So have things calmed down between the Democratic candidates?

[Reluctant Republican]

I know the media’s been preoccupied with the Spitzer thing and Obama’s church recently, but it’s been days since I’ve heard or read about Clinton or Obama taking a swipe at each other. I’m guessing this is due in part to Obama’s faith being raised in the news so much. After all, there’s no reason to attack your opponent when he’s caught up in his own troubles. But I also recall reading that Obama and Clinton had a talk on the senate floor in which they agreed to tone down the heated attacks between the two campaigns.

So, question: Has the rhetoric from the two camps really cooled down in an attempt at reconciliation, and are things likely  to remain calm, or do you think we can expect Clinton to start really going after Obama again, especially since he seems a bit vulnerable at the moment?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

If I don't feed my pit bull for a week or so, what do you think she'll do at her earliest opportunity?

Father Bill and Sister Hillary?  Yeah, right.

[Reignman]

Yes/No

Today and yesterday weren't as bad as the couple of days before that...

[Padfoot]

well I just read that they've been trading barbs about who is hiding more documents about their past.  Obama wants Clinton to release her tax returns and currently secret info regarding the Clinton library.  Clinton fires back by claiming she has released more of this type of thing cumulatively over the years than Obama has and that there is actually more available info on her than there is on Obama.

[ottermax]

Yes, I've noticed. I think people need a break from the election. It's been crazy since December. Now people can take a bit of a spring break. I don't think that the campaigns have necessarily calmed down, but the media intensity has. I think it will remain calm, although not for long.

[Michael Z]

Calmed down for now - or, rather, Clinton and Obama are currently applying the time-fashioned tactic of letting their minions do the attacking, with a few casualties on each side (Power, Ferraro, et al). But wait until PA.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Once we start heading into April proper it'll be on.

[MODU]

Yes/No

Things have calmed down between Killary and Obama since Obama is currently under the microscope.  This means Killary can be hands-off and just let the media focus in on him for once.  Once this story passes, however, she will stoke the flames again going into PA, unless something else pops up before then.

[J. J.]

Yes/No

Things have calmed down between Killary and Obama since Obama is currently under the microscope.  This means Killary can be hands-off and just let the media focus in on him for once.  Once this story passes, however, she will stoke the flames again going into PA, unless something else pops up before then.

I think that's the key.  Obama has had two weeks of bad press.  It could stop this week, or it could continue.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Yes/No

Things have calmed down between Killary and Obama since Obama is currently under the microscope.  This means Killary can be hands-off and just let the media focus in on him for once.  Once this story passes, however, she will stoke the flames again going into PA, unless something else pops up before then.

I think that's the key.  Obama has had two weeks of bad press.  It could stop this week, or it could continue.

Bad press isn't necessarily the key either, it's how the campaign handles it.

You can have mud flung at you for months, and whether it sticks to you is dependent on those around you. Mark Sheilds made an interesting observation on the Newshour before this thing broke out. Obama's campaign has prided itself on being free from the Clinton style old-school politiking. The problem is that there are times when spin control is needed, and there's no one around who's enough of a political operator to do it.

The Clintons are the MASTERS of political spin  (usually) they turned the whole Lewinsky matter back onto the Republicans and his numbers went up. Of course the issue being that this tact manages to escape them at the worst possible times during this campaign.

[Beet]

Yes/No

Things have calmed down between Killary and Obama since Obama is currently under the microscope.  This means Killary can be hands-off and just let the media focus in on him for once.  Once this story passes, however, she will stoke the flames again going into PA, unless something else pops up before then.

I think that's the key.  Obama has had two weeks of bad press.  It could stop this week, or it could continue.

Bad press isn't necessarily the key either, it's how the campaign handles it.

You can have mud flung at you for months, and whether it sticks to you is dependent on those around you. Mark Sheilds made an interesting observation on the Newshour before this thing broke out. Obama's campaign has prided itself on being free from the Clinton style old-school politiking. The problem is that there are times when spin control is needed, and there's no one around who's enough of a political operator to do it.

The Clintons are the MASTERS of political spin  (usually) they turned the whole Lewinsky matter back onto the Republicans and his numbers went up. Of course the issue being that this tact manages to escape them at the worst possible times during this campaign.

Maybe they aren't masters of political spin? Have you ever considered that? Maybe the only reason Bill's numbers went up was that the populace reacted negatively to the idea of impeaching a President, which had only been done once in the Republic's history, over a blowjob? The vaunted "political machine" that the Republicans have been touting didn't turn out to be so tough after all. Perhaps some of the stereotypes of the Clintons are just overblown...

[Sam Spade]

Are you kidding?  The war is just starting.

[J. J.]

To all this calm is like call Katrina bright sunny day.

[The Hack Hater]

Well, not right now. Hillary's just sitting back and letting the media get on Obama's case for now. But give a little more time for the furor to die down, and she'll certainly go after him again, soon enough.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Yes/No

Things have calmed down between Killary and Obama since Obama is currently under the microscope.  This means Killary can be hands-off and just let the media focus in on him for once.  Once this story passes, however, she will stoke the flames again going into PA, unless something else pops up before then.

I think that's the key.  Obama has had two weeks of bad press.  It could stop this week, or it could continue.

Bad press isn't necessarily the key either, it's how the campaign handles it.

You can have mud flung at you for months, and whether it sticks to you is dependent on those around you. Mark Sheilds made an interesting observation on the Newshour before this thing broke out. Obama's campaign has prided itself on being free from the Clinton style old-school politiking. The problem is that there are times when spin control is needed, and there's no one around who's enough of a political operator to do it.

The Clintons are the MASTERS of political spin  (usually) they turned the whole Lewinsky matter back onto the Republicans and his numbers went up. Of course the issue being that this tact manages to escape them at the worst possible times during this campaign.

Maybe they aren't masters of political spin? Have you ever considered that? Maybe the only reason Bill's numbers went up was that the populace reacted negatively to the idea of impeaching a President, which had only been done once in the Republic's history, over a blowjob? The vaunted "political machine" that the Republicans have been touting didn't turn out to be so tough after all. Perhaps some of the stereotypes of the Clintons are just overblown...

I agree in general with that.

But in case you missed it, I was complimenting them.