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The Audacity Of Hype

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 22, 2008

A time-tested rule of business is to under-promise and over-deliver, an approach politicians should use to manage expectations, too.

As it was, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama attracted an estimated 15,000 people to the St. Pete Times Forum on Wednesday, a crowd any other politician would be ecstatic to attract.

But the hype about Obama's campaign visit to Florida - his first since pledging to boycott the state during the primaries - suggested the crowd would fill the rafters and outdoor seating would be needed. Instead, the forum's third level was sparsely populated and only a few people watched outside via video, by choice.

So after drawing a crowd of more than 75,000 in Oregon, a good turnout in Tampa seemed merely OK.

And by holding the event at the cavernous forum, Obama's campaign broke a cardinal rule of politics: Never put the audience in a too-big room because photographs will capture empty chairs that suggest a lack of interest.

True, organizers tamped down attendance with warnings about parking and too few tickets. Remember, this is a city that lives in fear of traffic jams and parking problems.

But for those hoping to attend the political event of a decade in Tampa, Obama's visit didn't live up to its billing.

There's no discounting the Illinois senator's charisma and ability to deliver a hopeful yet pointed message for change.

He was kind and generous to his opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton, even as the former first lady was busy doggedly campaigning in South Florida.

But Obama missed a golden opportunity to reach Florida Democrats concerned that their primary votes won't count. The issue of Florida's unseated delegates was the elephant in the room that needed acknowledging. Instead, the senator focused on likely Republican nominee John McCain.

In the crowd, it was heartening to see the new faces excited by national politics. The Tampa gathering had as many whites as blacks, and as many families with young children as seniors with walkers and wheelchairs.

Yet there was no goosebump moment to generate the enthusiasm needed to tip the undecided in this region to Obama.

One thing is certain: To win the Tampa Bay region, the rock star will need an encore.

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