Diverse Styles Converge At DNC Meeting

Dems' Winter Gathering Showcases Differing Campaign Approaches Of Presidential Hopefuls

(CBS)  By CBSNews.com's David Miller

---

Hillary Clinton wants her fellow Democrats to know that she's "in it to win it" with her recently launched presidential campaign, a fact made abundantly clear by the New York senator's presence at the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting, being held this week in Washington.

The phrase, first used by Clinton when she launched her bid in January, reappeared in the second line of her speech Friday. It also could be found on buttons available at the campaign's exhibition hall table, which had all the trappings of a professional political operation — including balloons, signs, stickers and pamphlets.

In the main hall, where she and most of the other Democratic candidates spoke, volunteers wearing campaign t-shirts moved through the audience. They handed out signs for spectators to hold up during the senator's speech, a sight more common to the party's national convention — an event the senator clearly has her eyes on.

Clinton was even accompanied by protesters, who were unable to drown out the senator when she mentioned her support for a non-binding Senate resolution opposing President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq.

But Clinton is not the only one who hopes an appearance at the winter meeting will start a journey that ends with earning the party's presidential nomination in 2008, and hers is not the only style on display.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama struck an understated tone. Unlike other candidates, he had no entry or exit music when he spoke. His campaign's table offered no stickers, buttons or other trinkets — merely a sign-up sheet for volunteers.

In fact, one had to look pretty hard to find the table at all. Its sole identification was three tattered pieces of plain, white paper with "Obama's Exploratory Committee Table" printed on them.

All of this was purely intentional, according to an Obama campaign official. He said it would be hypocritical to say, as Obama has, that you're running a different kind of campaign while using traditional tactics.

Of course, a candidate like Obama, the current sensation of the Democratic Party, may not need to put on a big show. Even in his speech — interrupted by applause several times — he made little mention of himself, his story or his abilities. Instead, he asked the crowd to transcend partisan politics and embrace hope.

But other candidates opted to make a splash. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio mingled among the crowd after his speech, handing out a packet of information and a friendly "How are ya?" to anyone who crossed his path.

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack had the meeting's most elaborate display, including a table with a large backdrop and, in the center of the room, a popcorn machine.

The popcorn wasn't meant just for filling empty stomachs. Vilsack's aides say it also serves as a reminder of Iowa's corn and the ethanol that comes from it.

"We're the only place here offering free food," a Vilsack staffer said as she hastily stuffed paper bags — the boxes ran out earlier — with popcorn. "This is the hot item to have."

Giving out food has worked before for somewhat obscure governors: At the 2003 winter meeting, Howard Dean, then governor of Vermont, brought along some maple syrup. He made such a good impression with the DNC faithful that he rode a wave of momentum to the first tier of the Democratic field.

[bluestardad]

Political correctness will kill the democratic party