SHOT SELF ON THE FOOT

Politics like long distance running is all about strategy; a look at the best 10,000m runners will indicate that 80-90%, the winner always uses the front runner as a pace-setter only to kick into a sprint on the last lap, mentally overwhelming the pacesetter. Perhaps this was Obama's strategy all along. Perhaps he never had a sluggish summer, perhaps his strategy was to feed-off the front runner, Hillary, without falling back too far behind the pack and when the moment was right, about a month and a half to go, he seized the moment and derailed Hillary.

All along everyone knew that Hillary was feeding off her husband’s popularity and name recognition; that her campaign had no substance, characterized by persistent dodging of questions. As a chess grand master will tell you, the best offense is attained through the best defense. While Clinton was dodging questions with convincing success, Obama was fervently and systematically laying down his foundation, covering his entire basis, visiting and meeting with all the rural caucus goers and making a lasting impression with them. While Hillary was watching the clock tick tock down to victory, Obama with his sleeves rolled up was busy at work, ironing out all the creases in his campaign, doing all the leg work, answering all the questions asked of him, and answering them honestly. Obama has always been on target, and just like Bush, has been very consistent with his rhetoric and spoken from his heart. People see this openness and honesty and associate with it.

Several months ago, I published an article calling for Obama to team up with Edwards to beat Hillary, well; they followed the idea and systematically chipped away her lead. While Hillary was a ticking time bomb, on account of her shallow campaign, it was her husband that these two had to disband and effectively did so with Hillary's help. Once her campaign was exposed, that her strategy was to avoid questions with witty remarks and laughter, every time she has spoken in public, she has shot herself on the foot. Her limp from the multiple self inflicted shots almost has her on a wheel chair. Planting questions in debates or rallies did not help either. That she is the most divisive political figure amongst the candidates has not escaped the Americans who wield the voting power; believe it or not, 911 united Americans and that unity has not yet dissipated despite our legislatures concerted efforts to work along party lines.

Her touting the gender card has almost totally backfired on her because it's the women who see right through her while eying her husband; he is still a handsome and very desirable man; and in most cases very available.

The fact that this is the alternative primary, the official one having been tragically ended with the assassination of JFK Jr. has caught Americans wanting and yearning for the change he would have orchestrated. Business as usual, “experience” according to Hillary, will not work. Whether Obama wins the nomination, and he just might, she will be damaged goods and a walkover for Huckabee, who like Obama, has shot to the top of the GOP by virtue of his stage performance and consistency in his campaign. Like Obama, Huckabee allowed the front runners, Rudy and Mitt, to rile up the masses with their money and fame, while ignoring the core party issues and when the time was right, he seized the moment and distinguished himself as the total package.

If all goes well according to plan, and it should if the evangelicals have their way, Huckabee, once a tier 3 candidate, will emerge as the GOP nominee and walk straight to the Whitehouse. The only real challenge would come from an Obama-Biden candidacy.

Hillary’s nomination will deliver the Whitehouse to the Republicans on a silver platter.