Rig--

Your "attributes" is a misnomer--since you actually have specific political demands for your vote. So it is reasonable to counter them.


In the real world, as opposed to your theoretical one, if he wants to be elected, Obama should completely ignore your desire about border enforcement as the #1 issue.

He can win easily with his supporters and most of Hillary's. And one of the biggest components of her coalition is Hispanics. Both for this reason, and because it is just the right thing to do, he should push--hard---for a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

This will have the added value of pushing McCain into a no-win situation. Either he is also willing to support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, without having the border "secured"--which will never happen anyhow. And if he is, the Tancredo true believers will sit home on election day. Or, if he insists on "securing the border" as a precondition for progress on immigration, he will lose two ways. His share of the Hispanic vote will plunge from the 40% GWB got in 2004--which more than made the difference in a close election. And he will lose some support from the business world.

And since it's political strategy to secure votes that you are citing, rather than "attributes" , other issues Obama should push are opposition to any weakening of Roe v Wade--and of course a plan for comprehensive health reform. These will have the effect of drawing clear lines between him and McCain, who is against Roe v Wade and will not offer any health reform -aside from "market-based reforms"--which is code for making the sick pay more.

And of course Obama should stick to his strong opposition to the Iraq war--another clear difference.

The conventional wisdom is that in a general election, you run to the center. I think that is wrong--and has been recently proven so.    Does anybody think Bush ran to the center in 2004?

No, the most important factor in any election is turnout--you want your own strongest supporters to believe in your cause, do the grunt work necessary in any election, and show up in huge numbers to vote.   The Bush "team" did it in 2004 by propaganda. Obama can do it by inspiration, and actually standing for worthwhile objectives.