March 6, 2008
A New Phase In The Democratic Race
Washington Post: Victories Reinvigorate Clinton As Both Campaigns Clash Over Superdelegates
-
Play CBS Video Video What's Next For The Dems? Katie Couric speaks with senior political analyst Jeff Greenfield about where each of the Democratic candidates stands in light of the upcoming primaries that will decisively impact their campaigns.
-
Video A Clinton-Obama Ticket? With her confidence restored and campaign back on track, Hillary Clinton alluded to an alliance with Barack Obama -- something he says is out of the question. Jim Axelrod reports.
-
Video Obama Plays Hard Ball After failing to knock Hillary Clinton out of the presidential race, Barack Obama has become more aggressive in questioning her self-proclaimed capacity to lead by experience. Dean Reynolds reports.
-
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. acknowledges supporters during a primary night rally Tuesday, March 4, 2008, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP)
-
Timeline Democratic Campaign Trail Notable events in the race for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.
-
News Tools Campaign Calendar The latest list of primary and caucus dates as states continue jockeying for position.
From Our Partner:
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's victories in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island reinvigorated her once-shaky presidential candidacy and reshaped her debate with Sen. Barack Obama, but those successes yielded only a modest gain in the battle for delegates, underscoring the daunting odds she faces in overtaking Obama before the end of the primary season in early June.
As a newly confident Clinton (N.Y.) publicly entertained the idea of Obama (Ill.) running as her vice presidential nominee, advisers sketched out a new scenario for overcoming Obama's delegate lead: a Clinton win in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary in April and then persuading the more than 300 uncommitted superdelegates who are poised to decide the race that she would be the stronger general-election nominee.
Obama, who won only the Vermont primary on Tuesday, blamed his poor showing on Clinton's attacks and spent yesterday challenging her national security credentials, as she had done to him in the final days before the Texas and Ohio primaries. He also questioned whether she could truly withstand Republican attacks on ethical issues in a general-election campaign.
Some Democrats fear that a protracted and increasingly negative campaign, coupled with an intensified fight for the allegiance of the superdelegates, could lead to a badly divided Democratic Party and a weakened nominee for the fall campaign against Sen. John McCain.
The senator from Arizona clinched the Republican nomination on Tuesday and received President Bush's endorsement yesterday.
With 370 Democratic pledged delegates at stake on Tuesday, the Associated Press estimated that Clinton had a net gain of just 12 delegates overall with her three victories. Twelve delegates have not yet been allocated. As of yesterday afternoon, she still trailed Obama by 140 pledged delegates, or 101 overall when superdelegates were included. (
"They're never even going to get close to erasing the pledged-delegate lead," said David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager. "Last night was a big window that closed for them."
But Harold Ickes, who oversees Clinton's delegate tracking, accused the Obama team of making "a phony distinction" between pledged delegates and superdelegates.
"We expect to be very close to him in overall delegates [at the end of the primaries] and expect that the remaining uncommitted delegates will decide which of the two candidates are the stronger and more prepared to run in the general election," he said. "We're confident that will be Hillary."
Obama has argued that those automatic delegates to the national convention should validate the results of the primaries and caucuses, while Clinton has said they should decide independently who would make the stroner nominee to run against McCain.
Clinton's team has assigned 20 staffers to focus exclusively on the superdelegates, one official said. Over the weekend, the team reached out to every uncommitted delegate amid rumors that Obama was preparing to roll out as many as 50 new endorsements this week. They found no evidence that a big bloc was ready to announce for Obama, but nonetheless made another round of calls to members of the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday.
"Our message to them was 'Keep your powder dry,' " one official said. "Their response was 'We will keep our powder dry.' " In light of Tuesday's results, Clinton's team plans to go back to uncommitted superdelegates with a new plea to back her campaign -- or at least to remain on the fence to await the results of upcoming contests.
Obama returned to Chicago after a disappointing outcome Tuesday in which his winning streak was snapped at 12. Instead of driving Clinton from the race and shifting his focus to McCain, he found himself dragged back into an ever more contentious intraparty fight.
A rejuvenated Clinton predicted she would duplicate her Ohio success in Pennsylvania's April 22 primary and eventually win the nomination.
"I think Democrats took a hard look at John McCain, with his emphasis on national security, and then took a hard look at the two of us and concluded that I'm the best possible candidate to be commander in chief," she said on CBS's "Early Show." "They looked at the economy, and they see that I have a real economic blueprint, and they're not sure where either Senator McCain or Senator Obama stand when it comes to the economy."
In a round of morning television interviews, Clinton also raised the tantalizing prospect of a general-election ticket that would team the two rivals together. "That may, you know, be where this is headed," she said. "But, of course, we have to decide who's on top of the ticket. And I think that the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me."
Told of Clinton's comments, Obama said, "I think it is very premature to start talking about a joint ticket."
Obama campaign officials said that he would emerge with more Texas delegates despite losing the popular vote in the primary. They attributed that outcome to what they said would be his wide margin of victory in the state's precinct caucuses, which were held Tuesday night and accounted for one-third of the state's pledged delegates.
As of yesterday afternoon, the Associated Press put Obama's overall total, including pledged delegates and superdelegates, at 1,564 to Clinton's 1,463. Among pledged delegates only, Obama leads by 140.
Twelve contests, with 611 pledged delegates, remain. Obama is likely to end the primaries with a lead in pledged delegates. But neither candidate will be able to reach the 2,025 needed for the nomination, which means the Democratic race ultimately will be settled by the roughly 800 superdelegates -- elected officials and party leaders with automatic seats at the party's national convention.
The closeness of the delegate count and the likelihood of a protracted struggle brought back to the forefront the ticklish question of what the party will do about delegations from Michigan and Florida. The Democratic National Committee sanctioned both states for moving their primaries earlier in violation of rules and denied seating at the Denver convention in late August.
Yesterday, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) and Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm (D) issued a joint statement demanding that their delegations be seated at both conventions. Republicans stripped the states of half their delegates for similar violations.
Officials in both states indicated they are open to holding new contests to award delegates, although neither has submitted a formal plan to the Democratic National Committee. DNC Chairman Howard Dean, speaking on NPR's "All Things Considered," said that he would welcome such proposals but that simply seating the delegations is not an option.
"Changing the rules halfway through the game is incredibly unfair to both of those candidates and frankly would split the Democratic Party," he said, "so we're not going to do it."
Despite its relief that Clinton's delegate gains appear to be minimal, the Obama campaign was stung by the big losses in Ohio and Texas. Advisers plan to spend the next few days brainstorming ways to regain Obama's momentum. Out the window went plans for economic summits and foreign visits. Instead, the campaign braced for what could prove to be the most bruising phase of the battle yet.
"The core of our campaign has worked very, very well," Plouffe said. But he added: "We're obviously not going to let these attacks go unanswered."
He said Clinton has exaggerated her foreign policy experience, and he made it clear that Obama will go after her on the issue. He also made a veiled reference to Clinton administration scandals such as Whitewater. "We're surprised they would want to have an extended conversation about contributors and land deals and ethics issues," Plouffe said.
Murray, traveling with Obama, reported from Chicago.
By Dan Balz and Shailagh Murray
© 2008 The Washington Post Company
|
Add a Comment See all 230 Comments
- I am continually amazed at the Cooperate Media, here is the latest example. You have the Florida Republican Governor bemoaning the fact that the Florida Democratic delegates votes will not be counted at the Democratic convention and now he is appealing to the DNC to pay for a new Democratic Primary.
Now lets see, you have a Republican Governor and a Republican State Legislature push through a measure moving the Florida primary, and knowing full well at the time, what the consequences would be. And now the Republican Governor and Republican State Legislators what the DNC to pay for a whole new primary in Florida. Am I the only one who thinks they knew exactly what they were doing all along?
They have created division in the Democratic Party and if the DNC pays for a new primary that will be less money they have to spend in the general election. DUH! - Reply to this comment
- "It could be argued "what goes around comes around", after the way Florida "stiff armed" Al Gore in the 2000 Election, like they say paybacks is a b*tch!" - Posted by tbweb
LOL! - Playing payback with voters is a lose/lose situation. They are a political parties lifeblood.
Posted by trapbreak at 08:33 PM : Mar 06, 2008,,,
If you step back and look at the bigger picture, Florida now is being perceived as negatively influencing U.S. Presidential elections! Americans may get to the point where they don''t care if Florida votes count, where Americans don''t care if Florida is left out of the process. Whether Florida likes it or not, Florida is gaining a dubious reputation of not being able to be trusted when it comes to U.S. Elections and should be going out of its way to distance itself from that dubious reputation. - Reply to this comment
- Either of the democrats will beat John McCain. Who wants to continue the *** that President Bush has initiated in Iraq but McCain. That isn''t to say that getting out of Iraq will be necessarily without aforethought; we have plenty invested there! But McCain would keep our troops there forever.
- Reply to this comment
- Hillary is singing "OH Canada."
According to EVERY major media organization to our neighbors up north, their govt was involved in
a
Watergate type scandal and is rocking that nation.
Check out Toronto Sun, Toronto Star newspapers, or
NBCNews.com or CNN, or CBC news. This is going to
finish her off. This is very serious and could lead to backlashes against Canada.
Fine, don''t sell us your oil Canada, and when the world markets crash, everyone can thank you. I''ll just thank Stephen Harper PM and his aide for leaking a false memo. I bet Ohio feels betrayed. Harper you should step off a cliff. - Reply to this comment
- Howard Wolfson and Hillary Clinton are in LalaLand if they think that Obama shouldn''''t be scrutinizing Bill and Hillary more than he has. Just wait till Hillary meets John McCain and the Republicans in the fall and they wished they had Barack Obama back. If Senator Obama doesn''''t become more critical of Hillary''''s record now, and if she is nominated, then the Democratic Party will be saddled with a potential loser that the Republican attack machine could rip apart in the fall. Hillary is not only running on her record as a junior US senator, but on Bill''''s legacy.
Hillary and Bill are a liability to the Democratic Party, and Republican Governor Charlie Crist of Florida knows it. If Hillary is nominated, that is a Republican dream ticket, since it includes Bill. Better now for the Senator Obama to make Democrats aware of her liability now before it is too late, then after she is nominated. Wednesday''''s ABC/Wash Post poll has her 6 points ahead of McCain, which after the Republicans finish with her will evaoporate. Barack is not only 12 points ahead of McCain, he can bring in contributions and the votes of both Independents and disastified Republicans, Hillary cannot. - Reply to this comment
- %u201CWe%u2019re coming to the biggest train wreck that you%u2019ve ever seen,%u201D Nelson said. %u201CBecause if they go to the convention and stiff arm the Florida delegation, how in the world do you think Floridians are going to support a Democratic nominee Nov. 4, only two months after the convention?%u201D
Posted by trapbreak at 05:38 PM : Mar 06, 2008,,,
It could be argued "what goes around comes around", after the way Florida "stiff armed" Al Gore in the 2000 Election, like they say paybacks is a b*tch! - Reply to this comment
- And now the liberals want to stop President Reagan from selling chemical warfare agents and military equipment to Saddam Hussein and why? because Saadam allegedly gassed a few Kurds in his own country. Mark my words. All of this talk of Saadam Hussein being a war criminal or committing crimes against humanity is the same old thing. Liberal hate speech. And speaking of poison gas...I say we round up all the drug addicts and gas then too.
Rush Limbaugh November 3, 1988. - Reply to this comment
- You know, I am not an Obama fan, and I really hate the thought of having to vote for him, but the picture of him without his hand on his heart and him not wearing a flag pin is GARBAGE!
No one could possibly think he could be that stupid to not properly salute the flag. It was the national anthem, and that is optional.
People who go on about those things (the koran, etc) are being silly.
There are plenty of real issues to attack him on! - Reply to this comment
- First of all..it was during the national anthem not the pledge. I''''''''ve seen that photo and they cut out John Edwards who also had his hands by his side. Some people put their hand over their hearts during the national anthem and some don''''''''t.Anybody who has ever been to a sportting event knows this. Everybody does it during the pledge including Obama. There are photos of Obama with his hand over his heart during the pledge but some people would rather spead the smear.
----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
------
Posted by vmcneal2 at 03:27 PM : Mar 06, 2008
Aw,there blowing this all out of proportion.Michelle has got more going on than Hillary ever had.I''''ll watch a sporting event on TV,and when the national anthem comes on,I turn the sound down.Why?Because I can''''t stand to listen to something that has become a symbol of so much hypocrisy.Does it mean I hate my country?No.I hate what has happened to it. - Reply to this comment
- Ok you got me, Obama does not wear a flag lapel pin. If someone wants to pick a candidate based on lapel pins that''s OK. I think it''s silly, but this is what makes America great. I just think we have more pressing issues like an ongoing war in Iraq started by people who wear flag lapel pins.
- Reply to this comment
- OK.No offense.Me?I''ve had enough!LOL ;-)
- Reply to this comment
- Posted by jesterbelle
Consider yourself corrected - your wrong. - Reply to this comment
- Should be:I''m glad to hear that.A lot of...
- Reply to this comment
- don''''t know if it''''s me you''''re asking, but YES, I will vote for Obama if he is the candidate. Much preferable to McCain.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by libra127 at 04:20 PM : Mar 06, 2008
It was.I''ve been having trouble with this thing.The spyware on this site is ridiculous.I''m glad to hear that alot of Hillary supporters have said they won''t,hence "my way or the highway".Sorry if I sounded a little gruff,mulehead,LOL ;-) - Reply to this comment
- No thank you. I like the question just the way it is. And I think it''''s a whole lot different kinda question that the two that you refer to. Lemme try this... When I''''m weeding out my garden, it''''s not too hard to figure out what is a weed, and what isn''''t.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by hadenough43 at 04:15 PM : Mar 06, 2008
Libra,If I''m reading hadenough right,he thinks all this votin'' ccrap is a waste of time,since it is so corrupt.He''s waiting for the shooting to start.Correct me if I''m wrong,hadenough. - Reply to this comment
- Are you going to vote for Obama when he wins the nomination?
Posted by jesterbelle at 04:16 PM : Mar 06, 2008
I don''t know if it''s me you''re asking, but YES, I will vote for Obama if he is the candidate. Much preferable to McCain. - Reply to this comment
- Are you going to vote for Obama when he wins the nomination?If not,you might want to to check your "my way or the highway" statement.If there''s anyone on hear that won''t listen to reason,it''s the muleheaded women,that support the muleheaded loser that''s too muleheaded to realize she''s lost,LOL
- Reply to this comment
- trapbreak..That video clip of Obama with his hands by his side during the national anthem was on snoops.com
If you watch the whole clip you will see John Edwards with his hands down by side. - Reply to this comment
- "Who''''s part of the problem, and who''''s part of the solution?".
Posted by hadenough43 at 03:50 PM : Mar 06, 2008
Hate to tell ya, but that sounds alot like Dubya''''s "either you''''re with us or you''''re against us". Also like "my way or the highway". Perhaps you want to rethink...
Posted by libra127
----------------
No thank you. I like the question just the way it is. And I think it''s a whole lot different kinda question that the two that you refer to. Lemme try this... When I''m weeding out my garden, it''s not too hard to figure out what is a weed, and what isn''t. - Reply to this comment
- Well I''ll take hope and change over another 100 years in Iraq any day.
- Reply to this comment
Mike Huckabee on GOP "rock stars," 2012, health care reform and more.
