Obama running from above

More than 350,000 donors.  Nearly $100 million raised.  National name recognition.  But for some reason, Obama just cannot get any traction in the polls.  One political science professor in Iowa thinks he knows why:

After watching Obama speak on his Des Moines campus recently, DrakeUniversity political science professor Dennis Goldford glimpsed onereason Obama is not faring as well as many think he should.

"There is a tremendous curiosity factor. He radiated a certain coolthat would be very attractive to college students and young people,"Goldford said. "For older voters, though" -- and half of caucusgoersare 55 or older -- "the music's great, but where are the lyrics? He'sbeen trying to fill that out somewhat, but for people inclined to go tothe caucus anyway, the lack of experience is significant."

Obama, said Goldford, has a cerebral approach that leaves some voterswanting more. While Clinton is running "from the center" and formerEdwards is running "from the left," he said, Obama is "running fromabove."

"He is trying to run against the process and politics as usual itself,"Goldford added. "The last person to do that successfully was PresidentBill Bradley in 2000." (Rimshot, please.)

As someone that has followed this campaign play out, Barack Obama has bogged down by consultants.  He no longer has the confident, free-flowing style that made him famous during the 2004 Democratic Convention.  He comes off as too calculated, cautious and serious.  He has a few weeks left to come out of his shell, otherwise we will have crossed the point of no return and Hillary or Edwards will win the nomination.