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Obama Eludes Not Only Clinton, but Media

Pandering populism didn't play—except with pundits, Klein admits

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 8, 2008 10:07 AM CDT
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(Newser) – After a career of sober-minded policy politics, Hillary Clinton let loose her inner populist pol in Indiana and North Carolina, Joe Klein writes, and, like much of the media, he thought the showmanship-over-substance (along with Obama's pastor problem) might pull it out for her. But that "shameless populism" proved not to be a game-changer after all. She lost the contest—and the race, he concludes in a Time cover story anointing Obama as the nominee.

Barack Obama instead bet voters were sick of the “same-old,” and believed they’d see through the gas tax and Rev. Wright—and they did, Klein writes. Now he’s headed for a general election campaign that “doesn’t need hype.” It needs the press, and the politicians, to respect it.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is on the cover of the New York Post at a newsstand on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 in New York.
Hillary Rodham Clinton is on the cover of the New York Post at a newsstand on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 in New York.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Barack Obama smiles while speaking at a primary election night rally in Raleigh, N.C.,Tuesday, May 6, 2008, after sweeping to victory in the North Carolina presidential primary.
Barack Obama smiles while speaking at a primary election night rally in Raleigh, N.C.,Tuesday, May 6, 2008, after sweeping to victory in the North Carolina presidential primary.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Barack Obama speaks at a primary election night rally in Raleigh, N.C.,Tuesday, May 6, 2008, after sweeping to victory in the North Carolina presidential primary.
Barack Obama speaks at a primary election night rally in Raleigh, N.C.,Tuesday, May 6, 2008, after sweeping to victory in the North Carolina presidential primary.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
John McCain left, campaigns at Wake Forest University on Tuesday, May 6, 2008, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
John McCain left, campaigns at Wake Forest University on Tuesday, May 6, 2008, in Winston-Salem, N.C.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
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Time to unite around Obama, party elders say
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Gas tax a misfire for Clinton
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A recurring case of Clinton fatigue
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Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • John McCain • media • Indiana primary • North Carolina primary

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