Neutral Democratic political operatives believe that the emergence of Sen. Barack Obama as a 2008 presidential candidate after his performance on NBC's Meet the Press may do less damage to front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton than to John Edwards.

Former Sen. Edwards's campaign strategy is focused on the South Carolina primary, but Obama figures to do well with African- American voters comprising about 40 percent of that state's Democratic primary vote. Obama also could threaten Edwards in the tip-off Iowa caucuses, where polls have shown Edwards leading Clinton.