Erika Conner
Think of Election Day as a tale of two politicians. One, the President, who was flying high, but is now falling back to earth. And the other, Boston Mayor Tom Menino, who continues to defy political gravity and stay aloft.
One looks like a professional politician. The other doesn't.
One has a way with words, while words have their way with the other.
And one was a big loser yesterday, while the other was a big winner.
The Democrats' dual defeats in the New Jersey and Virginia races for Governor are a sign for Obama. And the sign is a blinking yellow light meaning: slow down and proceed with caution. It may even be a blinking red: a warning to stop before proceeding with all his plans.
Interestingly, Obama is losing ground to the Republicans even though the GOP has no "face," no leader who speaks for their party.
So it looks like he is losing to himself.
Meanwhile, for Tom Menino, it's four more years after another double-digit victory. The Mayor has made the connection with voters Obama is still trying to.
How is the Mayor succeeding while the President is flailing?
Here's his explanation:
"When you're elected, it's what you got in your heart," Mayor Menino said.
And isn't that the problem with the President? We all know he has a brain, it's what's in his heart we wonder about.
I'm Andy Hiller and that's my instinct.
(Copyright (c) 2009 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
