Well the proof will certainly come if Hillary's poll numbers
start to move but a day in which the Left, Right and Center media
and both parties are talking about her contortions and the ad is
played over and over again is not a good one for Madame Hillary. If
the narrative moves from "wow she's inevitable" to "gosh, she was
horrible and maybe this isn't sewn up" then the ad is having an
impact. However, it may well be that none of her challengers can
actually topple her.
As for my use of the term "hapless," I was perhaps unclear. I
meant to refer to Obama's unfocused and meandering debate
performance and his failure to draw clear distinctions. Either he
does not have it in him to sharply and directly take her on or he
is in need of some serious coaching. Watching the tape again or
re-reading the transcript is instructive. It would certainly help
his cause to use some simple, declarative statements. His mush that
followed her dodge on release of the Clinton papers is a prime
example. It's all very fuzzy, very word and ultimately not very
effective. Hence, the current state of the race.