Holding Pattern

It's not like we didn't see this coming. Did anyone really think Obama would give up his huge cash edge and stay in the public finance system?

-- Campaign finance reform isn't a make-or-break issue (sorry, Sen. Feingold), but isn't it an issue that most would think a reform-oriented, "change" candidate would support? Can breaking the news over web video really make him look less, well, crassley political? We don't know what voters will think, but it didn't do much to placate a skeptical group of reporters at this a.m.'s Monitor briefing.

-- There, Obama aides Bauer and Gibbs portrayed the decision as defensive. They're just responding to a broken system (but don't worry, it can be fixed for '12) and they have to protect themselves from those nefarious 527s and a well-funded RNC. No matter that there are plenty of Dem interest groups that have already been stumping on Obama's behalf.

-- One issue does not define a campaign. Patterns do. And right now, one is starting to form that could threaten Obama's "yes we can" image. Think the re-emergence of Obama's lapel flag pin; the sudden decision to leave Trinity church; or the back-and-forth over what constitutes a "town hall" debate. To those, add his decision on public financing.