By now, everyone across the nation has either heard or seen Kirk Watson’s national television debut. Something tells me Team Obama won’t ask him to appear on national TV again anytime soon. Here’s the video of Chris Matthews grilling Watson:

Here’s the transcript:

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews: “You are a big Barack supporter, right, Senator?”
State Sen. Watson: “I am. Yes, I am.”

Matthews: “Well, name some of his legislative accomplishments. No, Senator, I want you to name some of Barack Obama’s legislative accomplishments tonight if you can.”
State Sen. Watson: “Well, you know, what I will talk about is more about what he is
offering the American people right now.”

Matthews: “No. No. What has he accomplished, sir? You say you support him. Sir, you have to give me his accomplishments. You’ve supported him for president. You are on national television. Name his legislative accomplishments, Barack Obama, sir.”
State Sen. Watson: “Well, I’m not going to be able to name you specific items of legislative accomplishments.”

Matthews: “Can you name any? Can you name anything he’s accomplished as a Congressman?”

State Sen. Watson: “No, I’m not going to be able to do that tonight.”

Matthews: “Well, that is a problem isn’t it?”

Until now, I’ve worried about the Obama campaign’s ability to attract huge crowds. While I’m still worried about defeating him, last night might mark a turning point in the campaign. Sen. Watson essentially told the nation that Barack Obama is a smooth talker but that he isn’t a doer. Sen. Watson’s essentially said that all Obama has to peddle is hope itself.

Let’s phrase it differently. Obama is a charismatic figure. He’s clearly a better campaigner than Hillary. He’s also sadly lacking any accomplishments & sadly lacking in the gravitas department. I might get proven wrong but I’ve got to believe at some point, people will start thinking that this isn’t a campaign for prom king, that it’s a campaign to be the leader of the free world in a most troubling time.

The biggest question this campaign will answer is whether voters want the charismatic, though unqualified empty suit or if they’d prefer the substantive fighter. I think I know but it’ll be interesting to see this play out.

Technorati: Obama, Charisma, Kirk Watson, Chris Matthews, Democrats, John McCain, Gravitas, Election 2008

Cross-posted at California Conservative