The Presidential Elections: There is electability and then there is electability

The Obama-Clinton tug of war gives everyone a chance to spill ink (or electrons) about their contest's chance of doing all sorts of things to the Democratic Party and maybe the country. I heard them this morning on MSNBC talking about electability and read about the same thing in the papers. Eugene Robinson writes about electability in The Dr. Evil Dilemma (which might be a good antidote to David Brooks' When Reality Bites in The New York Times).

E.J. Dionne wrote this in today's Washington Post:

It's come down to this: Who can beat John McCain?

Winning that argument could allow Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to reach beyond their respective demographic comfort zones. Only if one of them can build a clear majority will the party be saved from a descent into the mire of rules fights and backroom dealing. It will also take leadership to protect the Democratic village from chaos and recriminations.

Generally, I think Mr. Dionne has a very good head on his shoulders but I give him only half credit today. Beating John McCain is only half of the game. I assume Mr. Dionne's emphasizing Democratic unity goes to that other half of the game: getting better Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.

Only on Daily Kos did I see anything touching on the other races for this Fall, Obama's general elections strategy:

And yes, running tighter in Red states matters. Not only does it build toward the future (the 50-state strategy, of course), but it certainly matters to Democrats running down the ticket. Go around the country, especially in Red states like I have, and there's no doubt that just about ever Red state Democrat on the ballot wants Obama headlining this November.

How long has it been since a President actually had coattails? Not counting the freakish 2004 election, I think maybe 1980 was the last time (and I am here being very liberal with my opinion and conservative with my memory). McCain's problems with the reactionary right will not get him a Republican majority in either House, but whether the Democrats can get a veto-proof Congress is a different story. Even if we should lose the Presidential race this November, we must have greater number of Democrats in the next Congress. Calculating electability must include who will bring in the most Congressional and Senatorial Democrats.+

I think Obama has the best chance to have a positive effect on all the down ticket races.