The Synoptic Gospels of Obama & Huckabee

A summer ago, I was walking through Colonial Williamsburg (one of my favorite places) and the typical afternoon shower ensued so we ducked into the William & Mary University bookstore. I have always preferred college bookstores to the typical Borders because the works that take center stage in the marketing plan tend to be more intellectual in nature (not the Grisham's ??th book lacks mindful stimulation, but you get the picture). While the rains drenched the little town stuck in the late 1700's, I found Culture Code by Clotaire Rapaille. It was a fascinating read suggesting that every culture has certain codes or images that often hide beneath the service that define more realistically our belief or expectation of something (my apologies to Rapaille because I am sure that explanation does not do his work justice)

While there have been many suggestions as to how and why Americans choose to support candidates for President ("Who would I rather have a beer with?" or "Who will help my protect my wallet?") Clotaire states the culture code for the American president is "Moses" - we want someone to deliver us from or to something.

In multiple ways, Huckabee and Obama have been linked. They seem to be the nicest, most hopeful candidates. They both were to be the most damaged by the Bhutto assassination because they both lack the most foreign policy experience. They both came from the back of the pack to become front runners in Iowa. Faith has been used as both a positive marketing of the candidate and the stick used to beat them both up (accusations of Obama's Muslim past and the floating cross in Huck's Christmas ad).

This morning the two were paired once more on the "live from Iowa" edition of Meet the Press (here's hoping I get to meet Russert). Considering the potential risk, they both did well. Russert started each separate interview by showing the latest polls that have the duo falling behind in their respective races. The responses were similar and predictable citing other polls, still a long way to go, etc. Russert went immediately to foreign policy beliefs (specifically Pakistan and the Bhutto assassination) and questioned their experience to address these issues. Obama spoke directly to the situation in Pakistan and the need to insure legitimate elections soon. Huckabee in similar language explained his gaffes suggesting that his previous statements about Pakistan in his foreign policy article were almost prophetic.

Russert addressed them both on the negativity aimed specifically at them and they both pointed to the system and the people who have supported that system. Neither want to be seen as Washington insiders and both made the most of their opportunity to reposition themselves for the stretch run, eloquently I might add.

It seems that "change", a "new vision", a new force subversive to the establishment continues to elevate the popularity of these two men. So if Rapaille is right and we are subconsciously looking for a Moses to deliver us then the success of these two campaigns rest on Iowans determining what that want delivered from - a world at war with terror or a country held captive by a self-perpetuating political system of insiders. Without question, the barrage of attacks they both have received has hurt their poll numbers, but I still contend the fear of enemies abroad finding its way front and center for three news cycles has done the most damage.

If nothing new happens in Pakistan (or any where else in the world) to knock the caucus off the front page, there is still time for them to recover their leads and walk away winners. But if the headlines get captured again in these last days, they may both have to part the Red Sea to ever sit in the White House.