March 16, 2008
Obama, Clinton Brace For Deadlock
Politico: There Is No Reason To Think Either Democrat Will Emerge From The Trenches Of Battle Anytime Soon
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Dems Wait, McCain Flexes
After the primary votes are counted, the Democratic nomination may still not be secured. Nancy Cordes reports.
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Chance Of Dem Fallout?
Clinton supporter Leon Panetta addresses whether Democrats will divide if Barack Obama (who currently leads in the delegate count and public vote) does not win the nomination. Bob Schieffer reports.
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Friends Of Dems Rock Campaign
The campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have come under criticism for inflammatory comments made by some of their supporters. Bob Schieffer talks with Gov. Deval Patrick, D-Mass., about the fallout.
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Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speak during their debate Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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The Democratic race has entered its World War I phase, a bloody fight between two adversaries making only the most incremental of gains. And there is no reason to think either side will emerge from the trenches anytime soon.
There are 10 scheduled contests left, but thanks to proportional allocation, not enough pledged delegates to be had for either Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton to clinch the nomination. And, because of increasingly firm demographic voting trends, it appears to be a foregone conclusion who will capture most of the remaining states.
So on June 3, when South Dakota and Montana end the current voting calendar, the contours of the race aren't likely to be much different from what they are today.
That means 2 1/2 months of conference calls, attacks, counterattacks and millions of dollars spent, all to move the political needle just a few inches.
“It’s going to be a long, hard slog,” predicted Jim Jordan, a veteran Democratic strategist not working for either candidate. “It’s not good for the party.”
Pennsylvania, which votes on April 22, and Indiana and North Carolina, which both go to the polls on May 6, will be closely watched, as will Florida and Michigan if they vote again. But the stretch otherwise lacks any obvious primary of consequence or other decisive moment that could spell the end for either candidate.
“We'll have a race that doesn't look that different than it does now, in either pledged delegates or the popular vote” at the end of voting, predicted a top Obama campaign official.
Clinton’s campaign thinks it can cut into Obama’s lead on both counts but concedes that, barring unforeseen results or events, the stalemate won’t break before June.
“All the voters ought to have a chance to speak, and we’ll let them speak,” said Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee. “At that point, we expect some clarity.”
So increasingly it appears that the actual contests themselves may not determine the Democratic nominee.
Yes, there will be the usual commercials, speeches and town halls in the remaining states. But the prime audience for the candidates isn’t to be found in Altoona, Evansville or Chapel Hill. The voters will merely be playing a supporting role in a race likely to be decided by the party's superdelegates.
Clinton's overarching mission now is to raise doubts among the superdelegates about Obama’s viability as a general election candidate. The primary results, then, are relevant only to the extent that they drive - or, for Obama, dispel - that argument.
“We believe that [the Pennsylvania results] will show that Hillary is ready to win, and that Sen. Obama really can’t win the general election,” Clinton’s chief strategist Mark Penn said on a conference call with reporters Thursday.
Penn subsequently modified his analysis to say that losing Pennsylvania would only raise questions about Obama's ability to win in November. But the point was made nonetheless.
“A lot of these superdelegates are sitting back and waiting,” a Clinton aide said. “When they see us racking up wins in big states … that sends a very strong signal to them.”Campaign Calendar
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In addition to the unambiguous Obama-can’t-win line put out by Penn and broadly hinted at by others, the Clinton campaign is hoping to overtake Obama in another way that is outside the parameters of the actual contests.
It’s a more subtle version of questioning Obama’s viability, leavened with a strong dose of suggesting to Democrats, especially superdelegates, that they don’t actually have to choose.
“He would win the urban areas and the upscale voters, she would win the rural areas that we lost when President Reagan was president,” Bill Clinton said of a Hillary-Obama ticket last week while stumping for his wife in Pass Christian, Miss., before the primary there. “If you put those two things together, you'd have an almost unstoppable force.”
So while Bill Clinton is touting the strength of a fusion ticket, he’s also reiterating the Clinton campaign theme: Obama’s appeal is limited, and only Clinton can secure those key areas that Democrats have lost in the past when they appealed to some but not all of their traditional coalition.
Primaries and superdelegate strategy aside, the last best hope of the Clinton campaign is a serious unforced error.
“She’s hoping for a whopper of a mistake,” is how Jordan puts it.
Such a major gaffe or revelation could be a game-changer, and it's more likely to occur now than ever before because of the increased daily scrutiny of Obama.
“Cumulatively, the question now will be: Is there any risk associated with nominating Barack Obama?” observed political analyst Charlie Cook. “We’re very cognizant of the downside of what a Clinton nomination would be. The next couple of months will be about Clinton arguing what” the downside of an Obama nomination would be.
Day-by-day, Cook said, the focus will be on Obama and whether he can withstand the intensive scrutiny of Clinton and a newly-energized political press corps.
“How does he hold up over time?” Cook asked. “Obama is in his third week of legitimate press coverage of his career. So does he come across as steady or does he come across as wobbly? His comeback on the VP issue was good. If he’s doing that with any consistency, he’s not going to have a problem.”
Jordan said that at times Obama’s campaign has seemed “too invested in their brand,” which is to say that the campaign has hesitated to counterattack out of concern such action may sully its well-cultivated post-politics-as-usual image.
But, Jordan added, “he’s punching back harder now.”
It's going to be a long, hard slog... It's not good for the party.
Jim Jordan, a veteran Democratic strategist“She’s going to have to convince a huge portion of uncommitted superdelegates to overturn the will of Democratic voters and risk blowing up the party,” Jordan said, citing the potential wrath of African-Americans and young voters that Obama has brought into the process.
The protracted race and lack of any apparent end point has unaligned Democrats concerned.
“The primary race is no longer about Democratic ideas or policy initiatives - it's about process, and that is the last thing you want your candidate talking about,” said another Democratic strategist and veteran of Sen. John F. Kerry's campaign. “This is increasingly in the hands of the superdelegates, whose minds can change on a daily basis. What started out as a better path to a faster nomination has resulted in a party without a nominee and a ticking clock.”
By Jonathan Martin and Mike Allen
Copyright 2008 POLITICO


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See all 244 CommentsSo let me get this straight...she thinks we should take this to June and let all the voters "speak" but if it remains that they spoke Obama, as the majority have so far, it shouldn''t matter. She says if Obama has more elected delegates the superdelegates don''t necessarily have to vote for him. They can still vote for her. Then what is the purpose of letting the voters "speak"? She''s full of it. Delaying the inevitable and damaging the party in the process. I will not vote for Ms do anything, say anything, step on anyone to get elected.
It''s long past time for Hillary to step aside. I thought if there was not a large margin of victory in TX and OH she was stepping down then. Now it''s on to Pa and if she doesn''t landslide there it appears she''s still not stepping aside. They''ve been in denial since Iowa and it''s not going to end until she''s destroyed the Democratic party and John McBush in the White House.
The main excuse we''ve gotten so far is that Hillary Clinton just has too much on her plate. "I''m a little busy right now," she said during the Ohio debate. "I hardly have time to sleep. But I will certainly work toward releasing, and we will get that done and in the public domain."
That was three weeks ago. Two weeks ago, Howard Wolfson promised the returns would be released "on or around April 15." But weren''t the returns completed and filed a long time ago? Doesn''t Clinton''s accountant have time to print them out and make some copies (note to Clinton''s accountant: many Kinko''s are open 24 hours).
In short, it''s well past time for Hillary Clinton to be as "vetted" as she claims to already be -- and to have this vetting done now by Democratic voters rather than later by GOP hit squads. She needs to live up to the standard she laid out for Rick Lazio, the opponent in her 2000 Senate race. At that time, she said it was "frankly disturbing" that Lazio was holding back on releasing his tax returns.
What a difference eight years -- and tens of millions of dollars (some of them from questionable deals) -- can make.
Too things we have learned Dem are incapable afraid of their own strong candidates and the Press should be ignored for the most part as biased lazy special interest groups, and haters dont change and are bad for our saftey.
Too things we have learned Dem are incapable of sending us the strong nominee and the Press should be ignored for the most part as biased lazy special interest groups.
Hillary may have answered the White House phone at 3am but I am sure the callers always said CAN I SPEAK TO YOUR HUSBAND PLEASE!!
www.VIETNAMVETERANSAGAINSTJOHNMCCAIN.com
www.VIETNAMVETERANSAGAINSTJOHNMCCAIN.com
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www.VIETNAMVETERANSAGAINSTJOHNMCCAIN.com
www.VIETNAMVETERANSAGAINSTJOHNMCCAIN.com
www.VIETNAMVETERANSAGAINSTJOHNMCCAIN.com
www.VIETNAMVETERANSAGAINSTJOHNMCCAIN.com
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www.VIETNAMVETERANSAGAINSTJOHNMCCAIN.com
www.VIETNAMVETERANSAGAINSTJOHNMCCAIN.com
Why wont Hillary release her tax returns? People with nothing to hide don''t usually hide.
The main excuse we''ve gotten so far is that Hillary Clinton just has too much on her plate. "I''m a little busy right now," she said during the Ohio debate. "I hardly have time to sleep. But I will certainly work toward releasing, and we will get that done and in the public domain."
That was three weeks ago. Two weeks ago, Howard Wolfson promised the returns would be released "on or around April 15." But weren''t the returns completed and filed a long time ago? Doesn''t Clinton''s accountant have time to print them out and make some copies (note to Clinton''s accountant: many Kinko''s are open 24 hours).
In short, it''s well past time for Hillary Clinton to be as "vetted" as she claims to already be -- and to have this vetting done now by Democratic voters rather than later by GOP hit squads. She needs to live up to the standard she laid out for Rick Lazio, the opponent in her 2000 Senate race. At that time, she said it was "frankly disturbing" that Lazio was holding back on releasing his tax returns.
What a difference eight years -- and tens of millions of dollars (some of them from questionable deals) -- can make.
"Experience" is why the USA is rapidly becoming a 3rd world country, because those that are the most experienced are the ones that have sold out the interests of America to EVIL CORPORATE AMERICA.
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN
race is the media. Hillary supporters stop donating your funds to Hillary because in the end, she''ll lose.
Maybe in four years after she has released her tax returns and donor list from the Clinton Library.
Whoops, I don''t ever think they''ll do that. I mean, I just watched a film about Bill Clinton and Hillary in Arkansas, and WOW.
Taking Bribes from the Chinese military in order to win New York in 1992. Then Clinton lets them come and stay in the Whitehouse, much like the Bushes let the Saudis and Taliban resort in America''s most precious lodging.
Hillary will never become president.
Which Southern Confederate Fascist state are you posting from? Because you obviously support corporate welfare, outsourcing of US manufacturing jobs, the most expensive and least efficient health care system in the industrialized world, the worst public education system of any first world country, and complete dependence upon foreign oil.
Too things we have learned Dem are incapable of sending us the strong nominee and the Press should be ignored for the most part as biased lazy special interest groups.
The Bush/McCain ticket is waltzing right into the White House.
Neoconistic evangelical religious fanaticism is now embedded into the American landscape for the next fifty years. There''s no road map to gain back the American dream.
Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain
LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN ABOUT JOHN MCCAINS SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY IN VIETNAM
You need to get into reality. Since Richard Nixon
The Feds have flooded ghettos with drugs. I believe they called one as ''operation heroin'' in 1970''s in Oakland, Ca. to squash the Panthers.
In the late 1990''s, 2,000 AK-47''s arrived in San Francisco ports from China headed to the streets of LA, given by the Triad street gangs prominent in China and Taiwan.
Bill Clinton set this one up by taking bribes in Arkansas as a small state governor easily penetrable by the low life Chinese mafia who is runned by their government. This is no joke.
Look go ahead take your community to John McCain lets see how much he cares...threats and miltants
Oh, and the Republicans do?
When do you expect to see a female and an African-American on the Republican ticket?
LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN ABOUT JOHN MCCAINS SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY IN VIETNAM
Posted by danstoned at 05:25 PM : Mar 17, 2008"
You can''t go after McCain on legitimate issues? You have to resort to bull$hit swift boat ***?!? You''re a useless piece of $hit. Grow up you nasty little f**k.
Americans believe that the last 7 years was a time when
our government was honest and transparent, then vote for McFries, otherwise vote for Obama and change the system. He is leading in every category and has the best chance to beat McSmurf. I guarantee that most independents won''t vote for
Hillary. Guaranteed.
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Posted by Liberty4You at 05:33 PM : Mar 17, 2008
+ report abuse
Yeah you just keep listening to this Obama lies and your going to end up in the okey dokey world.
Posted by Policrypt at 05:32 PM : Mar 17, 2008
Only as a stand in for the guy handing out champagne at the Inauguration. Naders only use to politics is as the poster boy for "how to f**k up a campaign".
Posted by fitedafuture at 05:34 PM : Mar 17, 2008"
When the rapture comes and God takes you away...can I have your car?
Hmm, George Bush/*** Cheney = Saudi Arabia.
John McCain was in Vietnam probably longer than any other vet. Here is a list of Vietnam POW''''s that have endorsed McCain for president:
Commander Everett Alvarez, (ret),
Al Carpenter (ret),
Captain Mike Cronin USN (ret),
Colonel Bud Day, MOH USAF (ret),
Commander Paul Galanti USN (ret),
Lt Colonel Orson Swindle USMC (ret),
Captain James H. Warner USMC (ret),
Posted by trapbreak
Being a POW or a general or whatever does not make you qualified to be the President. I salute his service to the US and the sacrifices he has made, but that does not mean I have to vote for him
of the Bushes and McFries, who lied to America over 240+ times about Iraq.
In case you are unaware, Iraq did not attack New York, DC. They were Saudi''s.
Clinton did not even read the intelligence to go to Iraq. She trusted her own wisdom enough to trust Bush. If you trust Clinton to trust Bush et al. then you need to vote for them both.
Posted by Liberty4You at 05:43 PM : Mar 17, 2008"
Please tell me there aren''t still people out there who think the Iraqi''s had anything to do with 911?!? People can''t possibly be that stupid can they?
noone questions how McCain , Hillary or Bill worship..but media and public after OBAMA becoz he is black..itz unfair...
I see its clear racial..
FYI- I''m a white male ...
Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain
LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN ABOUT JOHN MCCAINS SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY IN VIETNAM
This is the last website that Republicon Bush/McCain supporters want you to see.
"Please tell me there aren''''t still people out there who think the Iraqi''''s had anything to do with 911?!? People can''''t possibly be that stupid can they?"
Yes, and they are mainly, McCain and Hillary supporters who are afraid of changing the corruption.
even if i support Hillary ..i wudn''t vote until she makes her documents public...
Posted by danstoned at 05:48 PM : Mar 17, 2008"
They probably don''t want you to see it because it''s bull$hit. Dan, go back to shoving gerbils up your a$$.
even if i support Hillary ..i wudn''''t vote until she makes her documents public...
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