Ben Smith gets a clue...

Obama cautious, vague in economic crisis - Ben Smith - Politico.com

Obama cautious, vague in economic crisis
By BEN SMITH | 10/11/08 9:57 AM EDT

The Democratic nominee is clearly benefiting from the economic turmoil – despite a hazy understanding of his solutions.

Sen. Barack Obama has taken a commanding lead in the race for president not because of any dramatic gesture, but because of a signature political trait: his caution.

The nation's economic crisis triggered Obama's sharp rise in what had been a tight race. But Obama hasn't tried to seize the kind of central, national leadership position for which Sen. John McCain grasped, and fell short. Nor has he been touting — Bill Clinton-style — a highly detailed plan for what he'll do the moment he takes office.

The result is that while virtually all observers agree that he has benefited from the crisis, his allies and critics alike remain a bit hazy on what exactly he would do if he takes office Jan. 20, 2009.

"He's certainly laid out all the right elements that are needed for an economic recovery, but nobody's sure at this point which ones will be at the very top of his priority list when he takes office," said Thea Lee, the chief economist for the AFL-CIO.

"To my knowledge, he's said absolutely nothing about what he would do," said Glenn Hubbard, a former chairman of President Bush's Council of Economic Advisers who is now the dean of Columbia Business School.