“Putting people together — is that really the Obama difference? Is this how Obama takes on Hillary Clinton, by suggesting that she’s a divider and he’s a uniter? The phrase itself, accidentally reminiscent of Richard Nixon’s ill-kept 1968 pledge to ‘Bring Us Together,’ may not last long in the Obama arsenal. But the underlying argument, which is as much about political style as policy goals, has been central to the Obama campaign since its impromptu beginnings early this year. Under normal political calculus, the leading challenger (Obama) would be the aggressor, while the unruffled favorite (Clinton) would depend on organization and inevitability to propel her to victory. But unlike Edwards — who is directly challenging Clinton for being too politically timid to achieve bold dreams — Obama is trying to rewrite the laws of political combat.” (09/07/07)