So When Will The Media "Do A Huckabee" On Obama?

Republican friends of mine often shook their heads in disbelief when I told them that I thought Obama would be the tougher candidate to face than Hillary. Democrats, at this point, seem to think Obama is the better choice, too. But I have one cautionary note to sound in the current positive environment for Obama. We were told that after Iowa, Barack, as the new front-runner, would now endure the intense scrutiny due a front-runner, ala Huckabee.

But that has yet to materialize. Ironically, Obama is a man who rose to prominence due to a stirring keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic convention. Now in 2008, the media is still focusing on his speaking ability, message, and rise to prominence. One British blog is even calling him the US version of "Princess Diana."

The danger for Democrats lies in the fact that primaries are meant to expose a candidate's potential weaknesses, have the candidate handle them early, then make them old news for the general election challenge. You don't want to have your party's general election candidate responding to one new challenge after another--causing them to stumble into November with lost momentum and dimming election hopes.

Yet--this extended honeymoon period for Obama makes that scenario a real possibility. In the meantime, the "master narrative" on Hillary is that she is desperate and being humbled. Hillary must also be hoping for the media to put Obama on the defense more--before her campaign becomes a lost cause.