Herbert on the realists vs. the dreamers:

The Barack Obama forces don’t seem to understand that they’re sailing against the wind, that they’re not supposed to be able to capture the Democratic nomination for president.

The fight for the nomination, one of the best political dramas in decades, has always resembled a contest between realists and dreamers. The realists will tell you that there is a quality of protesting too much in the ritual chant of “Yes, we can!” that erupts so frequently at Obama rallies.

For months the realists have been arguing, in effect: No, he can’t...

The easiest way to understand what is going on is to step across the generational divide. The realists tend to be older and come out of a political and racial experience that is often completely alien to Mr. Obama’s most fervent supporters, who tend to be younger.

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February 5, 2008

Op-Ed Columnist

Winds of Change

By BOB HERBERT

www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/opinion/05herbert.html

Palo Alto, Calif.

The Barack Obama forces don’t seem to understand that they’re sailing against the wind, that they’re not supposed to be able to capture the Democratic nomination for president.