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Congrats Obama, Here's Your To-Do List

Dem finally clinches the nomination—now the real work begins

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 4, 2008 11:14 AM CDT
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(Newser) – It wasn’t easy, but a bruised Barack Obama has finally wrapped up the Democratic nomination. The Guardian’s Michael Tomasky knows what he needs to do next:
 

  • Redefine himself. Obama has a lot of time now to remind us why he inspired people in the first place.
  • Define John McCain. The honeymoon should be over for the GOP nominee; Obama can attack him pointedly on Bush, Iraq, and his growing array of flip-flops.

 

  • Appease Hillary. It’s probably going to take a painful concession to make nice with the Clintons, but Obama needs to do it. He just shouldn’t make her VP.
  • Unite the party. Special attention needs to be paid to the voting blocks that swung Clinton’s way in the primaries. He also needs to get Hillary-endorsers onboard.
  • Brace himself, because, in Tomasky’s words, “We are going to see a lot of outright racist and other crazy garbage in this country until election day.”

In this May 5, 2008 file photo Barack Obama addresses supporters in rain at a rally in Indianapolis.
In this May 5, 2008 file photo Barack Obama addresses supporters in rain at a rally in Indianapolis.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Barack Obama speaks during a primary election night rally in St Paul, Minn., Tuesday, June 3, 2008.
Barack Obama speaks during a primary election night rally in St Paul, Minn., Tuesday, June 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
In this May 16, 2008, file photo Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., waits backstage before a rally in Sioux Falls, S.D.
In this May 16, 2008, file photo Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., waits backstage before a rally in Sioux Falls, S.D.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.. waves upon finishing his speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference 2008, Wednesday, June 4, 2008, in Washington.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.. waves upon finishing his speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference 2008, Wednesday, June 4, 2008, in Washington....   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill. addresses the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference 2008, Wednesday, June 4, 2008, in Washington.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill. addresses the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference 2008, Wednesday, June 4, 2008, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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