Obama's weary way with words

2008-01-30 21:07

Charlotte Raab

El Dorado - Even Hillary Clinton acknowledges it: her White House rival Barack Obama has a gift for words, and his capacity to captivate crowds has defined his campaign.

But, on the debate stage, Obama's rhetorical advantage evaporates.

At rallies, in speeches, his lyrical calls for change - mixing personal experience, concrete policy and inspirational abstractions, all delivered in a rhythmic cadence - can bring tears to the eyes of his listeners.

But in debates, which call for precise speech, his delivery seems at times hesitant, ill-at-ease, especially next to Clinton's confidence and control.

Obama has resorted in debates to a kind of repartee with fellow candidates that does not always play well.

He was strongly criticised in early January for having said to the former first lady, during an exchange at a debate, "you're likable enough".

The media perceived the comment as arrogant, and Obama himself revised it a few days later: "I should have said 'Hillary, you're plenty likable'."

Relative lack of experience

"It's not that he's bad, he's not as agile," said Wayne Fields, an expert on presidential rhetoric at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, assessing Obama's debate skills.

For Shawn Parry-Giles, a communications professor at the University of Maryland, the downsizing of Obama's rhetorical mastery in debates may be partly due to his relative lack of experience.

Clinton has an acknowledged policy mastery and is hardened from 15 years of Washington battles.

"The expanse of her knowledge is deeper and broader", allowing Clinton to delve into policy details with greater ease, said Parry-Giles.

But others say Obama is not lacking depth - they argue that his policy proposals are as fully fleshed out as those of his rivals, even if he rarely takes the time to detail them when fielding questions from his followers.

For these observers, Obama's debate performance mirrors the persona on which his campaign is built.

"His appeal is that there's something different with him," said Fields.

He said Obama was not just another politician moulded by the Washington dialectic.

Obama's brilliance in speeches and relative clumsiness in debates corresponds fundamentally with the message of his campaign, said Paul Achter, professor of rhetoric at the University of Richmond.

"Debates force conflict. They have to fight," said Achter.

"It runs against Obama's thing. He is the conciliator, he embodies multiracial identity, and his politics reflect that... unity is such a big part of his theme.

"At debates, he has to enter a space where he can be more negative," said Achter.

It remains to be seen if Obama's presidential campaign can flourish on the national stage, in the run-up to multiple state primaries on February 5.

Optimistic outlook for Obama

Far fewer voters will have the direct experience of his lyricism, while debates will take on greater weight.

Democratic candidates have one more televised debate, on Thursday in Los Angeles, prior to "Super Tuesday" when voters in about 22 states cast ballots.

Fields gave an optimistic outlook for Obama.

"People can forgive a lot of mistakes if they believe that you're bright and you're learning, and that you can be trusted," he said.

- AFP