The Winds of Changes Shift

For months the campaign narrative on the Democratic side of the race was almost completely defined by Barack Obama. Everyone was running as the change candidate. One can't help but think that even George W. Bush would have been running on a change platform were he allowed to run again. Obama was in control because he'd defined the terms of the campaign and, thus, they were most favorable to him. No one could compare to him in that realm.

But now the winds of changes have shifted.

Following setbacks in Ohio and Texas (and largely attributing those setbacks to negative campaigning by Clinton), Obama is now pledging to come out swinging. The narrative has shifted away from high-minded change and is now about fighting.

Coincidentally, that's Clinton's tag line.

My advice to Obama is this: never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.

I'm not calling Clinton an idiot. In fact, it's a testament to her smarts and political skill that the debate and the narrative have shifted the way they have. What I'm saying is that at this point Obama has to be very careful. Obviously, he can't just ignore every attack that gets flung in his direction. He's going to need to do some fighting. But if her allows the the debate to hinge on who's the best fighter, he's bound to get beaten by experience.

Coincidentally, that's another Clinton tag line.