Obama Game Plan

One observer of Barack Obama's campaigns in Illinois, and of his strategist David Axelrod, believes that the Obama game plan involves a big push in the late going.

In his Senate primary race, Obama surged ahead in the last few months. Presumably then, the campaign would be holding back some key ammunition for use at the last minute.

Stealth plans of this type are quite commonly used by underdog candidates. There could be some important endorsements, contributions, ads, etc. in storage for a late assault just before the Iowa caucuses. According to this mode of thinking, Hillary Clinton's "inevitability" is not such a bad thing. In fact, it contributes to the environment that this type of game plan tries to create.

Often a stealth plan will have some "dirt" that is unloaded at the last second giving the opposition minimum time to respond. Obama's camp has disavowed any kinds of personal mudslinging, but possibly they could have some bombs that are relevant and fair game for a electoral campaign. Basically anything that has do with a candidate's public record and service is considered vital information for the electorate.

Of course, stealth means keeping things secret, working quietly to build up the apparatus needed to execute the "big push."

There may be some questions over whether such an Obama game plan would work in a national election were such great resources are needed to do anything. Obama's handlers are working one state at a time, so the first goal would be to make it work in Iowa. But then will there be more surprises for the other three early states, and for Super Tuesday?