The Hardest Button to Button

By Lee Vander Boegh –

Barack Obama and Larry Craig: polar opposite political adversaries or unlikely superhero crime fighting team? I’m guessing the latter, especially now that they’re forever coupled on an Idaho Democratic campaign buttons.

Check it out here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25882188/?GT1=43001

Who would have thought these two (who, ideologically speaking, don’t even live on the same planet) would share button space – on a Democrat rah-rah button no less? The Associated Press is calling it a printing mix up, but you can bet that every late night talk show host is calling it “Gold.”

But it begs an important question: what if this wasn’t a mix up? What if it was a genius marketing combination a la Michael Jordan and Nike or the New Coke? Here is how I think both Obama and Craig could benefit from each other’s likeness:

Obama: While polls indicate that this presidential candidate is very popular amongst the country’s youth and minorities, he’s trailing behind Republican candidate Sen. John McCain amongst the old, white guy, “Hey kids, get off my lawn” conservative voters. What a better way to bridge the gap then to align with an old, white guy conservative?

Craig: Though he’s said his U.S. Senate run is done after this term, his popularity and credibility is, well, in a Minnesota toilet. Hanging out with Obama could provide a needed cool point boost; and might even make him more attractive (*cough*) to non old, white guy conservative voters. So long as those pesky, democrat kids stay off his lawn.