dcpolitico's Blog

    A recent Associated Press poll finds a strong majority of Americans believe John McCain is better suited to handle the Iraq war than Barack Obama.
    Such findings play into Democratic fears that national security issues will be Obama’s weak points in the general election. If the “experience” issue comes back to doom the Democrats in the fall, they have no one to blame but themselves.
    Barack Obama predicated his entire campaign on withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. The party’s powerbrokers soon followed lock, stock and barrel. No one paused to ask, “is this the type of candidate to carry this banner?” National security issues have never been Democratic strong suits,  but trusting that issue to one with little to no experience in foreign affairs is extremely shortsighted.
    Obviously, the economy will play a pivotal role in this campaign. Neither candidate has impeccable credentials in this arena. But George W. Bush is not running again. The Dems can criticize the failed policies of the past until they are blue in the face, but with the exception of the Bush tax cuts, John McCain  is on even footing with Barack Obama on this issue.
    “Change” has proven to be an effective campaign mantra in the primaries. But now is the time for specifics. It’s beginning to look like a level playing field for the November election.

Tom DiBacco