BOSTON -- They just don't get that inside is out here. President Obama's emergency rescue mission to save Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley could prove to be the final nail in her already-closing political coffin as this race -- Coakley's ongoing circus of gaffes aside -- is shaping up to be a bitter fight between the blessed insiders and scorned outsiders.

And between those winners chosen by the federal government and independent outsiders who just want to be left alone to earn what they deserve.

And so it was a bit jarring to hear Obama -- with his innate connection to the passion of voters -- stand here yesterday and try recycling bits from his juggernaut, outsider campaign that made him a part of history.

It worked for him two years ago, but not today. Not now that he and his fellow Democrats control every conceivable lever of power in Washington.

And certainly not for Coakley, who has built her entire campaign around being the chosen successor to the "Kennedy seat."

She has drafted Ted Kennedy's widow into her campaign, relies on the entire Democratic machine here and in Washington and even had a Haitian priest pray to the Good Lord above yesterday that she win the election.

Then here comes Obama trying to sell her as some kind of outsider willing to take on the man.

It's like he doesn't get it. He is "the man" now.