'Palin uses Hillary to taunt Obama'

From tomorrow's Observer, here.

Firing a fresh salvo in a presidential election battle that has turned into a war of the sexes, Sarah Palin has taunted Barack Obama for not picking Hillary Clinton as his running mate. . . .

In a sharp-edged response, Obama-supporting Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said: 'Sarah Palin should spare us the phoney sentiment and respect.' That sort of prompt push back is likely to define the Obama camp as it copes with the way Palin has shaken up the race. . . .

Painfully aware of the floundering John Kerry campaign of 2004, Obama has in effect relaunched for the final seven weeks of the battle. 'Today is the first day of the rest of the campaign,' said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe, in an email on Friday. 'We will respond with speed and ferocity to John McCain's attacks, and we will take the fight to him.'

'Democrats have to be more aggressive. They have to be proactive,' said Professor Joanne Green, a political scientist at Texas Christian University. Obama now seems to have taken such advice to heart, using hard-hitting new adverts that are trying to put the focus back on McCain and on the bread-and-butter issues facing America. A new ad unveiled at the end of last week was about the economy but did not hesitate to attack McCain personally, pointing to remarks he once made about not knowing how to use a computer or send an email. . . .

Palin seems to have tapped into a large section of women voters the Obama camp overlooked or assumed would flock to its candidate. But there is also some truth in Palin's claims that Obama might regret not picking Clinton or another woman. His choice of Senator Joe Biden created the chance for McCain to pick Palin. Choosing Clinton would have dulled, or even prevented, the 'Palin effect' now defining the race. 'In a way Obama's decisions created Palin,' said Mitchell. 'He only has himself to blame.'