Politics / Barack Obama How Obama Should Run Out the Clock Go abroad, write policy —and take a break, insiders urge By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff Posted May 14, 2008 6:57 PM CDT Copied Supporters listens as Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., foreground, camapigns at a town hall-style meeting at Thorngate Ltd. in Cape Girardeau, Mo. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Being stuck in political limbo is no excuse for not looking ahead, especially when your opponent has a head-start. Per the Washington Post, here’s what insiders say Barack Obama should do until it's official: Go to the Middle East: Try though he may, Obama can’t fully reassure Jewish voters until he visits Israel. Pick the money: All signs indicate Obama will pass on public financing in the general election. He should let his donors know soon, so they know what to do with their funds. Get back to the Rust Belt: The more time spent with blue-collar voters in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the better. Perhaps some informal forums in which he talks about god and guns. Write policy. Obama needs real fixes to go with his rhetoric. Get in the platform trenches. Relax. Take some time off to freshen up. And maybe some new advisers to keep the energy high. Get with the people. He seems to like being with people. More NASCAR and state fairs, please. (More Barack Obama stories.) Report an error