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: NV super for Obama

Posted: Sunday, June 01, 2008 2:13 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
With the pick up of Nevada's Yvonne Gates this morning, Obama needs 61.5 delegates to reach the magic number of 2,118.

Yesterday, Clinton picked up Louisiana DNC Member Claude "Buddy" Leach.

* Also note, Maryland's Al Wynn's resignation takes effect this weekend. That means technically the number drops to 2,117 for at least a couple of weeks until Donna Edwards likely fills his seat. We contacted the DNC to see if it would reduce their number. They are not, so we will keep the number at 2,118, which is what it will eventually be at convention. Donna Edwards is expected to be an Obama supporter, but until that is official, we are leaving her off Obama's list, as have others.

The NBC NEWS Delegate Counts:
PLEDGED: Obama 1,712 to 1,587
SUPERDELEGATES: Obama 328 to 293
EDWARDS PL. DELEGATES: Obama 16.5 to 0 (adding the 4.5 from Florida)
OVERALL: Obama 2,056.5 to 1,880

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Comments

62 is beginning to feel like 600!

I pray that enough supers come out for Barack before Tuesday, so that elected delegates will put him over the top. I would love for the Obamas, along with the rest of us, to be able tocelebrate his nomination as the confetti drops Tuesday evening. Amen.
Way Cool...

Please may all the other superdelegates vote, endorse, get behind...what ever Barack Obama

and work together for all voters, dems. rep's, ind's, lib's, green's>>>ALL VOTERS...

Let's get to work!!!!
After Tuesday, Hillary's cronies will be an after-thought. Harold Ickes & Terry McAuliffe will beon the streets begging for change. Howard Wolson will be stalking little children at elementaries schools. Hillary & Bill will be in divorce court. Chelsea will continue to be pimped out by her parents to help pay off their debts. Lanny Davies will be hanging around MSNBC/Fox/CNN asking for a job.

The party's over, but Bill and Hillary are still hanging around, hoping tor one last dance. Politically, they destroyed themselves in this campaign, and they will never have the clout they once had. They need to realize that after you've climbed certain mountains, it's time to retire and leave the game to younger folks. (McCain hasn't figured this out, either.)



Anyone who thinks Hillary would be a good choice as VP should read the article by Todd Purdum entitled The Comeback Id to be printed in Vanity Fair.  The distracting effect Bill Clinton would have as part of an Obama administration would be too much of a negative.  We all know there is no way to control what the ex-President says or does.
We can expect a lot of Republicans on these sites, pretending to be unhappy Clinton supporters. There is no sign of an ethical pattern emerging with Rush Limbaugh and his followers.
I CANNOT TAKE Pat Buchanan anymore.  His commentary is FACTUALLY INCORRECT.  He continually says that Hillary has won the popular vote.  IT IS NOT TRUE.  PERIOD.  That Msnbc can let him get away with spouting factually incorrect statements repeatedly is shameful.
Arrgh.  Is there not ONE sports fan amongst you? Do none of you know what a "magic number" is?

The "magic number" is NOT 2,118.  The magic number is 61.5.  That is the number of new delegates that Obama needs to clinch.

"Magic Number" - noun - Sports. The number of wins by a leading team and losses by its closest competitor required in order for the leading team to capture a championship or secure a playoff spot. (American Heritage Dictionary)

Example, if a team is up by 8 games with 10 games yet to play, the magic number is 2.  That is, two more wins and the leading team clinches at least a tie.  One more win, and the magic number goes down to 1.

Obama's magic number is 61.5.  After he picks up, say 25 delegates today in Puerto Rico (out of 55), the magic number will be 36.5.  If he picks up 16 on Tuesday (out of 31), the magic number goes down to 20.5.
Question for Chuck Todd:

At the beginning of this campaign you guys kept saying the super delegates should reflect the popular vote when obama was ahead.

Now Hillary is ahead in the popular vote...so where are the super delegates?

Just wanting a clarification...thanks.
Hillary take your lost like a woman.  Is she for the DNC or herself?  Her husband has sabatoged her campaign.  She could have done better without him.  He had them run her campaign like he ran his, but this is a new day.  Unite Democrats so people can save their homes, jobs and bring our troops back. This is not personal Democrats it is about our country.  Any Hillary supporters that vote McCain are not true to their party.  Hillary new the rules of the race before she entered if she didnt like it she shouldnt have run.

Independent
Chuck, how can you go on television, admit that your count DOESN"T include Washington and Maine (two sizable states) and then say that Clinton might win the popular vote.  
Giveing passing  on  a  bit  of   information  
Friday, May 30, 2008
Former Bush donors now giving to Obama

By Paddy


Just stunning. Not just giving money, volunteering too!! The Republicans have killed their party.



WASHINGTON — Beverly Fanning is among the campaign donors who'll be joining President Bush at a gala at Washington's Ford's Theater Sunday night, but she says that won't dissuade her from her current passion: volunteering for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

She isn't the only convert. A McClatchy computer analysis, incomplete due to the difficulty matching data from various campaign finance reports, found that hundreds of people who gave at least $200 to Bush's 2004 campaign have donated to Obama.

(snip)

Many of the donors are likely "moderate Republicans or independents who are dissatisfied with the direction of the country now and are looking for change," said Anthony Corrado, a government professor at Colby College in Maine who specializes in campaign finance.

"There is a large block of Republicans, particularly economic conservatives, who just feel that the Republican Party in Washington completely let them down" by failing to control spending and address other problems, Corrado said. "The Republicans have really given these donors no reason to give."

Posted by Paddy at 11:23 PM  
Labels: 2008 elections, Barack Obama, fundraising, Republicans
I'm just going to sit back and wait...

Does Senator Clinton speak today after Puerto Rico and what does she say?
Slowly he turned.  Step by step.  Step by step.

It is all but over for Hillary.  The Superdelegates are jambed up against the gates ready to leap onto the bandwagon for Obama.
Not understanding why supers would go to Clinton at this point.  But this is why I just observe politics and not make it my living.
My comment may not have releveance to the topic for discussion. Yet I am going to make it any way. I am an Obama supporter and have never disagreed with any one who has constructive criticism for him. But why is that Turker Carlson has nothing good to say about Obama as he didn't for Clinton when he was one of the members on crossfire? All of a sudden he pretends not to be on Clinton's side and trying hard to destroy Obama reputation. Any time he talks about Obama, it's like all the veins in his neck are about to pop open.His eyes turn red.

If I don't know any better, I will think that Turker is either jealous of Obama or he's trying so hard to convince himself that Obama is no good more than he's trying to convince others. Chris Matthews can't seem to know where he belong. Whether he's for Obama or against him. That's understandable because he could be objective sometimes.
this race is over. Just as Hillary's political respect is over. her bahaviour and that of her camp has been pathetic. i nenver knew that in the modern day america, there are people who still think as low as these guys. am happy the true colours of hillary have come out. i changed my vote from her to Obama coz of her imprudent behaviour.
Thought  this  was  intresting  read  today  :)!!  
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Puerto Rico polls close in 3 hours, very low turnout

By GottaLaff

Turnout in Puerto Rico is half of what they're used to for a local election. This is not good for Hillary, per Jessica Yellin on CNN. She'll win, but the turnout is "not great". Many see this primary as a foreign election, since they can't vote in the general.

Posted by GottaLaff at 11:47 AM  
Labels: 2008 elections, Hillary Clinton, primary, Puerto Rico
Great job Guys, all weekend, Todd i need you on my IRS audit, now i hope Hillary Clinton come on Boar but leave Icky at home, if we come together the White house is ours, Save a troop life as we end this war
I have a crazy feeling that Obama's guest of honor at his victory rally on Tuesday night in St. Paul will be none other than Hillary Clinton...surely, they are now in talks for resolving "what she wants" and nothing would spell party unity at the very sight where the Repubs plan to hold their convention than a united Democratic Party...hold on to your hats, it's going to be an interesting week!!!
The race is over except for the final count. Can someone explain what "Fair Reflection" is all about???
My comment may not have releveance to the topic for discussion. Yet I am going to make it any way. I am an Obama supporter and have never disagreed with any one who has constructive criticism for him. But why is that Turker Carlson has nothing good to say about Obama as he didn't for Clinton when he was one of the members on crossfire? All of a sudden he pretends not to be on Clinton's side and trying hard to destroy Obama reputation. Any time he talks about Obama, it's like all the veins in his neck are about to pop open.His eyes turn red.

If I don't know any better, I will think that Turker is either jealous of Obama or he's trying so hard to convince himself that Obama is no good more than he's trying to convince others. Chris Matthews can't seem to know where he belong. Whether he's for Obama or against him. That's understandable because he could be objective sometimes.
I just heard Chuck Todd mention Washington was not counted in the popular vote because they had a caucus which did not report popular vote results.

Please remember Washington state had a primary AND a caucus, similar to Texas.  Barack Obama won the primary (for which few if any delegates were assigned) 51-46%, or 353,563 to 315,222 in popular vote according to aol's election site http://news.aol.com/elections/primary/state/wa

Strangely, the link to the primary results from Washington's Sec of State website directs you to the wrong election's results.  (Click on 2008 Primary results and you end up getting 2007 General results).    

Obama won the caucus by a more substantial 2-to-1 margin, but as Chuck mentioned, I could not find actual vote totals for the caucus.

There is no reason why at least Washington's primary should not be counted for the popular vote tally...especially if it is counted for Texas.
Come supers, lets get this over, please I want a nominee on Wed at the latest.  If you know who you are endorsing say it now, why wait.  This is just prolonging it even more, Close in SD and he wins Montana.  Lets go pick one!!!!
HRC has become a joke, her biggest state is The State Of Denial!  I fear she will not unite behind Obama but undercut all the Party tries to do. It's all about Her!  This is such a shame!  We must defeat the McCain train, he's already on the rails, we just need the knockout and Obama is wearing the gloves.....No more years of Bush......
The way Clinton supporters acted yesterday during the meeting was pitiful....we are all passionate, but show some class.....act like you have some dignity for your candidate.....Possibly she didn't pay you enough or give enough perks to show up and rally, could be she is running in the RED $$$, no more funds.....I hope she packs it in and put away her phony smile.....
Super-D's now is the time to bring this to conclusion.  Please commit to bring this to an end.  Thank you very much.
I am going to be 66 y/o this month.  This is the first time I've been so involved in a Presidential campaign.  It's mostly Senator Obama, However I'd like to complement First Read, Chuck Todd, Tim Russert, Keith, and Chris, especially for the first rate job ya'll have done.  I'd put the other names down, # 1, I don't remember them right now, and I wouldn't have the space.  Anyway, Thanks!!!!!!!!!  OBAMA'08
all delegates not seated = all votes not counted.

as a lifelong democrat, i will not vote for a nominee of a party that refuses to seat all the delegates.

as soon as the convention is over, i'll be changing my registration to independent.  this is a travesty...and from a party that wanted all the votes counted in the 2000 election.  i can't associate myself with hypocrites.
upset in illinois (Sent Saturday, May 31, 2008 9:19 PM)

-------------------------------------------------

All delegates are being seated...Michigan and Florida will just get .5 votes for each delegate.
Run Obama, run!!! -- the finish line is in reach for you.  When we last saw Hillary, she was chugging a beer in a tavern in Pa.
If Hillary had some class, she will join Obama onstage Tuesday night in Minnesota to concede and unify forces against John "Grandpa Bush 3" McCain.
Is it too much to ask?  Does she really think holding on to Ickes and his maniacal thinking will convince the super-delegates to overturn Obama's win?
Obama's campaign is clicking on all cylinders, flush with cash and no debt.  The grassroots efforts are registering new voters.  The electoral map is turning blue all over.
We need to end this war in Iraq. We need a single payer, national health insurance plan.  We need to invest in green technology.
All of these things will be possible with President Obama and the large Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.
Is this guy Ickes really jerk or he is drunk when he appears on interview.  Is he not ashamed making fool of himself?  I think this guy is from mars where he was a real messenger and did what ever he was told to do without using his brain that he does not seem like had any.
OBAMA CONTINUES TO ROLL TO THE NOMINATION.
I cannot beleive we are still counting delegates. Obama won - get over it.

I voted for Clinton in NY and I regret my vote. I thought she was a leader but she does act like one. She is acting like kid in the sand box. A true leader would be a gracious loser. A true leader would think about their party and their country and the people. She is selfcenter - self service - selfish.

She lost my vote - period.
I have no respect for her what so ever.


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