'Good, old fashioned butt-kicking'

Posted: Saturday, January 26, 2008 7:43 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Of Obama's sweeping South Carolina victory, Obama Chief Strategist David Axelrod said, "This was a good, old fashioned butt kicking -- as we say in this business."

He credited turnout, which he said approached half a million people and Obama's broad support, including getting 24% of the white vote, according to exit polls. "He's bring new people into the party," Axelrod said, adding, "It's just a harbinger of things to come."

Axelrod also questioned the Clinton spin of trying to make Florida and Michigan relevant after all the candidates had signed pledges to not campaign there, including an afternoon memo on the topic.

"It is kind of curious," he said, smiling wryly. "We all agreed to the Democratic Party rules. We all signed a pledge.

"When that memo came out in the middle of the afternoon, I knew this would be a good day."

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Comments

I would hate to be an advisor in the Clinton camp tonight. I can see Hillary in my minds eye, just throwing the biggest temper tantrum ever!

C'mon Hillary people, you are welcome to join us. We WANT you to join us. The world is not as scary as GW & Hillary want you to believe.

I can't believe the lady actually said that "hope is good, but you gotta temper that hope with realism." This is freakin' America... we don't tmper anything. We think big thoughts, we win big, we lose big, we do everything 110%

Temper our hope? Jeez, that's the only thing that's kept me going (barely) for the past 7 years. Temper hope? Shame on you.

Hillary, why don't you join us too? I know some folks would gripe, but why don't we take all that political energy and put it into getting stuff done. Climb aboard, we're taking off... join us now, or later.... but we know the heart of Americans and we know, one day, most of you will join the us.

Congrats to Barack's camaign volunteers for thier success in SC tonight!

"People get ready... there's a train that is comin''' you don't need no ticket, ya just climb on board. All you need is faith, and to hear the engines running..."

David, Santa Rosa, CA (Sent Sunday, January 27, 2008 2:55 AM)

Ex Obama Supporter... I like how you say republicans are voting in a closed democratic primary... rightttt.

kevin (Sent Sunday, January 27, 2008 3:48 AM)

To all you Obama and Hillary people. You are intensely supportive of your candidate which is great, but will you support the other candidate if he or she wins? It's a very important question.

Bajsa, Stockholm, Sweden (Sent Sunday, January 27, 2008 5:12 AM)

Years ago, Bill ran as something of a populist, today he campaigns transformed, in custom-tailored suits, as one of the privileged.
There's a scene in an old British film, "Britannia Hospital" ('82), where the protesters hold signs saying NO MORE PRIVILEGE, protesting the aristocracy, the Ruling Class.
This race is a bit about race, more about privilege, Crony Capitalism, doing something about the corruption of Washington.
Two buttons: NO THIRD TERM and NO MORE PRIVILEGE

fougasseu, MN (Sent Sunday, January 27, 2008 9:00 AM)

i am waiting for the women to hild her breath start turning red and stomping her feet and begin screming mine mine min e

the Clintons are so the past

the democratic establishment cannot ingnore Obama appeal to the new comers of the party and the change he can bring.

The old time dems are going to have to stand up to the Clintons and tell them its time to take a back seat for the good party and for the future of the new democratic party

teddy (Sent Sunday, January 27, 2008 9:35 AM)

Tiffany of Portland, Oregon, you are soooo right. The Obamites are very very venomous with such irrational hatred for the Clintons. (not only on this web site but others as well) I suspect many of them are the far right Repugs. For the Dem ardent Obama supporters, they are modelling the arrogant and distasteful behaviour of the Obama campaign who has publicly and arrogantly scoffed that they had butt kick the Clintons. The peacocks are strutting again. The media esp NBC, CNN, ABC will be crowing and crowning the Prince of Hope the next few days. Looks like the media is dictating this election.

AL Long (Sent Sunday, January 27, 2008 9:39 AM)

George Stephanopoulis has it all over Tim Russert. George had the courage to take Obama to task on Issues on "This Week." My friends and I predicted that "Meet the Press" would be nothing but a ringing endorcement of Obama and sure enough that is what he did. Tim you are looking like a wimp!!! You have lost all integrity as a newsman. When exploring issues, aren't you supposed to give both sides?--or is that a fairytale? ABC it is!

H. Conroy (Sent Sunday, January 27, 2008 12:20 PM)

Let me see if I understand this.

Prior to Iowa, Ms. Ombama says African Americans are yet supporting her husband because they don't yet believe a "black man" can get elected President. If he does well in the primaries prior to SC, then the African American support in SC will follow. In other words, African Americans will support an African American they think can win.The implication: Mr Obama will get African American support because he is African American. NOT RACIAL.

Mr. Clinton says, Mr Obama will receive support from African Americans in SC implying they will do so because he is African American. HOW DARE HE! RACE CARD! THEM DURN CLINTONS!

African Americans overwhelmingly support Mr. Obama in SC. THAT'LL SHOW THEM CLINTONS TO MESS WITH US!

Didn't what both Ms Ombama and Mr. Clinton imply would happen happen?

Dave B Rochester MN (Sent Sunday, January 27, 2008 2:51 PM)

What get's me is that the media are the one's pushing Obama and Clinton down everybody's throat, and we as Americans, free thinking (well use to be)are going along with it. John Edwards had his plans laid out early, and his goal for America, his support for middle class Americans. But there are those who would vote for the ones who took what John had startd and copied it, but had better coverage beause one was black and one a female. When all is said and done if you elect someone other than John Edwards you might see CHANGE , but not the kind you was hoping for.

John King (Sent Sunday, January 27, 2008 4:01 PM)

I WOULD SAY CONGRATULATIONS ARE CERTAINELY IN ORDER FOR SENATOR BARACK OBAMA.I ADMIRE HIM SO MUCH FOR GOING THE DISTANCE THIS FAR.HOPE YOU MAKE IT BUDDY.I'AM PRAYING FOR YOU.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU THE NEXT DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT.BUT THEN SO WOULD A LOT OF US.BLACK AND WHITE.A LOT OF DIFFERENT MINORITIES.THAT MESS HILLARY AND BILL TALKING.JUST A BUNCH OF GARBAGE.BILL STAYED IN THERE FOR EIGHT YRS ALONG WITH FIRST LADY HILLARY,HE KNOWS THE WHITE HOUSE WAS ACTIVE IN DESTROYING HIM THEN. IF YOU GET WHAT I MEAN.WHY.SO WHY PUT OLD GIRL UP AGAINST THAT CROWD. WELL I STILL WANT SENATOR BARACK OBAMA TO BE ELECTED FOR DEMOCRATE PRESIDENT.AFTER ALL IT'S BEEN SAID HE'S THE SECOND COMING.SECOND COMING OF WHAT? ALL THAT ANTI CHRIST TALK. SENATOR BARACK OBAMA WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE WHITE HOUSE. THANKS BLACKBIRD611 MOULTRIE GEORGIA

BLACKBIRD611 (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 11:50 AM)

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