CASPER, Wyo., March 8, 2008
Obama Wins Wyoming Caucuses
Latest Caucus Victory Is His Thirteenth In Battle For The Democratic Presidential Nomination
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A Bad Week For Obama
Barack Obama's strong showing in Wyoming is just about the only positive note in a week marked by several campaign stumbles. Dean Reynolds reports.
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Dems Weigh Delegate Dilemma
With the top two Democrats still neck and neck in the race for the nomination, the party is revisiting what to do with nearly 400 delegates from Michigan and Florida. Jeff Greenfield reports.
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(CBS/AP)
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Ballot box holder Marian Bursten, center, is enveloped by people wanting to drop off their ballots after voting in the Wyoming Democratic caucuses in Casper, Wyo., early on Saturday, March 8, 2008. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Timeline
Democratic Campaign Trail
Notable events in the race for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.
Just after polls closed Saturday, Obama led Sen. Hillary Clinton, his rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, 59 percent to 40 percent. The Illinois senator had 4,459 votes to Clinton’s 3,081, with 22 of 23 precincts reporting. (Click here for full Wyoming results.)
CBS News estimates that Obama captured seven delegates in the state. Clinton captured five.
The Wyoming contest was the latest in the candidates' close, hard-fought battle for the party's presidential nomination.
Obama generally has outperformed Clinton in caucuses, which reward organization and voter passion more than do primaries. The Illinois senator had already won 12 caucuses to Clinton's three.
"This is one more caucus victory for Obama, whose campaign has amassed a delegate lead based partly on a strategy of focusing on events like this," said CBSNews.com Senior Political Editor Vaughn Ververs. "This win, coupled with a likely victory in the Mississippi primary on Tuesday, could wipe out Clinton's gains from last week. But her campaign will go on, focused on Pennsylvania's April 22nd contest."
Clinton threw some effort into Wyoming, perhaps hoping for an upset that would yield few delegates but considerable buzz and momentum. The New York senator campaigned Friday in Cheyenne and Casper. Former President Clinton and their daughter, Chelsea, also campaigned this week in the sprawling and lightly populated state.
Obama campaigned in Casper and Laramie on Friday, but spent part of his time dealing with the fallout from an aide's harsh words about Clinton and suggestions that Obama wouldn't move as quickly to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq if elected. In Casper, Obama said Clinton had no standing to challenge his position on the war because she had voted to authorize it in 2002.
Clinton, buoyed by big wins in Ohio and Texas last Tuesday, said she faced an uphill fight in Wyoming. Her campaign also holds out little hope for Tuesday's primary in Mississippi, which has a large black population.
Obama's campaign credited the candidate's message for the win.
"Especially in the intermountain West, people are hungry for something different, people are hungry for someone who's a uniter, who can bring together a coalition of change," said Gabe Cohen, Obama's state director in Wyoming.
Clinton's campaign took heart in their ability to pick up more delegates.
"We knew that Wyoming was an uphill climb and that Senator Obama was expected to win," said Ben Kobren, a spokesman for Clinton's campaign in Wyoming. "We're glad we were able to bring out our grassroots support and come very close in delegates."
Both candidates were looking ahead to the bigger prize - delegate-rich Pennsylvania.
In Wyoming, 12 national convention delegates were at stake. From the first caucuses of the day, it became clear the state's Democrats were showing up in large numbers. In 2004, a mere 675 people statewide took part in the caucuses.
In Sweetwater County, more than 500 people crowded into a high school auditorium and another 500 were lined up to get inside.
"I'm worried about where we're going to put them all. But I guess everybody's got the same problem," said Joyce Corcoran, a local party official. "So far we're OK. But man, they keep coming."
Party officials were struggling with how to handle the overflow crowds. The start of the Converse County caucus was delayed due to long lines.
In Cheyenne, scores of late arrivers were turned away when party officials stopped allowing people to get in line at 11 a.m. EST. A party worker stood at the end of the line with a sign reading, "End of the line. Caucus rules require the voter registration process to be closed at this time."
State party spokesman Bill Luckett said they were obligated to follow its rules as well as those of the Democratic National Committee regarding caucus procedures.
"Everybody knew the registration began over an hour before the caucus was called to order. We've done everything we could to accommodate people in the long lines," Luckett said.
After initially accepting provisional ballots from about 20 people who remained behind at the caucus site, party officials said they and both campaigns had decided not to count those votes. John Millin, state party chair, said doing so would have been unfair to those who had left after being turned away.
In Casper, home of the state party's headquarters, hundreds were lined up at the site of the Natrona County caucus. The location was a hotel meeting room with a capacity of 500. Some 7,700 registered Democrats live in the county.
"We'll have to put 'em in the grass after a while," said Bob Warburton, a local party official.
About 59,000 registered Democrats are eligible to participate in Wyoming's caucuses.
Only in the last few weeks have the campaigns stepped up their presence in Wyoming, opening offices and calling voters and sending mailers.
CBS News estimates that Obama now leads Clinton 1570 delegates to 1460. But Clinton has the edge with superdelegates - the party officials and elected leaders - 245-201. A total of 2,025 delegates is needed to win the nomination. (Click here for latest tally.)
Although a win in Wyoming may not persuade many superdelegates, it marks one more prize for Obama as he makes his case for the nomination.
Clinton has hinted recently that if she wins the nomination she would consider sharing the ticket with Obama. But in an interview Friday in Wyoming with KTVQ-TV, a CBS affiliate based in Billings, Mont., Obama shied away from that possibility.
"Well, you know, I think it's premature. You won't see me as a vice presidential candidate - you know, I'm running for president," Obama told the television station. "We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, and have a higher popular vote, and I think we can maintain our delegate count."
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 335 CommentsPosted by renderedrain at 02:13 PM : Mar 08, 2008"
its this mindset that is the reason why hillary is behind by as many delegates as she is right now. that isnt to say that she would be leading, but she is more "me", while obama is more "we". she doesnt act as if she cares about the less populated states anymore, and i think that disappoints some of their voters.
Posted by T-racyMorgan
Maybe it''s to discourage hate mongers like you who would condemn a person based on his given name...in which he had no say! If there are Arab newspapers supporting Obama''s candidacy, name them. Give us facts, not innuendos. I did a search and couldn''t find anything supporting your contention. If you can''t give us publication names and dates, then that explains why the media won''t cover your bogus story.
I also notice you don''t mention that he has won the endorsement of Daniel Kutzer, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel (2001-2005), a leading expert on the Middle East and strong Israel backer. If you are intelligent enough to do critical thinking, you''ll realize this person was appointed by Bush. That kind of goes in the face of your pathetic attempts to portray Obama as a closet Muslim, doesn''t it?! Go peddle your xenophobic hate somewhere else.
conservatives have been proven to UnAmerican, self serving, greed driven, capitalist pigs
only money matters to them, war profiteers
she lost my vote, we want honesty in the white house
not republican spin
This from the same gang that elected a president Bush who in 7 short years was able to reverse what our country has done throughout its history.....give the succeeding generation a better education and a higher standard of living than its predecessor.
Bill Clinton made a under the table deal with Purtorico democratic party to chnage the nomonation process from Caucus t o Primary.... AS its evidend that Obama wud win if its Caucus.... its really unfair to change the game rule in the middle of knock-out game ... Untill now I was thinking Clintons are not so bad ..but its just not acceptable ... Hate Hill-bill''''s coward politics
RIGGED ELECTIONS!
Notice how Obama has financial support from the people and many small donars and more money coming in than Hillary who gets mostly large checks from corporations?
RIGGED ELECTIONS!
RE-ELECT NOBODY AND SCREW THE CLINTON BUSH CRIME SYNDICATE WORKING UNDER ROCKAFELLER AND THE OTHER ZIONISTS.
Bill Clinton made a under the table deal with Purtorico democratic party to chnage the nomonation process from Caucus t o Primary.... AS its evidend that Obama wud win if its Caucus.... its really unfair to change the game rule in the middle of knock-out game ... Untill now I was thinking Clintons are not so bad ..but its just not acceptable ... Hate Hill-bill''''''''s coward politics
Democratic Delegates (2,025 needed to win nomination)
Candidate Delegates
Hillary Clinton 1,462
John Edwards 26
Mike Gravel 0
Barack Obama 1,571
Total 3,059
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In totla Obama has 160 pledged delegate lead...
upcomming states likely delegate allocation
obama wud lead by 2 to 3 delegate in WY
obama wud lead by 8 to 10 delegate in WV
Clinton wud lead PA by 6 to 8 delegates
obama wud lead NC by 6 to 8 delegates
so overall OBAMA wud add around 15 to 20 additional pledge delegates to the existing
lead of 160..
No way Hill can overtake
180 delegate lead is substantial lead.. Supper delegates cann''t turn this around ..
and the state of IL. for a 14million doller deal
now you want me to for this this and you call
The Clinton dishonest a lot of people need to read
Chicago sun times
It seems like Obama does not want Florida and Michigan voters counted in the election. His silent speaks volumes. Why is not supporting the Michigan and Florida voters?
I''ve been reading your comments the past few days and I''ve yet to find a single statement from you that wasn''t a lie.
It isn''t Obama who''s standing in the way of recognizing the results in Michigan and Florida.
Standing in the way are the DNC, the entire field of candidates(including Hillary who wants to change the rules after the game), and, most importantly, the state officials whose decision to move up the Primaries after being told the consequences did it anyway. Now those same officials want someone else to pay for a do over made necesary by their not playing by the rules.
The voters of Florida and Michigan need to direct their anger at their own state officials.
When people try to defy the rules bad things happen.
.
The voters have spoken and it is now time for Hussein to withdraw and end his divisive campaign. It has been fun watching the antics of his frat-boy and girls-gone-wild supporters, but it is now time to take the presidential contest seriously.
Responsible Dems must focus on the fact that Tony''s Rezko''s partner-in-crime cannot win the presidency by winning in states like Vermont, Iowa, Idaho and North Dakota. To win the presidency, it will take winning the Hillary states of California, Ohio, New York, Michigan, Texas and Florida.
The Hope-Change, Change-Hope, Hope-able Change and Change-able Hope BS and assorted plagiarisms of Hussein (along with his theft of most of John Edwards'' ideas) has been a delightful distraction from reality. The last thing the Dems need is another gas bag loser like Kerry that can only spout hollow platitudes. Now the intellectually mature Democrats must get serious and work to nominate and elect a capable president.
.
*H*U*S*S*E*I*N
Posted by T-racyMorgan at 02:21 PM : Mar 08, 2008
-TrashyMorgan, HUSSEIN Meaning: Good looking.
http://www.babynamesworld.com/meaning_of_Hussein.html
Posted by SBNilsson at 04:54 PM : Mar 08, 2008
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Barack Obama has organized the most well functioning political campaign in American history. This ability to choose the right people and inspire them is very rare and necessary to deal with the big challenges ahead...
Posted by SBNilsson at 04:45 PM : Mar 08, 2008
-two excellent inputs here!
Your misuse of Obama''s name and misuse of facts shows you to be fundamentally deceitful.
Not the kind of person other people should look to for guidance.
You should straighten up your act before you seek to influence people.
http://prorev.com/legacy.htm
Hopefully back to Arkansas where Bill and oversee his Presidential Lie-brary and Massage Parlor,
and Hillary can stay at home and bake cookies.
Posted by ontheleft
Yes, Hillary is so magnanimous, isn''t she?
Always thinking of others and not herself.
BTWY, has anyone been to Bill Clinton''s Presidential Lie-brary?
Do it really have the semenn-stained dress on display?
Why is Obama silent about the rights of Florida and Michigan voters?
Posted by ssskfrancis at 06:17 PM
The voters in Florida and Michigan can complain to their state governors for moving up the primaries and making them lose their voice. Everyone, including Clinton, knew ahead of time that the votes would not count.
That''s the way the Clinton cookie crumbles.
Why is Obama silent about the rights of Florida and Michigan voters?"
Posted by ssskfrancis
A BETTER question is why is Hillary trying to change the DNC rules that she agreed to abide by back in November regarding Michigan and Florida?
"Let us steal it fair and square."
No better proof than her praising John McCain and unfairly and disloyally dissing Barack Obama.
But not showing any party loyalty is no way to woo superdelegates who, after all, would like to see the party win in November.
Question is, do they have the gumption to put a merciful end to this, or will they risk losing control of the Congress like Bill and Hillary did for the party in 1994?
Think straight!!!
Barack Obama,
''08!!!
pulled his own dirty tricks and knocked his
Opponents off the ballot so he could run unopposed
Well this is not chicago and it''s not 1996 and
Tony Rezko is not makeing the back room deals
to get him in office is that why He wrote the letters
supporting a 14 million doller deal in chicago.
or is that why he ran away from chicago journalist
in San Antonio or the good judgement for that boneheadsd Mistake with Tony Rezko and Iraqi Nadhmi
Auchi Yeah right like I am going too vote for him and
his what change
Obama 2008!!
Wasn''''t that nice of Hillary to offer the VP slot to a man who''''s ahead of her in the popular vote and delegate count? Posted by ontheleft at 06:12 PM : Mar 08, 2008. This is a classic example of pomposity from a loser who wants to do everything to get elected - It is pride before the fall. Clinton is showing a despotic behaviour, which is unacceptable in a civilised world
4 years.
Here is a win-win formula for Obama and Clinton. This formula will make history: we will have the first woman president and the first African-American as president as well. In 2008 a Clinton-Obama ticket. That is a sure winner. That guarantees the first woman president and the first African-American Vice president. And in 2016, Obama for president. All the Hillary fans are going return the favor to Obama in 2016. Two birds with one shot. That will make history. 2016 will be too late for Hillary. For Obama, who is young, that will be the right time. He will have the experience he needed by then.
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