Obama Scores Easy Win In Mississippi

Illinois Senator Gets 20-Point Victory Over Clinton In Democratic Primary

(CBS/AP)  Illinois senator Barack Obama won the Mississippi Democratic primary, the last in a series of presidential contests between Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton before the two rivals settle in for a six-week battle to win Pennsylvania.

In the race for delegates, CBS News projects that Obama will win 19 delegates in Mississippi and Clinton will win 14.

Overall, Obama has 1,593 delegates to Clinton's 1,471. (Click here for the latest state-by-state tally.)

With nearly all precincts reporting in Mississippi, Obama led Clinton 61 percent to 37 percent. (Click here for complete Mississippi results.)

According to CBS News exit polls, the economy was the most important issue on the minds of Democratic voters in Mississippi. This has been the case throughout the primaries.

More than half of Democratic voters cited it as their number one issue, and almost nine in ten said they believe the U.S. economy is in bad shape.

Also, according to exit polls, a majority of Democratic voters in Mississippi thought favorably of the two Democrats running together in the general election campaign. Fifty-six percent said that they think if Clinton is the eventual Democratic nominee, she should pick Obama as her vice presidential running mate. And 54 percent say that if Obama is the eventual Democratic nominee, he should pick Clinton as his vice presidential running mate.

On CBS News' The Early Show, co-anchor Harry Smith asked Obama if he would put Clinton on his "short list" of potential running mates.

"I think Senator Clinton is a very able and smart and tough person, and I think she'd be on anybody's short list to consider," Obama said. "Because she's obviously got a terrific constituency and has proven to be a terrific and tenacious campaigner."

Democratic voters do have strong opinions about who should be at the top of the ticket, according to the exit poll. Among Clinton voters, just 27 percent would be satisfied if Obama were the nominee. Among Obama voters, 42 percent would be satisfied if the nomination went to Clinton, while 57 percent would be dissatisfied. (Click here to see the Democratic exit poll.)

"There appears to be some hardening among the supporters for both these candidates," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "Voters supporting each are more likely now to say they would be unsatisfied with the other, indicating that some of the increased rhetoric is taking a toll on what has been a remarkably united and energized party to this point. With six weeks before the next contest in Pennsylvania, that's something Democrats will watch carefully."

While savoring his primary victory, Obama also predicted a united Democratic party in the general election.

"Obviously I think I would be the better nominee," he said in an interview on CNN. "But I have been careful to say that I think Senator Clinton is a capable person and that should she win the nomination, obviously I would support her."

But in a race growing more contentious, he took a swipe at the way his rival's campaign has conducted itself.

"We've been very measured in terms of how we talk about Senator Clinton," he said. "I've been careful to say that I think Senator Clinton is a capable person and that should she win the nomination, obviously, I would support her. I'm not sure we've been getting that same approach from the Clinton campaign."

The exit polls showed a racially divided electorate. While nine in 10 blacks lined up behind Obama, seven in 10 whites supported Clinton.

Black voters accounted for roughly half the ballots cast in Mississippi, according to the exit polls. Obama's support among them extends a pattern that carried to him to victory in other contests across the Deep South, including South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.

The volatile issue of race has been a constant presence in the historic Democratic campaign, and it resurfaced during the day in the form of comments by Geraldine Ferraro, the 1984 Democratic vice presidential candidate and a Clinton supporter.

"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept," she said in an interview with the Daily Breeze of Torrance, Calif., that was published last Friday.

Clinton expressed disagreement with Ferraro's comments, and said, "It's regrettable that any of our supporters - on both sides, because we both have this experience - say things that kind of veer off into the personal."

Obama called Ferraro's remarks "patently absurd."

Both Obama and Clinton campaigned in Mississippi, although the former first lady seemed to go out of her way to say she did not expect to win.

"Some people have said 'Well Mississippi is very much a state that will most likely be in favor of Senator Obama.' I said 'Well, that's fine,' but I want people in Mississippi to know I'm for you," she said in Hattiesburg before flying to Pennsylvania.

After the results came in, Clinton's campaign released a statement congratulating Obama.

"We congratulate Senator Obama for his win in Mississippi and thank our supporters and volunteers there for their support, hard work, and long hours. Now we look forward to campaigning in Pennsylvania and around the country as this campaign continues," said campaign manager Maggie Williams in the statement.

Obama made a stop Tuesday in Greenville before heading to Pennsylvania, too.

"I've been praying for you," a man called out.

"I believe in prayer," Obama replied.

The Illinois senator also spent all of Monday in Mississippi, drawing enthusiastic crowds in Columbus and Jackson, the capital.

After losing 12 straight primaries and caucuses, Clinton rebounded last week with primary victories in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island. Obama won the Vermont primary and led in the Texas caucuses so far -- the party has said official results from the caucuses won't be available until March 29.

But the damage was deeper than mere numbers - costing him a chance to rally uncommitted party leaders to his side, and depriving him of an opportunity to drive the former first lady from the race.

Reinvigorated, Clinton immediately began talking about the possibility of having Obama as her running mate.

Obama ridiculed the idea, saying, "I don't know how somebody who is in second place is offering the vice presidency to the person who is first place."

Other than Pennsylvania, there are primaries remaining in Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota.

Adding to the uncertainty in the lengthening race between Obama and Clinton, Democrats from Florida and Michigan are pressing for their delegations to be seated at the summer convention.

Both states were stripped of their delegates by the Democratic National Committee after they held early primaries in defiance of party rules. But efforts are under way to find a compromise that would satisfy party leaders in both states as well as the candidates, possibly through primaries-by-mail.

The Republican primary in Mississippi provided no suspense since John McCain has already amassed enough delegates to win his party's nomination. McCain won about 80 percent of the Republican vote in the primary.

The Arizona senator was in New York attending an evening fundraiser that was expected to raise $1 million.

[hoopakai]

Check this out:

http://thepage.time.com/obama-foreign-policy-memo/

[davek455]

Obama and Spitzer similarities:
- both over-achiever males
- both in their late 40''''s
- both had/have aspirations to high office without putting in the time to rise through the ranks
- both running/ran on the platform of change

Remember, Spitzer''''s campaign slogan was "Everything Changes on Day One". Obama''''s is "Change We Can Believe In" I fell for Spitzer''''s slogan and voted for him. I am not falling for Obama''''s change slogan. He too will be a huge disappointment.

[locke10]

I''m voting for Clinton today! It''s exciting for someone in MS for our votes to actually do anything. Usually the primaries are already decided by this time, and nobody is worried about our 6 or 7 electoral votes in the GE. I don''t think I have ever gotten to see a presidential ad before.

[hawksprings]

Buh-bye Hillary, buh-bye.

[deq54]

davek455--I believe you and I have already had this conversation. Trying to spin Obama with Spitzer. Remember our blue dress conversation? Yes, we have all been down this soap opera road before-- why vote for a re-run? Don''t argue your point with what Obama could do when your candidate has already tread this slippery slope with her husband. Let''s talk issues. Let''s talk about America''s standing in the world, ending a war that claimed the lives of 8 young people yesterday.

[taddles-2009]

"He too will be a huge disappointment.

Posted by davek455 at 10:51 AM : Mar 11, 2008"

Your analogies are juvenile. You can make just as many valid comparisons between G.W. Bush and Hitler that are just as utterly inane and useless as your your foolish comparisons between Obama and Spitzer. If you''re going to make some kind of comparison try doing so on the basis of their record, not some bull$hit speculation you pulled out of your a$$.

[blondchic]

Mississippi''s large black electorate in Tuesday''s voting makes it fertile ground for Obama, who has swept the other Deep South states and has pulled huge margins among black voters.

Its sad that in the 90s the Clintons were the only politicians who gave a s h i t about blacks and now they are turning their backs on her. The majority of Obamas black votes are coming from people who never bothered to get off their couches to vote in their lives but because there is a black guy running all of sudden they give a s h i t! Give me a break!
Obama is a racist and if you don%u2019t believe me go check out his racist church and its Black Value System. WAKE UP PEOPLE this guy isn''t about uniting the people he stands for separation%u2026Plain and simple!
I guess the silver lining in all this is when Obama slivers his way into the white house all the black who voted him in won''t be able to sit around and complain about being discriminated against. Of course the scary thing is if Obama loses we will probably have riots breakout all across America.

[prayerman3]

I have been voting for 27 years and never seen someone to deside to be president and have so little experience. In the past if I am right most candidates have more then 10 to 15 years or more. Obama only has 3 years and Hillary has 35 years. If two different contractors came to you to bid on for building your new home. The first contractor has 3 years experience only built 12 homes. Second contractor has 35 years and built over 200 homes. both gave you nearly the same bid who would you trust. So we look at Obama has 3 to 4 years and Hillary has 35 years now after you think about experience in the same way. Now who whould you really trust to be our President.

[shutupnvote]

Oh joy another Republican State GOODY Romeny is really pissered now.... ZERO electoral vote in Nov, and one of the ugliest victimization attacks on voters I have ever witness since the like of Lee Atwater.

Shame %u2026again playing the race card shame shame and on your own dems

[prayerman3]

If you can not see why Obama wants to be President so bad read between the lines. He is a muslium trying to trick us for you to vote him in as President He turned down the best offer he would ever get and turning this down he is saying to hell with the Democratic party.
TO ALL THAT ARE VOTING FOR OBAMA WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. HE IS DESTROYING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THIS MAY HELP MCLAIN.
THINK LONG AND HARD AMERICA BECAUSE OUR FUTURE WILL BE DESIDED WHO WE PUT IN.

HILLARY OFFERD HIM AND HE THREW IT AWAY DISRESPECTED AS BEING A DEMOCRAT. THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRATIC, THIS SOUNDS LIKE WHAT A REPUBLICAN WOULD SAY AS BEING GREEDY. WHY??

IF HE TOOK THE INVATATION AND HILLARY STAYED OUR PRESIDENT FOR 8 YEARS DID EVERYTHING BOTH WANTED TO DO. OBAMA WOULD HAVE 8 YEARS AS VICE PRESIDENT THEN GO FOR PRESIDENT.
QUESTION IS WHY NOT?? DO NOT TRUST OBAMA ANYMORE!!!!

[ndpndt]

Last year I never thought Obamma had a chance. With each contest people say he has to beat Clinton. We must realize Clinton has a great advantage over him. For him to come as close as he has to Clinton is a defeat. She was already crowned. All she had to do was walk in. In every state he has erased deficits as much as 20 points. That is measurable success. We can not afford to carry Clinton baggage forward. I agree she is intelligent but smarts doesn''t win the race when you can''t get people on your side. Look at her wins against him. The gaps aren''t by much. In some states he beats her by landslides. Her selfishness shows when she takes smaller states lightly. It''s about democrats as a whole not just large states. She doesn''t even fight for small states or caucuses. This doesn''t seem like bringing democrats together. Hillary can not win (without deception) so her supporters should suck it up and stop giving the republicans fuel to defeat us in November.

[davek455]

Obama and Spitzer similarities:
- both over-achiever males
- both in their late 40''s
- both had/have aspirations to high office without putting in the time to rise through the ranks
- both running/ran on the platform of change

Remember, Spitzer''s campaign slogan was "Everything Changes on Day One". Obama''s is "Change We Can Believe In" I fell for Spitzer''s slogan and voted for him. I am not falling for Obama''s change slogan. He too will be a huge disappointment.

[pepperwood2]

EXTRA EXTRA - Rendell, Campanis, set to welcome Our Great White Hope Hillary Clinton here in Harrisburg, Penna Today. Special considerations & essentials only ! Your donations will gladly be accepted.
Go Hillary!

Also expected to speak are Gov. Ed Rendell and Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed, who are supporting Clinton''s bid for the Democratic nomination and ultimately the presidency.

In order to keep his promise to Hillary - Bill, Chelsea, Rendell & Mayor Reed (better known as the Galloping Horsemen) will join forces against Obama Barack who has been relegated to Town Halls.

.

[geecee827]

Obama is a dignified man who could have made some bad choices in life, but he didn''t. That shows he has a great deal of respect for himself, his deceased (white) mother and (Kenyan) father, and grandparents. He obviously chose the right woman for his wife, and has two darling young daughters. He is intelligent, has written two good books, and accomplished a lot in his young life. His experience may not be playing the political game that congressman play their entire career in office upon their on the Hill, but that just makes him refreshing, not inexperienced. He has good judgment and common sense, and that would be plenty to do a fine job as President. He doesn''t want to be Vice President, and you can''t blame him for that. He''s ahead in delegates, popular votes, and States that he has won, so why should he take the second spot? All you paranoid racists should just shut up and adjust. We had to put up with your Bush/Cheney warmongers/oilmen for 8 years, so whatever happens with the Dems, it can''t be worse than what we have now.

[hawksprings]

Gooooooooo Mississippi!!
Poke another hole in the Clintanic!!!

[ov442]

I hate this primary system. Its absolutely insane. It doesnt work either. it promotes cheating, it promotes money wasting, time wasting, it promotes dirty campaigning its horrible.

Changes to make
A) get rid of insane caucuses. Only popular votes, only people registered in their state as their party''s preference or as an independant. Voting from 6am to 10pm on a friday.
B) Get rid of state delegates, period. No election should ever have the opportunity to be ruined by individuals given power to represent thousands of votes and able to cast it for whomever they want.
C) Pull back this rediculous length of time for the primary and odd state voting dates.
-- Party primarys should be required to start campaigning in June of the previous year (2007 in this case) Campaigning should go througout the summer and early fall. Then in 3rd week of September primary voting in all 13 original colonies/states. On same night.
3 weeks later, the entire north out west to Idaho votes. Last friday in October all southern and southeastern states vote and all territories vote.
2nd week in November all western states and Hawaii/Alaska vote.
Done by Thanksgiving. 1st week in December both parties have conventions and declare nominee based on total vote.
Thereafter, no ads or campaigning for president until April 1st. But fundraising may continue throughout.
Then on April 1st campaign for president begins until November election.

[ov442]

Cont''d from below....
A) the presidential campaign should be far more important than either party''s attempt to whittle away competitors.
B) it makes all states relevant. No state will be irrelevant at that point.
It takes out the possibility of outrage and lawsuits from stupid delegates and stupid superdelegates that could vote anyway they want and stomp all over hte voters rights.

[wfbdem]

Jesus H. Christ
(The "H" stands for Hussein. Why do repubs hate Jesus? Vote Obama or your god will punish you.)

[wfbdem]

And don''''t anyone dare accuse me of being a racist. I''''m tired of double standards.

Posted by truth-hurts

......racist....

(

[hawksprings]

"I hate this primary system. Its absolutely insane. It doesnt work either. it promotes cheating, it promotes money wasting, time wasting, it promotes dirty campaigning its horrible."
Posted by ov442

Golly, if that''s true, then Hillary should have wrapped this up months ago. The Clintons are the Experts on cheating, money wasting, and dirty campaigning.

Just remember, it was all created by the Democratic Party.

[lordmi]

You are funny.
Would Your husband''s empoyer employ YOU , based on Your wife''s experience?
That is ALL sha has + all the scandals.
Put clinton scandals here in the search to study the experience.

GET her OUT!

[obamagrls-bf]

TWO wins today for OBAMA

Barack Obama is handily beating Hillary Clinton, 99 delegates to 95 delegates.

[remco82]

Barack Obama for President in ''08! "There is yet hope, and do not ye who have hope laugh in your hearts?"---Nietszche

[hawksprings]

Here''s the problem that the Clintons and the DNC Leadership is trying to figure out how to solve:

"How do we get Obama to give up his seat on the bus without turning him into another Rosa Parks?"


It''s amazing to watch the disguised racism of the Democrat Party bubble to the surface.

[remco82]

Hillary is a political dinosaur.

[obamagrls-bf]

Bill Clintons TRUE buddy Spitzer ..

did Hillay go to hotel to meet Spitzer

[atomiclucy]

I am tired of the Hillary bashing. If you don''t have something constructive to say - SHUT UP!

[hawksprings]

Atomic Lucy:

Hillary''s an angry, bitter, emotionally abused wife.
She would make a TERRIBLE president.

I think those are very constructive statements.

[obamagrls-bf]

AtomicLucy -- do you Belong to CLINTON *** RACKET ???unless no one should vote Clintons

GO OBAMA!!!!!

[taddles-2009]

"Just remember, it was all created by the Democratic Party.

Posted by hawksprings at 02:40 PM : Mar 11, 2008"


And I was just lamenting the fact that I hadn''t read a single epically stupid comment that actually raised my gorged and made me want to puke...until I read your "post".

[hawksprings]

Well taddles,
The GOP didn''t create the Dembot''s way of picking their candidates, now did they.
You have your own party geniuses to thank for that.

[wyzeman-2009]

truth-hurts you are a racists!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vmcneal2]

wfbde...you not a racist, you''re just a angry White guy who sees blacks getting all the breaks and you getting none. That does not make you a racist, it only means that you need professional help.

[hawksprings]

The Racist is the white lady who is telling the black man in front of her to get behind her and be her VP.

The Racist is the white guy who is telling the black man that his campaign is the biggest fairy tale he''s ever seen in his life.

And what''s really sad, is the two above mentioned racists are married to each other.

[future_watch]

I am sorry to see how short peoples'' memories are when it comes to the Clintons and fighting against racism. They have both always been proponents of anyone in society who was marginalized in any way, shape, or form. Furthermore, I do not believe President Clinton was referring to race when he made the "fairy tale" comment. He was referring to the lack of experience in the opposing candidate--not dismissing him because he is not a white man. It was the Obama people who read racism into it and played it for all it was worth. I am very sorry for that because Bill and Hillary have always worked shoulder to shoulder with African Americans and other minorities to advance equality. They are not the racists in this whole mess of an election.

[davek455]

if you don''t want another spitzer disaster, put a female in the white house

[deq54]

Future_Watch --What about Ferraros remarks about Obama--He is only where he is because he is black. Isn''t this a denegration of the man and others. Great political achievements by women or white men are earned--Barack got a free ride because he is black. Ferraro is a part of the Clinton campaign--yet I hear no statements from Senator Clinton rejecting this statement.

Perhaps it is not that people have forgotten the past--They just are so caught up in the present.

[joyous88]

If anyone cares to check the facts you will discover

that Obama won Texas as well,

hillary has gone karl rove republiCON;

she lost my vote

but she is still better than any loyal bushie

[joyous88]

hawksprings;

you are very foolish and I must say ignorant of the facts

[obamagrls-bf]

from the remaining 8 contests Billary MONSTER going to win only PA may be KY...

tell me how can she overtake Obama...

even if FLA and MI delegates allocated the way it is ...Billary wud trail by 100 pledge delegates..

hehehehehhe
Hillary''s face scare my daughter in the sleep .. My 8 yr daughter fall sick whenever she watched Hillary on television ...IT IZ THE TRUTH...

all kids fear Hillary''s wrinked face...awaful

[aldon61]

Hillary, throw the towel in, you''re not needed nor are you wanted. Listen carefully ......you are toast!

[future_watch]

Before you dub the Clintons racists, maybe you should listen to Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Reverend Suzan Johnson Cook speak about their relationships with the Clintons and how they feel about them as people.

This election never should have involved race and it''s too bad for our country that so many want have taken it there.

[obamagrls-bf]

HILLARY wud be the ugliest president of America ever..

though this will unlikely to happen , peopel rather elect Britney Speres

[deq54]

Future_Watch
Clinton''s campaign is who took us there. First Bill before the S.C. vote; now Geraldine Ferraro''s most recent remarks... I agree let''s vote content of character. I would still choose Obama.

[tawpdawg1]

Clinton will pull a surprise here because RUSH is large and in charge of the democratic race and has sent the dittoheads out for Clinton in yet another crossover effort. You heard it here first. He beat Obama in Texas then Ohio now Miss. Ain''t it somethin? Each party will have to resort to voting in the OTHER party''s primary for the worst candidate running. Time for Barack to start thinking about a third party run. He is up against too much of the same ''ol same ''ol to win the dem nomination. Go RUSH ! Go McCain !8 more years! 8 more years! 8 more years!

[future_watch]

If you want to know how Hillary has impacted lives, visit http://thehillaryiknow.com/. Granted...this is part of her Web presence, but these are real people with real stories of how she has helped/inspired/earned respect.

[deq54]

And what of the inumerable people that a top notch Harvard law school grad worked with. Head of the Harvard Review, the first black man to achieve this pretigious position, you don''t think it cost him big money to walk away from the job offers that surely poured into him to help ordinary stuggling Americans? Leadership leads by example.

His organizational skills honed on the streets of Illinois are now in display in his campaign. No top down management--each supporter is empowered. Reaching out to people to support his campn--no lobbyist money allowed. No matter what happens, he has changed politics in America.

[paris1969]

Interesting how the headlines read "Obama eyes victory in Mississippi" ... why is it that Obama''s name is always used by the Media .. and CBSnews.com has the headline twice on its front page ... the Media bias for Obama is frightening!

[hawksprings]

How did Hillary impact the lives of the Travel Office staff she smeared then fired?

How did Hillary implact the lives of Juanita Broddrick, Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, et al?

Some impact.