we now know who the democratic nominee is going to be....

What Metric is Left? Reality Time.
A valid, on point, honest question is one that the Clinton Campaign cannot answer.

Sure, she is dragging this out and looks like a fighter, but in the end the math does not work.  Even if she wins the rest of what?  Six primaries?  It won't happen.  Especially, since Barack won North Carolina by 15 points and lost Indiana by 0.8 points, this was not the game changer Hillary Clinton needed.  The popular vote Barack won in North Carolina wiped out her gains in Pennsylvania.  Indiana did nothing for Clinton, since the race was tight and the delegate count will be split down the middle.  In other words, she gained nothing and ending up losing the delegate and popular vote battle Tuesday night.  Lastly on this delegate and popular vote count, there are not enough states left for Clinton to catch up.  She needs to beat Barack over 70% for the remaining six contests and it won't happen.  Now the superdelegates are favoring Obama.

What Tim Russert said, and if you don't know, look at the video above, was like a shot heard around the world.  Everyone knows that Barack Obama is the Democratic Nominee and there is nothing else that the Clinton Campaign can do, it is a fact.

I have stated this many times, this primary is one that many pundits will write about.  Primarily, how the formidable Clinton Campaign was shattered by a new kid on the block, named Barack Obama.

We know that Barack will not win West Virginia or Kentucky, but he will win Oregon on May 20, 2008.  In winning Oregon, he will have secured the most pledged delegates, period.  And it is technically, totally and finally over, at least for Barack.

What is the most important now is bringing the party together.  The most important mission that we have is to win not only the White House, but more congressional and senate seats for a working majority to assist the next president.

Now it is time for Hillary Clinton to leave the stage, gracefully, she knows it as well as the rest of the country.  We are now waiting for her to do so.

                 

Campaign Appearances

May 12, 2008 - Campaign Event with Barack Obama, Charleston, WV
May 12, 2008 - Rally with Barack, Louisville, KY

Why Clinton will not be his running mate
Obama Camp Blasts McCain on Economy
Hillary fades as Barack runs hot
'Super' surge for Obama
What went wrong for Clinton?
Clinton's end: time to yield and unify
Face it, HIllary: It's over
Republicans Give Mixed Reasons for Obama Votes
Edwards: Obama  Will Be the Nominee

                             
                                       obama and brian williams of nbc nightly news

Video/Audio

Donna Brazile on CNN Primary Night; Barackula, the Musical; Obama in Eugene, OR; Obama Speech in Indianapolis, IN; Indiana Jefferson-Jackson Dinner; Obama Top Ten on Letterman; Dirt Off Your Shoulder Music Video; Obama in Beaverton, OR; Barack and Michelle on the Today Show; Obama in Bend, OR; NPR: Perceptions of Obama Shift with Strong Week; NPR: Week in Review:  Obama Surges Forward; Meet the Press in Indianapolis

Feminists sharply divided between Clinton, Obama
Clinton's diminishing of black votes
What if Clinton had Obama's lead?

::

Edwards Raises Doubts About Clinton's Chances

John Edwards, a former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, cautioned Sunday that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton "has to be really careful that she's not damaging our prospects" by staying in the contest against Senator Barack Obama.

While Mr. Edwards, a onetime senator from North Carolina, has not endorsed either candidate, he made it clear on the CBS News program "Face the Nation" that he saw little chance that Mrs. Clinton could manage a come-from-behind victory.

"You can no longer make a compelling case for the math," Mr. Edwards said, referring to delegate totals that increasingly favor Mr. Obama. "The math is very, very hard for her."  continue

                               
                                 obama accepts jersey from university of oregon coach, ernie kent

The Super Delegate March to Inevitability by maureen
Two more Black writers unload on Clinton by teacherken
vote for change by kid oakland
On the ground in West Virginia for Obama by Carnacki
Obama hits McCain HARD: He's "Losing his bearings"! by jkennerl
Rasmussen Calls the Democratic Race for Obama by Walt starr
It's amazing that Barack has even Made it this far by jenontheshore
We have a race problem..... by Elise

                       
                            obama and abel valladares at luis's taqueira, woodburn, or

Photo Diaries

VOTE for CHANGE -- 1,400 New Yorkers take to the streets! UPDATED with video by casperr; Photoblog: Obama Voter Registration in Austin! by kath25; Barack in Indy on Election Eve w/ photos! by Debby; Yes We Can: A Photoblog of Young Obama Supporters in Indianapolis by BillyZoom; Making it happen in NC (w/photos) by merrinc; From Obama Blog: Barack visits University of Evansville, IN; From Obama Blog: Barack and Michelle visit Kempton, IN; Obama Rocks Assembly Hall Bloomington Indiana Photo Diary by HeartlandLiberal; From Obama Blog: Barack and Michelle in Noblesville, IN

Michelle Obama talks about her role if she is First Lady
Painful period for Clinton campaign
Party Like It's 2008
Gingrich Warns G.O.P. Swift Change Is Needed
Obama's Next Big Challenge
Obama Takes Superdelegate Lead

                           
                                                                  a chorus of millions

Clinton Aides Doubtful About Future

After failing to win the decisive sweep in North Carolina and Indiana that could have reshaped the Democratic race, disappointed aides to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton conceded it would be difficult for her to catch Sen. Barack Obama in either delegates or overall votes in the six remaining contests.

The outcome caused the candidate and her campaign to intensify their efforts to persuade party leaders to include the results of disqualified contests in Michigan and Florida, both of which she won. The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws committee is scheduled to meet on May 31 to consider two challenges pending on whether, and how, to seat delegates from those states.

"Absent some sort of miracle on May 31st, it's going to be tough for us," said a senior Clinton official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to be frank. "We lost this thing in February. We're doing everything we can now . . . but it's just an uphill battle."   continue

                           
                                                 victory speech in raleigh, north carolina

shoutouts: Yes to Unity.  But Let's Not Go Overboard. by wmtriallawyer; Cheers to Hillary is 44, Taylor Marsh and MyDD by Morgan Sandlin; Mark Penn Denies Being an Idiot by BarbinMD; Mothers Day Message from Teresa Heinz by Teresa Heinz; Feminisms: McCain and Women by Elise; Countdown to $200 oil (4) - It's scheduled for 1/20/09 by Jerome a Paris; Breaking:  FBI Raids Office of Special Counsel by aravir; Why can't Clinton win independents? by kos; Clinton's Race-Baiting Continues by dnA; Jeralyn Merritt "Obama For Hill's A-G..." by Mithrandir Istari

                                   
                                    obama and wolf blizter going to the situation room

Endorsements

Tom Hanks Endorses Obama; Martin Sheen Endorses Obama;  Nine Superdelegates Endorse Obama; 4 More Superdelegates Backs Obama; Kaylan Free, Superdelegate Supports Obama; Portland Mayor Tom Potter Backs Obama; Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) Backs Obama; Kristi Cummings Superdelegate (UT) Endorses Obama; David Bonior, Former Congressman (MI) and John Edwards Campaign Manager Backs Obama; Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA) Endorses Obama; Congressman Brad Miller (D-NC) Backs Obama,; Florida House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber Backs Obama; Congressman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) Endorses Obama; Myrlie Evers-Williams, wife of slain civil rights activist Medgar Evers, Endorses Obama;  Two Virgin Island Superdelegates flip to Obama; Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (D-HI) Endorses Obama; California Superdelegate Crystal Strait Backs Obama; Kentucky Lt. Governor Dan Mongiardo Endorses Obama

Obama Seeks To Unify Party For November
For Hillary Clinton, no 'clear path to victory' -- nor to an exit
Jews for Obama, Oy Vey!
Pragmatic Politics, Forged on the South Side
The Cynic and Senator Obama

                                 
                                  Larry Levine from Hinton, WV, part of Obama's small donor coalition

Obama's Results Center
5 Mistakes Clinton Made
Barack on iTunes
Clinton won't quit; Obama doesn't care
Obama rises from political obscurity to verge of history

                             
                                                       OBAMA: The Audacity of Hope

Fund Race: Obama Outflanks 'Hillraisers'

A key component in the Democratic presidential race is all but decided: In fund raising, victory belongs to Sen. Barack Obama.

As recently as a few months ago, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton had a seemingly invincible money machine -- a political ATM of well-connected followers who could raise tens of thousands of dollars with a few phone calls. But just as Sen. Obama has topped her at the polls, the Illinois senator's Internet-driven fund-raising model has eclipsed the one favored by the Clinton campaign.

Sen. Obama overtook Sen. Clinton in total fund raising in February and has raised more since. The New York senator, meanwhile, has loaned herself $6.4 million in the past few weeks, her campaign acknowledged Wednesday.  continue

                               
                                                           obama in 'da house....'

::

A blast from the past by kos
Clinton debt HUGE
Republicans Crossing Over to Vote in Democratic Contests
Obama Campaign Chief Sees End Of Nomination Fight
Sit Back, Relax, Get Ready to Rumble

                               
                                                               the empire strikes barack

icebergslim's last word:  prepping for the general election

Yes, it is that time.  Yes, it is here, finally.  Getting ready and pointing our guns to the Republicans failed policies and John McCain.

For all intention purposes, the primary is over.  Now it is just about going through the semantics until Clinton exits.  So, while we are waiting, Obama is already in the general election mode with a new stump speech focused on McCain.

As we wait for the six remaining contests to end, Barack is planning on visiting the swing states with town hall meetings.  His first stop is Missouri on Tuesday, with more states in between the finale of the primary.  Barack has also expressed interest in participating in focus groups around this country with John McCain to talk about the issues that the American public want to hear from these two candidates.

Also, the Vote for Change Movement was a huge success, this past Saturday, May 10th.  This effort was to register voters in all 50 states for the upcoming general election.  This will be an ongoing process throughout the summer and early fall to get people registered to vote.  Remember, 60% of the new voters participated thus far in the primaries.  This is critical for us to win in November that we know our voters and get them to the polls.

The Obama Organizing Fellows  is a program designed to train folk on the grassroots level in organizing, messaging and other activities vital to make a campaign successful and winnable.   Applications for this program end on May 15, 2008.

There is much coming up that will be unfolded for massive participation.  So, there is no excuse not  to get engage.

Lastly, this is an exciting time in American politics.  This is a first on many levels.  First, for the social networking of political activity.  First, for the explosion of youtube in the campaigns, to reach millions of voters.  The phenomenal participation of voters on the ground and through the internet by donating to Barack's campaign has been astounding.   And hopefully an end to divisive, old fashioned, top down politics.

The people have spoken and they are taking the Democratic Party back, their country back with the 'presumptive nominee', Barack Obama.

It is exciting indeed.

p.s.  remember to continue to donate and remember to continue to remain engaged in this campaign.  thanks.

                   
looking at this picture, it reminds me of that ll cool j song, 'mama gonna knock you out'.  well, mccain, 'obama gonna knock you out'.  this was a fantastic week for barack.  he showed his strength in two fold.  he prepared and had has troops in north carolina and indiana wayyy ahead of clinton and got folks to vote EARLY.  it mattered.  especially for north carolina where he ran the numbers up.  now since wisconsin, we all have said 'this is over' the pundits and networks are now stating, 'it is over'.  they are ready to move onto the real story, 'obama vs. mccain'.  as always, stay focused on obama and not the drama.....peace...