Dems Fight To A Draw On Super Tuesday

Obama Wins Majority Of States, But Clinton Holds Slim Lead In Delegate Race

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter David Miller.

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The Super Tuesday showdown between Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama gave both candidates plenty of delegates and plenty of things to brag about, but did little to bring the party closer to identifying a clear front-runner.

Obama won 13 of the 22 states holding Democratic primaries and caucuses, but Clinton won the night's two biggest prizes in New York, where her victory was widely expected, and in California, which polls had shown tightening up in the days leading up to the contest.

Both campaigns had surprises: Clinton, a New York senator, won in Massachusetts despite Obama winning high profile endorsements from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy. Obama came away with a victory in Connecticut -- a state in Clinton's backyard -- and also pulled off a close win in Missouri, where late returns put him over the top.

Clinton also scored victories in Arizona, Oklahoma, Tennessee, New Jersey and Arkansas, where her husband, former President Bill Clinton, once served as governor.

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View All Super Tuesday Results

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Speaking to supporters, she signaled that the race for the Democratic nomination wasn't over.

"I want to congratulate Sen. Obama on his victories tonight," she said. "I look forward to continuing our campaign and our debates about how to leave this country better off for the next generation, because that is the work of my life." (Watch Clinton video)

Among Obama's other victories were primaries in Alabama, Georgia, his home state of Illinois, which he represents in the Senate, and the Northeastern state of Delaware -- once viewed, like Connecticut, as a Clinton stronghold. He also won all of the night's caucuses, including those in Alaska, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, North Dakota, Minnesota and Kansas, where he had the endorsement of the state's popular female governor and family roots on his mother's side.

"Our time has come, our movement is real, and change is coming to America," Obama said to cheering supporters in Chicago. "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." (Watch Obama video)

The only state outstanding was New Mexico, where Obama held a narrow lead over Clinton with some of the vote yet to be counted.

As the breakdown of states suggests, the race for delegates was close. CBS News estimates Obama has won 803 of the night's available delegates, compared to Clinton's 799. Since the race kicked off with the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3, Clinton has won 1,058 delegates and Obama 984. That total factors in the support of superdelegates, the party leaders and elected officials who have a say in the nomination. Clinton leads among that group.

Either candidate could end up ahead in the count by time all Super Tuesday delegates are apportioned. Party rules require a candidate to win 2,025 delegates to secure the nomination. Click here to see the delegate scorecard.

"This race, of course, will be historic because it will produce either the first female or black presidential nominee from a major American political party," CBSNews.com's Dick Meyer wrote in an analysis of the race. "People will also be talking about this campaign for decades to come for its sheer ferocity, closeness and duration -- and its lack of predictability." (Click here to read more of Meyer's analysis.)

CBS News correspondent Peter Maer reports that David Axelrod, Obama's senior adviser, put a positive spin on the night's mixed outcome, saying it defied predictions from earlier in the campaign that the day's voting would wrap up the nomination for Clinton. He expected Obama and Clinton to be "roughly even" in the delegate count once the night's votes were tabulated.

"This was the night that Hillary Clinton announced she was going to close out our campaign and that's hardly happened," Axelrod said. "We're in a strong, strong position coming out of this night."

The calendar for the rest of February does appear to favor Obama, something Clinton's own advisers admitted in a conference call Tuesday before the polls closed. They include contests in Nebraska, the Virgin Islands, Washington and Maine, all of which are caucuses like those Obama swept Tuesday. He also has the advantage in the so-called Chesapeake primary on Feb. 12, when Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia vote -- demographically, all three favor Obama. He should also be a favorite in the Feb. 9 primary in Louisiana, which has a high percentage of black voters. Obama also appears to have an edge in Hawaii, where he spent much of his childhood, and Wisconsin.

If Obama performs as well in February as expected, Clinton may have to wait until March 4 to regain the advantage in the delegate count. That day includes primaries in Ohio -- full of blue-collar workers who have traditionally favored her -- and Texas, where a large Hispanic population should give her a boost. Exit polls indicate Hispanics favored her by a 2-to-1 margin Tuesday. (Click here to read more about Super Tuesday exit polls.)

Clinton also led in two key demographics on Super Tuesday that bode well for her campaign in the long haul: women voters and those over 60 years old. CBS News exit polling indicated white women voted for Clinton by a huge margin, 58 percent to 38 percent. Among those older than 60, she won, 55 percent to 38 percent.

Given the close delegate count on Tuesday and the outlook for the upcoming contests, it's possible the race for the Democratic nomination could drag on for months, possibly until the party's convention in Denver.

"It may be all the way to the nominating convention before we know who is going to get the Democratic nomination," CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer said. "It may be one of these old fashioned, which delegation are you going to seat at the convention, and all that kind of business … all those thrilling stories of yesteryear."

Going forward, both Clinton and Obama may increase their focus on the economy. Exit polling showed that nearly half of Democratic voters said the economy was their top priority, and more than 90 percent said they thought it was in bad shape.

According to nationwide early exit polling, nearly half of Democratic voters said the economy was their top priority, and more than 90 percent said they thought the economy was in bad shape.

Just over half, 51 percent, said the ability to bring change was the most important quality in a candidate, with 23 percent citing experience.

Yet those two qualities didn't end up driving Tuesday's results, Schieffer said.

"I think the interesting thing here is we were talking about this being an election about change or about experience, it’s breaking down to be an election about gender and about race," he said. "I think this is not all about what we thought it was going to be about tonight."

[crtoo]

THIS JUST IN!

Hillary loses California!

Posted by ApprovedCBS at 08:37 PM : Feb 05, 2008

This my friends is what "Freedom of the Press" has turned into. I dont know who Approved CBS is but having that name is directly tied to CBS.

CBS is a MCM (Mega Corporate Media). Painting the picture for you that you want you to see. Years ago the media found out they swayed the elections by reporting early on state returns. Even though several states tried to block them from doing that, the "freedom of press" cry won out.

So they do this every election year. Shape and mold the politics and it works. The Obamaites have bought into the publicity which he gets free on the MCM. Turn off the TVs, ignore the publicity and research the candidates! Everything is public record and on the internet, print the info and spread it around to family and friends. Learn the truth about the candidates through your own eyes and efforts. Cuz everything you hear on TV AND RADIO are LIES and DRAMA.

[crtoo]

"...but I am not so sure Obama would accept the job or if he was the President, would accept Hilary as his VP..." Posted by b-easy63 at 10:41 AM

My mistake in addressing you as b-easy23 and not b-easy63

Being pragmatic? No I would say more along the line of keeping in line with MCM (Mega Corporate Media). Just introducing the idea in conjunction with other media stars, is jumping the gun.

I am not sure either one wants the other as a running mate. There are advantages for both to do so. And YES, Obama will do what needs to be done to promote himself, he will join Hillary as VP. he says they are and will continue to be friends, signals -loud an clear- that either option is on the table.

Hillary/Barack or Barack/Hillary.

[alanrobisch]

byeneocon I think you forget that colin powell was is a republican and was popular but he declined to run

[alanrobisch]

People say Obama is being a spoil sport if he does not play fake kissy face and make up--maybe. ON the other hand, perhaps he is being something we are just not used to with our politicians--honest.


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Posted by b-easy63 at 10:41 AM : Feb 07, 2008
amen

[b-easy63]

I think pragmatically, if it would help her to win--Clinton would accept Obama as her VP--but I am not so sure Obama would accept the job or if he was the President, would accept Hilary as his VP. Some things might cut too deep and represent a rift not only in ideas but in principles. For Hilary that is no problem--she has always been flexible with her principles--for Obama--getting in bed with Hilary might be akin to bedding the devil himself and so, on principle, he might never say yes. If that is in the offing and he does say no or worse yet, accepts an offer from McCain to be his running mate (GOP can dream, can''''t they?) Hilary can kiss her chances good bye. People say Obama is being a spoil sport if he does not play fake kissy face and make up--maybe. ON the other hand, perhaps he is being something we are just not used to with our politicians--honest.

[crtoo]

She knows what they did to her husband. She knows how they used and abused the justice system, mixed in with spin. She knows how they operate, and what to expect.

Posted by hoygie at 09:00 PM : Feb 06, 2008

Good Morning hoygie

so glad to read you do have some great ideas and something more profound to say than just !@#$.

[crtoo]

"It stops when one person says no--then another or another and it keeps going when one person says okay--then another and another. Which one are you?" posted by b-easy23

Good morning b-easy23
We discussed the virtues we need from our candidates. I will take it one step further - Ni4D. Granted I am not in full agreement with the initiative as is proposed since it will just create another "congress" subject to the same problems we have with our present Congress. However, a popular vote on all major issues including the annual budget and spending among other things is now the only way we can have a true CHECKS AND BALANCE system. When we the people have a voice.
We no longer have a direct voice in how we are governed. We no longer have faith that our elected officials will work let alone work on issues the majority of their constituents want. Why? because everyone is subject to the degenerative human traits - greed, power, fame.

Taking direct power back by the people and for the people. THAT IS CHANGE. THAT IS A NEW AGE. THAT is something to work towards. Anything else, promised by anyone - is hot air.

[kolsa]

''Teflon Hill'' does not seem real to me. She has ridden shot gun on Bill to reach the position she has attained. Despite that the ''Money Trail'' is not with her. I have liked Obama from the day I heard him make that first convention speech He came across as articulate, intelligent and very personable upto the point ''Bill" got nasty. He has been asked by his campaign to address a more mundane audience and now he seems ordinary. However, I think this man will turn the world opinion on it''s head. He may be that last chance to recover America''s position in the world. I shudder to think what will happen if ol''e M''Cain gets to that office. Another hundred years in Iraq. I am trying to figure out how will we will convince men to go there and fight for us. Imagine what that will do to the population of Canada along its borders? Why dont we send all the illegals there first. That should be a good test of loyalty ?.

[zootallures2]

"My changing wouldn''''t make a ratazz difference in anything."

Posted by ByeNeocons at 11:25 PM : Feb 06, 2008

It that a commandment from your Lord Rothschild bible?

[zootallures2]

Where do your celebraties, rock stars, idols, news anchors, trends, and culture come from?

1-800-Just 19.99 get rich quick - Rockefeller and Rothschild! Call now and get free s*x with Britney Spears!

Gregory *******, the nocternal gregaroius ashkenazi swine!

[byeneocons]

"You need to change, not the government!"

My changing wouldn''t make a ratazz difference in anything.

The problem is the pseudo-evangelist right wing nutjob republican lemmings who gave us Bush and also Reagan and Bush One.

I''m voting on the Anti Flag Burning Platform.

Sleep well.

[zootallures2]

Ask yourselves how many centuries would have to pass before the Republicans would allow a female or black nominee.

Posted by ByeNeocons at 11:09 PM : Feb 06, 2008

Ask yourselves how many centuries would have to pass before the western public demand a good honest leader?

You all blame Bush, but the public is far more evil and that''s why he is president. And the presidents have had to enforce civil rights while most of the public are biggots and racists. You need to change, not the government!

[zootallures2]

The bible says "Thou Shalt Not Kill"

But Rockefeller and Rothschild say it''s ok!

Proof of the god George Bush talks to.

[byeneocons]

Ask yourselves how many centuries would have to pass before the Republicans would allow a female or black nominee.

[zootallures2]

No Mike Gravel? No Ron Paul?

Because you are evil and evil likes evil! Die you stupid grass honkeys. You don''t want to upset your gods Rockefeller and Rothschild. They can kill your chidren and you still run to stick you nose up their arse as far as you can shove it. You make me sick!

[byeneocons]

I do not believe at this point that the McCain/Huckabee ticket can beat any Obama/____ ticket or Hillary/_____ ticket.

Democrats are united to win this, and they should no matter who the nominee is. But if they fall into the compassionate christian conservative politics of destruction, they''ll hand it all to the Republican''s Crazy Uncle.

[tbweb]

The head of the Democratic Party Gov. Dean said on HardBall that if Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama are still in a virtual tie come April they may have to go behind closed doors and resolve the issue, that Democrats could not afford to resolve the race at the Democratic Convention because it would only give the Democratic Party a few months to prepare for the General Election and Gov. Dean thinks that scenario will hand the Election to the Republicans. The behind closed doors solution I predict will be to create a "shotgun marriage" with a Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton Ticket in April with the President select being the one with the most delegates at the time. If you combine both Vote totals for Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama along with their combined War Chest, the Republicans could not defeat that Democratic Ticket, especially if Sen. Obama is the lead!

[hoygie]

But no.. Mr. Polite. Mr. *******.. don''t say dis. Don''t say dat.. Don''t do dis. Don''t do dat.. pay yer ******* taxes.

[Marie Zarankevich]

hoygie - I believe you''ve made quite a success of trashing this discussion, sir. Thanks!

[hoygie]

The only way yer ever gonna git evil is if you "play" evil, fella. Otherwise, it''ll step all over ya. And make ya a god damned fool. Thats what acting is. Thats whats so fascinating about the hollywood endeavor! They mimic! HISTORY! Into something that doesn''t leave yaz falling ******* asleep! They become them.. and thats how ya understand them.