Opinion: The Obama campaign to sing more loudly about the economy

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DENVER -- What was suggested by the new Barack Obama ad featuring a Sam Cooke soundtrack , Obama’s campaign manager made official today -- the economy, and the fears so many folks have about where it’s headed, is about to become a louder theme song for the almost-official Democratic presidential nominee.

David Plouffe, who oversaw Obama’s path to the nomination, told reporters today just a few hours before the Democratic National Convention began that based on his reading of poll data, ‘There’s a real sense of [John McCain] being out of touch’ with the economic problems plaguing the nation.

Plouffe kept stressing that McCain keeps stressing that America’s economic fundamentals are sound.

The Obama campaign begs to differ and sees an opening. Said Plouffe: ‘We are going to drive a truck through that this week and during the rest of the campaign.’

That will be music to the ears of Democrats who have complained that Obama has not spotlighted the economy consistently or passionately enough.

Still, Plouffe was asked why, if the issue is headed for an even brighter spotlight, Bill Clinton reportedly is complaining that he’s being assigned a different topic when he takes to the convention podium Wednesday night. The ex-president, after all, is the past master of pressing the Democratic economic.

Plouffe, demonstrating that maybe he should consider running for office himself, skirted the question.

Obama, on the campaign trail today in the Midwest, didn’t. He said that when he chatted with Clinton by phone on Thursday. “I said, ‘Mr. President, you can say whatever you like.’ ‘

Obama added: “Bill Clinton is a unique figure in our politics ... It wouldn’t make sense to me to try and edit his remarks.”

-- Don Frederick