I knew I’d get under someone’s skin sooner or later…but alas, it was just a reprint of Michael Van Winkle’s response to the Obama Poll.
Where I think Michael makes a good point, and I may have been unclear, is when he says:
Archie goes on to claim that Ryan shouldn’t be criticizing Obama as “left,” but rather posturing himself as “center.”
While I theoretically agree, in practice the two strategies are concomitant. In order to open up a space in the center, you have to demonstrate that your opponent doesn’t belong there. This is what Phiel is trying to do.
The strategy can work so long as she remembers where, precisely, the middle is. Perhaps her only mistake was not being quite selective enough on her points of attack. After all, it isn?t the primaries anymore; Ryan doesn?t have to worry so much about his base.
The Ryan camp might be more successful if they focus the media spotlight away from “conservative” issues like abortion and gay marriage, and on to more centrist issues like taxes and education.
Painting Obama as left is good strategy, but you have to move yourself ot the middle. There is nothing mutually exclusive about doing both, but Phiel didn’t do that and that was supposed to be my point.
But Michael–Ryan is behind no matter how you cut it. He might be able to catch up with a smart campaign, but clearly, Obama is ahead.
And what the hell is with the Archie thing? (this isn’t just Michael).