'Swift Boating' Fears for Obama May Be Premature

Democrats fretting over a reprise of the swift boating that marked the 2004 campaign may be hearing false alarms, Politico reports. Third-party organizations, aka 527 groups, have thus far been unable to drum up enough opposition to Barack Obama to fund an offensive. It's early yet, but antagonists like T. Boone Pickens and Freedom's Watch are on the sidelines.

Among the explanations are tougher FEC regulations, lack of enthusiasm for John McCain, disappointment at not having Hillary Clinton to target, fear of being called racist, and, most important, concern that McCain would denounce the efforts. Democrats “think another swift boat is coming—and it’s not,” said one insider. (More Barack Obama stories.)