Buyer's Remorse

Buyer’s remorse. I believe that many Democrats had it before last night. I believe many more have it after last night.

Hillary Clinton delivered what is being called ‘a grand slam’ speech at the DNC last night. Though the McCain camp tried immediately to wedge the Democrats by claiming that her speech failed to fully endorse Obama, the fact is that the Democrats were and are already wedged. Hillary highlighted unity and party and goals and Obama. But what she really highlighted most was herself.

Many more Democrats are second-guessing themselves today.

Wouldn’t Hillary have been the better presidential candidate? Many Dems think so and I sense not just among ‘the Hillary supporters.’ Why? Obama shot out in the campaign as if shot out of a cannon. His lead was large and his trajectory high. But his savior of the world tour - wonderfully received overseas and glowingly reported in the U S A - failed to produce any ‘bump’ in the polls. In fact, his popularity began to fade. Then he was late and weak on the Russian invasion of Geogia. Obama faded yet more. Obama was then sounded whacked in the ‘faith forum’ at Saddleback. Finally, Obama named Joe Biden as his VP choice and got no ‘bump.’ The race is a dead heat and the Dems are justifiably nervous. And looking back at what could have been - if they had gone with the more experienced Hillary Clinton as their nominee.

Dems must be wondering why Obama didn’t choose her as VP. A CBS poll showed that only six percent of current Dem delegates wanted Biden as the VP choice while over a quarter wanted Hillary - that was before last night.

So the Clinton factor will not go away in this campaign prior till election day. Only an Obama win will erase the uneasy feeling among Dems that they went with style over experience.