ABOUT FIRST READ

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



Delegate update: Obama picks up more

Posted: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 12:55 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
NBC NEWS has updated the delegate counts in Alaska and Colorado, giving Obama one more and Clinton one less in each state. In Alaska, Obama picks up a split of 10-3 (instead of 9-4 after he got the two statewide PLEOs at convention). In Colorado, Obama gets a split of 36-19 (instead of 35-20). Obama's pledged delegate lead is now upped to 149, his superdelegate lead moves to 34, and his overall lead stands at a combined 195 (including the 12 Edwards delegates).

Obama, today, has also picked up another superdelegate, Wyoming Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman Nancy Drummond. "My husband was a Marine during Vietnam -- he was one of many vets that has VA Benefits," Drummond said in a statement released by the campaign. "The men and women in the military and their families are giving the ultimate sacrifice now and I support Senator Obama's plan to honor their service by improving their healthcare, taking care of issues related to combat duty and caring for our homeless vets."

She adds, "We have two incredible candidates... . At both our caucuses and our State Convention, the majority said they want Senator Obama to be our Candidate to run for President. So with that being said, while I certainly respect and admire Senator Clinton's tenacity, I have proudly decided to endorse Senator Barack Obama."

The NBC News Delegate Counts:
PLEDGED: Obama 1649 to 1500
SUPERDELEGATES: Obama 316.5 to 282.5
EDWARDS PL. DELEGATES: Obama 12 to 0
TOTAL: Obama 1,977.5 to 1,782.5

* Obama is 48.5 from the required 2,026.

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Comments

Those comments by the superdelegate are really awesome.
After Hillary’s RFK comment on Friday, can anyone still have any doubt that she is truly sociopathic???  And, I’m sure she DID “regret” her remarks – but only because of the fallout it would cause for HER (check out #5 and #9 below).  

Every day there’s a new excuse or a new role or new manipulations of the facts or new blaming or new lies – you name it and she’s tried it:  sexism, misogynism, cover-ups, victimization, media bias, etc, etc, etc – notice that Hillary is never accountable for her behavior? – e.g.,  “IF I offended anyone.”  She has STILL not apologized for her vote on the Iraq War because she doesn’t believe she is ever wrong.

And to my fellow Dems and Hillary supporters, I’m begging you again to read this with an open mind and to consider this:  Hillary does NOT care about you.  Psychologically, she has no morals and no ability to relate to you.  You are simply a means to her end.  

Hillary is not a Profile in Courage – she is a Profile of the Sociopath
(borrowed from the website: http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html)

1. Glibness and Superficial Charm;
2. Manipulative and Conning;
3. Grandiose Sense of Self :  feels entitled to certain things as "their right";
4. Pathological Lying:  has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities;
5. Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt:  a deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
6. Shallow Emotions: when they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive;
7. Callousness/Lack of Empathy: unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.
8. Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature: believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others;
9. Irresponsibility/Unreliability:  not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed. Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them;
10.  Extreme narcissism and grandiose:  may state readily that their goal is to rule the world.
WLCOME TO THE WINNING...NOT WHINING SIDE!


ALL OF US IN OBAMA-WORLD, THANK YOU!
MI Chick,  would you rather he lie to you (like every other politician would) and tell you that jobs are coming back to you when they're most likely NOT?
Sarah, Mpls (Sent Tuesday, May 27, 2008 11:14 AM)

************************

No, I would rather him say that, while he knows the jobs we HAD aren't coming back, that he would actually work to bring more jobs here.

We have one of the worst, if not the worst, economies in the country.  I don't want the truth sugercoated, but don't tell us just to suck it up and get used to be unemployed.


##################################################


Lay off Hillary, you'll need us in Nov.
Bobbi, Eau Claire, WI (Sent Tuesday, May 27, 2008 11:19 AM)

*****************

Really? MAKE US.

See how childish that sounds?  Get off your power trip and we'll put down the "kool aid".
Thank you Nancy Drummond!
What state is Nancy Drummond from?
yippee!!  drip . . . drip . . . drip!!
It's a beautiful thing!

I can't believe there isn't some sort of SD push, in response to Clinton's unforgiveable remarks on Friday about RFK's assassination.

One week from today we will have our nominee!

Go Obama!
On the heels of every difficulty for Obama, and his family, comes the soothing blessing of endorsements.
More kool aide for the obamabots duping us all into a flawed unelectable candidate. Obama will never win in November.
 Hold the presses!  Enchanted by Clinton's tenaciousness, the New England Patriots have filed a protest over the results of the last Superbowl!  They had five more first downs, completed ten more passes, and threw one less interception, making them the better team on the field that day.  Superbowls will no longer be decided on silly things like "points".  Whoo hoo!
Sorry, Billary
You're N OT CONVINCING the Super Delegates !!
They KNOW the nomination is 'locked up'

NOBODY beleives that you're more electable

You won the California primay....
Now, thanks to you maneuvering, you have a 51% NEGATIVE rating in California

It's Obama who wins California, not you
We've been going through a case of 'buyers' remorse' out here .....
Your ratings are dropping like a stone

It's probably the same in other states

The 'Clinton magic' is GONE

Bill clinton was a mediocre President who got himself impeached after sodomizing an intern with a cigar...

This country has had 3 FAILED Presidencies in a row:
Bush I
Clinton
Bush II

BASTA !!

TURN THE PAGE

Obama/Biden '08
Obama/Edwards '08
Honesty counts
Integrity counts
Character counts
Good for Obama.  I'm glad everyone is pulling together to get the right person for our President.


Obama 08
Great news for Obama!!  We are almost there.

I wanted to give kudos to Keith O. for his commentary on Friday night.  It was great to see one of the media take on Senator Clinton and remind us of all her gaffes, mis-speaks, etc.  We LOVE you Keith!!!

Question, if somehow Senator Clinton does pull this off, I wonder how many Obama supporters will rally behind her.  I can only speak for myself, and my answer is an emphatic NO!!  I would vote for Bob Barr.

WOMEN FOR OBAMA, 08
Just more straws that will break the camel's back very, very soon.  Barack is just too close now to lose except by being cheated out of it.  I'm so glad this primary farce will be all over in 8 days so Obama can turn all of his attention upon beating "Bush Hugger" McCain, the true enemy of our brave soldiers!

Go Obama 08/12!
whatever.
I think the pop vote fantasy of the Clinton's might serve as a mandate in her mind.  I could see her simultaneously declaring victory in the process when Obama does - regardless of how far behind she is.  What would the DNC do then?  I would say nothing.  The supers?  Yeah right!
Can someone please explain to me how you can be TOO GENEROUS to a all-volunteer military of a nation that is continually in conflict with another nation where less than 1% of the entire population actually serves?

Just like Clinton, McCain's "experience" will work against him in this election.


McCain's (media ignored) Triple Play:  Hagee, Parsley and Falwell.  Chief McCain surrogate, Joe Lieberman, is scheduled to talk about how great Hagee is in July.
Oh thank the Lord.

GOBAMA, GOBAMA!! Do yo Momma, and yo Grand Momma, and yo,(Marine), Grand Pappa proud!!!!
McCain is doomed!  The Vets themselves will turn the tables on him for not supporting the GI BIll.
'...Sources close to the campaign estimate that as many as three dozen Democratic superdelegates have privately pledged to announce their support for Obama on June 4 or 5. The campaign is determined that Obama not end the first week in June without securing the support of delegates numbering 2026 -- or 2210, as the case may be....'


From TheAtlantic.com:

'...Obama Campaign Banks Superdelegates

27 May 2008 09:08 am

In June of 1984, the day after California handed Gary Hart a last-minute victory and New Jersey, thanks to Hart's having insulted the state, voted for Walter Mondale by 15 points, Tad Devine, Mondale's chief superdelegate counter, was ready. Worried that Mondale would not meet his pledge to end the primary season with a majority of delegates, Devine and his team made a "frantic" series of phone calls to undeclared party leaders; by noon, a few dozen superdelegates endorsed Mondale en masse, taking the wind of out Hart's campaign forever.

Neither the Clinton nor the Obama campaign is clear what the DNC's rules and bylaws committee will do on May 31; depending upon how or whether they re-allocate delegates, Obama could wind up within to 20 to 30 votes of the nomination -- a situation rectifiable by a piddling performance in Puerto RIco, South Dakota and Montana -- or more than 100 delegates short, requiring solid performances in those states plus a few dozen superdelegate endorsements to put him over the top.

To prepare for that eventuality, the Obama campaign has, for the first time, really, begun to bank delegates. Sources close to the campaign estimate that as many as three dozen Democratic superdelegates have privately pledged to announce their support for Obama on June 4 or 5. The campaign is determined that Obama not end the first week in June without securing the support of delegates numbering 2026 -- or 2210, as the case may be....'
"I am suffering from CFS (Clinton Fatigue Syndrome.) "
Alice (Sent Tuesday, May 27, 2008 11:17 AM)

CFS (Clinton Fatigue Syndrome.) = also known as WTF Syndrome.  :-)
yada yada yada

all the same people are going to say all the same things. Let's hear from Lisa in CT. Whatever. You people all just want to hear yourselves talk.  Nothing you say will drive out Hilarious Clinton or Obama. Give it up already.
Let's go supers........Almost there.

Every day you allow the Clintons to talk about sexism, popular vote fantasies, cover ups, the 2000 election, disrespect & assassinations - you fail this party and this country.
That light at the end of the tunnel, Senator Clinton, is the Obama Express rollin' down the tracks to Denver!  Yes We Can!

Hoosiervoter
Come on the rest of you SD's.  Now is the time to come to the aid of your party!!
Dear Pat,
I prefer Kool-Aid to Lemonade.  Oh, Yes, Senator Obama will win in November.  He will be a an excellent President for you as well.
Way to go Nancy.
Schweitzer, Baccus, and Testor?
Don't be last. Lets go!
Good for Obama, but overall, I'm surprised the SDs have been so slow in making their endorsements. I guess they want to give Hillary the courtesy of finishing the race before making their decisions publicly.

They're taking an awful chance, though. The party is very divided now and with the Clintons determined to break the rules or bust on May 31st, the SDs may regret their cowardice.
I am waiting for another incredible spin from the so called Hillary adviser come clowns.  I think most of them are shameless, very unethical fellows and think of themselves to be very smart.
By listing the Edwards pledged delegates on a separate row First Read is miscalculating Obama's lead in pledged delegates.  Obama's pledged delegate lead should be 161, not 149 as stated in this article.  Please make sure to add in the Edward's pledged delegates as pledged delegates when you're doing the pledged delegate difference.

Go Obama 08/12!
From and article in TheAtlantic.com:

Obama should NOT choose a 'red-state' Senator
That will lose him Democrats in the Senate, if the Governor of that red state replaces a Democrat with a Republican Senator.....

Choose a blue state Senator or Governor.....

Joe Biden
John Edwards (not holding a Senate seat)
Nancy Pelosi (SF would hate to lose her)


Sorry, Sam Nunn is tooooo Conservative and toooo pro-war and pro-war machine
Chuck Hagel is a good man, but anti-choice and tooo conservative  (Sec State Hagel ?)

Hillary is tooo crooked and polarizing

Please note the Bill Clinton DIDN'T pick Paul Tsongas or Jerry Brown as his VP
Al Gore did not pick Bill Bradley as his VP

Why should Obama pick a runner up for his VP ?
Hear Ye...Hear Ye...all Superdelegates .... a call to endorsement now.  I love Puerto Rico.  I lived there for 14 years. I have property there.... but the Democratic nominee should be decided upon before Puerto Rico .... not that it will make any difference, except for making a decision now, whether, it be for Obama or Clinton.
Did you drop the Obama indicted Puerto Rico governor as superdelegate?
It really doesn't seem to matter how many delegates or superdelegates Obama gets, HRC will contest his nomination to the bitter end.  She is claiming to be the victim and now she and Bill are claiming a "cover-up" by the DNC and powers-to-be denying her the nomination that she claims is rightfully hers regardless of the delegate math. What amazes me is how Americans, supporters and the media allow, encourage,and endorse her divisive, outrageous and delusional comments.  HRC is not Presidential, she is just plain crazy! She has lost her moral compass.
Your position is weakening your superdelegate appeal; as the superdelegates flow toward Obama.
Spat as must as you like; your popular vote isn't as popular as you fantasize. The new Gallop has Obama ahead of you, Hillary.

I find it funny that there is no mention or any number showing the popular vote total for the Dem primaries anywhere.  Obviously the major news orgs. do not want to show that Hillary will win the popular vote without counting Michigan after the all the states have voted.  I ask, why is this?  Doesn't the public deserve to know that Hillary is actually winnig the popular vote.  All of us Dems who faught for Al Gore and complained that he won the popular vote, now somehow don't want the popular vote to count for anything?  What has happened to democracy in America?  Good luck Obama supporters without us Hillary supporters helping you in the General.  I have had enough of the Obama supporters acting like children and constantly putting down Hillary and her supporters.  I will be writing in Hillary's name if she is not on the ticket!
I too would like to commend Keith Olbermann.  He's unafraid to speak the truth- something that other journalists are afraid to do.

OBAMA/BIDEN, 2008!
Sara, Mesz AZ I think you hit the nail on the head. That is a little scary to read.

Her comments were never that she used the wrong words or could have said it better it was that other people took her statement wrong. Her comments after Ted Kennedy's cancer announcement are also telling. Obama honored the man, Hillary honored herself and talked about what they have worked on together. Again, it is all about her.
She needs to do some soul searching and someone needs to offer her some tough love so she can figure out that it is not always that people are against her for some outside reason, but that there is something with her behavior that make people not like her.
It is great to see everyone finally coming together for the candidate that deserves this nomination!!

http://www.politivine.com
Mister Anderson - McCain laid it out in very clear language. He's opposed to the GI Bill because he doesn't want military folks seeing any alternative to staying in for a 17th tour of Iraq.

After all, we need to delay the inevitable - a greater Iran - for as long as we can. It doesn't matter how many lives are lost, how many billions are spent and how much international influence we lose. If the inevitable happens sooner rather than later, everyone will have definitive proof of just how stupid we were, sooner rather than later. And that must be avoided.

What's a few guys missing out on a college education compared with that?
Between McCain's determination to stay in Iraq as long as there is "a chance" of a successful outcome (which shouldn't be that hard, actually - the "surge" is a "big success," even though the originally stated goal of the Iraqi government standing on its own with the added breathing room was never even within sight, meaning we win as soon as we declare "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED AGAIN"), and his shrew-creep position against vet benefits - I don't see how he has a chance.

John - make getting a discharge a crime - that'll help the re-enlistment rate.
Good news keeps rolling in for Obama. Meanwhile, back in fairytale land, Clinton and her supporters are complaining about how unfair it has all been. Does anybody remember when republicans were supposedly the extremists?


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