Barack Obama is continuing to sail full speed ahead in the primaries. His additional win in Wisconsin, his ninth consecutive one, is merely adding credence to the idea that voters have strong feelings about which Democrat they want to have compete down the final runway towards the presidency. Hillary Clinton is probably getting more anxious prone by the minute, and her ire is likely heating up by the steam that Obama has already generated with unstoppable enthusiasm. With her unrelenting desire to overcome the pace and popularity of Obama, she is now more determined than ever to push forward pulling out all the stops.

Though she hopes to gain a significant portion of the female vote, there are likely a number of women who will choose Obama over her simply because of his gender. If bets were being placed in Las Vegas, the likely winner would be Obama on the basis of the notion that he doesn’t impress the outside world as a leader who could become petty, catty, threatened, or envious. Obama projects an image of a man secure within himself, certain of his desires, and forthright in his desire to lead this country with vision and a positive outlook. He would recognize his role, place competent advisors in appropriate places, and would facilitate cooperation and collaboration with a broad-minded approach. He should be an effective leader by proving he could take a stand when necessary and do the right thing even if he doesn’t win a moment of praise or a situational popularity contest.  

Can Hillary do the same? Maybe-- and maybe not. A woman in power can be a tricky scenario. Some female leaders, like Obama, are secure within themselves and are not threatened by the competency or skill of others around them. Thus, they can work well with everyone and make things happen.   They are wise enough to know that if they surround themselves with skilled people who believe in their mission and work hard at what they do, they will ultimately make the leader shine.   They are not derailed by their anger, their disappointments, or their possible momentary failures. The other side of the coin depicts the female leader who feels a sense of urgency to prove herself every inch of the way, and let no one stand in her path to do so. She wants no one else to show too well or tell too much on the show and tell rating scale. For female leaders who are too focused on themselves, they disadvantageously affect their position, negatively impact their workers and those around them, and put a dent of disappointment in the at-large community.

Will Hillary embody the traits that Obama is already demonstrating or will she become so obsessed with a must win at all costs strategy that she falls into the piranha prone leadership hierarchy?  Voters are cautiously listening and carefully watching every word, gesture, and nuance that the candidates are conveying. In the end, the most genuine and inner confidant candidate will likely score the home run.

Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) is sweeping the country like a whirlwind, and he is reviving a sense of excitement, enthusiasm, hope, and renewal among voters who are looking towards the upcoming election as a new beginning with a new president. Though he has been criticized for his lack of extensive experience in a leadership role as well as his deficiency in outlining exactly what comprises his message of “hope” and “change,” he continues to generate interest and stimulate crowds. People may ask, “What is it about this guy, Obama?”

Obama is clearly focused on his goals, and he possesses directional determination. He knows what he wants, and he knows how to go after it. He is a powerful orator with sophisticated salesmanship capabilities. The product he knows how to sell is Barack Obama. 

“I may be skinny but I’m tough, too”, says Obama. Though he can be resolute and assertive, he is savvy enough to know how to balance his tenacity and combine it with class, polish, and genuine amiability. His toughness is not undercut or overwhelmed by crass mean-spiritedness nor is it embraced with pettiness and catty behavior that often comprises the Queen Bee Syndrome that tends to predominate in female-led arenas.

It is obvious by the response to Obama, in these early stages of the political game, that he is being perceived as a breath of fresh air. Which way that breeze will ultimately blow is too soon to say for certain, but it is easily recognizable that his scorecard is progressing by leaps and bounds.