What her campaign lacks in financing or organization, she compensates with personal warmth.

The candidates lack electricity; the campaign lacks substance.

Obama's 2012 campaign will probably lack the uplifting motifs of four years ago.

Mr. Obama's speech came after months of criticism that his campaign lacked specificity and policy heft on complex issues like health care.

"I think the campaign lacks a common touch," said Craig Shirley, a conservative consultant.

Suddenly, and using techniques similar to last week's, he seemed a leader, even if his subsequent campaign lacked taste or substance.

So far, though, the campaign lacks cash and cohesiveness.

After a campaign that even some supporters said lacked a coherent message, he not only found one but has stuck to it: Count every vote.

That does not mean that the two campaigns lack distinct styles.

But a campaign usually serves to bring up issues for substantive debate, and that, commentators say regretfully, will be lacking this quadrennium.