Obama's Strengths

With the election nearing, many Barack Obama supporters are wondering if their candidate can pull it off and just how that can happen.

Let's examine Obama's strengths. Specifically his campaign strengths. For Obama's potential strengths as president, see my posts on his leadership ability and on his platform.

No doubt, Barack Obama is a great campaigner. He whipped up a front-running campaign in the least amount of time of all the other candidates. Barack had a previous roadmap to the presidency that involved first becoming governor of Illinois. However, when he saw a good opportunity this election, he moved swiftly and decisively.

Although John Edwards had carefully prepared for years to build up a "next phase" internet campaign on the model of Howard Dean's, Obama was able to quickly became the online star.

Not only he has raised extraordinary amounts of money, but as a newcomer on the Washington scene he has garnered impressive endorsements from established political powers.

Obama can fire up a crowd but importantly he also fires himself up very well. He has spent the most time in Iowa of any Democratic contender this year, often walking door-to-door to meet with voters.

He has managed to raise an army of strong, motivated supporters. These troops could make the difference in the end depending on how hard they are willing to work for the senator.

Money is not an important issue with this campaign. From all appearances they should have enough cash to get their message out, if the budget is well-controlled.

Much of Obama's support is of the latent type. Young and first-time voters who will need to be fired up at the last minute to ensure they vote. This is one area where the candidate himself has some telling experience. He led a highly successful get-out-the-vote drive for Bill Clinton's campaign in his home state of Illinois.

What is extraordinary is the effort the campaign has made in putting together their ground attack. In California, for example, they have organized the whole state by congressional districts. I didn't notice anything like this even during the Kerry-Edwards campaign during the general election last time around.

I suspect this has a lot to do with Barack's own experience as a grassroots organizer.

The groundwork is surely being laid, and as I see it will be up to Barack to "fire up" the troops during the last phase of the election that will determine victory or defeat.