Hear the Crowd Roar

DING! DING! DING! The bell rings, the crowd screams, the contestants enter the ring. From the audience you can see the wary look in their eyes; the way they stalk to the center, shake hands, and BANG! The first blow is thrown. Is it K.O. in the first, or do we see another round on the horizon?

Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier this is not. But anyone watching the twentieth – yes, twentieth – Democratic debate last night would find the analogy fitting. With Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama attacking each other so viciously, one could not help but wonder if instead of electing a president and leader, the American people will be voting for the next heavyweight champion come November.

Yet, while many Americans have thrown up their hands in despair, begging for the return to normalcy and an escape from the never-ending political talk, this twentieth debate serves as a reminder that the nation is currently enduring a period of uncertainty. While America attempts to regain its feet, the presidential nominees must present an image of strength and power in all aspects of their campaign. Whether the issue is health care, tax reform, or the war in Iraq, all the candidates must show the American people that they can be relied upon.

Barack Obama, a one term senator from Illinois may not be everyone’s first choice for president however one cannot help but notice the vigor, excitement, and youthfulness with which he approaches this campaign and politics in general. While Hillary Clinton and John McCain – both Washington “veterans” – bring to the table their many years of experience in the Senate, this experience alone may not be enough to take them to the White House.

America is looking for that guy they can relate to; the candidate with that cool, relaxed blend of breezy know-how; the attitude that shouts confidence and reliance. The American people want to be told that everything will be okay, and for this they have found Obama. The fact that he has “no” experience is not a disadvantage; it is his greatest blessing. Obama can tell the people that he is not jaded by D.C. politics. Obama alone will find the solution.

While his jabs may not clock in at the breathtaking speeds of Ali’s, Obama certainly has schooled himself in the ability to “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” If the Republicans hope to win the White House in nine months they must hone that fighting wit of John McCain, but more importantly they must infuse their campaign and their party with the same freshness that Obama brought to his. The American people know that they are in for a few more rounds (at least); the winner will be the one who can carry the audience with him to the finish