The humility factor...

Last night I watched, for no particular reason, the confirmation hearing of a certain Ms. Ameri, to Assistant Secreatary of State for Public Diplomacy (I think I got that right). Anyway, Ms. Ameri was making the point that Americans were "very humble people", and because of this, are falling short making the case around the world, for the American brand of democracy. Those words stuck in my head...Americans are very humble...

Flashback to a couple of days before the New Hamphire primary. All polls indicated that Barack Obama, coming off a stunning victory in Iowa, would sweep New Hamphire and cakewalk his way to the nomination. The preceding NH debate would simply be a formality. Until, something happened. A role reversal of sorts. Until then, Barack Obama had run - since 2004, really - a very "humble" campaign (remember:"In no country on earth would my story even be possible." he suggested at his DNC keynote address in 2004) But, then, there was the NH debate and that chilling quote: "you are likable enough, Hillary." Supporters cringed.

The following day, a teary-eyed Hillary pleaded to a group of women, not wanting to see "the country slide back." This vulnerable moment, tinged with humility, turned her campaign around and won her NH.

What lessons can a candidate take from this? Tempered confidence (and not arrogance) goes a long way. Humility and a sense of vulnerability can take you even further. The tragic thing is that this lesson is often quickly forgotten, to a candidate's peril. Hillary, Lady of Steel, is back. That can only mean one thing...