Obama goes for Broke

The right-wing conservatives have a nick-name for Hillary Clinton - Shrillary.

As it turns out, that derisive term has hit pretty close to the mark.

In recent days, Clinton has launched into a high-pitched attack against her Democratic rival Barack Obama, who shot past her in the Iowa primaries to take the lead in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"Elect a doer, not a talker," she declared. ""You campaign in poetry, but you govern in prose."

[What does that even mean? Editorial Bear]

Democrats in New Hampshire have met Hillary's criticism with the opposite of her intended reaction. Just one day before the all-important New Hampshire primary, Obama's a wicked 10 points ahead of her in the opinion polls.

At this rate, the Democratic nomination will be wrapped up in no time and the 44th President of the United States might just be the nation's first African-American one.

What's been Hillary's mistake? It's pretty much the same as Rudy Giuliani's.

In September of last year, New York's former mayor was a clear front runner for the Republican nomination, with a 76% approval rating from New York's Republicans. However a 'dirty' campaign attacking his rivals has lost him a lot of the support he'd garnered.

Having his pal Kerik hauled up on 16 counts of tax fraud didn't help.

From his position as front-runner, Rudy found himself standing sixth out of the seven candidates in the Iowa caucus.

What was his mistake? The one Hillary is so gleefully repeating.

Running such a negative campaign.

The fact is, bad-mouthing your rivals and attacking their credibility is a wonderfully therapeutic strategy, but an ultimately unrewarding one. At the end of the day, teacher always said to keep your mouth closed if you can't think of anything nice to say - and that philosophy is just as valid in a presidential election as a classroom.

Barack Obama's greatest strength in the upcoming election may be his positive focus. He talks about his plans and ambitions if he makes it to the White House. In contrast, Hillary attacks his lack of 'experience' in office.

Sure, she had eight years 'experience' in the White House - but only as First Lady. That doesn't mean she's got greater experience in running the country. It just means she knows where the linens are in the Lincoln bedroom.

Unless Hillary can shift her campaign towards telling people what she will do - rather than what her rivals won't - she'll soon find the widening gap between her and Barack Obama stretching so far, even a former President as First Husband won't help her bridge it.