Like the Gipper, Obama Need Only Look Decent to Win

The campaign most comparable to today's, Pat Buchanan writes on Real Clear Politics, is 1980's, with John McCain playing the part of Jimmy Carter—and Barack Obama, like Ronald Reagan, in pole position and needing only to look reasonable to win the White House. Just as Reagan shook his right-wing caricature, Obama need only prove he's "one of us" to roll in November.

Obama must avoid being painted as a “snooty radical liberal … who looks down upon white America.” And so far, he’s up to the task, masterfully pivoting to the center in "a stunning display of raw pragmatism." The only task left for the “misunderestimated” Democrat is to hold his ground on his identity. (More Barack Obama stories.)