Obama Is Just Not Connecting
Steve Adubato, Ph.D.
CBS 2 Political Analyst

Barack Obama is in trouble, potentially in big trouble.  We are talking about a guy who is a tremendous public speaker— the most dynamic and charismatic political orator since John. F. Kennedy. (I actually think he's better than JFK.)  So why exactly is Obama having a hard time connecting? 

Here's my theory.  While Barack Obama is a great stump speaker on the campaign trail, he's not the greatest political interview around.  In fact, he borders on boring.  His answers tend to be rambling, complex, multi- faceted, and at times very cerebral.  That's right; I am accusing Barack Obama of actually thinking while he's talking.  Now, while teaching a constitutional law class at a university (something Obama did for many years) that quality would be rewarded.  But on the campaign trail, it's a problem-- Obama's problem.  He over talks things.  He won't give short, simple direct answers.  He sounds as if at times he is trying to argue every conceivable position on an issue to make sure that he knows how complex the question is and ultimately we know how smart he is.  Al Gore was inflected with the same kind of political illness, but just wasn’t as likeable as Obama.  John Kerry had it too, but was a boring speaker. 

Obama better get out of it fast, or he’s going to find himself 10 points down to Senator John McCain— a Republican Presidential candidate in a year the Republicans shouldn’t have a chance at all.  Last weekend, when Obama and McCain appeared in one-on-one interviews with Pastor Rick Warren, it was a microcosm of where this campaign is today.  McCain seemed to know exactly what he wanted to say, and he said it with clarity and conviction.  He wasn’t very thoughtful, and definitely not cerebral, but it was direct.  Most people like that, even if they don’t agree with you.  Obama was all over the place, and worst of all, he seemed really uncomfortable.  It seems that when Obama is not in control of every aspect of a campaign event, he runs into trouble.  It could be his youth, it could be his inexperience, it could be that he is not totally sure of what he thinks and feels, and maybe, just maybe Barack Obama hasn’t figured out how to simplify things, even those that are very complex.  But like I said, Obama is in the middle of intense, on-the-job training and he better learn this lesson fast, or Hillary and Bill will be telling all their friends “We told you so!” 

It’s still early, and John McCain is clearly capable of reminding us that he doesn’t know the difference between the Shia and the Sunni in Iraq.  But as long as he keeps it simple, and he gets most of his facts right, he doesn’t have to seem like the smartest kid in the class— which in a Presidential campaign, seems to be more of a problem than an asset.

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