Palin, Obama Share Suits of Teflon

Barack Obama’s campaign is treading carefully around Sarah Palin. Lacking a “silver bullet” to use against her, and concerned about being called sexist, Obama likely will “keep his focus largely on John McCain,” reports Politico. The Obama camp anticipates that the reporters who’ve worked over his record will reveal Palin’s weak points as well, and show her to be too extreme for voters.

Obama can’t pounce on Palin without inviting accusations of sexism, notes Time. Saving most of his attention for McCain, Obama is relying on surrogates to criticize Palin—especially female surrogates. This is the kind of delicate situation Obama understands well, because his own experience with racial politics mirrors Palin’s with gender. The two wear "a similar coat of Teflon.” (More Barack Obama stories.)