What we have witnessed over the past week -- Obama's larger-than-expected triumph in Iowa and his surge going into New Hampshire -- doubtless owes much to the mood of the nation and our collective thirst for something new and different, as Bob Herbert, Frank Rich and others have suggested in recent pieces.
But I note something else: Obama also played all his cards to perfection.
Why did Richardson's caucus-goers tend to go to Obama, rather than to Clinton or Edwards? Surely they were wooed by all three. It would be fascinating to know how Obama won Richardson over.
During Saturday's debates, it seemed to many commentators (including here at daliykos) as if Edwards and Obama we allied (as the proponents of change) against Clinton and Richardson (the proponents of experience). But I saw something else. Richardson's strongest moment in the debate was when he seemed to praise Obama, comparing him to JFK, "his hero", and recalling the excitement of the 42-year-old candidate in 1960. He wasn't Clinton's ally in that moment. She didn't need anyone reminding the audience that Obama at 46 is already more seasoned than Kennedy was when he began his presidency.
My point isn't that there was some conspiracy between Obama and Richardson. It's just to marvel that this young man tapped into the legend of JFK -- or whatever black hole exists at the heart of American politics for you (because perhaps its only my generation that looks into that well of disappointment and sees JFK, MLK, RFK and John Lennon staring back out). It wasn't an accident, it shows monumentally skillful timing. Unlike Dean, Obama has not peaked too soon. He benefits from our hopes, but somehow he skillfully shepards them, and summons them on cue at exactly the moment needed. We were all a bit surprised by Iowa, were we not?
To me, all this bodes well. When critics say he's young, that he doesn't have Hillary's political clout and infighting skills, perhaps the answer is, well, he beat Hillary, didn't he? Despite all her preparation -- despite her husband, the world's most consummate politician (up to now) -- despite all the beltway crowd and the mainstream press and the New York bloody Times shilling for her every single day for a year -- she couldn't take Iowa, he did. If he takes New Hampshire too on Tuesday, I'll rest easy about his tactical skills.
And the hell of it is, he makes it look so civilized. Never an ill word.