After March 4th

The two scenarios coming after March 4th, are that either Clinton wins both OH & TX, and she stays in, or. Obama wins one or both of those states. I would imagine that Clinton would "suspend" her campaign, if it's the latter. Lets consider the latter happens.

Doing a bit of back of the envelope on the numbers, I saw that, following the elections on March 4th, in OH, RI, TX and VT, there will only be roughly 1000 delegates left, with about 300 of those being super-delegates.

If Obama does continue to roll, then even including FL & MI, Obama and Clinton are both going to have around 1600-1700 delegates each,   but Obama will be in the lead. That would solve that huge issue, as seating them wouldn't effect the outcome of the race.

But there would still need to be some sort of reconciliation between Obama and Clinton, because the number of delegates that Obama would need is 2208, and Obama, even with winning all the races from here out, is not even going to be close to getting that number. As unlikely as some Obama supporters see it, this does point toward Clinton being in the position of the obvious VP choice. But maybe she doesn't want that; regardless, they'll be some sort of reconciliation.

The other thing that happens, were Clinton to 'suspend' her campaign on March 4th, is that Obama becomes the de facto nominee, though not be delegates yet, certainly in the eyes of the media. That's an interesting race to consider, and Brownstein already has a look at the McCain-Obama match-up:

Obama's strong support from affluent and college-educated voters in the primaries demonstrates his opportunity to convert Republican-leaning upper-income voters (especially men) now disaffected from President Bush. But Obama's struggle during the primaries with working-class white women suggests an opening for McCain to court those downscale "waitress moms" with the same security issues that drew many of them to Bush in 2004. The first trend should boost Obama in Virginia and Colorado (two affluent states atop Democratic target lists); the second should help McCain defend Ohio and besiege Pennsylvania.
It is an interesting scramble of the EV count by the states that we've had the previous two elections. And I think he's right, which others have pointed out, that with Obama, it's somewhat unsure what Democrats get in the McCain-Obama matchup-- the upside potential is greater, but likewise the downside potential is higher too. Given the delegate situation described above, it may turn out that the Democratic party, and mainly the super-delegates, will have that indication going into the convention.



Display:


Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

I've said before that I don't think electability issues should be considered in a primary--first because it's hard to know ahead of time who's more electable, second because we should choose who we want and not worry about others, and third, I'll be damned if the fear of closet racists or right wing lunatics decides our nominee.

So the following is merely an observation, not an argument for or against any candidate:

There used to be a name for the working class white folks you describe above: Reagan Democrats.


by OrangeFur on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:45:58 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

And Reagan Democrats may be go for McCain if Obama doesn't heal the party. Reagan Democrats are solidly behind Hillary so far as she has been their voice.


by Sandeep on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:54:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 0)

No.

Working class LIBERALS are behind Hillary.

REagan Democrats are working class independents and Bush Democrats. They LOATH hillary.


by pastor john on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:57:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Do you actually know any Reagan Democrats? (2.00 / 0)

I voted for Reagan twice.  Those are my only Republican votes for president.  Despite voting for Reagan, I had, until very recently, considered myself a liberal.  Participating in these online forums for awhile and considering the views of some friends and colleagues leads me to the conclusion that I am probably better characterized as a moderate Democrat.  If I compare my scores from online tests of ideological affiliation to those at places like DailyKos, I could probably call myself a conservative Democrat.

I can't speak for all Reagan Democrats (remember we're not called Reagan Independents.  Reagan was estimated to receive about 25% of the self-identified Democratic vote in 1980.), but I can assure you that I have never loathed President or Senator Clinton although I was very disgusted with his personal behavior during the impeachment debacle. When it comes to political leadership and abilities, however, I am an admirer of both.  I voted for, and donated to, Senator Clinton (with great enthusiasm ) during this primary season and would have been proud to vote for her in November but I don't suppose I will get that chance.

You also must understand that the very youngest Reagan Democrats would be about 46 or 47 with the overwhelming majority being over 50.  This age demographic has preferred Clinton overall during this primary season.  


by lombard on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 11:22:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Well said.  

The Reagan Democrats of the 80's have since become reliable Republican voters (even if they are self-described independents).  They may be willing to split ticket and vote for a Democratic President but they most certainly find Hillary too polarizing.

I also suspect most of those conditioned to hate Hillary and closet racists are the same folks.

So it is a wash for this group, but they didn't support Kerry either I suspect, so No Net-Loss for the party in Nov.

I hope that for every democratic leaning union voter who is racist there are more than one upper-class Indy and new young college student inspired to vote for Obama.


by nintendofanboy on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:29:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 0)

Clinton will certainly not be VP no matter how close of a 2nd she comes in.  I don't think she would accept that at all.  


What would LBJ do?
by Socks The Cat on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:53:45 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 0)

He can't pick Clinton as VP.  She's part of the "same old folks doing the same old things". Picking her would step on his message of Change, no?


by demfromnj on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:02:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

too true (none / 0)

On the meta level He absolutely would weaken his general election message if he was to pick her, but from a practical level she would be a great choice.


by wasder on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:06:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Could you please explain the difference (2.00 / 0)

between "meta" and "practical".  It seems to me there is no good reason to pick Hillary as VP - her negatives are so high.


Listening comes first
by Moonwood on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 10:36:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Agreed. (1.50 / 2)


John McCain defends Bush's Iraq strategy.
by recusancy on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:51:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Well she sure as hell seemed to allude at the debate she would be interested in it...  I think she'd be a great pick...  

Obama's biggest challenge is bringing in Latino voters given McCain has a somewhat sane approach to Immigration reform.  Clinton should help to keep those voters and help with attracting some of the lower income voters.  


by yitbos96bb on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 08:47:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 0)

I don't understand why everyone just "assumes" that Obama can't win "downscale" voters... as if all of them would simply jump ship if Hillary wasn't the nominee...  

Besides, I'm sure that hearing about all of McCain's love affairs with lobbyists won't help much with "waitress moms"...

Thanks,

Mike


"This was never part of our arrangement, Specter" "I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!" "This deal keeps getting worse all the time!"
by LordMike on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:56:40 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 0)

Absolutely right. He's not getting them because there are two great candidates, and she's simply going to get her share of the voters. When she exits gracefully (we hope), they'll come over eagerly.


by demfromnj on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:04:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (1.00 / 0)

Well that's quite an arrogant comment.  We'll come over eagerly?  Ya think?


by wasabi on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:24:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Are you going to vote for McCain then?


by marcotom on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:09:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Don't assume that lifelong Democrats are just going to vote Obama. His health care stand is horrid. Tactical voters may vote one way for the presidency and concentrate on the Congressional races.


The Spice Must Flow!
by Texdude50 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 10:14:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 0)

How is that "tactical" exactly?  Even if you don't love Obama's platform, it kicks the hell out of McCain's -- which is pretty much uniformally the same as GWB's.  


by HSTruman on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 10:37:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

If you don't support the candidate, then you aren't a fucking Democrat.  Turn in your card, and get the FUCK out of our party.  


by yitbos96bb on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 08:48:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: why would they come over eagerly (1.50 / 2)

one of the reasons why I support Obama (after having  voted for Edwards in the primary) was because of the huge tactical mistakes Team Hillary made.

the ugly side of the campaign has definitely come from her team. The race baiting incident in S.C. is still, to my eyes inexcusable.

but in any regards, some of you so called democrats are pretty petty, sore loser types. I don't know what to say to you, if you think McCain is better then Obama, by all means vote for him.


!
by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:35:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: why would they come over eagerly (none / 0)

And the McGlurkin incident was pretty shitty on his part. A non-apology apology after 3 months doesn't cut it.


The Spice Must Flow!
by Texdude50 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 10:15:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: why would they come over eagerly (2.00 / 0)

yet he's still the only candidate to speak out for gay rights, in a church of all places.

Regarding his "non-apology" he said this, "I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division."

This is more then Hillary has spoken about the S.C. incident and this is much better then what we've seen come out of Hillary's mouth regarding her approval to go to war with Iraq.

You see, while Obama made the gesture to reconcile his mistake of reaching out to McGlurkin for help,  Hillary pretends no mistakes have ever made. It's starting to look like a repeated problem with her. The infallible candidate.


!
by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 11:23:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: why would they come over eagerly (none / 0)

Yeah I'm just a petty sore loser type. Guess you don't want my vote.


by world dictator on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 11:21:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: why would they come over eagerly (none / 0)

honestly, vote who you think is best in the GE.

I personally do not want your vote.


!
by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 11:24:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: why would they come over eagerly (none / 0)

Then leave the party you GOP wannabee.  Even Jerome, who has been nothing but critical will support Obama if he is the nominee.  You don't support the nominee then you aren't a Democrat.  You become a Lieberman, Zell Miller type.  You want to be an indie, fine... but don't you DARE call yourself a Democrat.


by yitbos96bb on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 08:51:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 2)

It's like saying blacks will go for McCain if HRC is nominated.  Makes no sense.


by jmr1948 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:50:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 1)

I'm sure all the "waitress moms" don't appreciate their sons and daughters being blown up in Iraq for the next 100 years.


by Kal on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:54:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 0)

they are making these assumptions out of thin air. its more likely that they WISH that obama could never get those votes. its all about saying anything that would make it appear as though clinton is the stronger candidate.


by highgrade on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 08:39:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Its sour grapes.  If Hillary wins, she has my vote.


by yitbos96bb on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 08:53:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

No one is saying that (2.00 / 1)

The question is what proportion of Clinton voters will vote for McCain rather than Obama.  I suspect McCain would pick up larger shares of older Democrats and more conservative Democrats than younger, downscale ones.  


by lombard on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 11:28:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 1)

Well, another issue is GOTV.  Obama's campaign seems to totally get it!  Hillary's campaign probably couldn't keep up with the Republican machine.  Obama's campaign would dwarf republican efforts.

That is, I think, way more important than anything!


"This was never part of our arrangement, Specter" "I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!" "This deal keeps getting worse all the time!"
by LordMike on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:59:39 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 1)

Isn't Obama cutting into the Reagan Democrat base? Has anyone missed the last few elections?

Furthermore, I don't see how McCain's views on trade, social security, or the minimum wage will square very well with lower income voters.


by tom32182 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:03:05 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 0)

if obama wins, clinton suspends her campaign.  if, by the time of the convention, it appears obama can't win, she directs her delegates to vote for her.  chaos ensues, the party is torn... until al gore steps in  he takes up the mantle, and runs an effective two and a half month campaign.  he makes obama veep and hillary either a powerful cabinent member, or, if he could pull it off, an eventual sc justice (i know she's never been a judge that's why i said "if" he can pull it off, unlikely, but possible.)  that's one of a trillion possibilties at least.


Being Normal is for the Mediocre.
by Doug Tuttle on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:05:16 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 3)

Wow. I'm glad the writers strike is over!!


by devoted1 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:13:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

neither was earl warren; he was a republican pol AND the greatest chief justice since marshall


by jjgtrs on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:25:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Not a bad fantasy I'll say. I'm down with it. (none / 0)


by lombard on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 11:29:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 2)

I realize Brownstein feels the needs to be evenhanded, I found this to be kind of an extreme understatement:

As the nominee, Obama might benefit from a more enthusiastic base.

Ya think? Democratic turnout in the primaries has just crushed Republican turnout. I don't know if the GE matchups adequately capture that or not.

He also neglects the huge potential difference in money, which could be extreme as Obama raising $50 million a month vs. McCain trapped in public financing until the convention.


by animated on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:06:38 AM EST

won't the money eventually dry up? (none / 0)

there's only so much people are willing to spend.  i know that if he's the nom, it resets what people are allowed to give (2,300 for primary +2,300 for the gen elec) but for a lot of the little donors, i don't know if they'll keep giving like this through the gen.  though imagine if they did, amazing.


Being Normal is for the Mediocre.
by Doug Tuttle on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:09:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: won't the money eventually dry up? (2.00 / 1)

the clinton big donors will come home to the nominee; the big money AND the little money will continue to ROLL in; this race is primed for a dem victory(money folks know when to back the winner with their $$$$$$$$$)


by jjgtrs on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:28:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: won't the money eventually dry up? (2.00 / 1)

That is the very idea. They will give again because they have nine months to pull together more disposable income to help. And David Plouffe has nine months of emails to sell them on it.

Most nonprofits emphasize small repeat gifts because it works best.

Not only will this not dry up, the pools will expand by the word of mouth of people who've never put any money into politics before and found it so easy and gratifying.


by JoeFelice on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:57:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

No it won't (2.00 / 1)

Speaking as someone who is giving him money, look at it from my side. I and others are working and donating to help him run against another Democrat, a Democrat most of us truly admire and respect.

Now imagine how hard we are willing to work and how much we are willing to donate to defeat a Republican and the continuation of the Bush legacy. You ain't seen nothing yet. ;)


"Mom, baseball, apple pie, and a unified Democratic juggernaut."
by Purplepeople on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 08:53:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Jerome, Clinton's body language and tone of her speech since Thursday say she'll laying in on the line on May 4th, and she's getting out if she fails.

Did you see the new Texas poll: Obama by 14
http://www.decisionanalyst.com/publ_data /2008/obama.dai


by demfromnj on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:07:07 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

that poll is as good as a zogby on-line poll; translation, THAT POLL IS SHIT


by jjgtrs on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:30:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama will do fine among working class whites (2.00 / 3)

The claim that Obama won't do well among working class whites misses a larger narrative about reform-oriented candidates in general. Going back to Hart and looking at Tsongas, Brown, Bradley and Dean, reformers always got the educated liberal set first. And then some wise sages of the party endorsed the reformer too. But nobody in the voting base of the party wanted to buck the establishment and the reformer usually petered out. What makes this year different is that the reformer had a huge portion of the base locked up - African Americans. With black support in SC, Obama could survive to Super Tuesday and hold serve that day, thanks to superior organizational savvy and some strategic miscalculations from Clinton. Then Obama was able to expand beyond his coalition of well-educated liberal whites and African Americans by targeted white men, younger and middle age white women, Independents and disaffected Republicans, and finally white working class voters and Latinos. Maryland gave the first indication that Obama was finally reaching working class whites. In Wisconsin, Obama won non-college educated whites 52-47. He officially broke through. I suspect the same thing will happen in Ohio.

The notion that these former Reagan Democrats will support McCain over Obama is based in elitist assumptions about working class racism and in self-delusional belief that Obama is all fluff. Unions and many former Edwards endorsers have turned to Obama because they realize his appeal on trade and jobs and they know he's the real deal. They liked Clinton at first - and they still do - but they're starting to like Obama better. This is especially true among working class white men.

As for working class white women - the base of Hillary's NH comeback - Obama's appeal is less certain. But McCain's appeal is even farther away. Unless these women are religious conservatives and pro-lifers, they are not going to find McCain's schtick very appealing at all. McCain doesn't promise them hope like Reagan did in 1980. McCain doesn't have Hollywood charisma like Reagan. And most importantly, McCain is not campaigning against a struggling Democratic Administration as Reagan did. Working class women do not support the war. They are not going be feared into voting for an old fool who openly disdains economics, shuns all talk of values, and cares little for ordinary people. They will vote for Obama.

Latinos, ironically, are a bit harder to gauge because of McCain's support for comprehensive immigration reform. But I suspect the 2006 anti-immigrant bashing has caused enough damage to the GOP that Latinos will only give McCain about 33% of their vote.

All of these concerns about working class whites in PA and OH choosing McCain over Obama are misplaced. When Obama starts campaigning in those states, they will gravitate to him just as they did in Wisconsin. There are no Reagan Democrats anymore. They were a unique function of divisions in the 1960s and 1970s Roosevelt coalition, the hostage crisis in Iran, stagflation and malaise under Carter, and racial tension of the era. There is nothing paralleling that today to convince working class whites who would normally back a Democrat like Clinton to, instead, back McCain over Obama.


by elrod on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:14:16 AM EST

working class white men (none / 0)

"They liked Clinton at first - and they still do - but they're starting to like Obama better. This is especially true among working class white men."

Yes, but perhaps this demographic will find that it likes McCain best of all. In other words, despite stereotypes about working class white men, they were in fact willing to vote for a woman, and then an African American, candidate. That doesn't necessarily mean, though, that these same men are not at all impressed with McCain's status as a war hero, long term POW, "maverick" within the GOP, and so on.

"


by freemansfarm on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:26:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: working class white men (2.00 / 0)

Even if what you say is true, what does it mean? That they somehow would be more likely to vote for Cinton instead of McCain? All polls show the contrary.

That's why we need to start unifying the party and make sure these people are with us in November, rather sooner than later.


by marcotom on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:19:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Technically, you are correct (2.00 / 0)

As a former Reagan Democrat, I'd say you describe the situation nicely.  Our support for him was due to his own special qualities and the historical context of the time.

However, between 15% and 20%+ of self-identified Democrats could possibly become McCain Democrats depending upon how this election process unfolds over the next 9 months.


by lombard on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 11:36:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Strange Diary (2.00 / 0)

Obama is running stronger against McCain than Clinton. That's a huge advantage, and one would think that any diary on the subject of an Obama-McCain contest would delve into the reasons for that.


by BBCWatcher on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:18:43 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 1)

Don't forget Jerome, that Hillary needs to not only "win Texas & Ohio"..she needs to win them by 30 points.  Anything less and she doesn't have a prayer of regaining the delegate lead later.

A win of say 55-45 is almost as bad as a loss.

She NEEDS LANDSLIDES.


by a gunslinger on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:21:25 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Oh yeah!


by Zeitgeist9000 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:24:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Are you in agreement, or disputing the facts?  

=)


by a gunslinger on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:27:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Actually I thought she had to win every single vote or its too late.


by Marvin42 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 10:21:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama/McCain Tied In Rasmussen poll (none / 0)

"In the general election, Barack Obama and John McCain are tied at 44% while McCain leads Clinton 46% to 43% . . .Nationwide, Obama is viewed favorably by 53% and unfavorably by 45%. McCain's numbers are 53% favorable, 44% unfavorable. Clinton earns positive reviews from 48% of Likely Voters nationwide and negative assessments from 50%. . ."

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_c ontent/politics/election_20082/2008_pres idential_election/daily_presidential_tra cking_poll

Surprizing to me that McCain would be tied with Obama, and that Obama would have such high negatives. Have they been this high all along?


by freemansfarm on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:21:34 AM EST

Re: Obama/McCain Tied In Rasmussen poll (2.00 / 2)

There's really no way to avoid getting high negatives as a national politician. That's one reason I've always discounted the "Clinton has high negatives" meme--any Democrat we nominate will have high negatives by the time the GOP smear machine is done. Just look at what happened to Kerry, Gore, and Bill Clinton.


by OrangeFur on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 03:12:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Well, not everyone loves him (none / 0)

And with increased exposure, his positives have increased (as his supporters always claim) but his negatives have increased, too (as his supporters usually choose to ignore).  Surprised?  I'm not.


by lombard on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 11:41:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Rally (2.00 / 0)

Hillary is better suited as a senate leader than as a VP.  
One of Obama's great strengths is his ability to sell messages and inspire people to rally behind causes, most of which hint at if not fully embrace various progressive ideals.
One of Hillary's great strengths is her ability to work the political system, which includes taking hits from reactionaries and whipping reluctant progressives into line.  
Throw Lessig into the house, Edwards into the VP spot, have Scalia ... you know, and we are ready to move this country forward at an incredible rate.
The race isn't over, but if it were, is this really such a bad scenario?
by sadstate on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:24:49 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

After March 4th we begin to explore the $64,000 question. Can a A.A be elected president in these United States of America.  States like NY and CA will stay in the Dem column while states like OHIO and FL will be once again true battle ground states.  Whats amazing and at the same time kind of bewildering to me is that the Dem primary hasnt really factored in the electability mathchup in a G.E.  Hillary seems to do a lot better vs. McCain in states like Fl and Penn. While Obama fans seem to argue that she gets crushed in states like Iowa and Colorado.  But I'll tell you this much... Speaking as a A.A male; I'll be truly impressed with our nation if we elect Obama.  10 years ago this phenomenon would have been  impossible.  Its quite impressive.


by nzubechukwu on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:25:03 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 2)

because he campaigns as a politician who happens to be black; NOT as a black politician(in many states he is winning the white vote over hillary for that reason)


by jjgtrs on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:35:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

If he can win Florida, well, I'll consider it a miracle of sorts. The demographics just kill him there.

The question is, can he win EV without Florida and Ohio? and maybe Pennsylvania?

He has demonstrated that he can do very well in West, Southwest and Midwest.


by Coral on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:28:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Why would working-class white women not support Obama in the General?  The assumption only makes sense in an every thing being equal match between Clinton & Obama as it might be now in the fight for white men.  But to suggest Obama's present appeal to Hillary's gender base says something more about Obama than what is says about Hillary is quite a stretch.  Would African-Americans be open territory for McCain if Clinton is the candidate?  If he's getting their husbands, we will get the wives once making a historical vote for the first Woman President is no longer an option.


by Piuma on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:25:19 AM EST

Angry women theory (none / 0)

Maybe the wives don't vote for McCain, but stay home, leave the top spot blank, or vote 3rd party, because they are disappointed that they didn't have the chance to vote for the first woman president. I don't think it would have been a "stretch" to suggest something similar about disappointed AA's, if Hillary had won the nomination. Didn't Obama suggest something along those lines himself about "his" voters?

I was reading on another blog tonight a thread in which hundreds of angry, disappointed women were blasting what they saw as the misogyny of, not only the MSM and the big blogs, but of Obama supporters, the Obama campaign, and even Obama himself. In their eyes, pervasive chauvinism and sexism were what brought Hillary down. Most said they would "hold their nose" and vote for Obama, but were also talking about leaving the party. And these were lifelong Democrats, many of them activists and so on. More sort of "regular folk" women voters, who were all geared up to vote for Hillary, might figure it's not worth it to vote. After all, McCain is known as a "moderate" (even though he really isn't) and is friendly with Hillary.


by freemansfarm on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:17:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Angry women theory (none / 0)

Hell hath no fury...


by wasabi on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:27:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Angry women theory (2.00 / 1)

Obama was talking about Independents and Republicans not voting for Hillary.  He wasn't suggesting in the slightest anything about African-Americans.  Pervasive chauvanism and sexism did not bring Hillary down.  If anything did that it's been her poorly run campaign which failed to do the simplest thing - introduce the real Hillary to the public.  They ran on an arrogant strategy of an incumbent, running on Bill's record instead of her own strength and identity.  Obama has never gone after the irrational anti-Hillary vote.  The people voting for him are voting for his unique gifts and the change from the old ways of doing business in Washington.  Hillary with her 110 million dollars in earmarks is the same old Washington politics.


by Piuma on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:47:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Monty Python (2.00 / 1)

McCain is the Black Knight. He's been mortally wounded but won't admit it.


by illlaw1 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:32:18 AM EST

Re: Monty Python (none / 0)

flesh wound..........


by jjgtrs on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:36:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

One more thing, the general public as a whole has been quite baffled by Obama's impressive primary victories over HRC.  The question then becomes, will this translate into a general election match-up with a GOP candidate?  The major advantage that BHO seems to have is an inspired base.  However, it's going to take more than inspiration to deliver battleground states.  Often his supporters have argued that Independents prefer him over HRC.  Yes, that may be true but one must remember that Independents are often republicans mascarading as Indy's.  I just pray we get it right.  The GOP hates HRC with a passion so our only choice is Barack.  


by nzubechukwu on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:34:33 AM EST

Something else we don't know (none / 0)

How close are the numbers of his core supporters in the primaries to their general election levels?


by lombard on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 11:43:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

A new poll has Obama up by 14% in Texas
http://www.decisionanalyst.com/publ_data /2008/obama.dai
by mecarr on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:34:52 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

that poll is crap(no better than a zogby on-line poll)


by jjgtrs on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:37:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

ONLINE POLL = RUBBISH.


by Scan on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:38:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

If Hillary wins the popular vote from all 50 states combined, even if she remains behind in pledged delegates, she can make the powerful argument that the pledged delegate allotment is skewed and more people voted for her than Barack, and that she also won the essential democratic states.

The superdelegates would be very swayed by that, I believe.

She can make this happen with solid but unspectacular wins in TX OH and PA.

In other words...it aint over. They just have to start winning again. Remember New Hampshire! Remember Massachusetts! Remember California!

Remember 1992!


by Scan on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:36:54 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

it's over(she practically conceded last night; with grace i might add)


by jjgtrs on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:39:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

She also said Barack might be the one conceding. She intends to win this.


by Scan on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:54:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

If Hillary wins the popular vote from all 50 states combined....

In related news, if Hillary sprouts wings, she can fly to the White House.

Clinton is currently more than 960,000 votes behind Obama in total popular vote--and that's when you throw out all the caucuses (such as Washington's and Maine's, both Obama landslides) in which popular-vote totals weren't kept.

Even if she wins Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania by large margins (which she won't), Clinton will never make up her current nearly-one-million-vote deficit.

Moreover, regarding your complaints about delegates not reflecting the popular vote, Obama currently has earned a smaller proportion of pledged delegates than he has popular votes. In other words, Clinton has benefited from the delegate math; if delegates matched popular votes precisely, she'd be even farther behind.

As it appears Clinton is now realizing, March 4 will be the time to throw in the towel. Barring unbelievable (indeed practically impossible) landslides that day, the math doesn't lie: this race will be over.


by Rieux on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:52:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Why the General Election Polls Favor Dems (none / 0)

WHen Rasmussen or any other tracking poll samples people, they will come up with a methodology to ensure a fair representation of voters. In other words, they make sure that it's 50/50 Repugs/Dems or 40/40/20 Repugs/Dems/Indys or some factor there. The bottom line is that all of these polss are oversampling from Republicans because self-identified Dems outnumber Repugs by 10-15 points. In other words, in mos tpolls, you can actually add about 3-4 more  points to the Dems. This would very well be the margin for a victory in VA, OH, IA, NV, CO, NM, ?FL (although the Cuba stuff will make it harder for Obama)


by chatters71 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:42:32 AM EST

Re: Why the General Election Polls Favor Dems (none / 0)

obama will get a HUGE turnout in south florida(plus the younger cubans are starting to vote democratic); in other words, florida will be CLOSE once again


by jjgtrs on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:46:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why the General Election Polls Favor Dems (2.00 / 1)

Sorry, but South Florida is going to be a tough win for Obama. It's a tough win for any Democrat. And the older Jewish vote may tilt toward McCain. Cubans also. McCain is dangerous for Democrats in Florida because he has a strong appeal to Independents, is fairly popular with pro-Israel lobby, pro-gun, libertarian types. And swagger, don't forget the swagger. That sells in South Florida.


by Coral on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:34:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why the General Election Polls Favor Dems (none / 0)

South florida will be an easy win for Obama. The problem for him will be the interior, the gulf coast, the panhandle and everywhere else.

i lived in Florida for 4 years. It's shockingly southern from the interior up and the Gulf Coast is older fiscal conservatives which won't play into the Democrat's hands. I wouldn't necessarily discount it though. The rest of the south can somewhat be neutralized with wins in Florida.


!
by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:17:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

YOU DON'T KNOW SHIT (none / 0)

i've lived here(fla) for 30 years; south florida is a dem STRONGHOLD(you are an idiot); it is the panhandle that would be tough on obama BUT the turnouts would be HUGE in the black and hispanic communities which could very well win it for OUR party; fla is a 50/50 state


by jjgtrs on Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 12:01:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why the General Election Polls Favor Dems (none / 0)

That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If the real breakdown of the electorate is 45D-35R-20I, why would Rasmussen "make sure" that the breakdown of their sample is 40D-40R-20I? How would that ensure a "fair representation of voters?" Quite the contrary, one would think. Since you "know" that Dems outnumber Repubs by 10 or more points, why wouldn't Ras. and the other pollsters know it too? According to you, they knowingly allow their polls to skew 3 to 4 points in one direction every time. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I don't buy your analysis. It's their job to get it right, and I can't believe they would let some bizarre notion of "fairness" (which isn't even fair) get in the way of doing that.


by freemansfarm on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:57:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

If Hillary suspends her campaign (2.00 / 2)

One thing Jerome is forgetting here is that if Hillary suspends her campaign after March 4, it's likely that Obama will run up massive numbers in the remaining states - even over 85% - so that he'll get all the remaining delegates in many states. When Edwards suspended his campaign in 2004 some folks still voted for him. And Vermont still voted for Dean. But in most states Edwards didn't register more than about 7% of the vote. If Hillary suspends, her supporters will gravitate to Obama or stay home on primary day. Only a small handful would continue to cast what is an in essence a protest vote for her in the remaining states.

Also, I bet at least half of Clinton's superdelegates will switch to Obama if she suspends, and all of the remaining supers will support him too. That will be enough to avoid controversy at the convention. And MI and FL can be seated.

There will be a reconciliation between Obama and Clinton regardless. We saw the beginnings of that in Clinton's closing statement the other night. But it won't have anything to do with delegates.


by elrod on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:44:27 AM EST

Re: If Hillary suspends her campaign (none / 0)

Yeah, there's kind of an inherent contradiction here. If Clinton doesn't suspend her campaign the "Obama fails as nominee" scenario Jerome is envisioning won't come about. But if she does suspend her campaign she'll fall too far behind in delegates to make up the difference even with superdelegates.

I think it's funny that Clinton supporters are now kind of admitting its over, but they still won't let go of the idea that Obama will be an abyssmal failure in the general - not quite ready to admit they were wrong:)


by animated on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:56:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Bill Maher (none / 0)

I hope no one else was as dumb as I and just wasted an hour watching Bill Maher. He had pompous David Frum and a blowhard GA Congressman Kingston spouting off nonsense after nonsense with typical Hannity propaganda.

What a waste of time !


by chatters71 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:45:23 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 1)

There will be no obvious downside of an Obama nomination to the Democratic Party and super delegates. National polls will be the focus, not vague demographic hints from state to state. A summer shift toward Hillary would require her with a decisive lead over McCain in hypothetical national polling, superior to the Obama/McCain numbers, which is never going to happen. Her general election ceiling is steady, well known, and low.

Obama, even if attacked by the GOP or floundering leading up to the convention, will maintain enough strength in national polling via the teflon of likability. Once a candidate secures a major nomination he's given a major benefit of a doubt, which lasts until late summer at the earliest. Ousting the well-known presumed nominee further shields Obama from early collapse. And since our convention is first, the GOP will not yet have unleashed full throttle  against Obama.

Hillary always faced a vulnerability that she would fare worse in hypothetical general election polling, if the GOP nominee were already known. I've blown plenty of calls this cycle but perhaps a year ago on many sites I emphasized that Hillary needed to cinch her nomination prior to the GOP candidate being identified. If not, and where we are now, it was otherwise inevitable that Obama or Edwards would look stronger than Hillary in head-to-head polling.

The fascinating variable in fall '08 will be how well the normally reliable partisan index holds up. With Edwards as nominee the traditional margins would appear. No problem. Same with Mark Warner, who I supported originally. But with Hillary and particularly Obama you can't take a +3 national consensus, for example, and assume that's plenty to lasso Ohio, and hold Pennsylvania comfortably, and be in a virtual dead heat in Florida. The shifting from national margin to individual states will be decisively altered from what we've come to expect. I guarantee it's going to drive poll-based sites and analysts mad. Some analysts will be comfortable with the old guidelines while others will assert the state polls are more in tune with current reality, regardless if they reject 20+ years of partisan index logic.

My concern with Obama is he's likely to fare worse than Hillary in the vital states like Ohio and Florida. Ohio is more backwards and conservative than we want to believe, and Obama will be hard pressed to win Florida Hispanics. Once those states are straying, the straight flush of smaller states to make up the electoral difference is so mathematically remote it's not something you want to count on. This year we're virtually birthrighted to own the margin for error advantage, but an Obama nomination has severe potential to surrender it.

One thing I noticed and made sure to remember, even though it wasn't really picked up by the media. When Obama won Virginia his victory speech included a mention of Jim Webb, full of praise, even though Webb was not in attendance. Placing Webb on the end of the ticket with Obama not only makes sense from a national security standpoint, but it also plants Virginia absolutely in play. A favorite son VP from that state should be worth at least 3-4 points, maybe more since Virginia hasn't been represented on a national ticket in so long. And earning Virginia's electoral votes, though basically half of Ohio's or Virginia's in number, is nearly as good as the two biggies, since only a couple of smaller states would be required to push us to 270. Losing Ohio/Florida/Virginia means we'd need a very unlikely sweep.


by Gary Kilbride on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:03:16 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Correction: half of Ohio's or Florida's (electoral votes) in number.

I'm always posting in the wee hours, wobbly on half an Ambien. Good night.


by Gary Kilbride on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:17:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

great post! (none / 0)

I think the stuff about VA is really good. With Webb to counter McCain's appeal to the military voters there, maybe Obama could win. According to my handy EC calculator, if Obama wins the Gore states plus VA, then he only needs to pick up Iowa, New Mexico, Nevada, OR Colorado to win the election! VA plus any one of those states is enough.

Bush beat Gore by over 8 percent in 2004, and VA has not voted for a Dem. in a presidential election since 1964. 8 of the 11 US reps are GOP, as is the other US Sen, the State AG and Lt Gov, and the lower state house. But the state senate and the gov are Dems. And Bush beat Gore by 8% in VA in 2000, which means he hardly increased his performance there in '04, while nationwide he increased by a couple of percentage points. Maybe it's doable!


by freemansfarm on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:40:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: great post! (none / 0)

I'd like to say I have hope for Virginia, but I'm skeptical. We had a perfect storm in 2006 in Webb vs. Allen: a complete clown and self-destructing opponent in Allen; a dream candidate in Webb, a conservative Democrat; and a huge Democratic national tailwind, and what did we get? A razor thin margin of victory.

McCain will be much stronger than Allen, and his military background will play well in Virginia's substantial military community. Obama is unlikely to be as popular as the gruff, centrist Webb. And let's face it--while the Dems have been making up ground recently, it's still a pretty red state.


by OrangeFur on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 03:22:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: My 90 year-old father in law voted (none / 0)

and there are 6 people who I go to school who have never voted before. All 6 voted for Obama in the primary and all 6 will vote for Obama in the GE.

Your point is moot. The political winds in this country are favoring the younger generation to be involved at a much greater degree then in the past. This is a great thing and Obama has helped immensely in turning out this segment of the population.


!
by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:58:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: My 90 year-old father in law voted (none / 0)

Then go and impress him, talk to him. Unless you are happy that he votes Republican. That should be the spirit of this site.


by marcotom on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 10:44:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: My 90 year-old father in law voted (none / 0)

My 80 year old mother who is a moderate Republican says she will vote for Obama, but would never even consider HRC.  I think their are a lot more like her than your father.


by upper left on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 11:15:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

WHy the Polls favor Dems (none / 0)

Here's the methodology. I tried looking for the link but I couldn't. The distribution of the sampling i.e. 40/40/20 or whatever is based upon the likely voters as also determined by 2004 & 2006 voting. THe fact that there are more  Dems than Reps in '08 compared to '04 and '06 is not factored in consistnely in polls. In other words, the D vs. R breakdown in Jan 07 is different than in Jan 08. More Dems. But the polls do not take that into account today because they can't continually adjust their methodology to factor that in. In other words, in July 07 they had a set ratio i.e. 45/40/10 or whatever. In every poll since then they have kept that same  ratio even though in the last six months more Dems have registered than Reps.


by chatters71 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:19:50 AM EST

WHy the Polls favor Dems (none / 0)

Here's the methodology. I tried looking for the link but I couldn't. The distribution of the sampling i.e. 40/40/20 or whatever is based upon the likely voters as also determined by 2004 & 2006 voting. THe fact that there are more  Dems than Reps in '08 compared to '04 and '06 is not factored in consistnely in polls. In other words, the D vs. R breakdown in Jan 07 is different than in Jan 08. More Dems. But the polls do not take that into account today because they can't continually adjust their methodology to factor that in. In other words, in July 07 they had a set ratio i.e. 45/40/10 or whatever. In every poll since then they have kept that same  ratio even though in the last six months more Dems have registered than Reps.


by chatters71 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:20:05 AM EST

Re: WHy the Polls favor Dems (none / 0)

Thanks for the explanation.


by freemansfarm on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:27:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: WHy the Polls favor Dems (none / 0)

Thanks for the explanation.


by freemansfarm on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:27:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

I dont see obama winning florida
more backasswards than many think

ohio will be a battleground, that is all i can say.  it will be ugly

but obama can put the midwest into play (flip co and new mexico)  
virginia will be in play regardless of webb

plus obama will have much more money than mccain, as well as much more motivated soldiers.  obama will outwork mccain and force mccain to defend states he doesnt need to be defending

it could come down to outside events (war/terrorism/blowing things up) if nothing major happens (iraq stays as is, rest of world stays relatively stable, at least in the media's eyes) obama should win... could be a landslide

but if some major international chaos occurs, it will be a dogfight that get ugly and could favor mccain


by chriscizzila on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:33:42 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

would favor mccain


by chriscizzila on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:34:05 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

who would favor McCain? you?


by marcotom on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:44:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

First I'm fairly sure most Regan democrats are now republicans or indys(on the flipside some repblicans from that time especially in the NE are now democrats).

Second in politics class can mean many things including most importantly money and education. Due to both his primary performance and general democratic performance I would guess Obama's biggest struggle would coime from those with a bit of college or a two year degree, rather then those with least money.

Obama's worst demograohics will be lower middle class especially those with low levels of education(except for those with the lowest levels), also more trouble with men then women and both genders among socially conservative voters (McCain's main draw is the strong macho man image), also among catholics and white ethics.


by rtaycher1987 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:57:50 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)


It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings!

There are a number of misconceptions about the role that delegates will play in this election.
The three most important things to remember are:

1) A candidate needs 2208 delegate votes to secure the nomination with Florida and Michigan included.

2) After weeks of voting, the race is a virtual tie, with Hillary and Senator Obama now separated by little over 2% of all the delegates to the Democratic Convention.

3) Both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama will need automatic (super) delegates to win the nomination.

Senator Obama has aggressively courted automatic delegates, while his campaign has simultaneously tried to discount their role in the process.


by bJ Chicago on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:59:31 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

what is an automatic delegate?
oh, like the ones who are switching sides right now
doesnt seem too automatic now does it?
by chriscizzila on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 03:08:25 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't North Carolina change up its EV allocation so it's by Congressional District now? That would presumably throw a few more electoral votes our way, right?


Further Reading
by Dave Sund on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 03:11:28 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Nevermind. It didn't ever become law in NC.


Further Reading
by Dave Sund on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 04:45:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

As they said in the matrix... (2.00 / 1)

Guns.

Obama is on record in favor of very stringent gun regulations. While I don't necessarily disagree with him, this has the potential to be a huge liability in the general election, particularly in states like Pennsylvania and Ohio as well as some of the Mountain West. I hope his campaign has some way of trying to defuse this issue.


by OrangeFur on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 03:16:39 AM EST

Re: As they said in the matrix... (none / 0)

He is for gun control in cities, not against hunter. When it comes to making up stuff, the Repubs will do exactly the same thing to Hillary.


by marcotom on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:47:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: As they said in the matrix... (none / 0)

Yeah, it's hard to see Obama getting attacked by the irrational NRA any more than they would go after Hillary.


by Skaje on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:19:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

What if we just agree... (none / 0)

...that the Republicans are going to say very mean things about whoever our candidate is? Trying to pick a candidate based on which one we think is least open to attack is sort of pointless; it's all in how they counterpunch.

Remember, they successfully made Kerry's military record a liability. How many people can honestly say they saw that coming in the primaries?


"Mom, baseball, apple pie, and a unified Democratic juggernaut."
by Purplepeople on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:00:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: As they said in the matrix... (2.00 / 1)

Hillary has the same positions my friend.  If we're afraid of the NRA, then that fear applies irrespective of who the candidate is.  Right now, polls show Obama doing VERY well in Colorado -- so I think your fears are probably overblown.  


by HSTruman on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 10:43:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: As they said in the matrix... (none / 0)

Obama is on record in favor of very stringent gun regulations. While I don't necessarily disagree with him, this has the potential to be a huge liability in the general election

This is a real shame.  Why are we willing to give up so many voters who should be part of our base for a symbolic policy that doesn't decrease violence anywhere?  

Gun control to rural folks is like banning birth control or gratuitous cruelty to gay families.  It's cultural warfare for the sake of cultural warfare with no benefit to the people.  Why is our party (including Obama and Clinton) advocating it?


Read Brian's Utah Weblog
by Brian Watkins on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:37:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

I'm quite frankly shocked this is still being discussed.  Whoever has more PLEDGED delegates by the convention should received ALL of the super delegates.


by RussTC3 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 03:46:32 AM EST

there is only one downside for dems (none / 0)

The only downside is Clinton winning in spite of the people. Other than that, Barack changes the map and everything is in play.


by Bob Brigham on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 03:47:58 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (1.00 / 5)

To All Who Have Posted Thus Far:

I am a doctoral candidate and teacher. I need to say that since your posts are so centered on class and education- so obviously not ones belonging to traditional Democrats- that you would quickly dismiss me. Oops, you may do that any way since I am a woman.

Like most Obama supporters, your posts show you to be so full of yourselves that you can't see the proverbial forest for the trees.

Your comments clearly define who you are; you're Axelrod Dems, pretenders. It's a game to you. ("Let's take the hopes and aspirations of the yearning masses and sell them a bill of goods!")

I am proudly an Independent. I worked for Kerry, and I foolishly voted for Obama to be US Senator of Illinois in 2004. Obama skipped out on that gig. He is unproven, unvetted. I was once moved by his oratory, but  I have found he is a carefully scripted actor. My vote for POTUS will not be wasted on him. In fact my vote will be a repudiation of him and most definitely his ill-mannered cult.

If not Hillary Clinton 2008, then John McCain.


by bJ Chicago on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 03:58:56 AM EST

Fuck John McCain (2.00 / 0)


I am The Etchasketchist!
by Jumbo on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 04:34:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

He seems to be taking care of that himself (none / 0)


McCain housing policy shaped by lobbyist.
by obsessed on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:27:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Fuck John McCain (2.00 / 3)

I am seriously tempted to zero-rate every single comment I see claiming to vote for McCain should their favored candidate not win the Democratic nomination.  That shit doesn't fly on other blogs and it shouldn't fly here.  So have a 1 instead.

These are supposed to be blogs for electing Democrats, and threats to vote for the Republican, when Obama and Clinton agree on 95% of the issues, are ridiculous and trollish.  They do not elevate the discussion, and they do not help your candidate.  We better nominate Hillary or else you'll vote for the guy who wants us to spend 100 years in Iraq!  That'll show us!

And it's not just Clinton supporters, when Obama people make the same claim they get justifiably trollrated too.  Don't want to vote for Democrats, find another blog that's not about electing Democrats.


by Skaje on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:29:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Sigh (none / 0)

should have been a reply to previous comment.  You're cool.


by Skaje on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:30:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I agree 100% (2.00 / 1)

Isn't the mission of this blog to work to elect Democrats? Why should Jerome et al allow anyone to use his bandwidth to talk about electing Republicans? There are other sites on the intertubes for that. Don't use this one!


by Kal on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 11:41:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

What it sounds like to me. (none / 0)

commenter says: "If Obama/Clinton doesn't win the nomination I might just have to vote for John McCain"

sounds to me like: "http://youtube.com/watch?v=xTcSPtEncmA"


I am The Etchasketchist!
by Jumbo on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:21:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Hey BJ.

Glad to hear you are Ph.D. candidate.  That's very impressive.

Perhaps you should take a look at what would happen to the already tentative makeup of out Supreme Court, or the trajectory of our foreign policy if we elected John McCain as President.

I assume the fact that you are posting on site that is called 'myDD' means that you share certain core Democratic values, such as abortion right, equitable economic policies, no ill conceived wars of economic opportunity, etc.  I don't see how voting for John McCain gets you there.


by verite on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:16:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Well, I'm not going to tell the Obama supporters that I'll vote for McCain if Hillary is not the nominee--except I already did. I presume many are not so considerate to warn you Obama supporters that they'll do so. Those particular Hillary supporters believe that surprising, unexpected action is louder than words.  What an unexpected change of events it will be on election day? Unlike those Hillary supporters (about 70-80%), which makes up about 40% of democratic party, are not going take the time out to warn you...for many do not have the time to type on the computer...


by Check077 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:47:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

I couldn't agree with you more.  Well said.


by ddigioia on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:02:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

I don't actually think there is much chance that Clinton is going to get away with stealing the nomination if Obama has clearly won enough delegates to have a solid lead going into the convention.  If Howard Dean lets something like that happen he ought to be tarred and feathered.  It's absolutely critical that our nominee have legitimacy going into the general election against McCain, and there is no way the Democratic Party is stupid enough to let Hillary pull some flim-flam that would allow her to win a cheezy victory.  The shit would hit the fan so bad that the 1960's convention in Chicago would look tame by comparison.  It would bring about the end of the Party as we know it, and would likely lead to a third-party bid by Obama, who could easily finance a strong run.

However, there is some question in my mind if Hillary has the class and decency to end her campaign graciously once it becomes clear that she has lost.  I worry that she will hang around and make a mess of things, to the detriment of the Party.


by global yokel on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 04:46:17 AM EST

PREDICTION: Obama Will Break 300 EVs (none / 0)

There is a strong likelihood he'll break the 350 EV barrier, too.


Bill Foster would agree, Barack Obama has coat tails.
by Walt Starr on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:58:13 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

If Obama were to choose Hillary as his VP, he would immediately lose all the crossover republicans and a good number of independents. Hillary is hated and picking her is also hypocritical in a campaign with the theme of change.

No he needs to pick an older more conservative democrat with a strong background in military and foreign affairs.....thats a short list. Problem with mentioning Wesley Clark is he is a political neophyte.....Dwight D Eisenhower he is not. I think his best options are people such as Chris Dodd, Evan Bayh, Jim Webb. Personally I think Dodd or Bayh are his best fit...


by adbct on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 08:00:21 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

It's sort of hard for me to imagine Clinton taking the VP slot, just as it is hard for me to imagine Obama taking a VP. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like they have been struggling for the number 1 slot for too long to accept number 2. I imagine either one would look for some other opportunity.


"Mom, baseball, apple pie, and a unified Democratic juggernaut."
by Purplepeople on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:03:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 1)

the premise of this thread isn't based on any concrete evidence. Polls don't even back up the assertion.

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_conte nt/politics/election_20082/2008_presiden tial_election/pennsylvania/pennsylvania_ 2008_presidential_election

In Pennsylvania, Clinton leads McCain by six among women but trails by nine among men. Obama leads McCain among both men and women, but has a larger lead among women. McCain wins 69% of the conservative vote when matched against Clinton, 60% against Obama.
!
by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:38:19 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 1)

and final polling results out of PA:

Obama 49%-39% McCain
McCain 44%-42% Clinton


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by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:40:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

The diarist is incorrect about Ohio.  He suggested the Dems won Ohio in the last two elections when in fact the Republicans won it the last two rounds.


by mikelewis68 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 10:27:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 1)

Also...numerous red states come into play with Obama as the nominee:

KS, VA, NC, NM, CO, NV, IA.

Also...blue states that repubs were highly competitive in become very easy or much easier to win with Obama as the nominee:

WA, OR, WI, NH, PA.


by mikelewis68 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 10:34:05 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (1.00 / 1)

I find it quite amusing and curious that some of you are figuring out where to stick Clinton when she (of course graciously, not all callous like usual) exits the race.  

I find it EXTREMELY curious that I remember reading on this very blog MANY MANY times how certain Obama supporters could NEVER EVER vote for HRC because of the war vote (that 99-1 one). The simply couldn't. They couldn't bring themselves to even hold their nose and vote for her.  Those same people are now the ones calling for Party Unity and reminding everyone that may not vote for Obama that "we are all Dems here!"  Funny that we weren't when Hillary looked to be the nominee.

If you honestly discount all the women that have been hurt, shocked and completely disgusted by the way that the left blogosphere and pundits have treated our first serious woman candidate for President, you are sadly mistaken.  

I do not purport to know who will win in November.  Obama could very well win overwhelmingly.  I'm not so sure, but it's a definite possibility.  I know that my wife will not vote for him. She's a lifelong Dem and Liberal and what she has seen is beyond forgiveness for her. She will not vote for Obama.  Neither will I.


by atomic garden on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 10:59:44 AM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Which war vote are you talking about?

The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists (S. Res 23) passed 98-0. Obama is very much in favor of that resolution and the war in Afghanistan.

The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq passed 77-23, with 21 Democrats and one Republican voting against, including Dick Durbin, Ted Kennedy, Jack Reed, Pat Leahy, Robert Byrd, Paul Wellstone, and Lincoln Chafee.

If you don't vote for Obama, President McCain thanks you for the support. All the kids being blown up in Iraq thank you, too.

(I would say the exact same thing if Clinton were the nominee. Anyone who would vote for one but not the other is a short-sighted fool.)


by Kal on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 11:50:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 1)

your wife, the supposed lifelong Dem AND leberal doesn't care about what will probably amount to a new SCOTUS nominee in the next few years eh? she can toss her freedoms as a woman goodbye, probably for the remainder of her life if that's the case with McCain in office.


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by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:27:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

That's right. The vitriol and misogyny we have seen leveled at another woman NOT based on policy, but utterly based on contempt for gender and misdirected Clinton hatred is just beyond contempt.

Your cries of "President McCain thanks you" do nothing to change my mind. Nothing. It is utterly based on the fact that I do not like ANY angle of Obama's positions. I don't like his dovish views on foreign policy, nor do I think his heroic speech in 2002 means a thing.  In 2004 he claimed he didn't know which way he may have voted if he had the same intelligence. In 2008, he claims to Tim Russert he basically only said that because Kerry was running.  Hm. I don't like his policies on healthcare (too Republican), the economy (too Reaganomics) and  taxes (too Bushie).  

The same people that now call for party unity are the same that were crying that they could never in their whole purely liberal lives vote for Hillary.

I ask those that say the Authorization for war vote (apologies for the vote # mishap prev)is the ONLY reason they can't vote for HRC...it's as simple as that they say...did you vote for Kerry in 2004?  If so, you are hypocrites.

And my wife is quite comfortable with knowing that Obama will do nothing to help the cause of feminism or women in general. She is quite convinced (and Obama's statements about "claws" and "periodically feeling down" with regards to HRC only serve to solidify her view) that Obama is a misogynist and a sexist. Not to mention, an Independent using the Democratic Party toward the Presidency.

I want and need a partisan Democrat. Not someone that will work with Republicans. I don't want to work with Republicans. I want Republicans to be irrelevant.  


by atomic garden on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:41:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

In 2004 he was specifically asked a question about Kerry's war vote, so it's not really all that outlandish to say that he said this as a way of not attacking Kerry.  

Also, I fail to understand people who won't vote for a candidate because they don't like his online supporters.  I hate all you nutso Clintonites, but I'd vote for her in a heartbeat against McCain.


by jlk7e on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:11:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 1)

please, by all means advance the rights of women through mcCain. your argument is laughable at best and quite horrific and damaging at worst.

don't fool yourself thinking that HIllary is the best possible partisan Democrat. The votes don't prove this to be true nor has her rhetoric prove this to be true as well.

it's funny that your need for a partisan Democrat (which Obama is) leads you to the solution of voting for McCain or not voting at all.

Obama is right, it's silly season.


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by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:05:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

also, just wanted to reemphasize something you decided to ignore.

Are you and your wife willing to support mcCain's SCOTUS nominee when the that faithful day comes knocking on his door?

Obviously you fail to see the larger picture.

and what's up with you using the word "independent" in a negative light?


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by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:32:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

That I don't want Independence. I want a partisan Democrat. That's why I'm a registered Democrat. If I wanted an Independent I'd be registered that way. I believe in being a Democrat, voting Democratic and turning our country Democratic. I have absolutely no desire for an Independent Change Agent. I want a Democratic Change Agent. A fighter. Like FDR and all the Democrats that have come after.


by atomic garden on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:19:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

who's this independent change agent you're talking about? Last I saw, Obama was a democrat.

Of course, your agent of change might be someone willing to take us to war against Iraq. That makes her a figher no? and seeing that attacking a nation preemptively is a new concept for us, i suppose she does believe in change.

I want a progressive. If that person be independent, so be it. The Bernie Sanders of the world are quite fine by me. Then again, your candidate's DLC is quite fond of the GOP no? They have been for years and just recently we learn they believe the best congressperson is in fact a Republican. Chris Shays!

also, please tell me how to "register" to be an independent. Is that really possible?

please, FDR was quite the great president. Don't degenerate the man by comparing him to a lukewarm politician who doesn't even crack the top half of progressive Dems.


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by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:00:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Don't denigrate Democrats by taking up right wing talking points and acting like HRC is not one. That's been the great shame of this whole battle.  A "democrat" tearing down the other as a Republican-lite when she is in fact the more "progressive" of the two. And the word "progressive" became a joke to me the moment that "progressive" bloggers and polticians used sexism, misogyny and right-wing tactics to go against a lifelong Dem.


by atomic garden on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:16:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

right wing talking points? you think? i'm glad you're squeaky clean, above the fray to speak. How very right-wing of you to accuse me of such.

I also notice that you leave out racism from your list of things. I'm not surprised seeing that Team Hillary engaged in race baiting.

but cherry pick things to your liking.


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by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:24:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

They didn't. "Fairy Tale" had never in my life been a racist insult ever in my life as a brown person myself. I only learned that when Axelrod told me it was.  His 4 page meme to the media helped, too. And I'm sorry you're offended that I said they were right-wing talking points. Sadly, they are.


by atomic garden on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:42:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

i said i was offended?


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by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 08:12:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

If Obama says it it must be true.

How come no one has answered my question about Kerry? This declaration that HRC is beyond forgiveness for the war vote has been bandied about many times. Again, I ask, did those of you that say that it is an unforgivable vote (and comes up ALL the time) tell me whether or not you voted for Kerry in 2004? I don't understand. It was forgivable in 2004 but not in 2008?  Please explain that to me, thanks.


by atomic garden on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:17:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

great, some clinton supporters won't for obama. big whup... its like 0.0004% of the electorate. newsflash, almost everyone who voted for hillary will vote for obama. most voters dont read blogs and could care less what some obama supporters say

and your votes will be cancelled out anyway by the kooks at redstate who comment about how mccain is not conservative enough so they will vote for the dem nominee to bring the repbus down for 4 years.

have fun with that guys. hcand obama have very similar positions, but if you want to base your vote on what some random supporters on the internet say... well then you are probably not wise enough to vote at all (even you ms. phd)


by chriscizzila on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:14:48 PM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

And it's comments like these that make me surer and surer of my position.  When this began Clinton supporters were very much of "We'll vote Dem no matter what!" To the cries of Obama supporters claiming they would no way, no how vote for that Evill Queen of All that Is Wrong with America Hillary.  Now the same call for Unity.


by atomic garden on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:43:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Is it a coincidence, then (none / 0)

That it seems that each candidate's supporters were gung-ho about voting for the eventual nominee, so long as they were pretty sure it would be their gal/guy?


by seand on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:19:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

vote however you want. it is a democracy. do you need to write long rants on it though?
you are voting based on what supporters who you dont even know are saying. obama and hillary have very similar positions. obama is not changing his positions to get republican and indy votes, he is just more appealing to most

your candidate has lost the last 10 states by an average of 17%. she won't be nominated.
go vote for mccain. please do. everyone should vote how they want. just stop leaving lame rants on here like you are going to make obama supporters regret the fact that you are voting mccain.  do you need attention or something?


by chriscizzila on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:58:13 PM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

So now explaining a thought process that I've heard from many different people is a lame rant? LOL. Sorry. I guess. I don't really care what any Obama supporter that thinks that older people, women, Hispanics and all the rest of the HRC crowd that's apparently too dumb to vote for "change" think about who I do and don't vote for. I'm just putting it out there that my wife and I are not the only ones that feel this way.

I truly feel that Obama is not a Democrat and simply used the Party to gain political access. I don't agree with 99% of his positions.  

Obama has not yet asked for my vote. He simply expects it.  

Last time I checked I thought mydd was about political opinions and writing what we feel. However, I suppose that telling you how a lot of Dems are feeling about Obama after this whole primary debacle is "lame rants."


by atomic garden on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:10:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (2.00 / 1)

I'm not sure Brownstein's analysis makes very much sense.

Surely white women aren't voting against Obama so much as they're voting for Hillary Clinton.  If Obama can win working class white men in the primaries, he shouldn't have much trouble attracting the women, either, once it's a race between him and McCain, rather than between him and Clinton.

It's not like anyone would say that Clinton's poor showing among black voters in the primary would be an opportunity for McCain to pick up black support in Illinois, New Jersey, Michigan, and Maryland, thus putting those states in play, is it?


by jlk7e on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:08:49 PM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

especially if he puts a woman on the ticket


by chriscizzila on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:25:04 PM EST

By November Dems will unite (2.00 / 1)

Look, those who believe strongly in Hillary or Obama will hate to lose. I, for one, have voted, sent money, volunteered, and phonebanked for Obama. Part of my argument is that he's also a better general election candidate (as most polls) attest. I will argue that there are some people who voted for BO who won't vote for HRC and so McCain benefits. In moments of heated argument, I professed to be one of those.

The reality is the second I really thought about a President McCain being a third Bush term, I would volunteer for HRC.

Look some HRC supporters will flip to McCain this spring and that's fine. THe reality is that six months from now when Obama is debating McCain and the election is a few weeks ago, I suspect that most HRC supporters will come back to the Democratic ticket.

RIght now, these are tantrums only. Let the tanstrums resolve and we'll be fine in November.

Remember, GOTV !!!


by chatters71 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:39:45 PM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Atomic Garden I loved your last line about the republicans.  HRC is a fighter, BHO is a uniter.  I rather have a fighter.  Uniters don't get much done in congress.


by nzubechukwu on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:47:24 PM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

the HRC as a fighter analogy is true. she helped take us to war. Not exactly something I'm looking for.

let's not kid yourselves. Obama has been a more consistent voice in congress then Hillary has been. In fact, Hillary has on more then a few occasions been rated at the lower end of Democrats in terms of "liberal" voting record.

Uniting people to get progressive ideology spread is only the first piece to the puzzle. the second piece is getting the population to fully give the progressive cause a mandate. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Obama's "words" are taking care of issue #1.

and let's not even get into the fact that Hillary is part of the lovely DLC. you know, the group whose lead member thinks the best congressperson out there is a Christopher Shays. Such lovely partisan company that Hillary clinton runs around with no?


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by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 03:06:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

Can you tell me exactly HOW Obama will get the Republicans to do what he wants? How is he going to get the progressive legislation I hear so much about passed with Mitch McConnell and his cronies there?  Will he tell them that he's the Agent of Change and they must do it? Or will he just expect it?  Please, tell me what the actual, for real PLAN is for this massive change he's bringing to Washington. I'm just curious because forever now Democratic presidents have had to fight against Republicans for every bit of Democratic legislation (and with Obama's take on healthcare and taxes, it's not even Democratic legislation). For over a century now. I want to know exactly HOW Obama will do this. How will he bend Republican will toward him. How will he transcend?


by atomic garden on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:14:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

and how would hillary?

your logic is faulty. It will be whoever is in congress to pass laws, it will be up to the president to engage the public on our nation's agenda.

once hillary is back in the senate, by all means she should pass her health-care plan. Seeing how sure you are in her ability to do so, it should be no problem.


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by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:35:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

I see. Well, I'll try and put my thinking cap on to understand how President Obama would bring all these sweeping changes.  My faulty logic prevents me from understanding how he'd get Republicans over to his side. But again, I'm not expert on transcendent politics. But I am curious as heck to see.  

"When Hillary is back in the Senate." Says it all.  So sure of yourselves you all are.


by atomic garden on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:57:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

I see. Well, I'll try and put my thinking cap on to understand how President Obama would bring all these sweeping changes.  My faulty logic prevents me from understanding how he'd get Republicans over to his side. But again, I'm not expert on transcendent politics. But I am curious as heck to see.  

"When Hillary is back in the Senate." Says all I need to know. Luckily for me, she's my hometown Senator. I get to keep her no matter what. And that thought makes me happy.


by atomic garden on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:58:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

okay. hopefully she can become the progressive senator we all hoped her to be in the first place. I for one would really love to see that happen.

I am quite interested in your thinking that Obama can't change the status quo. He'll do it with the help of democrats in congress. unless you can prove that Hillary can speak her way to public approval on progressive ideals I don't buy your argument.

in fact, it will be on her as a senator to make things happen. Bush never passed a law. He just signed whatever the GOP congress and weak kneed Democratic senators gave him.


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by alex100 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:15:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

General Election Polls (none / 0)

Courtesy of CHris Bowers

Alabama (Survey USA)
McCain 57%--37% Clinton
McCain 58%-34% Obama

California (Survey USA)
Obama 61%--34% McCain
Clinton 58%--35% McCain

Colorado (Rasmussen)
Obama 46%--39% McCain
McCain 49%--35% Clinton

Florida (Quinnipiac, Rasmussen)
McCain 44%--42% Clinton
McCain 41%--39% Obama

McCain 49%--43% Clinton
McCain 53%--37% Obama

Iowa (Survey USA, Rasmussen)
Obama 51%--41% McCain
McCain 52%--41% Clinton

Obama 44%--41% McCain
McCain 47%--37% Clinton

Kansas (Survey USA)
McCain 50%--44% Obama
McCain 59%--35% Clinton

Massachusetts (Survey USA)
Clinton 52%--43% McCain
Obama 48%--46% McCain
(WTF bay staters? Does Dawson have a crush on McCain or something?)

Michigan (Rasmussen)
Obama 47%--39% McCain
Clinton 44%--44% McCain

Minnesota (Survey USA, Rasmussen)
Obama 55%--40% McCain
Clinton 40%--45% McCain

Obama 53%--38% McCain
McCain 47%--42% Clinton

Missouri (Survey USA, Rasmussen)
Clinton 51%--44% McCain
Obama 49%--43% McCain

McCain 43%--42% Clinton
McCain 42%--40% Obama

Nevada (Rasmussen)
Obama 50%--38% McCain
McCain 49%--48% Clinton

New Hampshire (Rasmussen)
Obama 49%--36% McCain
Clinton 43%--41% McCain

New Mexico (Survey USA)
Obama 55%--40% McCain
Clinton 50%--45% McCain

New York Surey USA)
Obama 57%--36% McCain
Clinton 52%--41% McCain

Ohio (Quinnipiac, Survey USA, Rasmussen)
McCain 44%--43% Clinton
McCain 42%--40% Obama

Clinton 52%--42% McCain
Obama 47%--44% McCain

McCain 42%--41% Obama
McCain 46%--43% Clinton

Oregon (Survey USA, Rasmussen)
Obama 48%--47% McCain
McCain 49%--41% Clinton

Obama 49%--40% McCain
McCain 45%-42% Clinton

Pennsylvania (Qunnipiac, Rasmussen)
Clinton 46%--40% McCain
Obama 42%--41% McCain

Obama 49%--39% McCain
McCain 44%--42% Clinton

Virginia (Survey USA, Rasmussen)
Obama 51%--45% McCain
McCain 48%--45% Clinton

McCain 49%--44% Obama
McCain 51%--41% Clinton


by chatters71 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 01:55:12 PM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

most striking things
obama leading in one poll in VA

Hillary losing in MN


by chriscizzila on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 02:06:31 PM EST

LCV ratiings released this week (none / 0)

I had posted a bit back that Obamas League of Conservation Voters rating was 97 and Hillary's was 91.  That was for the prior session.  They just realeased the new ratings and they are depressing for both candidates.  They need to be doing a better job with this I think:  Her's is 73, his is 67.  In case anyone thinks is a problematic policy quandary, John Kerry's (referred to as milquetoast by another poster) was 93 during that same session.

However, for those of you even vaguely considering switching their party vote in protest of either Dem, McCain's, if I read it right, was a big 0.


by mady on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:48:15 PM EST

Re: LCV ratiings released this week (none / 0)

Excuse the atrocious apostrophe mishaps in my prior post.


by mady on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:50:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

I read this whole thread and I think it's telling that nobody brought up the Latino vote.  If Obama supporters think Latinos are going to flock to his candidacy, they are sadly mistaken.  Latinos support Hillary for many reasons ranging from the pragmatism of her policies to her history with the community to the matriarchal aspects of the culture.  McLame may be many things but he ain't a hater on the Latin folk.  Obama is going to lose us this election.  It certainly isn't over for Hillary and if Obama supporters want to do their end zone dance, I suggest it is premature.  I am a Latino, I have never voted for a Repthug but I probably cannot vote for Obama.  A cult of personality is unAmerican.  right wing framing is unDemocratic.  he asks nothing of his rich and young supporters and pretends the wingnuts won't carve him up like a thanksgiving turkey.  hopefully Hillary will triumph but should she not, I weep for my beloved Democratic party.


by joker on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:28:40 PM EST

Re: After March 4th (none / 0)

This man is full of shit, please don't repeat history and buy a load of shit hook line and sinker. Go with the woman who is ready on day one, with sleeves rolled up and ready to clean up all the shit the last green headed shit eater left all over the world.


Remember the woman, for without her, there would be no man.
by eye in the sky on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:33:13 PM EST


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