First thoughts: Deadlocked

Posted: Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:16 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Deadlocked: Bloomberg News has the political junkie scoop of the post-Feb. 5 news cycle: that according to an accidental Obama campaign release, the Clinton-Obama match up will end in a virtual delegate draw. "Obama's advisers are predicting victories in 19 of the remaining 27 Democratic primaries and caucuses, with Clinton winning the big states of Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to the scenario attached to a spreadsheet showing the campaign's Super Tuesday delegate breakdown. The analysis envisions an Obama winning streak over the next 12 days. It projects victories in the Louisiana primary and caucuses in Nebraska and Washington state on Feb. 9 and a narrow loss to Clinton on Feb. 10 in Maine. Obama is looking to sweep the Feb. 12 primaries in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., and get victories in Hawaii and Wisconsin a week later." Normally, we'd assume this was an expectations-setting game. And maybe it is. But their analysis seems to be based on the number of working class and/or Hispanic Democrats in various states; check out the states Obama's team believes it will lose: Maine, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia and Kentucky. All of those states have a lot more blue-collar Democrats than white-wine drinking Democrats. So it's a very realistic assessment.

*** Body language: After Tuesday night's amazing tie between Clinton and Obama -- how else do you describe it? -- the two campaigns had divergent day-after responses. The body language of Obama's was that of a front-runner, that of a campaign that feels as if it won something Tuesday. Clinton's campaign body language was of a team not sure what to do next. The announcement of the $5 million personal loan and the lack of announcements of key endorsements in these next round of states just gives an impression of a campaign that's hunkered down. Interestingly, it took Clinton announcing the personal loan to finally convince the chattering class that Obama's got more resources. This has been true for more than a month and yet it's amazing how so few folks realized it. Then again, can you blame them? Who knew the Clintons would be out-raised? So far, by the way, it appears the Clinton announcement of the personal loan is sparking some online fundraising, something the campaign has struggled with

*** Welcome to front-runner status: Speaking of, the burden of expectations is shifting to Obama on a number of levels: money, endorsements, and the upcoming Chesapeake Tuesday contests. And then there’s today’s front-page New York Times piece, which wonders why Obama fell short in California and some other big states on Tuesday -- rather than asking, for example, why the biggest name in the Democratic Party lost at least 13 out of 22 contests on Super Tuesday. The bottom line is that there are a lot of folks wondering why Obama can't close the deal, which is also a sign that many folks are now convinced she can't close the deal without Obama relenting. Does Obama, though, have the same problem? Why can't he win over enough working-class Democrats to get the nomination? He will not get a delegate majority until he cracks this code. His Hispanic problem is largely out of the way. Short of Texas and Puerto Rico, just about every other competitive state will be a showdown for Obama over whether he can win over the beer-drinking Democrats.

*** McCain’s big speech: Forget his September convention acceptance speech, McCain's speech today at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) -- and the reception it gets -- may be more important than any speech he gives all year. Remember that he skipped addressing the group last year, and his name got booed there. McCain is walking a fine line: He’s on the verge of nabbing the GOP nomination, which is usually the time when a nominee-to-be starts shifting his rhetoric to the center. But right now, that's the last thing McCain can do. He's got to reassure folks on the right. But with Clinton and Obama still battling, McCain does have one thing going for him as he tries to placate conservatives: time.

*** What does Romney say? While most of us will be watching the audience response to McCain's CPAC speech, don't forget about Romney. What does he say/do today? Is this really the first major speech of his 2012 campaign for the GOP nod? Does the burden of running as a conservative candidate in 2012 mean he can't get out today since conservatives aren't ready to concede to McCain? This is the line Romney's walking. On one hand, he probably doesn't want to throw good money after bad. On the other, he doesn't want to disappoint anti-McCain conservatives too quickly since he may want to the GOP nominee in 2012. And clearly the party has a pattern of nominating the runner-up.

*** Just asking: Has the Clinton campaign now opened up Chelsea Clinton to more coverage? Is she no longer off-limits? The Politico’s Mike Allen reports today that Chelsea will be campaigning on her mother’s behalf in Nebraska in the next 24 hours. We also read she’s been calling superdelegates. And she even called the members of The View!

*** Preventing a brokered convention: So what's Howard Dean up to? “I think we will have a nominee sometime in the middle of March or April,” Dean told the NY1 cable news channel on Wednesday, per the New York Times. “But if we don’t, then we’re going to have to get the candidates together and make some kind of an arrangement. Because I don’t think we can afford to have a brokered convention; that would not be good news for either party.”

*** On the trail: The Republicans -- most notably McCain -- make their case to the Conservative Political Action Committee, or CPAC, in Washington, D.C. Cheney speaks at 11:00 am ET; Romney at 12:30 pm; McCain takes the stage at 3:00 pm; Paul at 4:30 pm; President Bush speaks tomorrow morning; and Huckabee goes Sunday. On the Dem side, Clinton speaks at a high school in Arlington, VA, while Obama hits Louisiana, Washington, and Nebraska -- three states that hold contests Saturday.

Countdown to Chesapeake Tuesday: 5 days
Countdown to Ohio and Texas: 26 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 271 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 348 days

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OBAMA ISSUES 'SUPER' THREAT TO TOP DEMS
By GEOFF EARLE Post Correspondent

Pow Wow On Democrats

Post columnist Charles Hurt and Post corespondent Geoff Earle discuss the Democratic race for president.
February 7, 2008 -- Barack Obama fired a warning shot over the heads of lawmakers who get to cast crucial votes at the party's convention as uncommitted "superdelegates" - saying they shouldn't override the will of the voters in their states.
Obama said superdelegates "would have to think long and hard about how they approach the nomination when the people they claim to represent have said, 'Obama's our guy.' "
The message: If you're an elected member of Congress, and your district backs Obama, casting a vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton could be bad for your political career.
Obama delivered the message at a Chicago press conference yesterday - after he battled Clinton to a draw in yesterday's Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses, carrying 13 states and barely besting her in the count of pledged delegates.
But when superdelegates who have pledged support for Clinton are counted, she gets the lead.
Pledged delegates have to reflect the will of voters in their states, but superdelegates - who include members of Congress, governors, and various party functionaries - get to vote for whomever they want.
Obama also said there was "a whole dump truck" full of dirt that Republicans could use on Clinton if she becomes the nominee - countering her repeated claim that she has been fully "vetted" whereas he hasn't.
He said Clinton's research operation was "about as good as anybody's," and it hasn't found much dirt on him.
"I assure you that having engaged in a contest against them for the last year, that they've pulled out all the stops. And you know I think what is absolutely true is, whoever the Democratic nominee is, the Republicans will go after them," he said.
"The notion that somehow Senator Clinton is going to be immune from attack or there's not a whole dump truck they can't back up in a match between her and John McCain is just not true," he said.
Clinton, in her own press conference yesterday, said "this is a vigorous two-person contest now," and called on Obama to agree to more debates.
"We're going to be able to showcase our records, our qualifications, the differences, the contrast between us, because voters are really tuning in now," she said.
"If voters start to think about who would be the best president, to be commander-in-chief on Day One, to turn the economy around and who would be the best Democratic nominee to win in November, I am very comfortable with the answers to those questions," she said.
Clinton said there's nothing in her past she has to try to paper over - including the years she represented big corporate clients as a lawyer for the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock, Ark.
Clinton unfailingly touts her time working on behalf of children and providing legal aide, but doesn't talk much about time serving on corporate boards or representing big companies.

Ron, California (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:31 AM)

Can someone please explain what article the NY Times is holding? Did McCain get to them and tell them to sit on this news? Are Rush, Hannity, Beck and the other conservative voices aware of this? How do we get this out to everyone so that they will run the article? I guess this would be another reason for Romney to stay in. If this brings McCain down, Romney would be there to save the party.

John (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:38 AM)

The idea that the DNC would bring the two candidates behind closed doors and come to an "arrangement" makes me a little nervous. I'd rather have the opportunity to attend a brokered convention and see how the chips fall than have anyone disrupt the process and render so many votes moot.

Chris, MI (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:38 AM)

HP Boston (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:40 AM)

Bill Clinton on 12/24/2007

"Let’s think of somebody I really admire, the mayor of New York City, Mike Bloomberg,” [Bill] Clinton said. “I like him; he’s a really good mayor. But if he’s runs for president, he can spend a billion dollars and not miss it. That’s real money to most of us. Under the law, there are no constraints.”

He railed against the Supreme Court for blocking some attempts to limit the influence of money in politics.

“We are very frustrated because we have a Supreme Court that seems determined to say that the wealthier have more right to free speech than the rest of us.”

And he implied that he would not use his own funds to support his wife's candidacy.

“For example, they say you couldn’t stop me from spending all the money I’ve saved over the last five years on Hillary’s campaign if I wanted to, even though **it would clearly violate the spirit of campaign finance reform**,” he said.

Whoops! Early x-mas present that didn't pay off until yesterday for Hillary!

Ron, TX (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:40 AM)

"And then there’s today’s front-page New York Times piece, which wonders why Obama fell short in California and some other big states on Tuesday -- rather than asking, for example, why the biggest name in the Democratic Party lost at least 13 out of 22 contests on Super Tuesday."

Well, considering the NY Times editorial staff is pro-Clinton and that they still employ 90s-era political hacks like Krugman to write hit-pieces on Obama, this article shouldn't be surprising.

Moreover, in spite of Tuesday's victories for Obama--and calling it anything else is a sign of a deluded mind--he's still not the front-runner. Hillary has over 15 years of public name recognition, a 15 year old vicious, crafty political machine, and--despite what the "all sides are equally valid" pundits like Abrams might say or want--tons of positive press (until very recently--within the last two weeks or so--every one of Clinton's campaign staff and PR folks have been given a complete pass when they lie, distort, or otherwise attempt to divide Americans). At best, Obama and Hillary are close, with Obama the maringal underdog.

Justin, Gainesville, FL (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:44 AM)

oh my what a bunch of uppity nonsense this is. The beer drinking democrats???????? are you kidding me. Barack Obama is being painted to be a high falootin wine drinking democrat. Aloof and condescending to all of the those poor trash folks he claims to be the champion of. This is disgusting. The media's reporting, the entire way this is being handled is disgusting. Hillary Clinton gets painted as underhanded and malicicous, but if you look closely, its this Obama campaign that is underhanded, in there high falootin way. Im a 38 year old college graduate with a good paying job. We dont live in a trailer, and i can drink an expensive bottle of wine and can drink a coors light and I voted for Hillary Clinton. so go figure, How can the obama campaign learn to brainwash me? One thing I wont drink is kool aid.

Lynette,NYC (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:46 AM)

With The Clinton's reputation for not caring about union issues and the anti-union people on The Clinton's team, one has to wonder what would make union people want to vote for The Clinton's in the first place. Their union record is pretty lame. The only time you hear of The Clinton's embracing unions is when they nned their endorsements or their cash.

With all the money Bill made from his business deals in Russia and all the money he gets from speeches and working for companies that are untrustworthy, The Clinton's should be flush with cash, so $5 million is just a drop in the bucket to them. If they need to make more money, they can go out and find some more Chinese dishwashers to con into turning over their hard earned money to or get Norman Hsu and Marcellio Celis out of jail to resume fundraising.

Short of Texas and Puerto Rico, just about every other competitive state will be a showdown for Obama over whether he can win over the beer-drinking Democrats.

That beer will get a lot more expensive for drinkers if The Clinton's get nominated....

John McCain will have to give a speech that will make the Martin Luther King "I have a dream" speech look like a speech you give in a bar full of drunks to. He calls himself a maverick, but he may be a little too much Maverick for some folks. People are going to remember the McCain/Kennedy bill for a long time down on the border states. At least the states are doing something about the illegals. I hope Texas starts doing the same thing Oklahoma did in driving out it's illegal population.

Howard Dean wants a meeting to avoid a brokered convention? I can just see The Clinton's setting up the details for that meeting. They will treat Obama as the little boy in the corner while they deal with his daddy.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:47 AM)

The Clintons still remain the front runner. They have the political machine and like Romney the personal money to attempt to "buy" the White House.

However, America needs to speak clearly and move forward not behind to the brokered dealings of politics as usual.

I am a white female and I consider myself middle class-- I work as an admin assistant and I have a 2 year degree. I am voting for Obama and will not vote for Hillary and Bill even if they win the nomination. I do believe that the time has come for Obama and indeed our country.

Victoria (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:48 AM)

Hispanic's will have a big say/influence come November as record numbers voted in California I believe 29% of Democrats, 12% in Florida as well as New York, Connecticut and upcoming Texas. Angry Latinos will be flooding the polls and voting and not Republican because of their xenophobia, scape-goating, and pandering to the rascist hate mongers out their. All this talk about Hillary not able to win in November is self-defeating and not based on any facts.

juan,ft lauderdale,fl (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:48 AM)

j fl (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:52 AM)

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:54 AM)

If Team Clinton is lobbying The View, then the campaign has gone completely off the rails. Besides, I thought Clinton had the uneducated stay at home housewife vote wrapped up?

Robert L, WV (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:56 AM)

I just made my first political campaign contribution .....to Hillary.

ALL HILLARY SUPPORTERS WAKE UP AND CONTRIBUTE SOME MONEY ... OR ELSE YOU CAN'T COMPLAIN IF SHE LOSES!!!

pat huntington ny (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:56 AM)

Nice news scoop First Read on the analysis prediction. In my amateur predictions, if Obama were to win the nomination, he would win the general election 352/186 electoral votesover McCain. HRC just barely wins 295/243 over McCain. You simply cannot ignore the overwhelming number of voters these 2 have attracted so far. The whole DEM party is nearly doubling the vote count of the GOP. I do not see that many people swinging back during the general election.

I hope she falters and does not win in either Ohio or Texas, and Obama starts to wrap this up after those 2 states. I also hope Obama's coattails are long, and we get a substantial DEM increase in Congress.

Chuck, NY (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:57 AM)

well my biggest thought, is if change is what it's all about , then why would the established people of washington be supporting obama?? if kennedy , kerry et: all; seem to be trying to influnce the nominnation process? would it not be smart to assume that would if the time comes of a obama administration would he surly not have to repay all these favors back?? so is he going to change the old guard? please!!

j (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:57 AM)

Those white wine sipping, guilt ridden upper income dems and blacks. What an interesting coalition.

Here's what I don't get. why don't those guilt ridden whites go spend their money and let the minorities move into their little enclaves? Hmmm?

Jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:57 AM)

There was no slowing of the "fervor". Time and early voting appear to make somewhat muted. 26 days is a lot of time for more continous "fervor". Excitement.
Hillary's excitement level Tops Out. Barack's excitement zooms on.
An Edwards endorsement would help and seems natural for Barack. Do you have anything new to report if he will endorse.
Also, Has there already been early voting in Texas,Ohio,and Penn?

Lloyd Brown, Columbia,SC (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:00 AM)

Several bloggers wrote...

Just checked Barack's schedule Patti. Events already planned include Sasha, Malia (ballet, piano recital, PTA meeting, Costco visit with Michelle and a grueling evening paying the bills (Michelle hates balancing the checkbook). I have to juggle this with his planned trip to Hawaii where Perez Hilton's paparazzi are waiting to snap pictures. The best I can do, is perhaps mid-summer in Denver. How does that look for you? You take care and best wishes.

Posted By: Chris | February 07, 2008 at 09:43 AM

LOL

Poor Management and Poor Judgement. Sorry but these are not qualities I want to see in our next President. She has lost my vote and a lot of my friends when we heard about this. How can she run our country and she can not even manage her employees and campaign finances correctly. So we have to pay her back for her poor judgement, interesting.... Ben, shame on you trying to spin her huge weakness as a leader.

Posted By: Nancy | February 07, 2008 at 09:41 AM

I agree

Jose' (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:00 AM)

I have to tell you straight up that your 'spin' is absolutely off the wall.
You say NOTHING about the fact that Obama can't win closed primaries or caucuses. (Contests where Democratic voters only participate.) Most of the primaries and caucuses he's won have been fueled with an independent voter block. Also, part of the reason why Hillary hasn't finished him off yet, is the spin from media pundits like yourselves who slant the coverage in Obama's favor, and print (or say) things that aren't necessarily true.
Why didn't Obama win Massachusetts after Ted Kennedy's and John Kerry's endorsements? (...and why don't you question THAT?)I don't care that she was leading before then. THAT endorsement should have clinched it for Obama...BUT IT DIDNT. Why not?
And what about California? Why didn't Teddy's influence along with Maria Shriver's endorsement and that of the whole Hollywood crowd push Obama over the top? How come First Read doesn't question that?
Let's not forget Arizone and Governor Napolitano's endorsement of Obama...one that was done more than two weeks before suoer Tuesday. Why didn't THAT spark an Obama win in Arizona?
Gee, that's THREE (3) States where Hillary DEFEATED Obama endorsements from 'name-brand' political types. Pretty news-worthy, huh?
But if you kept your eyes on First Read, you'd never even know it happened!
You have an agenda. I haven't quite figured out whether it's to push Obama, or fracture The Democratic Party so that McCain will win in November.
But, it's definitely one or the other.
Either way, there's a number of us out here who are SICK OF YOUR LIES AND SPIN. You have become a fraudulent source of nothing more than half truths, omitted facts, spin, and YELLOW JOURNALISM. Hope this really gets under your skin, because I now regard you as nothing more than harlets who want to get ahead in your industry at the expense of the truth.
I admonish First Read to stop with the yellow journalism and start covering this campaign without an Obama spin to it. I'm sure that's asking a lot since Mathews probably has some input as to whether or not you keep your jobs.
Are you COWARDS? Is there a yellow streak that goes up and down your backs, to match the color of your journalism?
Why don't you show some BALLS guys,and start telling the truth!

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:01 AM)

ASK YOUR SELF THIS QUESTION. WHY DOES SENATOR OBAMA "REFUSE" TO HAVE ANY FURTHER ONE ON ONE DEBATES WITH SENATOR CLINTON ? I WILL NOT ANSWER IT FOR YOU, BECAUSE I THINK YOU KNOW.

Paul Gunter, Columbus, Oh. (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:03 AM)

Florida will break the deadlock. Hillary won and the majority of delegates will go to her, which will put her over the top.Dems were promised here that we would get our delegates counted, at some point. Our votes will be counted. We have been punished enough.

Glen, Tallahassee (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:04 AM)

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

Barack Obama will NEVER be either the front runner or the establishment candidate. Millions of Americans of EVERY stripe have worked their butts off to get him to where he is. On the other side? $100 million of lobbyist money and the ENTIRE establishment of the Democratic party until Teddy Kennedy jumped ship.

Mainstream media: you're such a disappointment. Just because he has momentum doesn't mean he's not still the underdog.

GET IT RIGHT.

California Indy (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:04 AM)

I dont think Obama would take second place even though it would be smartest thing for him but his pride is to big and i think his plans are pretty set. For the party would be super, cause after the vp he could walk into pres. we would have 16 yrs sewn up but he is into himself to much . wont happen.His agenda is not party people.

EP-NY (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:05 AM)

California Indy (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:06 AM)

Florida and Michigan should be allowed to vote again - but at the end. It wasn't fair to the people to do this because the elected officials were jerks. If there is still a tie - then they should go by the popular vote. Fair is fair - let the people decide - not the party officials.

BionicWoman, Tucson, AZ (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:06 AM)

I just pledged another 500 to HIllary. She has paid her dues in life and deserves the presidency. Obama has not!!!

JeanneGA (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:08 AM)

Well, I'm voting for Obama in Maine on February 10th and skipping the rally with Bill tonight (although it kills me. I like Bill.) I fit the profile of a Hillary voter, but, like the lady in New Hampshire who triggered Hillary's tears, who ultimately voted for Barack, I want Obama to be the next President.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:08 AM)

Here comes the PITY PARTY again. Oh, poor me, I don't have enough money because the drug and oil companies can't give me any more. Please feel sorry for me and send me some of your Social Security check.

These people have NO CONSCIENCE. And their pity play will work again. What a joke.

Scott (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:08 AM)

When are we going to stop this BS about Obama being the front-runner? Is there any evidence that Hillary did, in fact, loan herself $5 M or that her staffers aren't being paid? Why is the media simply lapping it up? Will they just automatically believe anything they say w/o any proof?

Opensecrets.org, as well as cnn.com, state absolutely that the Clintons have more than $30M in cash on hand! If they have $30M cash on hand, why would people need to go w/o pay? Why would Hillary need to loan herself $5M? They're playing the expectations game -- sandbagging as they did in NH and then on Super Tuesday and the media, lacking the ability (apparently) to think or ask any sort of probing questions, is just lapping it up!

Do your job, media? Ask some questions? Your job is not simply to write whatever the Clinton BS machine tells you!

chuck (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:09 AM)

How did Billary run out of money? I thought they were the money machine. It must have been bad money management. They will have to explain in detail how they will cut the deficit.

Ann J Utica NY (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:10 AM)

Jerry -- we don't send the "minorities" to "enclaves" b/c, unlike you apparently, we don't believe in segregation. I'm amazed that there are those who think that people like you disappeared when the Civil Rights Act was passed!

chuck (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:11 AM)

If Sen. Clinton believes in her campaign why would she "loan" herself the money and not give it outright? Will she pay herself back from the money she collects as the campaign goes forward?

Lynette, Bloomington, IL. (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:12 AM)

j fl,
So Florida will decide in PRECISELY the way it decided to put George Bush in the White House? I'm sure you were one of the people up in arms about that (as we all should have been). For you to suggest that it happens again is hypocritical in the worst way.

Scott (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:13 AM)

You have to love it. Who really imagined a year ago people would be wondering why Obama couldn't win Super Tuesday by more than four delegates? Or for that matter, two weeks ago?

Collectively, we seem to have some short memories.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:54 AM)

One has to wonder too Paul....
If she had only answered that question about drivers licenses for illegals correctly the first time.....

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:13 AM)

An accidental press release - give us all a break.

Yesterday it was reported that during a recent news cycle that Obama got 81% positive reports -
and Hillary Clinton, just 51%.

And the fat drunk Ted Kennedy bounce, never happened and you don't see any stories about that! Have a safe trip back to the sixties Ted, right were you belong!

So, if you thought that the media was maybe giving Obama a pass - no maybe, a definite yes!

And through all of this Hillary Clinton is still the leader in delegates despite the number that MSNBC shows you with the big Obama smiley face.

Clinton is fighting and winning despite less funds and a biased press. Don't believe the above percentages, go look it up!

Hillary Clinton 2008!

Fred C Dobbs Sierra Madre, CA (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:15 AM)

I just made my first political campaign contribution .....to Hillary.

ALL HILLARY SUPPORTERS WAKE UP AND CONTRIBUTE SOME MONEY ... OR ELSE YOU CAN'T COMPLAIN IF SHE LOSES!!!

pat huntington ny (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:56 AM)

Sending them $5 or $10 bucks is not the answer....

Sell your houses, cars and personal items....

cash in those stocks and bonds......

cash in those insurance policies.......

The Clinton's neeeeeeeedddddd youuuuuuuuuu....

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:19 AM)

clinton will pick up Maryland and people forget about the florida delegates too. She won, and there is talk that these delegates will be divided accordingly, which puts her on top.Howard Dean does not want to wait until the convention to deal with this problem. Again, florida will decide.
j fl
----------------------------------------------------

Another wishful thinking from Billary supporters; the last time I checked Clinton was supposed to deliver a knock out punch to Obama in Tsunami Tuesday. What happen to Clinton juggernaut? This remind me of a novel entitle “How the mighty are falling” .

On another note, how could Hillary Clinton blew $110 millions in a year? Obviously, she is not fiscally responsible and I don’t think she can lead our country. She will be more wasteful if she becomes President.

Also, I had Mark Penn got paid $4.5 million dollars last quarter. Wow!!!

Bee (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:19 AM)

The Obama people are in for a fight. Senator Clinton has the support of people with brains. the support of the majority, WOMEN.

65% of women vote

62% of men vote

82.5 million mothers

152 million women

148 million men

It is time to take our votes to the best candidate for president.
It is time to donate to Hillary's campaign today. I have, as I do every month, even if only $10, send it!
HP Boston (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:40 AM)

___________________________

So are you saying the people with brains (WOMEN) are the least educated because these are the ones who appears to be voting for Clinton.....

HillaryClintonSupporter (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:22 AM)

Jerry just so you know I am not guilt ridden about race, I just don't really care one way or another. I am voting for Obama because I think he is the best canidate, just like millions of other people are. Sorry to blow your idea it has to do with anything other then free will and choice.

Vincent in KC (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:23 AM)

Though it is likely that Hillary will do better amongst Latinos in Texas, the media is making a mistake of comparing Latinos in California to those in the rest of the country.

Barack won both Illinois and Colorado by very wide margins. Both states have sizeable Latino populations. Surely Latino support for Barack was greater in those two states than it was in California.

Enrique, Chicago (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:23 AM)

CNN shows Hillary ahead in the delegate count, MSNBC shows Obama with the lead. Wishfull thinking on the part of the anti Clinton folk at MSNBC? or just the usual bias.

Patric Casey. Salt Lake City, Ut (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:23 AM)

I think the Obama campaign has a lot of "fevor" considering they have raised over $7 MM in 24 hours. That is incredible and it says so much about how much support people have in him. I want change and I fully support Obama. I have never contributed money before to a campaign and I'm going to start volunteering today which I think says so much.

A snapshot of myself - a married professional woman (and new mom) in my mid 30's. My vote is for Obama and it will never be for Clinton. I like many I know will vote Republican before voting the Clintons back into office.

But I'm not voting for Obama because I'm against the Clinton machine. He inspires me. He has great ideas. He is going to bring our nation together. When I look at my new daughter, I realize this is the president we need in office. Obama 08'

Erin, Chicago, IL. (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:24 AM)

HillaryClintonSupporter (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:27 AM)

'...She lost the January cash war. Money chases
momentum, so Obama crushing’s 2-to-1 fundraising
victory last month is revealing...'

$32K to $14K

Wonder why Hillary 'loaned' herself $5 Million ?

From Politico.com:

'...Five reasons Hillary should be worried

By: Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen
Feb 6, 2008 02:31 PM EST

Hillary Clinton survived a Super Tuesday scare. But
there are five big reasons the former first lady
should be spooked by the current trajectory of the
campaign.

Longtime Clinton friends say she recognizes the peril
in careening between near-death primary night
experiences and small-bore victories.

Although the friends did not have details, they
believe she may go ahead with the campaign shake-up
she had been planning just before her surprise victory in New Hampshire.

Her team is girding for trench warfare, telling
reporters that the nomination will not be decided
until at least the Pennsylvania primary on April 22,
if then.

Clinton aides told reporters on a conference call
today that the Democratic Party’s complex delegate
allocation rules mean that neither candidate is likely to take a sizable lead in the foreseeable future.

While Clinton’s campaign gloated about having the most total delegates for the cycle so far, her staff
nevertheless recognizes that Super Tuesday was no
triumph. Here’s why:

1. She lost the delegate derby. Pure and simple, this
is a war to win delegates, one that might not be
decided until this summer’s Democratic convention.

And when the smoke cleared this morning, it appeared
that Barack Obama had ended up with slightly more
delegates in the 22 states.

Obama’s campaign says the senator finished ahead by 14 delegates.

With results still coming in, Clinton’s campaign says
the candidates finished within five or six delegates
of each other. Either way, Super Tuesday was
essentially a draw.

Clinton may still hold the edge overall, but Obama is
closing in rapidly.

2. She essentially tied Obama in the popular vote.
Each won just over 7.3 million votes, a level of
parity that was unthinkable as recently as a few weeks ago.

At the time, national polls showed Clinton with a
commanding lead — in some cases, by 10 points or more. That dominance is now gone.

One reason is that polls and primary results reveal
that the more voters get to know Obama, the more they
seem to like him.

This is especially troubling for Clinton since the
schedule slows dramatically now and a full month will
pass before the next big-state showdown.

All of this allows candidates ample time to introduce
themselves to voters in each state — which plays to
Obama’s core strengths.

3. She lost more states. Obama carried 14 states, six
more than Clinton, and showed appeal in every
geographical region.

His win in bellwether Missouri was impressive by
nearly every measure, marked by victories among men
and women, secular and churchgoing voters, and urban
and suburban voters.

4. She lost the January cash war. Money chases
momentum, so Obama crushing’s 2-to-1 fundraising
victory last month is revealing.

He raised more than $31 million; Clinton raised less
than $14 million. The implication is hard to ignore:
Democratic activists and donors are flocking to Obama
at a pace that could have a profound effect on the
race going forward.

5. The calendar is her enemy. Now that more than half
the states have weighed in, there is a fairly
predictable formula for determining who is most likely to win the upcoming contests.

In caucus states, Obama’s organizational strength
shines: He has won seven of eight. Up next are three
more caucus states, Washington, Nebraska and Maine.

Obama also runs tremendously well in states with large African-American populations, another promising sign since next Tuesday’s three primaries are in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia — all of which have significant percentages of black voters.

Then comes another caucus state, Hawaii, where Obama
is viewed as a native son.

The bottom line is that it figures to be another month before Clinton hits a stretch of states — places like Ohio and Pennsylvania — where she will be strongly favored to win.

So it couldn’t be any clearer as to why the supposedly inevitable candidacy is anything but — even when she’s supposedly winning...'

Sierra, SF (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:28 AM)

I have to ask you this question Victoria; if Hillary is the nominee are you prepared to vote for John McCain?
Want to know why I ask this?
Because, if Obama is the Democratic nominee I am fully prepared to bolt the party, and vote for McCain.
He is far more qualified than Obama.
You seem to think that those of us who support Hillary are just going to get in line like lemmings and automatically give our votes to Obama.
In fact, Obama himself said as much just the other day.
You and he better think again, because you are both dead wrong.
As a veteran, a father, a homeowner , and tax payer I would have to consider John McCain as a viable alternative to an inexperienced, wet behind the ears, 'used car salesman' like Obama.
There are a lot of other people out there like myself who will do the same thing, and it will cost our party the Presidency.
I don't care.
I'll vote for Hillary.
But, not for Obama.
I don't want a President who speaks as if he's preaching from the pulpit, or trying hard to sell me a used car. That's what Obama reminds me of.

Potential "Democrats for McCain" Chairperson (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:28 AM)

Jerry's statements and posts to this website are totally inappropriate...they are racist, sexist, and just plain tastless...just like he is!

Pat huntington ny (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:28 AM)

Lets watch carefully over the next month as Team Clinton starts to pull out all stops to seat delegates in Florida and Michigan that now may be more critical then ever, especially given her large wins in those states. They will execute any and all strategies to seat those delegations through surrogates and will deny that they ever agreed to prior rules. Expect to hear that "we just want the votes to count". That is until it comes to the super delegates. You won't hear them saying "they just want the votes" to count in those states where Obama won by large majorities, but super delegates eager for a spot at the political trough of the Clinton administration will ignore the votes of people in these states and support HRC. In short, this is the type of bruising, no holds barred stuff Team Clinton excels in and I don't think Obama will see what truck hit him.

Rick Johnson, Dallas,TX (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:29 AM)

j - florida delegates won't count. you can't change the rules after the fact. the uproar would be disastrous for the dems if that happened. it would fracture or party in two. it would be the Obama democrats (true left leaning politics) over clintons democrats (the dems that have acted more like republicans the last 10 years).

If Clinton wins, I guarantee on "Day One" they'll be more concerned about hooking up their buddies (just like G.W. did) than getting the country in order. Is that the leadership we want on day one?

bryan, chicago (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:30 AM)

Jerry, I fit the profile of a Hillary supporter perfectly, including having a lower income, except I have a college education. What does that tell you?
I'll spell it out. The ability to think trumps identity in politics. Smarter people are for Obama.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 10:31 AM)

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