The NY Times ran an OP-ED authored by Obama about his conclusions about Iraq (before he went there ??). His position changed but he acted as if it was only 'more defined'. The details are
here. He displayed terrible judgment but he's only got 147 days of experience, outside of running for President, so poor judgment is understandable. At the same time
550 metric tons of yellowcake from Saddams nuclear program being held secretly to prevent Iran or any insurgents getting ahold of it arived safly in a Canadian port. It was a tightly held secret for security's sake despite it's existance being useful politically for the Bush Administration. In fact he took quite a lot of damage about this topic a while ago and held his tongue for the sake of that security. News media missed that one. After all Obama wrote an OP-ED !!!! NO major media cover this..........
McCain writes an OP-ED and the NY Times said NO. They wouldn't run it. Interesting at least but bias for sure.
Despite being an almost messianic image in the eyes of Democrats and the saturation of media coverage, and the big boost of just winning his party's nomination (presumptively) he is tied with McCain who hasn't even gotten started yet.
Obama has been slipping in the polls as his primary victory boost is fading.
I find it less then impressive that tied is the best he has by now. If we were to believe some of the talk here and in the media one would think this guy would be well ahead by now but he's not. The thrill is hype. He's a charismatic guy but as usual the liberals think Americans are stupid and can be told what/how to think as it works so well on their own and again they are mistaken.
Obama loses luster as time goes by. He lacks depth and is shaken easily. He is entertaining for sure but he has more then just the far left to appeal to now and isn't doing any better then even, and he's slipping. If the media continues the Obama-mania they will get ignored even more then they are already.
If when he comes back he tries to claim he was right all along or that the leaders there prefer him despite his desire to leave them hanging he will see a further decline. People know he was ardently against the surge, they know it has succeeded, they know the troops are coming home having accomplished what they set out to do, and they will resent being treated like they are stupid.
He will make enormous gains should he come back and admit he was wrong and that he now sees that what has been accomplished in Iraq serves to fight terrorism as it has made possible a place in the middle east that people can expect justice and safely reject Islamic Fascism. That we actually do now have a strong ally in the war on terrorism in the heart of the middle east. But his handlers wouldn't advise any statements until his friends in the media lay down some carefully selected sound bites to couch them in.
Obama will need to demonstrate some depth as Americans are quickly bored with entertainers.
As Unregistered stated, it mostly about ratings. People are intrigued by Obama's rise to becoming the Dem candidate. Especially after defeating the once favorite Hillay. McCain is not really news worthy. We know where he stands, on most issues. He has been around forever. In addition, he is a terrible public speaker, and does not have Obama's mass appeal. It is not much of a competition on who will get more media attention. This reminds me of Clinton and Dole in 1996.