And yet instead of using the diverse demographics to draw contrasts with Clinton–a skill the Illinois senator honed in earlier states where he trailed his rival, like Ohio and Texas–Obama largely acted if she didn’t exist. Which is unusual when you’re in second place–to say the least.
The questions summed it up. After each of today’s stump speeches, Obama opened the floor to the voters. “We’ll go girl, boy, girl, boy,” he said. “Ladies first.” In Malvern, the first lady was Sue Rhodes. A stout, middle-aged blond, Rhodes told Obama about her daughter, a teacher in a hardscrabble North Carolina school district who “only makes $28,000 a year.” “We’ve had to buy a home for her to live in,” said Rhodes. “We’ve had to pay for children’s books and supplies, and we even give her money to buy food for her kids.” Meanwhile, three hours later in Levittown, another stout, middle-aged blond–who declined to give her name–stood up and spoke about the struggle to care for her elderly mother. “I’m a lowly paid medical assistant,” she said. “And even though I’ve found people through my church to help me with her bills, I’m limited in my time to go to her home and make her dinner. You gave a good speech, and the wonderful things you said about our young people are important to me, too, but what will you do to help those of us who are taking care of the elderly?”
Call it Inevitability 2.0.
