Obama Stars Overseas as McCain Stumbles at Home

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Obama Stars Overseas as McCain Stumbles at Home: Albert R. Hunt

Commentary by Albert R. Hunt

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Fundamentals Favor Democrats

Although overconfidence is dangerous in politics, there's a basis for optimism. Polls show a tight race; all the underlying fundamentals suggest a Democratic win.

The Obama folks have identified 18 battleground states. Only four, with 52 electoral votes, are in ones the Democrats carried in the 2004 presidential election.

The other 14, with 147 electoral votes, were Republican states. These include North Dakota and Alaska, which only months ago were considered safely Republican -- and where George W. Bush got more than 60 percent of the vote four years ago. The Obama grassroots organizing machine puts these states in play.

Most of the issues are hurting McCain. Expanding oil drilling may be all he has left.

`Biography Tour'

The Obama camp anticipates a good next month. He's planning a ``Biography Tour'' aimed at filling in the blanks -- and alleviating concerns -- about his life and values. They have the skill and resources to do this well.

The Denver convention plans are different, too. For the final speech, instead of speaking to a hall full of delegates as candidates of both parties have done for seven decades, Obama, 46, will deliver his acceptance speech outdoors before 75,000 people at Invesco Field. The symbolism is clear. (If Obama's luck holds, it will be a clear night, as they calculated it rarely rains in Denver in August.)

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