June 2, 2008
The time is quickly approaching for the person who wants to be that special, “Last Superdelegate” for Barack Obama (the one who puts him over the top for the nomination) to be ready to jump up.
It is estimated that after Tuesday, Obama will be approximately 20 delegates short of the new number for winning the nomination: 2118. Once Tuesday’s results are tabulated, there will be a scramble to become . . . not the first post-primary season superdelegate to endorse him – but to be the twentieth. It’s a lot like a radio station that offers free concert tickets to the twentieth caller. Much of that same science will come into play on Tuesday night. Superdelegates aspiring to be “kingmaker” would be well-advised to consult with those who have won concert tickets from radio stations.
As the Clinton campaign winds down, it is interesting to study where the whole thing went wrong. My opposition to her candidacy has been my revulsion at the idea of yet another “Dynastic Presidency”. Nevertheless, I would be delighted to see another “Clinton vs. Bush” Presidential campaign (that is: Roger Clinton vs. Neil Bush — the “cocaine scandal” candidate vs. the “Asian hooker scandal” candidate). The “attack ads” would be delightful, although not very “family friendly”. It would be my kind of campaign.
As for the mistakes by the Clinton campaign, my favorite area is the subject of body language. Were he still alive, Marshall McLuhan might be willing to confirm my theory that the advent of HDTV has enhanced the obviousness of existential inauthenticity. Existential authenticity has been one of Hillary’s weak areas throughout this campaign. I believe that HDTV has made it more obvious. By McLuhan’s terms, HDTV would be a “hot” medium (as opposed to the “cool” analog TV, which required the viewer to put together a “mosaic” from a limited number of screen lines forming a TV picture). Once in the HD milieu, a political candidate’s body language becomes crucial. Here are a couple of Hillary Clinton’s worst “body language” mistakes:
— The Nod: She would do this herself when emphasizing a point she wanted her audience to accept. It was reminiscent of a shoe salesman’s saying: “Those shoes are you! Just put a tongue pad in there and your heels won’t slip out anymore” (while nodding affirmatively). Eventually, the change was made to have a “designated nodder”. With this strategy, a guy would stand behind Hillary and start nodding whenever she was making an important point. Neither tactic worked because HDTV gave it all away. This is a different world from 1992, when Bill first won.
— Waving to a Phantom “Old Friend” in the Audience: Chelsea was coached to use this tactic, as well. She would do it right after Hillary did it. Each would pretend to recognize an “old friend” in the audience; point at the phantom; say “hi”; smile in an exaggerated way and wave. Most of the cruel, “crazy face” pictures of Hillary were captured during these moments. They were extremely obvious in hi-def.
History will look back on the 2008 campaign as the first HDTV Presidential campaign. The candidates may not yet know it, but they are in a technological and political minefield where they are the pioneers.