In her April 10 New York Times column, Gail Collins stated that Sen. Barack Obama “can be disturbingly Ivy League.” Collins made this assertion while discussing a television ad running in Pennsylvania for Sen. Hillary Clinton, in which Clinton says, “I was raised on pinochle and the American Dream.” Collins wrote:

It would never occur to either of the other candidates to link their childhoods to a card game and the American Dream. Obama, who can be disturbingly Ivy League, would probably think the pinochle part was cheesy. [Sen. John] McCain wouldn't bring the Dream up. The idea that you came from humble folk who had faith that their children could aspire to something better does not really float if you're the offspring of two generations of four-star admirals.

Media Matters for America has documented several examples of media figures asserting that Obama appeals primarily to elites or questioning whether Obama can connect to certain socioeconomic groups. For example, during the April 1 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews asked Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO): “Let me ask you about how he -- how's he connect with regular people? Does he? Or does he only appeal to people who come from the African-American community and from the people who have college or advanced degrees?” Earlier in the show, referring to Obama's bowling performance at a March 29 campaign stop in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Matthews teased the segment with McCaskill by asking, "[C]an Obama woo more regular voters -- you know, the ones who actually do know how to bowl?"

Further, on the February 11 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, senior political correspondent Candy Crowley said that the “affluent, well-educated white voters” who were part of “Obama's voting bloc” were the “so-called latte liberals.” And, during Fox News' coverage of February 9 caucuses and primaries, U.S. News & World Report senior writer Michael Barone suggested that Obama would do well among “latte liberals.” Moments later, co-host Alan Colmes challenged Barone's description: “Is there -- are there latte conservatives? I'm just curious. Do they -- conservatives may like that drink, too. It's a very lovely drink.” Barone responded: “Well, I think it seems to be a pretty universal drink these days.”

In addition, a September 24, 2007, Chicago Tribune article stated that Obama has had more success among “wine-track” voters -- characterized by “higher incomes and more education” -- than he has among “beer-track” voters, who have less education and “tend[] to care more about pocketbook issues.”

From Collins' April 10 New York Times column:

One purpose of the ad is to point out that although the Clinton family may be raking in beaucoup bucks now, Hillary's roots were humble. Her Pennsylvanian grandfather worked in a lace factory. The Rodham vacation house had no heat or indoor shower, and according to Carl Bernstein's biography, as Hillary grew up she began to lose enthusiasm for those long summers on Lake Winola.

Nevertheless, her ties to that state are certainly stronger than they were in New York when she first announced for Senate and attempted to summon up warm memories of childhood visits to rest stops along the interstate. And all's fair in campaign mythmaking. When Kansas was in play, Barack Obama visited his ancestral hometown of El Dorado with great fanfare -- even though he had never set foot there before.

It would never occur to either of the other candidates to link their childhoods to a card game and the American Dream. Obama, who can be disturbingly Ivy League, would probably think the pinochle part was cheesy. McCain wouldn't bring the Dream up. The idea that you came from humble folk who had faith that their children could aspire to something better does not really float if you're the offspring of two generations of four-star admirals.

Anyway, this pinochle diversion couldn't have come at a better time. Things have been getting a little slow on the campaign trail. Setting aside six weeks of preparation for the Pennsylvania primary turns out to have been a little excessive.