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



First thoughts: Obama's wider map

Posted: Thursday, June 05, 2008 9:28 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Obama’s wider map: About two months ago, we unveiled our early look at the electoral map. And this being the second official day of the general election, now's as good a time as any to see where we stand in the McCain vs. Obama race. 

Base Obama: CA, CT, DE, DC, HI, IL, MD, MA, NY, RI, VT (153 electoral votes)
Lean Obama: ME, NJ, MN, OR, WA (47 votes)
Toss-up: CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NM, NH, OH, PA, VA, WI (138 votes)
Lean McCain: AR, GA, IN, LA, MS, MO, MT, NE, NC, ND (84 votes)
Base McCain: AL, AK, AZ, ID, KS, KY, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WV, WY (116 votes)

While both McCain and Obama get to 200 when adding up their base and lean states, it’s clear to see that Obama has an early edge with the map. Not only does he have a stronger base than McCain does (153 votes vs. 116), but he also has more potential pick-up opportunities. When you add toss-up and “Lean McCain,” Obama has the potential for another 222 votes outside his favored states. By comparison, McCain’s toss-up and “Lean Obama” comes to 185. Of course, potential sometimes means just that -- potential. At the end of the day, Obama will likely win few, if any, of those Lean McCain states. But his reach right now seems much longer than McCain’s.

VIDEO:  NBC Political Director Chuck Todd gives his first read on Clinton's exit from the presidential race and takes a look at Obama and McCain's V.P. selection strategies.

*** A victory bump? Not surprisingly, Obama is getting unbelievable press coverage today. Just how big will the bump be, and when do we know when we see it? Probably the next two weeks. What to watch for in the polls: Obama’s support among rank-and-file Democrats and women.

*** Polling Hillary for veep: Speaking of polls… Now that Clinton has set a date for her exit from the campaign, one thing Team Obama ought to be careful of is polling her for veep. Why? She's the most well known potential veep candidate, and so she's always going to look like she's a help to Obama. But that’s due in large part to name recognition. The eventual running mate gets known quickly, and how the person is rolled out matters. Look at how Lieberman and Cheney -- both of whom were not well known nationally in 2000 -- were able to become instant assets because of how they were rolled out biographically. Neither one, however, would have popped in the polls in the beginning of the process.

VIDEO: Speculation whirls over whether Obama may pick Clinton as his running mate. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.

*** The town hall challenge: Besides Clinton’s exit and the announcement by the Obama campaign that it had tapped three Democrats (Caroline Kennedy, Jim Johnson, and Eric Holder) to lead Obama’s veep selection committee, the biggest news yesterday was McCain’s proposal to Obama to hold joint town halls. The Obama camp signaled that it was open to that idea, although it prefers more of a Lincoln-Douglas format. Who is helped by joint town halls? Both campaigns think they are. But who is helped MORE? If the debates in the fall become LESS consequential or unique, then the person helped the most could be the new guy. Obama, more so than McCain, probably benefits the more he stands next to McCain -- just by standing with him, he looks more presidential. Then again, though, it's a risk if McCain exposes any inexperience. It’s worth noting that neither McCain nor Obama was seen as a great debater in the primary season.

VIDEO: McCain challenges Obama to a rigorous schedule of summer town hall meetings. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.

*** Virginia is for winners: Obama highlights that wider map we talked about above when he campaigns today in Virginia -- first in the Southwest part of the state (the Appalachian region that proved problematic for him during the primaries), and later in Northern Virginia (the suburban and exurban region of DC, the type of area in which he excelled). Senate candidate Mark Warner, who enjoyed plenty of success in the rural parts of the state as Virginia governor, will stump with Obama at his first stop, and Sen. Jim Webb and Gov. Tim Kaine -- both potential veep choices -- will join Obama at the rally in Northern Virginia.

*** Just asking: Could yesterday’s Rezko verdict have come on a better day for Obama -- the day after he clinches the nomination and Clinton finally sets her exit date? That said, the Republican National Committee was quick to seize on the news, producing a new Web site called RezkoJudgment.com.

*** On the trail: McCain is in Florida, where he raises money and speaks to the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors and Florida Press Association Convention Lake Buena Vista, and then he hits another fundraiser in Fort Lauderdale. Obama, meanwhile, is in Virginia, campaigning in Bristol (the Southwest part of the state) in the late morning and Bristow (Northern Virginia) in the early evening.

Countdown to Dem convention: 81 days
Countdown to GOP convention: 88 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 152 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 229 days

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Comments

Lets go McCain.  Obama must not be POTUS--would not be good for America.
Tim Kaine as a VP choice? HAHAHAHAHA!! He can't even fix the transportation problem in Southeastern VA..He would be a very weak choice. Jim Webb..Maybe..

And Hillary..Please take your name off the ballot. That's evil to keep it on there. You are giving false hope to your voters and this is not party unity. You should be convincing your 18 million voters to get their heads out of their arses and support the Democratic nominee.. Evil, vile..woman.
Florida isn't a toss up...its clearly a McCain state.
When the Clintons find out that they will be vetted just like any other VP candidate, they will finally step out of the race.  Neither one of them is going to be open about funding for the Presidential library, and the people who pay Pres. Clinton large amounts of money for speeches.  Secrecy has always been Hillary's greatest failing.

Senator Clinton behaved poorly, and still does not seem to recognize that she has lost.  It is not up to her to make demands, like having her name placed in nomination at the convention.  I hope her supporters take a strong line with her about that as well.
It's going to be a big eye opener this fall as Obama rewrites the electoral map.  Barack has the kind of ground game the repugnant ones can only dream of and Barack can attract and inspire crowds that the boring old panderer can't.

Barack will be able to attack the repugnant ones in the states they once thought were theirs.  After seeing 3 of the repugnant ones bite the dust in special elections that's just a taste of things to come in November.

Goi Obama 08/12!
New Hampshire may only have 4 votes but it's not a toss up. It's now solid blue. I was born and brought up in that state and know it well. It's reversal in political philosophy is mind boggling but real.
Pat, stop being such a hater!~
I was a Democrat up until Yesterday win I filled out application to become Independent. I will never vote for Obama.
I live in Fl. and will be casting my vote in Nov. for McCain.
i agree that florida will go for mccain but some of the mccainstates would turn blue because of turnout

Whats Change?
Lets Unite, Lets Change the country
Clinton to concede
Electoral Maps for the general election


http://sensico.wordpress.com/
The worst thing Obama could do is have Hillary and Bill hanging around his neck like deadweights.  They have too many negatives to help Obama get elected.  I liked hearing last night that the Obama camp will not be pushed around and will make their own selection.  I got a laugh that the Obama camp is demanding that Bill get vetted on his donors for his foundation and library, which is fair game in the general election.

I like that Barack is being careful and deliberate in his VP search.  Personally I'd like to see Caroline Kennedy as his VP choice but I still think that Wesley Clark would be the best fit to give the ticket some powerful military experience.  Whomever he picks I'll trust him to make the smart decision.

Go Obama 08/12!
FirstRead...are you baiting the GOP...
The GOP can't buy enough votes...
This is a landslide year for the Dem's
By the end of summer there will be this giant tsunami of voters rejecting McWar and those GOP failed policies....
You're right Pat, FL is Republican. All this talk of a dem carrying it is a joke.

As we've seen any strategy that relies on FL is flawed & doomed to fail.
The "roll-out" of Lieberman made him an instant asset to Gore?  Are you kidding?  Do you really think that this country would vote to have any Jewish person a heartbeat away from the presidency (except the diehard Democrats in the always blue state of NY)?  Why do you think Gore lost the election?  Not only was Lieberman Jewish, but he was not 'liberal' enough to energize the liberal turnout.  Why did the MSM never even address the anti-semitic vote in all of this -- anti-semitism remains an unacknowledged and politically incorrect-to-even-mention evil in this country
Here comes teh Rezko drama; who cares?  That is not going to help Americans pay for gas.

If this year is about the issues, Dems win.

How can McCain run on a military experience platform when he didn't show up to vote for the biggest military benefit in years.  

McBush is no saint and 95% voting with Bush tells her he is no smart cookie either.

He doesn't care about the wounded service members, hell he didn't even care his first wife was wounded from her accident.  He left her for the beer heiress.

Repubs, whatever you can not talk about the issues, but there is enough on McCain to also circulate as well.  

If I was a "bitter" republican mad about McBush being your only hope as the nominee, I wouldn't want to talk about how the republicans screwed over the American people either.    
Hey Chuck,

Not to argue with your insight or anything, 'cause you're freakin' brilliant with numbers, but I'm not sure I'd say Kansas is part of McCain's base, or that North Carolina "leans McCain." I'd also question whether Maine leans Obama or is more of a toss-up; and whether we can really say that Florida, with its aged population, is truly a toss-up or leans more towards McCain. But naturally, these are minor quibbles, and we probably won't even have a clue how many of these states are going to go for a month or so.

I really, really think Obama has an outside shot at winning Kansas. That (and more) will be off-set by the fact that I'm almost positive McCain wins Florida -- but the fact that states like Virginia, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Georgia are even remotely in play does not bode well for McCain.
I once was very excited about the upcoming presidential election. I remember the 1990's and was sure this country would want that kind of economy back. Well half of the Democratic Party has spoken. No matter if Hillary is the V.P. or not I will sit this one out. My wife is also going to sit this one out. This will be the first Presidential race I will not participate in since I was a youth. There is one question that has been burning on my mind lately. If Barrack is a Christian, then why does he still wear his Muslim name? If someone could answer that, then maybe I could actually vote for the man. You know to be a Christian means to turn your back on your old life, and focus on your Christian journey. I just don’t believe nor trust him. Disheartened Independent.
In regard to states, you might as well throw out Pa, ohio, fl., mich., and especially West Virgina, `they don't like being called `toothless, uneducated, etc. & PA is hillary country & Fl. & Mich don't like him because he disenfranchised them.
For all the talk about democrats and liberals about a united front against us republicans, you guys sure are still split down the middle as far as man/woman & black/white.

Hillary would really be a bad choice for Obama.  He needs someone that is honest, since honesty will play a big part of whether Obama gets elected or not.
Oh, Bob Barr, won't you please help us turn this peach state Blue?!?!?
Pat Huntington you are mistaken! Don't pay attention whatsoever for the early June polls - they are meaningless.  GE campaign just started and I can guarantee you - within 2-3 weeks Obama will pull even or very, very close to McBush in FL. Mark my word for it.
Jim Webb
Washington Post
September 2002

…America's best military leaders know that they are accountable to history not only for how they fight wars, but also for how they prevent them. The greatest military victory of our time -- bringing an expansionist Soviet Union in from the cold while averting a nuclear holocaust -- was accomplished not by an invasion but through decades of intense maneuvering and continuous operations. With respect to the situation in Iraq, they are conscious of two realities that seem to have been lost in the narrow debate about Saddam Hussein himself. The first reality is that wars often have unintended consequences -- ask the Germans, who in World War I were convinced that they would defeat the French in exactly 42 days. The second is that a long-term occupation of Iraq would beyond doubt require an adjustment of force levels elsewhere, and could eventually diminish American influence in other parts of the world.

Other than the flippant criticisms of our "failure" to take Baghdad during the Persian Gulf War, one sees little discussion of an occupation of Iraq, but it is the key element of the current debate. The issue before us is not simply whether the United States should end the regime of Saddam Hussein, but whether we as a nation are prepared to physically occupy territory in the Middle East for the next 30 to 50 years. Those who are pushing for a unilateral war in Iraq know full well that there is no exit strategy if we invade and stay. This reality was the genesis of a rift that goes back to the Gulf War itself, when neoconservatives were vocal in their calls for "a MacArthurian regency in Baghdad." Their expectation is that the United States would not only change Iraq's regime but also remain as a long-term occupation force in an attempt to reconstruct Iraqi society itself.

The connotations of "a MacArthurian regency in Baghdad" show how inapt the comparison is. Our occupation forces never set foot inside Japan until the emperor had formally surrendered and prepared Japanese citizens for our arrival. Nor did MacArthur destroy the Japanese government when he took over as proconsul after World War II. Instead, he was careful to work his changes through it, and took pains to preserve the integrity of Japan's imperial family. Nor is Japanese culture in any way similar to Iraq's. The Japanese are a homogeneous people who place a high premium on respect, and they fully cooperated with MacArthur's forces after having been ordered to do so by the emperor. The Iraqis are a multiethnic people filled with competing factions who in many cases would view a U.S. occupation as infidels invading the cradle of Islam. Indeed, this very bitterness provided Osama bin Laden the grist for his recruitment efforts in Saudi Arabia when the United States kept bases on Saudi soil after the Gulf War.

In Japan, American occupation forces quickly became 50,000 friends. In Iraq, they would quickly become 50,000 terrorist targets.

Nations such as China can only view the prospect of an American military consumed for the next generation by the turmoil of the Middle East as a glorious windfall. Indeed, if one gives the Chinese credit for having a long-term strategy -- and those who love to quote Sun Tzu might consider his nationality -- it lends credence to their insistent cultivation of the Muslim world. One should not take lightly the fact that China previously supported Libya, that Pakistan developed its nuclear capability with China's unrelenting assistance and that the Chinese sponsored a coup attempt in Indonesia in 1965. An "American war" with the Muslims, occupying the very seat of their civilization, would allow the Chinese to isolate the United States diplomatically as they furthered their own ambitions in South and Southeast Asia.

These concerns, and others like them, are the reasons that many with long experience in U.S. national security issues remain unconvinced by the arguments for a unilateral invasion of Iraq. Unilateral wars designed to bring about regime change and a long-term occupation should be undertaken only when a nation's existence is clearly at stake. It is true that Saddam Hussein might try to assist international terrorist organizations in their desire to attack America. It is also true that if we invade and occupy Iraq without broad-based international support, others in the Muslim world might be encouraged to intensify the same sort of efforts. And it is crucial that our national leaders consider the impact of this proposed action on our long-term ability to deter aggression elsewhere.


Obama/Webb 2008
Below is a response to yesterday's FirstRead, which didn't get posted although Rachel Maddow did point out the same facts on Olbermann's show that none of the mostly McCain-friendly corporate media was willing to acknowledge:
-------------------------------------------

"The truth is, McCain just isn’t a podium guy. He needs the microphone in his hand and the ability to speak off the cuff."

The truth is that McCain made most of his disturbingly whacko statements while speaking off the cuff:

*  McCain repeated his false claim that Shia Iran would train their deadly enemy, the Sunni Al Qaeda;

* He made the flippant comment that he doesn't care if the US has troops in Iraq for 100 years was made at a town hall meeting -- a statement that surely enraged all Iraqis, who want US troops out yesterday.

* He asserted that he could "look you in the eye" and tell you that the US troops in Iraq had been drawn down to pre-surge levels, a claim that was false and displayed more apalling ignorance of foreign policy, which he hasn't mastered despite his many photo opportunities in Iraq.

* He was speaking off the cuff when he gave his lame excuse for voting to block legislation that would have made the laws more just concerning the time limits when women could sue for wage discrimination. He said the problem wasnt' discrimination and that what women really needed was more "education and training."

Of course, his claim yesterday that the Democratic nominee was selected by "party elders" was not off the cuff. It was a deliberate lie prepared in advance. Keith Olbermann correctly pointed out that McCain's lying speech was ironically interrupted by the primary results from South Dakota, where delegates chosen by the PEOPLE of the state put Obama over the top.
Florida will be a republican State. Too many rich people live in that state to be dems.


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I posted this in response to another article, but feel it deserves a reposting here too:

To those Hillary supporters who say they will vote McCain...I suspect you are republicans and part of operation chaos, because:

1. Hillary and Obama are on the same page with almost all the major issues.
2. McCain will appoint Scalia types to Sup. Ct., thereby ensuring the overturning of Roe v Wade...thus, Hillary supporters would be voting to end reproductive rights in America.
3. How can you trust someone who will continued Bush's failed economic and foreign policies?
4. McCain can't be trusted due to his Keating 5 days.
5. WWIII will be a certainty with a war monger like McCain.
and...
6. Who do you think will make up Obama's cabinet, advisors, etc?  Most will be those who were part of Fromer Pres. Clinton's administration.

So, it is not only illogical for Hillary supporters to say they will vote McCain now, it is a sign of mental illness!
Obama is continuing the process that Gore and Kerry started: consolidating the "solid north" of the post-civil war Republicans!    

How ironic is that--it's the mirror image response to the former "solid south" that the Republicans have taken over in the past few decades.

In 2006, liberal-to-moderate Republicans were decimated in the Northeast and Midwest.  Now the Democrats will branch out into surrounding states like VA and NC, as well as following Tom Schaller's advice and going West to CO, NM, MT, etc.    
ANYONE WHO THINKS ABOUT SWITCHING FROM DEMOCRAT TO REPUBLICAN REALLY IS NOT THINKING .YOU HAVE NOT STRUGGLED ENOUGH. YOU WANT TO BE PAYING $8.00 FOR GAS AND STAY IN IRAQ FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS AND MOST IMPORTANT CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE  VOTE FOR MCCAIN IF YOU WANT THESE THINGS
Caroline Kennedy as Obama's VEEP selectee would give ALL of the Voters exactly what they want.....  this would be an unstoppable pairing!!! and INSURE a Democratic win in November.  Caroline is squeeky clean,unasailable and a history maker as the first woman VP. She is exactly what the Dems need to unite them and bleed massive numbers of Replublicans to vote for this dynamic duo!!!

OBAMA/KENNEDY 08
Lets go Obama the Old man cant whipp you......McCain must not be POTUS it will be bad for our soldiers and the entire middle east.........No more wars.......
GA and NC will turn blue.
Bill Clinton may balk at releasing records of his business dealings and big donors to his presidential library, according to the WSJ.  

Chelsea too as active participant in the dynastic Clinton quest will surely need to bare for Obama advisory committee scrutiny her own high finance hedge fund dealings and investments so the Republicans will not be handed an issue for exploitation later.
The machines that read the debit/credit cards, as we buy gas, food, and homes, etc., are neither red, nor blue.

They're colorblind. I think a colorblind GE will make history this election cycle, from skin, to maps.
How significant are the down wind elections?  My thoughts are that I don't want Obama to pick a senator as his vp.  We are barely hanging on to our lead there and we are going to be losing Obama's senate seat when he wins.  I like the way he outlined the Republicans strategy.  Basically dismissing the 'fear mongering' and rumor mill.  It was a great point in his speech yesterday when he said, "Let me know about this Barack Obama, he sounds scary".  The absurdity of the charges are vast.  I continue to point people to snopes.com, at least weekly.  McCain's speech was unintentionally funny, as well when he said, "...I don't know why they say I am Bush's 3rd term..." or something to that effect.  Because we learned from Rove/Bush that if you repeat it often enough; sheople are too lazy to research and refute it.  Further, I believe that Obama/McCain town hall meetings are intriguing.  However, if I were Obama - I would be much more forceful about determining where and when.  McCain is trying to tap into his ability to fill large venues.  But I see a positive in Obama speaking to the independents that they both draw.  Finally, I am optimistic that Bob Barr presents the distraction needed to pull the conservatives out of play.  PS.  I thought I was done, but I have to speak to Hillary's final stand, finally.  My take this week is that the polls had indicated that 20-30% of her supporters said they would leave.  So again, it was disingenuos math to say she was taking her 18MM voters and going home.  Most of the people I know that voted for her early on had major buyers remorse and had become Obama fans long before the finish line.  He may lose a few million, sadly; but he stands to make great gains with Obamicans who would never vote for a Clinton.  The "polarizing" effect.
I believe the intelligence of the people, not party affiliation, will win this election...

I'm so pleased this has unfolded as it has...

My sons have always voted Repub, but this year are voting on vision for the future...  Obama...
Rezko is old news, the new trial to watch is Bill and HRC's fraud trial in California.  Someone on thier side is about to be charged with Contempt of court.  

HRC doesn't have to testify till after the General, but Bill, HRC, Chelsea, Ed Rendell, Harold Ickes, Howard Wolfson and many other DNC Big Wigs are going to have to testify in this case along with Hollywood's A list of entertainers.
Prediction:

Obama takes FL, MI, OH, and PA in November!!  (;D
I have not had FL in Dem column since Reagan.
If the Dems took FL there would really huge problems for Repub in other states.

MO should be a toss up - St. Louis and KC go Dem, rural areas go Repub.  It is just the make-up of the state.  It will all be about turnout.
Hey, just rememeber John Ashcroft's in unsuccessful senate race in 2000.
Never been to Florida and don't wanna go. We will win without them.
Senator John McCain is the only Republican who promises to end the George Bush style of governing from and on behalf of a small, angry fringe. With a record of working across the aisle to develop sound bipartisan legislation, he would offer a choice to a broader range of Americans than the rest of the Republican field.

We have shuddered at Mr. McCain’s occasional, tactical pander to the right because he has demonstrated that he has the character to stand on principle. He was an early advocate for battling global warming and risked his presidential bid to uphold fundamental American values in the immigration debate. A genuine war hero among Republicans who proclaim their zeal to be commander in chief, Mr. McCain argues passionately that a country’s treatment of prisoners in the worst of times says a great deal about its character.

Mr. McCain was one of the first prominent Republicans to point out how badly the war in Iraq was being managed. We wish he could now see as clearly past the temporary victories produced by Mr. Bush’s unsustainable escalation, which have not led to any change in Iraq’s murderous political calculus. At the least, he owes Americans a real idea of how he would win this war, which he says he can do. We disagree on issues like reproductive rights and gay marriage.

In 2006, however, Mr. McCain stood up for the humane treatment of prisoners and for a ban on torture. We said then that he was being conned by Mr. Bush, who had no intention of following the rules. But Mr. McCain took a stand, just as he did in recognizing the threat of global warming early. He has been a staunch advocate of campaign finance reform, working with Senator Russ Feingold, among the most liberal of Democrats, on groundbreaking legislation, just as he worked with Senator Edward Kennedy on immigration reform.

Senator McCain is clearly the best choice for this great nation.


Vote for security.
Vote for fiscal restraint.
Vote for experience.
Vote for bipartisanship.
Vote for John McCain.
I am and will continue to be astounded by Obamas nomination. I have been following both the democrat and republican campaigns and cannot believe how much has been ignored by both the media and Obama followers. I cannot believe this man has lost so many states by such big margins and the democrats actually believe he will win in Nov. What the heck am i missing here? Obama is going to re-write the electoral map-are they serious? Many of the states he won in have been red for decades and Obama is going to change all of that? how? by turning water into wine. The caucus states don't reflect the electorate. What are the democrats thinking. Speeches in front of huge crowds don't translate into votes-we know that.
It's a shame that Hillary is dropping out; because as we have seen with this campaign, Obama lost steam due to his inability to really explain and be held to his positions on all kinds of topics. The Rev Wright and Trinity showed him to be indecisive and inexperienced in handling issues. He would get eaten alive if he went to Washington and we as a nation would be far worse off then now. (If you can believe that could happen). The only issue in this campaign is that Obama is too inexperienced. Period. Hillary dropping out gives a big boost to McCain and I now believe McCain will win in November. I never thought in a million years that the Democrats could give away a no brainer election, but they just did.

Sad for America.
Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina: all could be toss-ups before long.
The old saying rings true with obama. If you lay down with dogs your going to wake up with fleas! I will never vote for a man I do not trust. I am not a bigot. This is purely about his character. No amount of campaigning will fix that. The American public are seeing Obama's true colors with his close ties to radicial people. He might have won the battle but he will lose the war!
Obama will never get my vote. I have never voted republican before but I will now.
His judgement is off, his character is dubious, he has no integrity, and he does not represent America. I cannot vote for a racist of ANY color. I cannot vote for a Terrorist supporter.

I cannot vote for someone who does not put the honor of America before his own honor.
Besides, I don't recall the Cemocratic convention as having taken place yet. Super delegates do not actually vote until the CONVENTION. Kinda like saying I won in the 8th inning because I will get 3 home runs in the ninth, so lets just proclaim me the winner and not play the game out, or saying that I am ahead so lets not play the 4th quarter because it is projected that I will get 3 touchdowns and knock you out. Hillary has more support from the people. The popular vote is hers-he lost that.

Now the superdelegates wish to play the supreme court justices and give over the nomination to the weakest candidate. I thought that Obama had South Dakota all locked up by a landslide? What happened? The Rev Wright and Trinity Church? Obama is weak and growing weaker; people are seeing him for who he really is - a typical Chicago political hack.

Neither candidate to date has the VOTED delegates to win.

I would not even vote for Obama with Hillary on the ticket, he is too dangerous for America, not God D--- America.
How can you not like this guy?
Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Wednesday, June 04, 2008 1:50 PM)

*****************************************************
Easily if you use common sense and intelligence.
FedUpDem, Washington, DC (Sent Wednesday, June 04, 2008 2:17 PM)

**********************************************************
Which is what you are saying we (as Obama supporters) do not have?

This man has more class and dignity in his little finger that HRC has in her entire body.  She had to be coerced - COERCED! - into conceding, and even then she has to have two events to do it in.
I think your venom is misdirected, FedUpDem.  

To those you of you who say that he can't read without a TeleprompTer - I say 'gee, someone who THINKS before he SPEAKS' - wow, what a horrible thought.  'Cause Cowboy George does so well reading his speeches.  His speechwriters have to dumb down the words so he can understand them, and he still screws them up.  Heaven help him if he actually has to speak w/o a script!

McLame is quickly assuming Bush's mantle of idiocy.  If you are so blinded by rage and deflected entitlement that you will vote for McCain that it is YOU who lacks the common sense and intelligence of which you speak.
We will vote for a "3rd Bush term" with McCain before we would ever vote for a black Anti-American.

Al Gore, please come to the rescue! Save our party from what it's about to do. This is a sad, sad day for America.
Obama has no new ideas, offering only the same old liberal ideas that have never worked. America is not about to make a sudden left turn to a socialist style system with more taxes and big government.  
TO BE A GOOD DEMOCRAT OR TO BE A GOOD AMERICAN. John McCain is not the same as George Bush; in fact a few years ago he was going to leave the Republican party become an Independent and joining the Democratic caucus in the Senate. The Democrats will control Congress so there is no need to worry about Roe v Wade or ultra conservative justices being appointed to the Supreme Court. As for Iraq, nobody will be able to pull out all the troops within 16 months; we will have a presence there just like we do in other foreign countries. We need to earn the respect back of the American citizens and world leaders by electing the right person to be the President of the United States; he/she should have demonstrated good judgment, honesty, and integrity.--- Hillary or McCain.

Country first, then party.
FIRST READ: Where's your lead on Eric Holder's background?  Might be interesting to some of the Obama supporters who BASHED Clinton for pardoning FALN members since he do so on Holder's advice.  They might also like to know it was Holder who got Rich pardoned also.  I suppose maybe he "repented" his sins, the Messiah O forgave him and now he's a good little follower.
As I watch the blog post I am becoming increasingly concerned about the many supporters of Sen. Clinton who are suggesting they will vote for John McCain. I assume the vast majority of her supporters believe not only in her ability to be President but also in the policies that she would have enacted as President.

That being said I ask, no, I implore you to reconsider voting for McCain to spite the Democratic Party for not electing your candidate to be its nominee.  If you don’t feel particularly loyal to the party (which I understand) please be loyal to your candidate.  

John McCain has promised to overturn Rowe v. Wade through his choices for Supreme Court Justices.

John McCain (CPT, USN, ret.) has stood in opposition to a new GI bill that would send Iraq veterans to college simply because he doesn’t fell that being shot at during multiple 12 and 16 month tours should be considered “sufficient” service to the country.

John McCain has said that the mortgage crisis that was perpetuated partly by his own economic advisor as well as through consistent de-regulation of oversight agencies is not the government’s responsibility to correct.

John McCain voted against a law that would punish employers for unequal pay for women who hold the same or comparable positions as men. He said it would cause “too many lawsuits”. (I thought the point of civil justice was to give the people standing to air grievances against the system)

These views do not just stand in opposition to Sen. Hillary Clinton; I suggest that they offend her. It would be a shame to force her to explain to her daughter and maybe her future granddaughters why they can’t hope to receive equal pay or why their friends don’t have healthcare or why their body isn’t theirs to make decisions about all because her supporters abandoned her corps beliefs in a fit of anger, disappointment or both.

Please do not allow disappointment to prevail. The choices he makes will be burdened on our children and grand-children. Will we tell them that the reason women’s rights have been set back a decade is because we were angry at the results of the primary season?  Will we tell our children that their civil liberties have been exchanged for spite and mistrust?  Throughout this season young people have come out in droves to support a hopeful future. It is not because they are naive; it is just that we taught them that hard work can achieve anything.

Lastly, as a long time supporter of the Clintons I know that Sen. Clinton would have made a great President. A leader that would be remembers for generations to come. The truth is Sen. Obama will too. And that she may still be a great President in the future but I know as fact that her leadership and her legacy is not dependent on the office of the President, but it is dependent on your support of her positions more than your support of her.

Thank You
Ohio will go Dem this fall!


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