I was just watching David Gregory's "Race For The White House" on MSNBC and in the segment where they play a voicemail question from a viewer there was a tough question from a Clinton supporter about Obama's fitness to tackle the troubled economy.
Margaret from Mt. Carmel:
28% of Americans say Obama's greatest weakness is his lack of experience. We need an economic superstar to win the economic tour de france. Do we really want to vote for the Democratic candidate who has training wheels on his bike?
Chrystia Freeland a panelist from the Financial News had a fascinating response:
I'd like to share a little bit of reporting on this point. The caller referred to Bear Stearns and Wall Street. And when you talk to some of the Wall Street supporters of Barack Obama they say that last summer when he was first coming to them, one of their big questions was 'How the heck are you gonna run the economy, you have no executive experience?'
And his answer was interesting. What he said then and it was before the campaign was 'I am going to use my campaign and the way I run it as a way to demonstrate to you and to the country what kind of a manager I am.'
Wow! That's a great anecdote and talking point for Senator Obama's management skills--compare that to the McCain campaign implosion in the summer and the disastrous episodes that have plaugued the Clinton campaign and you have a compelling argument for Obama's superior executive management skills. His campaign staff has been incredibly disciplined, coherent, and efficient. Witness the fundraising, the primary and caucus victories, the lack of news coming from paid campaign staffers (unlike Penn et al).
Freeland's anecdote should become a standard talking point for Obama supporters. I like the way it showed Obama's confidence in his own abilities. Talk about put up or shut up!
(UPDATED w/Video) hat tip to scarce....thnx