More oh-eight (D): The super fight

jaycee, Ventura, California — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:19:35 GMT

Ouch, that must have been painful. I know you’ve been a strong backer of Hillary. I hope you’re right, but I don’t see how she can do it, and I don’t mean that as a knock on Hillary. I’m trying to put myself in her place and I don’t think I could do it. She was, after all, the presumptive nominee for many months. If she could manage to yield gracefully, that would go a long way toward earning back the respect of many of us, and it would certainly be in the best interest of her party and the country.

The very best outcome for the party now would be a clean win for one of the two candidates. That means the superdelegates uphold the will of the grassroots voters, if necessary. I know some of Hillary’s advisors are pushing to overturn the popular verdict if they lose, by playing loose with Florida and Michigan or manipulating superdelegate votes. Don’t even think about it. What a disaster for the party! It would be a classic case of grasping so hard for the prize that you break it. The nomination would be worthless in November after such an ugly win.

The second best outcome for the party would be if Hillary threw her support behind Barack. I say that because her supporters are generally loyalists, while Barack draws heavily from voters who have never developed party loyalty or have lost interest in the kind of confrontational politics that Hillary has decided to champion. As persuasive as Barack is, he won’t be able to deliver these votes to Hillary if she wins. He can’t join her on a ticket or gracefully bow out, and then convince these newly energized voters that now all of a sudden politics as usual is OK. It just doesn’t work. A great many of the disillusioned Independents would actually shift to McCain.

The straightforward calculation is that we would have a larger margin of votes in November with Barack as the standard bearer. That assumes that Hillary can bring most of her backers around to support Barack. If not, we’re screwed. It would help us prepare for November if she decides to bow out early, but I would frankly be stunned if she could pull off such a selfless act.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

adam/Brooklyn New York City — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:37:55 GMT

"Op-Ed columnist Paul Krugman has the disturbing habit of shaping, slicing and selectively citing numbers in a fashion that pleases his acolytes but leaves him open to substantive assaults."
-Daniel Okrent
New York Times Ombudsman

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

Bonnie — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:38:08 GMT

Obama should flaunt Colin Powell's support. Yes, he was a part of the Bush administration...but left and came out against the war. People respect him across all lines. He could pull in independents and disenchanted Repubs.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

Jarett Lee, Columbus SC — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:57:18 GMT

“With Clinton running neck and neck with Sen. Barack Obama in delegates, the race could be affected by whether party officials allow any delegates to be seated from Florida and Michigan.”

Those delegates should be seated, but only if a fair campaign can be run by all candidates prior to the vote. Didn't all the candidates sign pledges to not campaign in MI or FL? And didn't all the candidates (except Clinton) take their names off the ballot in MI? That hardly seems fair to seat the delegates on the so-called votes made in each of these two states. It seems more like stealing if they do seat the delegates.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

debbie reisine, northport, n.y. — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:07:36 GMT

Obama has energized alot of people, but with generalities only. His outdated 60's speeches full of promises without substance impress Powell? I would of voted for Powell years ago if he ran for pres. and I am a democrat. Now? He is an embarassment. I bet he'll wait until slick Obama feels it won't hurt him. If Obama is true to his word, he won't accept it. When he does accept, Obama will use his talent of spin and will try to make it a positive. Obama will show how hypocritical he is- especially after attacking Hillary on the Iraq vote (which he misconstrued to his benefit).
Vote for Hillary. She will be tougher against McCain.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

Class warrior, D.C. — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:20:41 GMT

Obama would be crazy to hook up with Colin Powell (or Condi Rice); he needs to keep clean and very, very clear his opposition to Bush's Idiot's Delight of a war/boondoggle from the very beginning. Don't muddy the waters with ANYONE associated with that mistake of a war!

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

JohnnyU, WA State — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:24:55 GMT

So many young people have gotten excited and started to participate in the process, to be a little less cynical. If the delegates elected by the people favor Barack, but the supers swing it to Hillary, it'll be a real slap in the face to them, and EVERYONE who believes in the Democratic process.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

nuanced — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:50:17 GMT

Sorry Colin there will be no redemption for you by simply supporting Democratic candidates. You must admit your sins and guilt, apologize and seek forgiveness.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

nuanced — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:56:11 GMT

As the Daily Show's Jon Stewart said to Mitt Romney after he Mitt compared Democrats to terrorists, f@@k you Paul Krugman.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

BL, Cincinnati Ohio — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:24:07 GMT

The straightforward calculation is that we would have a larger margin of votes in November with Barack as the standard bearer. That assumes that Hillary can bring most of her backers around to support Barack. If not, we’re screwed. It would help us prepare for November if she decides to bow out early, but I would frankly be stunned if she could pull off such a selfless act.

jaycee, Ventura, California (Sent Monday, February 11, 2008 9:19 AM)

Jaycee. I love reading your well written, well thought out, positive posts. Sadly I believe you are correct when you say "I would frankly be stunned if she could pull off such a selfless act."

In my opinion, I believe Hillary feels she's owed the Presidency and it should be given to her no matter what. I'm afraid she'll drag this out all the way to the convention no matter what, including possible law suits to try and get Florida/Michigan counted as is, and try to use super delegates to overturn the people's vote. She'll do or say anything to win. I simply can't see her doing the right thing and stepping aside if it's clear she can't win fairly.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

Gregory T, NY, NY — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:26:24 GMT

Obama has to win the nomination. There is no other way around it. If Hillary takes it, it will be because the super delegates gave it to her and I for one will not vote in the General Election. I will stay home and vote again in 2012.
OBAMA-08!!!!

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

Dr. Brad Burke, Maricopa, AZ — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:57:36 GMT

As to the Paul Krugman comments, it is so ironic that the one nominee in many years who has refused to engage in hate politics and his gigantic wave of supporters who wish only to unify America and move forward for the common good are being criticized for being - yes, HATEFUL - by this idiot!!!

This is exactly why we need Barack Obama RIGHT NOW in America. We need an end to the destructive spin and partisanship on BOTH sides of the aisle.

Someone should take Paul Krugman's computer away.

And THANK YOU OBAMA for running a great campaign!!!

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

Bryan Wokich, Bellingha, Wash — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:59:29 GMT

If the superdelegates attempt to overthrow the vote of the populace then there will be a mutiny at the Democratic National Convention. Delegates have to fight long and hard for the chance to represent their candidate on the floor of the convention. If Hillary tries to overthrow the popular count we may see a mini-revolution in the Democratic Party. Dems are adament about playing by the rules since the coronation of Bush in 2000. We believe everyone needs to compete according to the same rules . . . even if your name is Clinton.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

Charles — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:19:44 GMT

FLIP FLOPPA OBAMA: Just heard on the news that Obama has changed his views on pulling "all" the troops out of Iraq. He is now supporting Hillary Clinton's stand on the troops. Obama is a flip flopper. Hillary has been right on this issue all along. She knew what a dangerous time this would be for our troops and the US citizens who are there. Obama, your bad judgment is showing what a lightweight you are. Get some experience and facts before you make your views known.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

Arjuna9 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:33:40 GMT

If the super delegates are used to negate the votes of the people then what the hell is democracy? After 39 years as a Democrat I would withdraw from the party, switch to Independent, and write in the name of John Edwards as my vote.
As for Colin Powell, turncoats have never been popular on any battlefield. They may be used, but always despised. His actions toward instigating the illegal slaughter of the Iraqi people are now part of history. Warmonger McCain may have welcomed that endorsement, but Obama is too sharp to make a mistake like that.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

W, Washington, DC — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:37:28 GMT

I respect Hillary, but she is not and never has been a leader. A true leader NEVER has to stand up and says "I'm a leader"...they simply do it by inspiring others. Once Obama wins the nomination, she would make an awesome Senate Majority Leader...Harry Reid is a wimpy puppy dog.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

Perry, NYC — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:46:51 GMT

I am telling everybody one thing. I feel trouble in the air and I hope I am wrong. I am looking at each state and how badly Barak is beating Hillary in the popular vote and I swear he is getting screwed in the delegates. Hillary had 9 delegates before they even casted one vote in Maine. At the end of the contest that first read was that Barak had 15 delegates and Hil had 9. The exact number she started with before the casting of the first vote. How does that happen. Is that from early voting?? I am worried that they are going to try and steal this election from Barak and hand it to Hillary.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

JGS Park City,Utah — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:28:14 GMT

"BUSH ENDORSES CLINTON" perfect. We Obama supporters could not be more thrilled.

More oh-eight (D): The super fight

tired of obamanoids — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:48:09 GMT

Go back and watch colin powell speaking to the un and showing off his doctored photos and little bottles of chemicals.He succeedded in selling the Iraq war to the world.Whoops----he was lying like the rest of them he just cinched the deal.If that is who want running the country you are screwed up.He was used and abused then discarded--------incidently your guy BO needs money his people just keep calling and begging.