Obama, a steep mountain to climb in West Virginia

Washington Times:

Here in the Mountain State, where faith, firearms and patriotism are bedrock, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama is failing to connect, trailing in the run-up to today's primary election by 40 points in some polls.

In a state where 16 percent of residents have undergraduate degrees and the median family income is about $12,000 less than the national average, it is no surprise to natives that Mr. Obama, an Ivy Leaguer, is not resonating with their blue-collar culture.

"I'm not sure he knows how to communicate well in rural environments," said Brian Alley, a hurricane aviation consultant and independent voter who added that he has not settled on a candidate to support. "He comes across as more of a professional-type person, much more sophisticated than even Clinton or Bush."

For Mr. Obama, who made only his second visit to the state yesterday, West Virginia appears to be one of a few road bumps remaining before he locks up the nomination.

Mr. Obama stopped by Schultzie's Billiards in South Charleston yesterday and offered to buy drinks for supporters playing pool.

He himself drank lemon-lime soda from a straw and made three shots in quick succession, but also sank the eight ball. He joked about his miserable bowling game in Pennsylvania, where he scored a 37, and said, at least this time, "I didn't embarrass myself."

He also deflected questions about his difficulties winning working-class voters, telling reporters that his plan for clean-coal technology investment, job creation and college affordability is "an agenda that would be good for the people of West Virginia."

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It is fortunate for Obama that West Virginia is near the end of the primary season and not the beginning. Losing by this much early would have put him in Biden Kucinich territory. I am not sure whether pool shooting will enhance his position with the barroom voters or make him look like just another hustler.