Obama has the big picture

Excerpted today from The Caucus Blog, at the New York Times:

Updated | 5:33 p.m. Mr. Obama has been talking about electability in veiled terms during his bus tour, but he mentioned Mr. Edwards and Mrs. Clinton by name during a rally today in Keokuk.

“The most recent polls show I am the only democrat who can beat every republican.” Mr. Obama said, referring to a recent Zogby survey that put him ahead of the top-tier Republican candidates nationally.

Mr. Edwards, he said, could not beat the Republican candidates because he was not tackling the same issues in the same manner as during his 2004 campaign. And Mrs. Clinton could not beat all five of them, either. “You start off with half the country not wanting to vote for her.

“That’s something you have to consider,” he continued. “I’m able to attract Republican and Independent votes despite having a progressive track record and a progressive platform.”

After nudging Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Edwards, Mr. Obama adopted a more conciliatory tone.

“This argument, the candidates are having – it’s a friendly argument. These are all fine people,” he said. “We’re all just trying out for quarterback, but after the election we’re all going to be on the same team.”