The American Spectator

Political Hay

Big League Trouble

By Robert Stacy McCain on 7.16.08 @ 12:08AM

(Page 2 of 2)

The anti-Hillary drumbeats on the Right -- for months, Hannity opened his daily radio show by welcoming his 12 million listeners aboard the "Stop Hillary Express" -- continued until early March, when pundits declared that Obama had a mathematical lock on the nomination. At which point, Obama's previously unstoppable momentum seemed to disappear as if by magic.

That top hat full of rabbits, however, was wielded by the same radio prestidigitator who'd spent years as Hillary's No. 1 nemesis.

Just as soon as it seemed Obama was a cinch to win in Denver, Limbaugh waved his wand and -- presto! -- conjured into existence "Operation Chaos," whose stated purpose was to turn the Democratic contest into a stalemate. It quite nearly succeeded.

Of the more than 1,760 pledged delegates Obama will carry to Denver, only 262 were won after March 11. Obama had run up a string of 11 consecutive victories in February and March, but in the final 10 Democratic primaries -- after Limbaugh launched "Operation Chaos" -- Hillary's record was 6-3-1, including victories in the swing states of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

Though many pundits sneered at the "Rush factor," once Limbaugh jumped on the Clinton bandwagon, Hillary fought Obama to a standstill. Even now, his final pledged delegate count is more than 400 shy of the number needed to win in Denver. Only because of a decisive shift of super-delegates to his standard is Obama called the "presumptive" Democratic nominee.

There will be no super-delegates on Nov. 4, however, and no caucuses for Team Obama's organizers to manipulate. Nor can the apostles of Hope expect further assistance from Limbaugh, Hannity & Co.

OBAMA'S REPUBLICAN OPPONENT has been the object of harsh criticism from the Right over the years, but the conservative voices that once formed an angry chorus against John McCain -- and still grind their teeth over his immigration stance -- are now singing in unison from the anti-Obama hymnal.

As soon as the primaries ended last month, Team Obama began sending out e-mail appeals for contributions to help defend their candidate against the same "Republican attack machine" that had spent all of 2007 attacking Hillary.

The tactical brilliance of his primary campaign has now become a main theme in the media's narrative of Obama as an inevitable winner in November. The role of the Right in picking the Democrats' Rookie of the Year is ignored.

Stepping into the batter's box this fall, however, the new kid won't see many of those hanging curveballs he knocked out of the park against Hillary in spring training. That big right-hander on the mound will be bringing some major league heat.

Letter to the Editor

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John McCain, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Environment, Books, Iraq, NATO, Immigration