But while sports metaphors make cute applause lines, they don’t decide elections. (And as Clinton’s spinmeisters would argue, it was a New York team that won last night, after all–over a squad backed by the Kennedys.) For Obama to overtake Clinton in the Garden State–despite his recent surge, he’s still trailing by an average of seven points, and only about 3,000 supporters had shown up at an arena that usually seats 20,000 –he was going to have to trot out something a little more spectacular.
New Jersey, meet Robert De Niro.
That’s right. Travis Bickle. Jake LaMotta. Vito Corleone. Even the paranoid father from “Meet the Parents” (for all you young’uns).
In an appearance that surprised even the jaded press corps, De Niro, a Manhattan native and peerless New Yawk icon, strode on stage shortly after noon to introduce–and endorse–Obama before his hometown crowd. The applause was rapturous. “I’ve never made a speech like this at a political event before,” he said, sardonically contrasting Obama’s “inexperience” with the “experience” that led America to war in Iraq. “So what am I doing here? I’m here because finally one person has inspired me. One person has given me hope. One person has made me believe that we can make a change. That person is Barack Obama.”
You got a problem with that?
As always, De Niro was a tough act to follow. Kennedy called him the “Raging Bull of our campaign.” And when Obama finally reached the podium, he admitted that the star had already wowed some of the toughest customers around. “You know, I have that Secret Service protection, and those guys never smile,” he said. “But I noticed that when De Niro walked in, they were all elbowing each other, like, ‘Hey!’ I’m telling you, they’re excited.”
Now, if only Obama can get the rest of the Garden State to fall in line…
Fuggedaboutit.
