Obama Hires a Top Political Adviser

In another blow to Hillary's chances at capturing her parties' nomination, Barack Obama has brought on board a top campaign manager:

Chicago-based political pro David Axelrod, a Stuyvesant Town native regarded as one of the most astute and savvy operatives in the business, has had a hand in nearly every major New York election in recent years.

He knows Hillary and her machine:

But most important, he knows Hillaryland from the inside. He ran a Democratic campaign arm dedicated to her 2000 election.

Lots of experience:

In addition to working for Clinton, Axelrod guided previous campaigns for 2008 White House hopefuls Sen. John Edwards and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Obama is everything Hillary is not. He has charisma and communicates well:

Axelrod acknowledged that Obama's big advantage is his personality - vibrant enough to woo both Oprah Winfrey and beer-guzzling "Monday Night Football" fans during recent TV spots. "There is no doubt people want to have a relationship with their candidate and with their president. The ability to connect with people is a valuable asset in public life, and he seems to have that," Axelrod said.

It's a sharp contrast to the image Clinton is often accused of projecting, which is wooden, cautious, wonky in public appearances, and warming up only in more intimate settings.

Hillary can feel the foot steps right behind her. You can also bet the Democratic party leaders are not caring for polls that show her running behind McCain. This explains why there is increasing enthusiasm for Obama:

Republican John McCain holds the upper hand in a United States presidential contest against Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to a poll by Bloomberg and the Los Angeles Times. 50 per cent of respondents would vote for the Arizona senator, while 36 per cent would support the New York senator.

Democratic insiders know that Hillary's high negatives, the fact that she is a woman, is a eastern liberal pretending to be a hawk, are a deadly liability.