Justin Webb's America

Crisis control

• Justin Webb
• 13 Feb 08, 08:43 PM GMT

The Clintons have a political crisis on their hands, of that there is no doubt. Historically, they are rather good at dealing with such crises - but they'll need all their resources of guile and backbone now. This is not a Paula Jones, this is a full Lewinsky.

On a conference call to reporters on Wednesday afternoon, the Clinton team - Penn et al - made clear their number one priority was to get Obama to debate Hillary long and often in the weeks ahead. This makes sense for all sorts of reasons but chief among them, it seems to me, is that she often seems shrill and strained when speaking to large crowds, whereas he looks measured and compelling.

On the small screen, though, he can look ponderous (I know many disagree and I know I only heard the last debate on the radio etc etc) and uncertain. "You are likeable enough, Hillary" has to be one of the worst lines of any of the 987 debates so far held.

I see, meanwhile, that Kenyans and lefty Brits are not the only foreigners to be excited about Obama.

And for those who think of American election ads as bland and dire and depressing - this is priceless...

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Turning a corner?

• Justin Webb
• 13 Feb 08, 04:24 AM GMT

WASHINGTON: Watching the post-game speeches (his and hers) you cannot but wonder whether the series is slipping inexorably away from Mrs Clinton.

It is not about math (or maths) or about mojo or momentum. As Tom Brokaw put it on MSNBC - almost as an aside but the point is a vital one, surely - the problem for the Clintons is that attacking an upstart, a pretender, is relatively easy to do without necessarily being offensive to the wider public. You can still look serene and on the right side of history.

But attacking an icon - a black icon - becomes way more difficult. The man is the same. The policies have the same flaws. But the perception of your attacks is altered by the glory that others have attached to him. Just upping the ante will not do. In fact it is difficult to see what WILL do.

It really does look as if Democratic voters might have turned a corner: this is the Associated Press take on the exit polls in Virginia, suggesting that granny is now backing Obama, as is Jimmy who works at Dunkin' Donuts (great coffee) and all manner of people who previously backed Hillary.

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