AP Analysis: Doubts Continue to Nag Obama

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP: Analysis: Doubts Continue to Nag Obama
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 9, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) -- For Barack Obama, the millions of dollars he's raised can't quite paper over the nagging doubts and growing pains.

The Democratic presidential hopeful recently reported raising $32.5 million over three months, a staggering haul that shifted focus from the question of whether the 45-year-old political phenom is ready for prime time.

The first-term Illinois senator continues to draw large crowds -- as he did in Iowa last week -- and his message of hope and unity has captivated many voters weary of political polarization. The campaign has already attracted more than 259,000 contributors -- a jaw-dropping figure.

But in the weeks before his cash totals were disclosed, the Obama campaign hit a series of rough patches that seemed to highlight his relative inexperience on the national stage.

--Critics dismissed as somewhat lackluster Obama's performance in three nationally televised debates. One was a civil rights forum in which Obama, the field's only black contender, was expected to shine....

--Obama's relationship with Chicago real estate mogul Antoin ''Tony'' Rezko continues to draw scrutiny, even as the candidate has sought to further distance himself from his longtime political consigliere....

--An Obama campaign research memo surfaced criticizing Bill and Hillary Clinton's financial connections to India. The memo fell into the hands of Clinton's communications team, who promptly shared it with reporters....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Obama-Readiness.html

[Mass]

1. Let's rather say AP continues to nag Democratic candidates...

Once a day, equal opportunity nagging (it does not matter who they nag as long as it is a Democrat).

Why the hell are they not writing the same kind of reports concerning Republicans? Do the Republicans have no doubts concerning Guliani, or Romney, or even Thompson? Are there no doubts concerning McCain, with the exception of his fundraising?

[ripple]

2. Agreed. The AP is quickly losing what's left of their credibility. n/t