Killing her softly with his song

Barack Obama wants to transform politics. But can he defeat Hillary Clinton by casting her as the divider and himself as the uniter?

By Walter Shapiro

Photo: AP/Charlie Neibergall

Barack Obama speaks with local residents in Storm Lake, Iowa, on Sept. 5.

Barack Obama has long been searching for a way to end his campaign appearances with a final burst of inspiration -- a magic incantation that will prompt voters to exit humming the title tune or, here in Iowa, to fill out caucus cards pledging their eternal troth. As a candidate who has elevated cool understatement to an art form, Obama is questing after something more enduring than heady cheers or a brief outpouring of partisan passions.

"He is allergic to cheap applause," said media consultant David Axelrod, Obama's closest advisor, during a Wednesday breakfast interview. "He thinks it doesn't get to the heart of the matter. You can fill up on applause lines, but 30 minutes later you're hungry again. With Barack, after he delivers a speech, you think about it."

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