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Originally Posted by danimal

Might it not be that the 2 democratic candidates are much closer ideologically than the Republicans? Because their policies don't differ that much, then the focus becomes other issues.

That's my point.

Originally Posted by Detroitdad

see if you would have just said this without the snide remarks you would be a poitically astute observer (which you are) without any baggage.

I agree with your thoughts, for the most part, especially because Sen. Clinton is heavy on specifics but Obama is pretty vague on that account. I would rather not get hung up on identity politics either, (although I will point out that the Huckabee-Christian right-Romney Mormon juxtaposition has more than a whiff if identity politics in it-and that the Christian right in general identity has strongly impacted the party's nominees over the past decade and a half).

Thus, why I said Mike Huckabee excepted.

Originally Posted by Detroitdad

I think some identity politics is natural when you have the first feasible woman and black candidates, at the same time. So I am not that surprised nor worried about it from a Democrats point of view.

Perhaps. I wonder if we had a black or a woman candidate on the Republican side, if you'd see this kind of rancor between the candidates. I have a hard time seeing Condi Rice or Colin Powell or Michael Steele or Kay Bailey Hutchison on that stage with the other white guys, and having the Democrats' flavor of problems.