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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Play CBS Video Video 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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Video 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."
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See all 335 CommentsKnow what Obama means when he says he needs your help to get change: it means not just your vote--it means your support. How? STOP SAYING YOU WILL SUPPORT THE NOMINEE NO MATTER WHO IT IS. WHY?
1. If you will support the Dem nominee no matter what, why should the status quo not just put their candidate as the nominee and ignore the people''''''''s choice? (you''''''''ll vote for who they pick anyway)
2. If you will support the nominee no matter what, Why should Hillary run an honest, fair or even decent campaign? (even if she cheats, you''''''''ll vote for her no matter what)
3. If you will support the nominee no matter what, why should the SD not support the person who pays them the most or offers the best favors? (even if they ignore the true leader, you will elect who they tell you to no matter what)
Do you people even know who the status quo is or what it is? its not just corruption in Washington--it is YOU. It is who you choose and HOW you choose them. If you keep doing what you always do for the party--why should they change? Why should they stop the war? You''''''''ll vote for them no matter what.
Why should they fix NAFTA? YOu''''''''ll vote for them no matter what. Why should they stop backroom deals or stop fixing the elections so their best party pick can win? You''''''''ll vote for them no matter what.
People don''''t want real change. They want a magic wand to wave and things to be different--why they keep doing the same ol thing.
At least Obama isn"t stupid, like McCain and Bush.
I don"t want a dummy answering that red phone at 3 in the morning.
America can"t afford a crash landing with a pilot like McCain.
.........
well well well, with our new technology the next President''s red phone will be a nice new blackberry, and if Clinton is President she will enjoy the vibrating option. So I suspect that if the red blackberry rings , no, vibrates, at 3am, she will let it ring and ring.
Posted by Rock465 at 10:57 AM : Mar 09, 2008
The financial disclosure forms all Senators are required to submit each year are available online, including those from Hillary through 2006. They show that her and Bill''s income was from his giving speeches and from book royalties. All the details are online. What''s the problem ?
We should not take for granted how fortunate we in America are to have these rights. At the same time, it is very, very unfortunate, that a number of participants here, not only take advantage of these rights to freedom of expression, but they actually ABUSE these rights. Some apply the same for the worst ends.
Judging from many of the comments, viewpoints, and other ''''expressions'''' which CBSNews.com has provided us here, too many of us ABuse this site to insult, libel and slander others, to incite racial and ethnic hatred, to promote additional, sadistic ''''elements'''' of misery pain and suffering, and even murder...
... as they sadistically and depravedly add fuel to the fires of various, already sad situations.
At this time, and as the result of those who continue to abuse their rights of freedom of expression, we are about to lose our opportunity to state our comments at this site. Instead of helping and healing, these trouble-making pathogens have chosen the path of evil, incitement of hate, and other forms of destruction.
Those who ABUSE their rights of expression are to blame for CAUSING US TO LOSE OURS!
Posted by Iceman_1960 at 02:29 PM : Mar 09, 2008
We have Generals in the military to do that, Ice. Thirty of them have endorsed Hillary Clinton to be President of the United States.
What was actually said here.. Unpaid campaign staffer calls Hitlery a monster.. Off the record as was stated... In looking at this campaign and the "end Game" being played , a true statement.. Said Hitlery would do anything to win... True...... She resigned... Good enough..
He almost win Texas and after Hitlerys failed challenge to the delegate count, Obama will have the most delegates there.. Gained 15 points in Ohio in 3 weeks... Only lost ten delegates.. That''s good.
Bad week huh...
He has had no connection to Ruzzo in years and OBama has done nothing wrong.. What is the deal?
Bad week.. CBS has some REAL a**hole journalist out there for sure..
What a HORRIBLE story.
I have seen enough elections and can see when someone is pulling the wool over your head.
I have seen enough elections and can see when someone is pulling the wool of head.
Remember when President Bill Clinton was in office employment was down at its lowest and the deficit was gone down as well.
I personaly take more stock in primaries versus caucuses. It is the real deal. Each individual voter gets to have his or who say who they think will be the next Democratic Nominee in the November 2008 Presidential Election.
I will be one happy camper when President Bush takes up pernament residence in Crawford TX.
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Posted by lowell43 at 05:50 PM : Mar 09, 2008
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Your facts are a little shakey there. Obama walked away with MORE deligates in Texas I''m afraid.
We need someone that we can trust. That is 100% American. Obama is a man that talks with fancy words that you want to hear but what is he going to do as President?????????
If you read his book he turned his back to our flag, will not pledge to it, will not wear a pin with our flag on it and when he was in college went to every communist meaning or seminar ( read his book).
Do you want someone who puts our flag down. He is like a faulse profit and only has 3 years as a senitor but in the past anyone that has gone for president has about 10 to 15 years in or more. They even ask Ill. what he did and would he be a good President. They said a good senitor yes but a President no.
Bottom line he will destroy what hope is left as America
Obama continues to be sucessful in winning caucuses and Hiliary did quite well in last Tuesday''s primarys. Three out of Four. She is doing something right in the latest primaries. She has a good chance to win the upcoming PA Primary.
I personaly take more stock in primaries versus caucuses. It is the real deal. Each individual voter gets to have his or who say who they think will be the next Democratic Nominee in the November 2008 Presidential Election.
I will be one happy camper when President Bush takes up pernament residence in Crawford TX.
Oh Goody - Hillary''s added another horseman to her arsenal. Let''s see now - We have Hillary, Bill, Chelsea, & Mr. ED Rendell of Pa. That''s it The 4 Horseman against 1 Obama. Seens fair enough.
Win or lose they each will have heap big bank deposits from campaign donations. I''d like to help to. Do they need a Fifth. Show me the Money.
Asked if Obama is good enough to be vice president, then why isn%u2019t he qualified to be commander in chief, Clinton supporter and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said that it%u2019s about Obama%u2019s relative experience to Clinton%u2019s.
%u201CI think he%u2019s qualified, I don%u2019t think he%u2019s as good a potential commander in chief,%u201D Rendell told Sunday%u2019s %u201CMeet the Press.%u201D %u201CI think he%u2019s ready, he%u2019s not nearly as ready as Hillary Clinton is, there%u2019s no question about that. %u2026 Hillary Clinton is the best prepared candidate I%u2019ve ever talked to, far better than Bill Clinton was in 1992.%u201D
Come on now Mr. Ed. you''re sounding more & more like Ted Koppel''s interview with Al Camperis. When asked -he said that Blacks may not have some of the necessities or essentials to be GM.
The Clintons & You now are saying the same thing. In this case you mean The Presidency.
How can you give Hillary higher marks for being park of the corrupt administration in Arkansas & Washington. Sounds bias, prejudice & bigoted.
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See all 335 Comments