A revealing contrast leads off Walter Shaprio’s column: “When in trouble, Republicans traditionally drape themselves in the flag. These days, beleaguered Democrats wrap themselves around Barack Obama.”

Shapiro notes that the Dodd campaign has released its first 30-second spot – fourteen months before even the primary — with “Obama in the starring role.” Of course, this approach presumes that Obama’s approval rating with the public will be about the same or higher in November 2010 as it is now.

Of course, it’s tough to persuade the public that you stand for change when you’ve been in the Senate for 29 years and have been chairing the Banking Committee since January 2007.