The Phoenix

by Steve Soto

AP photo

I'm sure she hated to spoil the Obama coronation and her own burial, but Hillary edged out a victory tonight in New Hampshire. Tweety, the Post, the NYT, and much of the rest of the media, as well as his supporters in the center-left blogosphere will have to put away the shovels.

Senator Obama, you're not running against Alan Keyes. We're now beyond the free pass period, and into the "Show Me" part of the campaign. With a fawning media now humiliated by actual voters in New Hampshire, it's well past time for you to explain exactly how you will be better than Hillary at:

-Delivering change by appeasing a GOP that has been the obstacle;
-Stabilizing the Middle East;
-Delivering truly universal health coverage;
-Taking on the oil companies to get energy independence;
-Delivering a Main Street economy.

Senator Obama, you and your supporters have done well and have earned a lot of respect. But you've now got a one-on-one race against an opponent with a new lease on life, one who is adapting to your campaign, its tactics and underlying messages, and its holes.

Game on.