NYT: Clinton goes face to face as Obama plays not to lose

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Forum Name General Discussion: Politics
Topic subject NYT: Clinton goes face to face as Obama plays not to lose
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4093131#4093131
4093131, NYT: Clinton goes face to face as Obama plays not to lose
Posted by kstewart33 on Thu Jan-17-08 07:57 AM

By MARK LEIBOVICH

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has become the open and accessible candidate — sharing beers with reporters, taking endless questions from voters at campaign events and showing rare glimpses of emotion.

Senator Barack Obama, meantime, has been cautious, guarded and strenuously on message — Clinton-like, in other words, at least Clinton-like until a few weeks ago.

As the race for the Democratic presidential nomination has turned upside down, at least at its top rungs, so have Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama’s approaches of exposing themselves to public view and questioning.

In Mrs. Clinton’s case, a pivot point came the Friday before Christmas, when Mr. Obama was coming on strong and her likability was being questioned. She did something rare for her — she sat down at a hotel bar in Manchester with about 20 reporters.

Because of the ground rules, her comments could not be reported. But she was funny, candid and apparently comfortable, and the mere fact that the conversation occurred was a prelude: She has become more accessible and personable as she has become less of a sure bet.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/us/politics/08style.html?ei=5088&en=24a778af77fd5a5c&ex=1357448400&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1199801231-J8xUDbuO719GbHthXAwPfQ&pagewanted=print