It’s been a quietly busy week on the election front. I think a lot of people are rather more engrossed in the furor over Scott McClellan than watching the fading drama in the democratic race. Clinton is still there and posturing, but Obama has clearly been quietly shifting the gears and it really is only a matter of time before he seals it. McCain also probably recognizes this, hence his increasing criticism of the like- oh screw that - the democratic nominee. Team Obama isn’t going to be taking their eyes off Clinton, but their attention is now set on managing the finale and not on beating her.

I’m a little concerned about Obama, though. For starters, he seems to have a problem with some…uh…overenthusiastic men of the cloth. Rev. Michael Pfleger of Chicago dropped the latests holy hand grenade when he mocked Clinton before his mixed-race congregation, all but accusing her of feeling entitled because of who she is (hint - white). While I understand and share the good Reverend’s opinion of Hillary (I pretty much shit on her in this post), these sudden outbursts are becoming something of a characteristic of the Obama campaign. Makes you wonder why similar outbursts by right-wingnuts backing GOP candidates don’t get a similar level of play in the media. Maybe we just assume that they’re all a little batty anyway, but right now the coverage and these outbursts are making it rather harder for Obama to move that mountain Hillary has thrown up in his path.

Speaking of which, Hillary’s batty “disenfranchisement” argument has already borne some fruit in the form of a planned protest at the Democratic rules committee by her supporters. In spite of all the arguments forwarded as to WHY they don’t deserve to be seated, she’s struck an emotional nerve - like she intended, no doubt. It remains to be seen if Obama can withstand their assault and still take the White House. Really, Hillary’s “storming the gates” attitude towards winning the nomination may well kick up enough to give John McCain valuable ammunition to help define Obama, like he’s already trying to do. How Obama handles this attempted coup d’etat will be the first real test of his mettle.

I also wonder if Obama’s approach to taking on McCain is the correct one. They’ve so far been trying to paint McCain as an extension of Dubya’s term in office. I have to wonder how much that charge will stick. It’s the obvious track - if Obama can channel all that angst against Bush against McCain, he’s got a helluva big gun to point at his opponent. The trouble would be making that charge stick. McCain has a long-established reputation as an outsider and renegade and he’s been playing it careful with Bush’s endorsement. It would bejust peachy for Senator Obama to be able to dump 8 years of Bush onto McCain, but I do hope his team have a second track in case that charge turns out to be a damp squib.

As for McCain…well, he seems to be managing his juggling-glasses-while-balancing-on-a-beach-ball-with-one-toe act jus’ fine. But he hasn’t really had to dodge anything big yet.