photo credit: JeffChristiansen

Despite what seems like an avalanche of good press for Senator Barack Obama, complaints have existed for awhile over the campaigns spotted treatment of their press detail. Howard Kurtz noted awhile ago that Obama has rarely held press conferences, stayed away from trying to court news cycles with heavy spinning, and presented what many see as an “aloof” attitude toward his press detail.

Some of that has changed in recent weeks. Obama has held a few press conferences and as the Clinton machine has stepped up attacks, the Obama team has been more willing to step in with heavy defenses. They might be only small inconsistencies though in a rather unified strategy. According to Politico, reporters are no longer allowed to walk freely amongst Obama supporters at events, they must have a staff escort. In addition reporters are also not allowed to monitor the Senator’s satellite interviews with local press, those covering Senator Clinton are.

Comparisons are being made to George W. Bush and John Kerry’s treatment of the press in 2004 and are being juxtaposed with John McCain who freely talks and jokes with reporters and takes questions “on the record” until they are all answered.

Obviously, thus far, the strategy is working. Most agree Obama hasn’t faced the heavy scrutiny that Clinton has been under since the start of the campaign and the recent New York Times story alleging an affair and corrupt dealings within the McCain camp that relied on very little evidence and heavy innuendo, show that the Arizona Senator’s open attitude with the press doesn’t always pay off. With that said, it will be interesting to see how such a tightly controlled and somewhat hostile attitude toward the press will turn into during a general election campaign.