April 25, 2007
"When the Democrats Debate in South Carolina, Everybody Will Listen"
Washington, DC (PoliticalJones.com) - As we begin to prepare for the first Democratic Presidential Debate in South Carolina this week, it will be interesting to follow how the dynamics of this race have begun to shift.
Clearly, Senator Hillary Clinton (NY) and her campaign have been surprised by the enthusiasm and groundswell of support for Senator Barack Obama, Jr. (IL) thus far. The country as a whole has been caught off guard by the excitement that his effort has generated. The moves by Senator Clintons' camp to bring “old school” political gurus like Harold Ickes back into the fold, make it very clear that there is real concern within in her campaign to make sure she is able to get her message out effectively and clearly to all of the Democratic Party. This first debate will be key in defining her differences with not only Sen. Obama, but with all the other candidates.
Senator Obama, the $25 Million Dollar Man, is riding a wave of excitement that has not been seen in recent times in American politics. His fundraising efforts aside, his campaign has brought an air of energy to the race that has been lacking in our political process. Sen. Obama has the opportunity in this first debate to begin addressing the issues confronting our nation and how he would tackle them as President. This will be his time to showcase his depth of knowledge on the issues and how he stacks up against all of the other candidates.
As far as the other candidates, former Senator John Edwards (NC), Governor Bill Richardson (NM), Senators Chris Dodd (CT) and Joe Biden (DE), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH), and former Senator Mike Gravel (AK), will all have the opportunity to break out and begin the process of pushing their campaigns into the spotlight, which constantly shines only on Clinton and Obama.
The most interesting factor surrounding this debate will be about the one person who will not be attending. The status of former Vice-President of the United States, Al Gore and the rumblings that he may jump into the race, continue to pound away at the surface of this campaign. Does he have the fire in his belly to get back into the fray? Many folks are still angry with Mr. Gore for what they saw as a lack of backbone in not fighting harder during the election dispute with now, President George W. Bush in 2000. In 2008, is he now ready to claim the prize he thought was stolen from him?
The fact that the first debate will be held in South Carolina at South Carolina State University, which is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), should not be lost on the candidates and those who are watching. Although the debate will not focus specifically on issues that affect the African American community, its location as the staging of the first Democratic Presidential debate defines the importance and influence of the African American vote and its leadership. This leadership includes but is not limited to Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (SC), a graduate of South Carolina State University; CBC Chairperson Rep. Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick (MI), House Ways & Means Chairman Rep. Charles Rangel (NY), and House Judiciary Chairman Rep. John Conyers (MI), among others.
On that night in South Carolina it will be time for all of the candidates and their campaigns to start sharing their vision for our communities and our nation. Once again, “enough about the sizzle, where's the steak?”.
