Why Obama won on the gas tax

I didn't blog much about the gas tax issue, because it was so idiotic that I didn't want to bother. New York Magazine has a great post-mortem about how the debate played out in Indiana. Hillary went way too far, and was unprepared when things didn't go her way. And then she didn't have a Plan B when Obama had a better idea. Sound familiar? Ring any bells? Like, maybe, between this issue and the whole campaign?

And then Obama took advantage of the opportunity, and hit her hard on a clear policy difference. That's a good sign. Nice to have an example of Obama fighting hard on a distinct policy issue. And the timing was perfect; arguing about this issue, which really is a substantive difference, was exactly what Obama needed to focus on something besides Rev. Wright. Great article.

The best part of the story is that the voters judged the candidates on an issue that they understand intimately, and they listened to the voice of wisdom and coolheaded rationality.