First thoughts: Wright reappears

Posted: Friday, April 25, 2008 9:17 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Wright reappears…: Obama had himself a bad day yesterday, and he wasn’t even on the campaign trail. Thanks to the advanced excerpts of a Rev. Jeremiah Wright interview on PBS (which airs tonight at 9:00 pm ET), as well as Wright's dismissal of Obama's criticism of him as just politics, this wasn't something the Obama campaign could have been pleased with. That said, if the Moyers interview -- which will likely only be watched by Obama's PBS-watching base, but will also be picked up by others -- ends up humanizing Wright, it could be helpful in the long term. But short term, his appearance wasn’t helpful in a week the Clinton campaign is ramping up its argument that Obama isn’t electable.

VIDEO: NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports Sen. Barack Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, says controversial statements from his sermons were taken out of context.

*** … And so does Bill: But will Bill Clinton -- and the comments he made earlier this week about Obama playing the race card -- overshadow Wright today? It might happen, thanks to these comments by Rep. Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking African American in Congress. “In an interview with The New York Times late Thursday, Mr. Clyburn said Mr. Clinton’s conduct in this campaign had caused what might be an irreparable breach between Mr. Clinton and an African-American constituency that once revered him. ‘When he was going through his impeachment problems, it was the black community that bellied up to the bar,’ Mr. Clyburn said. ‘I think black folks feel strongly that that this is a strange way for President Clinton to show his appreciation.’” More: “Clyburn added that there appeared to be an almost ‘unanimous’ view among African-Americans that Mr. and Mrs. Clinton were ‘committed to doing everything they possibly can to damage Obama to a point that he could never win.’” Clyburn's the first major Dem leader to give voice to the speculation that Clinton is staying in to prepare for 2012. By the way, Clyburn is still officially uncommitted but given the opinions he's expressing, is he really?

*** The CW is now set: Two new Indiana polls are out that show the race there to be as close as we have expected it to be. Per a South Bend Tribune/Research 2000 poll (conducted April 21 to April 24), it’s Obama 48%, Clinton 47%. And an Indy Star/WTHR poll -- conducted (April 20 to April 23) by Ann Selzer, who famously got Iowa right -- has it Obama 41%, Clinton 38%. The biggest surprise in the Selzer survey is Obama's strength against McCain -- he leads him in Indi-freaking-ana! Clinton's basically even with McCain. Is the GOP brand in THAT bad of shape in reliably red Indiana? According to these and other polls, this race doesn’t look like Ohio or Pennsylvania at all, where Clinton had significant leads two weeks out. Rather, it looks like a jump ball. Meanwhile, the Washington Post cements the CW about North Carolina: To change the race, Clinton needs to upset Obama here, or get awfully close to it. "North Carolina, with its large African American population, has long been seen as a firewall for Obama after contests in Ohio, Pennsylvania and elsewhere that favored Clinton. A win here and in Indiana, which also votes May 6, could cement his status as the front-runner.”

VIDEO: Chuck Todd talks about the potential for a general election fight in Indiana and Majority Leader Harry Reid's assertion that he may call on superdelegates to pledge their support, soon.

*** Track the ad spending: What's going on with Clinton's money? According to various sources, here's what we know right now regarding TV ad buys: Obama is up in Indiana, North Carolina, Oregon, and now Kentucky. Clinton is on par with Obama in Indiana and has a little less money on the air than Obama in the Tar Heel State. This will be a good way to find out just how much of Clinton's initial $10 million windfall is useful in the primary. Currently she's not up in any states beyond IN and NC, but $10 million is more than enough for those two states. So watch the buys closely in these two states plus Kentucky, West Virginia, and Oregon to see how deep the Clinton campaign’s resources are.

*** Jumping ship? This piece by Tom Edsall in the Huffington Post is bound to be a topic of discussion today: “In a blink of an eye, the media has jumped ship from the Obama campaign and become a crucial Clinton ally, pressing just the message -- that Obama is a likely loser in the general election -- that Hillary and her allies have been promoting for the past six weeks… For Hillary, the shift is a potential lifesaver as she struggles to keep her head above water; without it, she would, metaphorically, drown.” The media’s constant refrain, Edsall’s piece points out, is that exit polls show Obama faring poorly with working-class voters, and that could doom him in the fall. But as one of us wrote yesterday, has this exit-poll analysis gone a little too far? After all, when McCain was losing evangelicals, weekly church-goers, and Republicans without college degrees -- even after the he became the presumptive GOP nominee -- no one was declaring that he’d have a huge problem with these folks in the fall. Can exit polls in a primary race tell us as much about the general election as the chattering class is claiming when you’re dealing with different candidates and different voters?

*** What are the supers thinking? While the focus after Pennsylvania is all on Obama, Elizabeth Drew has a piece in the Politico reminding us all the flaws that Hillary would bring to the table in a general election -- flaws that the superdelegates aren’t forgetting. Clinton, she writes, still hasn't answered the question marks over her head: Can she be a helpful leader of the Democratic Party? Can she have a better track record at building the party than her husband did? Right now, she doesn't have to answer those questions because she's the challenger; it's Obama's burden. But the undecided superdelegates are remembering the original reasons they didn't rush to her side in the first place. Ultimately, if she's to convince the supers to deny Obama the nomination, she needs to answer the concerns Dems originally had with her.

*** What will it take? Yesterday, Obama picked up Oregon Rep. David Wu, and has rolled out three superdelegates to Clinton’s one despite Clinton’s Pennsylvania primary victory. Clinton very nearly reached that 10-point mark in Pennsylvania, and superdelegates don’t yet appear to be moved. Clinton leads in the superdelegate count 263-240, the closest the count has been. Obama leads overall: 1,731-1,597. In the pledged count, Obama is up 1,491-1,334. There are 292 superdelegates still to be had (229 of those are named; there are 63 vacancies/add-ons).

*** GOP targets Obama: The LA Times runs a piece on the GOP ramping up its attacks -- on TV and radio -- against Obama. Once again, the CW has been overturned: A year ago, the assumption was the Democratic nominee was going to have the time and resources to define the GOP nominee. Well, it appears the Republican Party is getting the head start on defining Obama, thanks to the protracted race. In fact, it couldn't have worked out better -- as Clinton's attacks on Obama are helping to reinforce the GOP attacks. The Republican Party can afford to ignore Clinton for now because 1) they don't believe she'll be the nominee and 2) they've spent 16 years defining her to swing voters.

*** On the trail: Clinton begins her day in Jacksonville, NC and then heads to Indiana, where she stumps in Bloomington, Gary, and East Chicago; McCain is in Little Rock, AR, where he visits and holds a media avail at Arkansas Baptist College and then goes to Oklahoma City; and Obama, in Indiana, holds a rally in Bloomington (about an hour before Clinton’s event there) and a town hall in Kokomo. Also, Bill Clinton is in Oregon, and Chelsea Clinton and Michelle Obama are in Indiana.

Countdown to North Carolina, Indiana: 11 days
Countdown to West Virginia: 18 days
Countdown to Kentucky and Oregon: 25 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 193 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 270 days

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Comments

How could anyone avoid associating with unsavory characters, if they have to deal with politicians every day?

Why is it that every time we get a great leader, who really cares about our welfare, they are rendered ineffective, by slander, or assassinated? I believe if Jesus Christ, himself, ran for president, the opposition would slam him for associating with unsavory characters, and insinuate he must be Muslim, due to his mid-eastern heritage. Oh, and wasn't there some scandal concerning his conception? Turning water into wine - surefire sign he must be an alcoholic. Also he keeps turning the other cheek, and won't fight dirty. He's a real wimp!!

TLA (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 9:57 AM)

OBAMA STARTED THE NEGATIVITY - How do you allow people to accuse Bill and Hillary of racism? That's a pretty stupid comment.

Donny, South Carolina (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 9:58 AM)

Why isn't it a good time for Rev. Wright? So you say. If the media would spend as much time printing what Bill and Hillary have done as they do trying to convince me the Barack is losing, I wouldn't know what to think. What about the priests that molested young boys? What about Rev. Falwell? What about Rev. Hagee? Oh no, just what Rev. Wright said. And guess what? It was the truth. And that is one thing this media does not know too much about, not just MSNBC, all of it. Tune in tomorrow for some more soap opera I know you won't print this

An old white woman Shawnee, Oh (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 9:58 AM)

I totally agree with the Media jumping ship on Obama. I stopped watching it last night. I do not know why the media cannot be fair and show the people both sides of this race. I do mean the negatives on both sides. Hillary has a court date today Paul vs. Clinton... Nothing from the media. Clinton and Rev. Wright. Nothing from the media. Clinton and no label pin, again nothing from the media. We trust you to do your job and I honestly think in a way the media actually runs the country. what they want we get. Shame.

becky (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 9:59 AM)

You know, through ALL OF THIS... I NEVER HEARD 1 APPOLOGY to the AMERICAN PEOPLE !

NOT ONE! Yet, Sen. Clinton has offered several for statements that were not even close to as divisive as Rev. Wright!!

I believe the American people deserve WAY BETTER then Sen. Obama !! BIGTIME

Not One Appology Given! (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 9:59 AM)

Joe Scarborough & Pat Buchanan just love to see and hear when Rev. Wright talks, becasue it reminds them of thier racist revrends they have in the South. The Media is making this interview a big issue as if Obama were the one being interviewed. Obama shouldn't have to comment on this interview, Because every politician says what the people want to hear.

Look at the LOSER we have in the White House now, he feed the Media a BIG LIE (WMD's in Iraq & Connection to Al Qaida) and the Media fell for it.

boogeyman, mamaroneck, ny (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:00 AM)

Tom Edsall's comments are right on. Chris Matthews in particular has been shameless in the manner in which he is prasining and pushing Hillary because she won his home-State (PA)even though not by the 15% - 20% as was originally predicted. Matthews needs to quit his job at MSNBC and just go on the road for Hillary and let her pay him (if she has the money) for what he is doing anyway, campaigning for her at the expense of his network, MSNBC.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:00 AM)

boogeyman, mamaroneck, ny (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:00 AM)

When Bush was running there were reports about his abuse of drugs and alcohal that showed significant, long term dependency. There were stories about his military service, being AWOL, etc. There were stories about his prior and binding oath to a hyper-secret, non-orthodox-religous group- Skull & Crossbones. The last 8 years have shown these stories as outrageous AND TRUE, tho they got little traction in media during the primaries. Now, I read that Hillary is a member of a group that considers themselves the "elite" & maybe infallible, chosen of God.
http://samsedershow.com/node/2731
and
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4986046
Yikes!
Let's please take a long, deep look into Hillary's theology and agenda before choosing her to run for the highest position in the land.

Terri Georgulas, Austin, TX (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:01 AM)

Obama never attacked Hillary, she destroyed herself. I can't believe there was ever a time I admired that woman. I remember the first Democratic debate, how she looked like she was actually listening to the other candidates and I thought, "here is a new kind of President or at least a potential kingmaker. Maybe she was the power behind Bill, after all." Turns out she's a kingmaker, alright, she's helping McCain right into the Presidency. And the irony is, she could have won the Presidency if she had stayed positive, but she didn't, and she blew it.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:01 AM)

Cindy Lou, TX (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 9:38 AM)

And this is tame compared to the 1800's and early 1900's. But, then the speed of communication has changed. It really is the only arena that you get to slander and libel without fear of a fine or jail time (it is called character assassination). I am sure that will change.

OBwan, IN (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:01 AM)

I don't think the jumping ship will be permanent...its one thing to be down on Obama, it lasts only as long as it takes to consider the alternative(s). Then its back to Obama.

Although it eats up some of those column inches huh?

You know, many are saying its a win for the media when it (the race) goes on, so they tend to jump on whoever they need to, to try and keep the race going. Let's see, who else had that strategy. I'll give you a hint. Initial R.L. Anyone??

Lisa, New Britain, CT CT for Obama (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:01 AM)

IN THE PROGRAM THE VIEW OBAMA SAID HE WOULD HAD LEFT THE CHURCH HAD REVEREND WRIGHT NOT RETIRED. GUESS WHAT? WRIGHT IS NOT RETIRED. HE HAS BEEN IMPULSED INTO THE NATIONAL POLITICAL HEMISPHIRE AND HE IS RELISHING EVERY SINGLE BIT OF IT. WRITE THIS DOWN.
REV.WRIGHT WILL:
1- HE WILL WRITE A BOOK.
2- HE WILL BE GIVING NATIONAL SPEECHES.
3- HE WILL CHARGE FOR THOSE NATIONAL SPEECHES.
4- HE WILL APPEAR IN MORE COMMENTARY PROGRAMS.
5- DONT BE SURPRICE IF WRIGHT HIMSELF RUNS FOR SENATOR.
6- OBAMA WILL NOT DISASSOCIATE HIMSELF FROM WRIGHT.

WHY? WRIGHT KNOWS TOO MUCH

WHAT REALLY IS DISTURBING IS THAT OBAMA HAS HAILED THIS GUY TO SUCH A HIGH INFLUENCE IN HIS LIFE. HE HAS WRITEN ABOUT HIM, CONSIDERED HIM HIS MENTOR/GODFATHER, FRIEND AND INSPIRATION AND WRIGHT IS NOT IN ANY WAY OUTSTANDING BUT A DEEPLY EGOTISTICAL, SELF-RIGHTIOUS MAN

Leanza Cornett (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:02 AM)

Latino-Chicago...You are absolutely clueless, and a bigot i might add. What do you know about what the AA people what...who made you a spoke person. You are in the minority and what happened to you to make you thank you are better than anybody esle. Vote for who you want...but don't speak for me...You aren't smart enough to do that and it shows. Then you say play it safe and vote for Hillary...what a Dummy..Hillary talks about bringing our troops out of Iraq and in the same breath talk about nuking Iran. Confused people like you need to just set in your self house and be quiet. YOU have lose your way...Latino boy; that thinks he's white. GET a clue..In case you didn't know Hillary is paying millions as will for her campaign ..it's not Barack's fault that she doesn't have the same people support as him. YOU need to just be quiet because your ignorance speaks loudly and no one cares about what people like you think.

KW,Philadelphia,PA (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:02 AM)

Dear First Read, I was sent this photo, could your crack staff verify it's authenticity? Throws a new wrinkle in the J. Wright-horrible-human-being story. Thanks, Bryn
http://www.geekarmy.com/geeks/Jeremiah-Wright-Operates-on-Lyndon-Johnson.html

Bryn R., Sandpoint, ID (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:02 AM)

Re: Wright:

WWHHYY???

james indianapolis, in (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:02 AM)

Top Ten Signs Hillary Clinton Is Exhausted
Top Ten from Letterman last night

10-Spends most of her time campaigning in Sleepy's mattress stores

9-Barely has enough energy to lie about battling Bosnian snipers

8- Last night, spent 2 hours debating a coat rack

7- Agreed not to dispute Florida and Michigan delegates in exchange for a nap

6- Announced a new tax break for kitties

5- Greeted Philadelphia voters with, "It's great to be back in Tacoma!"

4- She's mismatching her pantsuits -- man, she must be exhausted!

3- When asked how she'd fight terrorism, she said two words: "Iron Man"

2- 3 AM phone call? "Let the machine get it"

1- So tired, she actually crawled in to bed with Bill

What a joke, USA (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:02 AM)

BTW, one more thing on Wright.

Read a bunch of comments on the issue this morning and you know what I found? Not much change, the same people who were fired up about Wright before and fired up about him now. And Obama's supporters and still supporting Obama.

Go figure.

Lisa, New Britain, CT CT for Obama (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:03 AM)

Don't worry, folks -- the gutless, brainless people who call themselves "superdelegates" are scared of Clinton, so they haven't come out for Obama yet... but they will, oh yes, they will.

Brendan D, Niles, IL (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:03 AM)

If 97% of all whites voted for Hillary, then we would say Racism! But we don't when 97% of all blacks vote for Obama. See the dichotomy, the utter hypocracy of the Obamabots trying to paint the Clintons and their supporters as racists? Hillary gets a broad spectrum of support. Obama gets all the blacks, and some naive college students who'll be too busy getting drunk at frat parties come november to vote.

Anastasia Beaverhousen, NYC (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:03 AM)

Appears some posters have their collective knickers in a bunch way too early in the process. Let the rest of the states cast their ballots. Turn things over to the convention. Annoint the respective nominees. Have at it!! Enjoy the weekend folks.

Phred, NH (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:04 AM)

Enough already with Bill Clinton and the race card.

Someone please remind Rep. Clyburn (and Doug Wilder) about Jesse Jackson, Jr. - you remember him...he was the first to play the race card the day after Barack's stunning loss in New Hampshire which was supposed to be in the tank for Obama.

Bill Clinton keeps getting blamed 3 months later as playing the race card first because Bill took
the bait and replied to Jesse's remarks.

See your own MSNBC Nora O'Donnell interview with JJ, Jr. on January 9 for proof, where Junior talks about the S. Carolina black vote and the Katrina effect and Hillary's supposed indifference to them. He was trying to show that Hillary's tears were not appropriately aimed in those directions.

It's about time the Obama campaign closet surrogates were brought into the light on this issue. This potential nominee doesn't have the halo some of his supporters think he possesses. Fair reporting is fair reporting.

Margaret, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:04 AM)

"This piece by Tom Edsall in the Huffington Post is bound to be a topic of discussion today: “In a blink of an eye, the media has jumped ship from the Obama campaign and become a crucial Clinton ally, pressing just the message -- that Obama is a likely loser in the general election -- that Hillary and her allies have been promoting for the past six weeks… For Hillary, the shift is a potential lifesaver as she struggles to keep her head above water; without it, she would, metaphorically, drown.”

Wow!

There it is, in black and white, the media chooses a "narrative" to promote, regardless of what the truth of the situation is. Isn't that called fiction writing?

P.S. Why is it that everytime Rev. Wright speaks, it is perceived by the media as bad for Obama? Why aren't Senators Clinton and McCain saddled with the same burden with the long list of less than stellar supporters they both have? Double standard much?

(Still waiting for the post about Rendell and Farrakahn Chuck, why is that not "news"? Oh yeah, I forgot, it doesn't fit the "narrative".)

Nashville_fan (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:06 AM)

Very big news: Obama planning massive 50-state voter registration drive

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-campaign_fri.1apr25,0,2850297.story

Dan, New York, NY (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:07 AM)

Forget thsi election because Senator Obama will not win NJ, Ohio and PA, and FL and MI, all battleground states or purple states.

Read the local newspapers and go interview the locals. Obama is toast in middle America and beyond.

The Dems should have had this presidency in the bag but the DNC, along with the MSM (MainStream Media), have tried to shove an unqualified candidate down our throats and people are not taking it.

The Truth Hurts a lot (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:07 AM)

It is so funny to me that he Clinton campaign has changed the "metrics" for what constitutes a WIN so many times. They started off saying the only thin that mattered was delegates won. Now that they can't win by that metric (which is the rules of the game), they are trying everything under the sun to change the rules. This is lunacy. How can I tell my two daughters that yes, it has been tough for women in this country but integrity and playing by the rules leads to its own rewards when the only woman who has gotten this far in politics insists that the rules don't apply to her? I am really disappointed and saddened by this.

Coleen, Seattle, Washington (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:08 AM)

Reading these comments, I realized that the dumming down of America is now complete! Mediocrity and Mendacity now rule!
A national contest between McCain and Obama will raise the level of debate. I think both of these men have character and class. It would be a breath of fresh air.

Reanta, New Orleans, LA (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:08 AM)

SUE, are you American? I am confused with American who thinks in the way you do. to leave Wright alone, waooo, do you understand the meaning of his words? Do you realize what exactly he is saying about you and your country? SHAME ON YOU SUE AND ON THAT GUY, THE PASTOR. Using the pulpit for such denigrated things and SHAME ON OBAMA FOR NO SPEAK OUT AGAISNT INT SOONER AND IGNORE, DENY OR MINIMIZE THOSE STATEMETNS.

LATINO BOY chicago (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:11 AM)

++++++++++++++++

As far as the election being 'Taken' from Obama... WHAT?? Do you not see that the man is 100% unelectable?
1. He cannot win ONE big state (he has had SEVERAL CHANCES to close the deal ---without one win!!)

2. Rev. Wright AND Sen. Obama NEVER ONCE APPOLOGIZED FOR COMMENTS that were felt by MANY to be anti-American... all that was stated was that Sen. Obama 'disagreed' with the comments but NOT ONE APOLOGY GIVE... NOT ONE!

3. Rev. Wright is simply the tip of the iceberg! Lets not forget Tony Resko.... William Ayers... and who knows what other baggeage will be opened!

4. Extremely contraversial comments --flat out dirogatory in fact, regarding the middle class of this country!! YET ---NO APPLOGY! NOT ONE!

WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU ALL ABOUT HOW SEN.OBAMA ACTUALLY FEELS IN REGARD TO THE MIDDLE CLASS OF THIS COUNTRY?

You know America... THIS is the man who you want to LEAD the free world?

No Appology Given! Not One! (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:11 AM)

I was just thinking, on my way to work, as I past through a forest of tall pines and aspen, that I am very lucky to live in America. Then, I saw several deer of to the left hand side of the road; a little further down the road, I saw a small group of wild turkeys, which are rarely seen my neck of the woods. Finally, I made it to the busy highway, took a left and proceeded past the wondrous snow capped mountains on my right. As I made my way down the mountain to where I work, I noticed that gas coasts had gone up another twenty cents in one day. I work hard every day, and now I might have to move to the city down below just because of the coast of gas.

Then I think of the soldiers, and their families, and I am ashamed of my petty worries. How many of us are still mourning the fallen of the Iraq war? Before I left the house, I noticed Obama’s pastor, Rev. Wright was speaking on T.V., and the pundits were already picking apart what he said and twisting it around like vultures. He was a marine, after all. How many pundits have given as much to our country as Rev. Wright? Not many: unless they to served in the military. Now, some might argue that they served the country in a different way, but those of us who have served in the military know that there is no other job that requires one to sacrifice as much as one does in the military. Yet, he is a pastor who still tries to do good deeds. How many of us can say that! Not too many would be my guess.

Furthermore, most people have not felt the sting of prejudice, or the constant injustice of being falsely accused because of the color of ones skin, or the constant fear that accompanies such experience. Until, you have walked in ones shoes, do not throw stones. Perhaps it is better, far better, not to prejudge others by the color of their skin. Perhaps it is better, far better, to try to understand the full context of ones life, deeds, and actions before condemning him, based on only a few ill-gotten comments. Perhaps it is better, far better, to believe in the positive power of our ability to do good deeds, than to sit by and make snide comments out of “bitter” frustration, or simple political convenience. Perhaps it is better, far better, that our politicians think in the commonality of progressing our countries interests without finding continual blame, but instead, in finding continual solutions. I believe this is Obama’s message, and a powerful message it is.

Real American (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:12 AM)

LaffinCrow wrote:

"I have tuned out cable news as all it does is repeat the same thing over and over and over until we're all ready to vomit. "

AMEN!

My whole outlook on life brightened when I stopped watching Morning Joe and Hardball! Most of these cable shows bring alot of heat and little or no light.

Nashville_fan (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:12 AM)

I certainly hope Obama doesn't let Hillary and her crew goad him into ANOTHER debate which she desparately needs because of the free airtime. He needs to spend the doing what he does best, meeting and talking with the people.

Go Obama (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:12 AM)

Wonder if they are going to ask Rev Wright why he called Thomas Jefferson a pedophile 2 weeks ago?

Probably not.

GDI in Michigan (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:13 AM)

Nathan in IL,
lets clarify something here dude, it is not Hillarywho is detroying Obama, it is Obama himself and his friends, with his comments and action. for your own well, DONT ACT STUPID OR IGNORANT, i know you are not, so, dont be blind, look what Obama does and what he is saying

latino-boy chicago il (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:14 AM)

"Is the GOP brand in THAT bad of shape in reliably red Indiana?"

Yeah, it's that bad! It's that bad in Ohio, too. It wasn't talked about (or noticed) in the primary here because the focus was on the race between Obama and Hillary. But, there were nearly three times as many Democrats turning out to vote as there were Republicans. Obama can win Ohio just by sheer numbers. Hillary's argument that he can't take Ohio or Pennsylvania is pure hogwash (to use one of Grandpa McCain's retro-words).

Kerry, Toledo, OH (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:14 AM)

Hillary Clinton is push polling in NC.

Yet another reprehensible act from the Clinton campaign.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-loeb/is-hillary-clinton-push-p_b_98446.html

CitizenJ (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:15 AM)

Has the Paul vs. Clinton trial started in CA yet.

Explaining to the SD's why someone is suing for fraud
is a question Hillary should answer.

Obama '08

Kim M--AZ (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:15 AM)

The media is going to be late on this argument though First Read is starting to begin it, but the Clinton campaign has to start thinking about Hillary's legacy at some point.

Even if Obama was to lose to McCain in November, if the narrative (especially among Independents, youth, and Blacks) is that Hillary ran a kamikaze mission at him so she could run again in 2012, then all three groups will be against her more than they are against W. Bush right now.

I know at least within the Black community, it doesn't take long for a rumor to circulate (blogs, forwarded e-mail, talk radio, barbershops) and become a fact. She would still get 80/20 Black votes in a election, but it would be the worse Black turn out in history.

Mister Anderson (The Matrix) (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:15 AM)

Wow, I must say at reading the comments by some to think that Blacks are not thinking when it comes to Obama? so I have a question, have you asked a Black person why they are voting for him? you maybe surprised by the answer. There isn't much difference between him and HRC and Blacks have been voting for whites since the country has been here even though there vote has been taken for granted. It seems silly to to me to think that just because you go to church that some how you follow what is being said, becasue if that was the case every one would be living right, there would be no racism or bigotry, no pollution, no adultry and divorce I could go on but I think my point has been made. People go to church for a variety of reason and stay close to people they don't agree with for different reasons as well. Maybe just maybe Obama was being honest when he said that he will talk with people he disagree with and maybe the pastor is one of them, maybe he thought this election would prove the Pastor wrong but sadly it is proving him W-right.

L Hubbard, Houston Tx (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:15 AM)

Agreed. Except for Olbermann and Chuck Todd, everybody else at MSNBC is happily spinning on behalf of the Clintons. I've removed Hardball, Race to the White House and (especially) Morning Joe from my viewing schedule.

David, Fountain Hills, AZ (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:16 AM)

Good news for Obama - 2 new polls show small lead for him in Indiana. if he win Indiana, even by small margin, Hillary is finished. She, certainly will not quit even if she looses both IN and NC, because her goal now is not to fight for nomination (she is not that stupid not to understand that superdelegates in the end will NOT overturn will of the majority but to deny Obama win in November. So she will stay in the race till Denver, then run havoc in Denver with only one goal in sight: to ruin Obama as she hates him much more then she dislikes McCain.
As much as I respected Bill, as much I am disrespect him now and majority of Democrats as polls show disrecpect him as well.
I am happy that real nature of Clinton's is finally on display for everybody to judge.

Alex Denis (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:16 AM)

What is really interesting about Rev. Wright, is that it was Bill and Hillary Clinton who brought Rev. Wright to the White House for spiritual counseling during the Monica Lewinsky mess, evidently on many occassions. Hillary does not talk about that very much, because it would only reinforce how much of a hypocrite she really is.

Bob, Tallahassee, Florida (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:16 AM)

P. Johns-Collins, NY says: Obama should easily win Indiana, but yet it's close. He really can't close the deal, can he? The man is unelectable.

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Indiana is a very conservative state. The Democrats that are elected are closer to Goldwater Republicans then to Ted Kennedy. With that said - this state should really favor Hillary.

To prove that point there is a Republican running in Indiana's 2nd congressional district that spoke at NAZI group to celebrate Hilter's Birthday and supports segregation of states by race and nationality.
Indiana's 2nd congressional district includes South Bend.

That does not mean that Hillary or McCain supports this position, but there are people on the fringe in all political parties.

OBwan, IN (Sent Friday, April 25, 2008 10:16 AM)

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