Politics | Barack Obama Congrats Obama, Here's Your To-Do List Dem finally clinches the nomination—now the real work begins By Kevin Spak Posted Jun 4, 2008 11:14 AM CDT Copied In this May 5, 2008 file photo Barack Obama addresses supporters in rain at a rally in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) It wasn’t easy, but a bruised Barack Obama has finally wrapped up the Democratic nomination. The Guardian’s Michael Tomasky knows what he needs to do next: Redefine himself. Obama has a lot of time now to remind us why he inspired people in the first place. Define John McCain. The honeymoon should be over for the GOP nominee; Obama can attack him pointedly on Bush, Iraq, and his growing array of flip-flops. Appease Hillary. It’s probably going to take a painful concession to make nice with the Clintons, but Obama needs to do it. He just shouldn’t make her VP. Unite the party. Special attention needs to be paid to the voting blocks that swung Clinton’s way in the primaries. He also needs to get Hillary-endorsers onboard. Brace himself, because, in Tomasky’s words, “We are going to see a lot of outright racist and other crazy garbage in this country until election day.” Read These Next A space capsule carrying ashes of 160 people crashed in the ocean. The death toll in the Texas floods has risen to 27, including 9 kids. See the best BBQ cities in the US. Iraq's national game of deception brings out the best bluffers. Report an error