about a Democrat? Maybe 1992, but I would submit that Obama’s campaign appears 10 times stronger than the Clinton campaign did at this stage of the 1992 campaign.

Obama is also playing in states that no Democrat has contested in decades. Alaska, Indiana, Montana and Virginia are on his target list. Most have voted Democratic just once in 40 years. I don’t know if the Obama campaign really thinks they can win these states. But, I do know this: their gutsy move to advertise there and set up campaign offices will force the opposition to make some tough decisions. He’s changing the playbook.

The McCain campaign is also venturing off into territory for a Republican. He has been less likely to embrace the evangelical movement, less likely to attack Obama, and more likely to embrace issues that resonate with independents. Most recently, we’ve seen that on the environment as McCain has walked a tightrope on expanding domestic oil production. He’s trying to show he understands the energy crisis and has a plan to start to fix it while also not moving so fast that the environment is trampled in the process. He’s in the middle ground of this debate.

McCain is the candidate who is pushing for as many debates as possible. We haven’t seen that in years. George H.W. Bush, Bob Dole, and George Bush all wanted as few debates as possible. They understood that their opponents were likely better in those settings. McCain needs more debates to change the dynamics of the campaign. He’s the first Republican in at least two decades who could be a better debater than his Democratic opponent.

The primaries for this presidential race defied conventional wisdom. If the first month of the general election, which has started three months early, is any indication, I’d say the general election will do just the same.