Obama Seeks To Reshape The Electorate

Politico: Campaign Turns Attention To Ambitious General Election Plan To Bring New Voters To The Polls

(The Politico)  This story was written by Ben Smith.

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Even as he fends off Senator Hillary Clinton in the Democratic nomination contest, Senator Barack Obama is already turning his attention to the general election, and to an ambitious plan to reshape the American electorate in his favor.

Bringing new voters to the polls "is going to be a very big part of how we win," said Obama's deputy campaign manager, Steve Hildebrand, in an interview. "Barack's appeal to independent voters is also going to be key."

Hildebrand said the campaign is likely to turn its attention and the energy of its massive volunteer army this fall on registering African-American voters, and voters under 35 years old, in key states.

"Can it change the math in Ohio? Very much so," he said. "If you look at the vote spread between Bush and Kerry in 2004 - we could potentially erase that."

President George W. Bush carried Ohio by about 119,000 votes in 2004, winning the state despite a massive, expensive Democratic effort to mobilize voters there. And there's some reason for skepticism that Obama can do better than Senator John Kerry and his allies. Every four years, Democrats claim, and reporters write, that a massive voter registration and field operation will reshape the electorate in their favor. In recent years, they've been matched or bested by the Republican National Committee's targeted outreach to likely Republican voters.

"It's something that Democrats have tried," said Bill Steiner, the Republican National Committee's director of strategy. "The 2004 election kind of speaks for itself, particularly in Ohio, where that was a big fear."

But there are signs that this year could be different. In the Obama campaign, youth turnout and Internet-based organizing - so often promised, and rarely delivered in the past - have been made real. And the first black nominee could reach deep into the large non-voting tracts within the African-American community.

"There's the potential here to change American politics for a while. Under-35 voters are just so overwhelmingly Democrats. Getting them registered is a simple, important, not-easy part of that - and Obama can," said Jim Jordan, a consultant who ran the independent group that headed Democrats' national field operation in 2004, America Coming Together. "And the voters who do register will actually vote. African-American voters, under-30 voters will be hugely self-motivated. They'll get to the polls in numbers that aren't typical for new registrants, and they'll do it on their own, on top of the strong turn out mechanics that the Obama guys will surely bring to bear."

Michael Slater, the deputy director of the non-partisan Project Vote, also said he found the Obama campaign's hopes of a dramatic increase in the participation "very plausible" for younger and black voters, groups, he said, which are under-represented in the electorate.

"There's a long history of a lot of hype not delivering on election day," he said. But in this case, "there certainly is a great potential for an African-American candidate to appeal to some voters who have been out of the electorate."

Obama's massive, smoothly integrated volunteer organization has been a mainstay of his campaign. It has been central to his success in caucus states such as Minnesota and Idaho, where a volunteer army - organized online - preceded and noticeably bolstered his staff's organizing efforts, helping to build the huge victory margins that have made him the frontrunner.

His voter registration efforts have drawn far less attention. But they were there from the start. When Obama toured Iowa last February in his first campaign swing, his campaign brought along voter registration cards. As the race there heated up, voter registration became a quiet focus, with registration drives in colleges and even high schools that helped drive Obama's victory.

South Carolina, Hildebrand said,was the site of another intensive effort. "A great case study for voter registration was the South Carolina primary, where we dramatically expanded the African-American vote and dramatically expanded the youth vote," he said. "It was such a big part of getting us to that 28-point margin of victory."

Another high-stakes voter registration drive just concluded in Pennsylvania, where the deadline to register as a Democrat and participate in the primary was March 24. The Pennsylvania Department of State reports that more than 234,000 voters have either newly registered as Democrats or switched from other parties, and the state hasn't finished counting the new registrations.

"We put together a massive effort," said Hildebrand, saying that the numbers include "over 200k Obama supporters" - an impressive number, and likely more than 10 percent of the total turnout in the primary.

Hildebrand declined to discuss in detail the campaign's preparations for this summer and fall, but he said planning has begun for a major voter registration push.

"We are pretty convinced that Barack is going to be the nominee, and so we're going to prepare for a general election no matter how long this two-person race goes," he said. "What we did with those two demographic groups [in South Carolina and elsewhere] is what we will have the capacity to do in the general election in every state where there's large pockets of under-35s and African-Americans" - states that include Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and other battlegrounds.

The recent Pennsylvania drive reveals elements of that effort. It includes a traditional ground operation, with staffers flooding the state from offices across Pennsylvania. Obama also ran radio ads aimed at young people and at African-Americans, encouraging them to register. His website, meanwhile, includes a section that facilitates registration in each of the primary states by filling out a completed registration form in each of the states, and offering details on where and how to submit it.

But Obama - whose campaign is entwined with his biography on many levels - has also made his own experience registering voters part of the story, something that's likely to gain a higher profile as national efforts step up. In 1992, he served as the director of Project Vote's Chicago successful Chicago effort to raise minority voter participation, a chapter that's the subject of a video Obama narrates on his website. The video suggests that the project helped turn Illinois to Bill Clinton that year.

Together with Obama's proven appeal to independent voters, his campaign's focus on increasing turnout of younger and black voters -- his base -- could counterbalance hints of weakness among more traditional swing voters like the working-class whites known as Reagan Democrats.

Senator John McCain is running strong in many polls in key states, and is expected to challenge Obama for many of those voters. But McCain lacks a motivated new cadre of supporters, and even the traditional Republican volunteer base - evangelical Christians - views him with skepticism.

"Where Obama really has the comparative advantage is his volunteers," said Michael McDonald, an expert on voter turnout at George Mason University. "When you look at McCain, one of his weaknesses is that he's not a candidate who is going to excite the Evangelical hard conservative base. He's not going to have the volunteers in place to do the same sort of mobilization efforts that an Obama would do."

The record turnout in many Democratic primaries suggests the same. Obama, for instance, received more votes in Virginia than the leading Republicans combined.

"There's a big difference in what's happening in the two parties," said Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist, who cited the Democratic candidates' superior online organizing.

"The possibility of running avery large, very powerful, and very effective campaign to register voters is something the Obama campaign could pull off this summer."

[mudrose-2009]

Hey, the percentage of students who graduate in Blue States is 1 out of every 4. In Detroit they are dropping out like flies. That''s the Blue State philosophy. Keep them dumb. And for the guy who so proudly said that divorce is greater in Red States. Here''s a little tidbit for ya. (Donnie 900 and his many monikers)

Part I

One of the common myths about marriage in America is that "50% of all marriages end in divorce." But that figure is derived not from long-term analysis but from the fact that the raw number of new divorces each year is roughly 50% of the raw number of new marriages.

[mudrose-2009]

Part II

These numbers are distorted by the fact that people with successful marriages usually marry only once, while people with failed marriages have often married and divorced multiple times. Fortunately, new data from pollster George Barna included a more meaningful statistic. Of all Americans who have ever married, only one-third have ever been divorced. This two-to-one ratio of marital success should encourage young people who may actually fear the "50-50" marriage myth. Another misconception is that a person''s religion and values have nothing to do with marital success. Barna found that the percentage of people who have been divorced after marrying is lower among Catholics, evangelicals, and conservatives than it is among non-Christians and liberals. That''s not to mention the fact that more born-again Christians (84%) have been married in the first place than atheists and agnostics (65%). For those just embarking on the adventure of marriage, be encouraged--your chances of making it "until death do you part" may be better than you''ve been told.

Oopha!

[mudrose-2009]

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) took a break from defending his pastor''s controversial remarks--and instead made a few of his own. When pressed at a town hall meeting to discuss his approach to the AIDS crisis, Obama talked about the importance of teaching both comprehensive *** education and abstinence. But few on either side of the issue were prepared for the blunt remarks that followed. "The most important prevention is education, which should include...teaching the children... you know, that *** is not something casual... Look, I''ve got two daughters--9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don''t want them punished with a baby. I don''t want them punished with an STD at age 16, so it doesn''t make sense to not give them information [about contraception or abortion]." Reporters have since called the Obama campaign to question his use of the word "punishment." Not surprisingly, pro-lifers are outraged by the statement, which many believe to be a slap in the face of out-of-wedlock mothers and a telling look at the senator''s views on unborn children. However harmless Obama meant the comments to be, they do align with his voting record on abortion legislation.

[mudrose-2009]

As a state leader in Illinois, Obama was the only senator not to vote in favor of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, which protects babies who survive a botched abortion from being killed. On the day of the vote, March 30, 2001, Obama spoke from the floor, saying that the bill placed an undue burden on doctors to keep a child alive. "We''re probably crossing the line in terms of unconstitutionality," he said. More recently, Obama also voted against Sen. John Ensign''s (R-Nev.) bill that would have encouraged parental involvement in teens'' abortion decisions. Had it passed, the amendment would have authorized government funds to enforce the laws that prevent taking teens across state lines for a secret abortion.

Oreo is quite the liberal now ain''t he. He don''t care who he kills. That''s what I like about Liberals, they usually go after the defenseless.

[pensacola88]

There is no doubt that this campaign has taken the wierdness factor to new levels, but wierd authors of rhetoric are all bark and no bite. Most of them don''t vote.

The Pennsylvania race does bring out the best in voter support. Both Obama and Clinton have honed and improved their skills in articulating through a difficult path.

Obama''s oration skills and debating techniques are clearly a product of his good education.

Clinton''s campaign and cheerleading techniques are clearly a product of her experience.

I still believe that Clinton and Obama need each other and belong together on the Presidential election ticket in November.

[crater7]

Hildebrand said the Campaign is likely to turn its attention and the energy to its massive volunteer army this fall on registering African-American voters and voters under 35;

NO SURPRISE HERE. REGISTERING AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS.
OBAMA NEEDS SLOW DOWN A LITTLE. THE LAST TIME CHECKED, HE HASN''T WON THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION YET. IF HILLARY WINS, WILL HE STILL CONTINUE TO USE HIS MASSIVE VOLUNTEER ARMY TO REGISTER BLACK VOTERS TO SUPPORT HER?

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D AMERICA."

[neonink]

The only thing Obama has reshaped for me is my choice come November.

For 16 years, I''ve voted straight ticket Dem.

If Obama is the Dem. and based on what the media has blatantly done to basically profess him King Obama, I''ll reshape my vote and punish every democrat, by voting straight ticket Republican. I do not like the powerful media pushing one candidate over another.

I guess hell can freeze over once in a while.

[pepperp1]

Bringing new voters to the polls "is going to be a very big part of how we win,"




What really going on is Obama and his Thugs have exploited small Red States Caucuses with activist who have intimidated or tricked participants, he has used the Race card poor victim white People picking on him too many times until a brave Dem 72 year old Geraldine Ferrraro called him on it and shamed him, he and his militants supporters are spreading lies and distortions about his opponents both Hillary and McCain, his energy company backers have given him so much money he is buying buying super delegates, and he has a militant press and Obama net response team out threatening elected Black officials like Lewis like Nutter who do not support him headed by Rep J Jackson Jr and they are as well attempting to suppress turnout through fear hate negative attacks on Hillary to make you think she is losing when if all voters or counted its a tie even with the *** he is pulling and his bought media hacks and pollster like DNC Zogby, and with Dean help he has disqualified two states with small black liberal young voters intentionally don%u2019t fall for the rule line it%u2019s a lie SC broke the same rule. Every time you peel the Obama onion its shows another ugly anti American layer careful what you drink here recall GWB is recall a Neo Con puppet has you known etc.

The Dem Party is at war with the Fringe and the Dean DNC to take their Party back unlike the Republicans they are FIGHTING help them.

[rowdytexan2]

In seven years of his Illinois senate terms, Mr. Obama could not reach across party lines and get one piece of legislation passed. He had one successful year when he was literally given all the legislation to write.

As a US senator, Mr. Obama has named a post office, and passed a bill in support of efforts in the Congo.

Exactly HOW does anyone figure that he can define anything, that he can solve anything, that he can bring America together, when he can''t even unite his own party or lead anybody to pass legislation.

[pepperp1]

The Dem Party the majority of the Base, is at war with the Fringe and the Dean DNC who have rigged this race for Obama, to take their Party back unlike the Republicans and the control they gave to their fringe CC Right and the Neo Con Puppet Masters, DEMS ARE FIGHTING THIS PRETENDER OFF - TURN OUT AND VOTE keep this Party out of the hands of more fringe control intrest also backed by the energy companies fight them off VOTE in the Primary in mass.

[pepperp1]

Zogby''s poll are *** and his brother works at the DNC and is a Obamaiete. Dont believe thsi hog wash and Politico spin off form that WAPO Newweek politcal tabloid


Help the Dems keep their Party away from this anti American milatants on the LEFT FRINGE of wack a do land.

[pumaespiritu]

Hillarygirl34,
Pay closer attention to your candidate for fraud, corruption, and generally a shallow character. Obama may be much different than the average WASP but America is multi-colored, multi-ethnic, and certainly never belonged to closed-minded people like yourself. Perhaps you will miss the Bush era of hating everyone who is non-christian, and darker skinned than the pale white but psychiatric care is available for you and the many feeble minds behind McCain and Clinton.

[vet_sk]

pepperp1,
Obama thugs in Caucus states? You know what is so rediculous about all the Obama comments is that you are going by Hillary talking points, which suggest that somehow Obama has cowed over the high educated voters. And then Hillary has you believing she is the poor underdog. Sniffle, sniffle, all the boys are picking on me. sniffle, sniffle.

And then so many others are so enamered by Hillary they believe they are being cheated in some way by Obama winning. Did their parents teach them nothing about being good losers, shaking their opponents hands for a good campaign and then moving on to get a dem elected in November. We''re talking about continuing the war or not people - this is not a beauty contest. And you have to remember that Hillary voted for the war.

[crater7]

neonink ar 09:25 wrote: For over 16 years;

NEONINK, YOU HAVE A GOOD POINT. THERE A LOT OF AMERICANS THAT FEEL THE SAME WAY.

I HAVE WITNESSED 10 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OVER FORTY YEARS, AND THERE IS AN OLD SAYING, "I AINT NEVER SEEN NO *** LIKE THIS."
THE REPORT FROM " THE NONPARTISAN CENTER FOR MEDIA AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS HAVE FOUND THAT SINCE LAST DECEMBER, 83% OF THE REPORTING FOR OBAMA WAS POSTIVE. WHILE ONLY 53% OF THE REPORTING ON CLINTON WAS POSTIVE." THIS IS PROBABLY A LITTLE (LOT) CONSERTIVE TO SAY THE LEAST.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT " G D AMERICA."

[vet_sk]

RowdyTexan2, pepperp1,
Rigged the election for Obama? Are you serious. Have you not been in a political campaign before because it seems that this is your first and you don''t know how to act responsibly. You continue to spew vile here on these board. I know that RowdyTexas still believe that with Michigan and Florida that Hillary is ahead but even with those two states added in, Obama is 200,000 votes ahead, without about 827,000 votes ahead and 168 delegates.

I don''t get what you want? Do you want Obama to drop out of the race because Hillary is running?

[craigh9]

Hillarygrl34 - give it up will ya! This race is OVER. Money talks and BS walks - period. Obama leads in every major category. including the biggest which is fund raising. If you think Hillary is taking money from big corporations looking for special favors your out of your mind. No doubt Obama raises much of his money through small donors - overall he is much less beholding to big business than your candidate.
Bottom line is you need money to get your message out in order to win an election. Hillary is broke, she can''t pay past bills never mind fund future ones. Obama rakes in donations faster then the govenment can print money. FACE FACTS - IT''S OVER, the only question remaining is how long Hillary hangs on and how many people she screws financially before she quits.

[ozonmojo]

Obama''s campaign managers are blissfully ignorant that they are riding for a big fall in November.

[mjvw2]

"Obama Seeks To Reshape The Electorate"

I''m a little round...Does he intend to make me flat?

[craigh9]

Too bad Roy Orbison is dead - Obama could have him sing - "It''s over, it''s over, it''s ooovveeerrr - IT''S OOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

[vet_sk]

Let me ask you Hillarygrl34, what foriegn policy of the United States have you been proud of in the last several years? Okay, we gave 1/1000 of 1 percent of out GDP to the tsunami victims. How about the war? Feel proud about that? I was there I sure do not. I am sickened by our foreign policy. Does that make me anti-american? I don''t think so. We are a country who finds their energy in people disagreeing with government, not carrying the flag like we need to pray to it every day.

[omega39-2009]

Bottom line is you need money to get your message out in order to win an election. Hillary is broke, she can''''t pay past bills never mind fund future ones. Obama rakes in donations faster then the govenment can print money. FACE FACTS - IT''''S OVER, the only question remaining is how long Hillary hangs on and how many people she screws financially before she quits.

Posted by craigh9

NBC nightly news reported that she couldn''t afford to pay her staffs health care premiums. Hillarycare LOL!

[muuafan]

Hillary really has some challenging issues when it comes to pointing fingers or slinging mud. It is easy to sling mud when she has plenty mud on herself to share.
Here are my two thoughts.
First, When looking at the whole of the Rocky movies, we find that he lost and won fights; however, in the end he ran out of money and prestige as he continued his pursuit of "glory." Does Hillary really want to make her campaign analogous to "Rocky?"
Second, If the Hillary camp insists on continuing the rhetoric linking the Wright situation to Obama because he did not leave Rev. Wright when he became aware of his inflammatory messages she really is blind. Why? Because then the question can be, why didn''t she leave Bill when it was discovered that he had numerous affairs which seemed to be his unacceptable bent (especially for a commander in chief who leads and is supposed to be the example for all in the military)? I guess she couldn''t leave him because it would be like "disowning her family."

[xlib]

Anyone else getting the feeling that this guy is being jammed down our collective throats??
He''s reshaping the electorate all right. He is trying his best with the help of the msm and radical left to turn this country into a socialist state.
Anyone out there remember the 70''s and the policies of jimma?? This guy will make jimma and his policies look like a super conservative.

[vet_sk]

Xlib,
You have to remember that it is Hillary that wants to make it a near criminal act to not get health care where Obama gives you the opportunity to get it. Not sure how that is more socialist.

And cramming Obama down people''s throats? Give me a break, really. Arn''t you at all embarrassed for putting that c.rap out there?

If the press wanted to throw Obama in our faces, they would have pressed the issues that the exit polls in Texas clearly show that Obama won the popular vote if the the "Operation Chaos" voters had not interrupted it.

[concorde5]

Obama is the only Democrat who can bring in new voters. Hillary only drives people away from the democrat party.

[crater7]

craigh9; its over;

NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND. OBAMA DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH DELEGATE VOTES TO WIN THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION. THIS WILL BE DECIDED BY THE SUPERDELEGATES. THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO VOTE FOR ANYONE. ONE NEVER KNOWS WHAT LURKS BEHIND THOSE DARK SHADOWS.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT " G D AMERICA."

[barbaraf4]

I still say that Obama scares the h*e*l*l out of me. There is absolutely no substance behind his rhetoric and to challenge him is to be accused of racial bigotry. His campaign is smoke and mirrors yet the masses love him. Doesn''t this sound a little like Hitler or any of the other great orators who were able to sway the people?

I fear we will find out too late that he is the AntiChrist and he will mobilize the black churches who have heard hate being preached for the past 40 years, while we have been wondering why there was no reconciliation between blacks and whites.

[xlib]

vet_sk-So, just what exactly do we know about him?? Why no coverage in the press about his ties to rezko. Turn it around and say he was a REpublican, bet there would be tons of stories. There has been virtually no negative press on this guy. As for his mentor, wright, look at the way that way handled. We had three days of stories on hagee''s endorsement of mccain alone.
He IS the most liberal senator we have, as for pointing out his plan for health care, wait and see. His ties to shady characters remains under investigated. We know nothing about him.
As for "operation chaos", that''s right, I see the writing on the wall-VAST RIGHT WING CONSPIRACY!!
It''s ok if obama supporters go to the homes of registered REpublicans and urge them to cross party lines and vote obama, guess that''s ok.
It''s not the Republicans you dems need to be concerned about, it''s your own party. The clintonistas will not easily give up.

[vet_sk]

Hillarygrl34,
Are you really a democrat because you seem to want Obama to drop out of the race even though he is ahead. Why is that?

[sgtrds]

New voters are the main reason Obama will win the nomination and the White House. Not only has he excited the Democratic base, moderates and even many republicans, but he has drawn many people into the process that have never been involved with politics before. He is a force for change and people desperately need change after the past 7 plus years of disasters.

[barefootboy9]

Just told by a student at a major college that there is an 81 year old retired professor that has never failed to name the winner for the white house. He says that Obama will be the nominee and McCain will beat him in all states but Illinois and Washington DC

[barbaraf4]

"barbaraf4- it may be true that hitler was a good speaker...but to compare him to obama is ludicris. Obama is the opposite. Hilter wanted war and domination. Obama is trying to end war and bring unity." Posted by melchg
~~~~~~~~~~
And you know this for a fact, because everyone knows politicians never lie? Based on that theory, we know that Hillary was under fire in Bosnia.

[sgtrds]

barbaraf4- it may be true that hitler was a good speaker...but to compare him to obama is ludicris. Obama is the opposite. Hilter wanted war and domination. Obama is trying to end war and bring unity.

Posted by melchg at 10:06 AM : Apr 02, 2008

Now comparing Bush or Cheney to Hitler, that makes perfect sense. They are the new Nazi''s in the world today.

[vet_sk]

Xlib,
There have been lots of stories about Rezco. He''s sat down several times with editorial boards and investigators and those are all available to the public. What do you want, a Whitewater investigation?

[vet_sk]

"""Obama actions and associations speak louder than his words of unity. I have to agree that he is closer to the hitler similarity.

Posted by Hillarygrl34"""

Who voted for the war and who spoke out against it before it started? Clinton is culpible in the quagmire.

[popath]

As an outsider (Canadian) looking in, I have to say that some of you post the most ridiculous arguments to argue for your chosen candidate. To say that Obama is anti-American or inappropriate to lead by mere association with his pastor is ludicrous. If that''s the case, then the argument can and should then be made that Hillary is not fit to lead because of her association with Bill. Bill Clinton was an actual president, yet he disrespected the American people by sullying his office, lied to his family, Congress and the world, and broke laws that he swore to uphold as a lawyer and and as an elected official. Yet Hillary is still is his wife, she did not disown him, and she still uses him to promote her candidacy. If Obama should be held accountable for his pastor''s comments, should Hillary not be held accountable because her husband''s actions? Ultimately, which of these two extraneous characters (Wright and Bill Clinton) conducted himself in a more egregious and destructive manner? You should all be focusing on what needs to be focused on. Nobody can decide for you what''s important in a candidate. But don''t waste your time on petty and unnecessary, if not occasionally bigoted and sexist, name calling. It gets you nowhere.

[donnell828]

Hillarygrl34,
Don''t need your grand. Need a new direction for the country that in the long run will garner me much more than that amount. Obama''s additions to the Democratic party base in terms of people who don''t vote now (the youth vote) will reap long-term benefits. The only thing that could energize the republicans behind their flawed nominee is a vote against Hillary.

[sgtrds]

Just told by a student at a major college that there is an 81 year old retired professor that has never failed to name the winner for the white house. He says that Obama will be the nominee and McCain will beat him in all states but Illinois and Washington DC

Posted by barefootboy9 at 10:08 AM : Apr 02, 2008

That Prof must be McCain''s long lost younger brother.......

[twisterss-2009]

You say you can''t trust Obama??

But you can TRUST Hillary who runs from sniper fire??

?

[vet_sk]

...I was told by a student at a Univ that an 81 year old had a preminition. That''s precious. Can you imagine actually writing that here on this board?

[sgtrds]

That''''s a much closer rendition. McCain sold his soul to the devil (bush ideals) to get a shot at the presidency.

Posted by melchg at 10:13 AM : Apr 02, 2008

It fits on many different levels too. Extreme right wing. Invading other countries based on lies just to steal from them. Crushing the rights of their own people. Declaring themselves to be above the law. The neocons should just come out of the closet once and for all and take their proper name, neo-Nazis.

[jack3213]

"Just told by a student at a major college that there is an 81 year old retired professor that has never failed to name the winner for the white house. He says that Obama will be the nominee and McCain will beat him in all states but Illinois and Washington DC"

IM NOT 81 BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN WRONG EITHER- AND I AGREE MCCAIN IS OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.SO, LETS ALL JUST GET ON BOARD ALREADY.

[mike71067]

This protracted feud between Hillary and Obama is good for America. Obama is new to politics, and there''s alot we don''t know about him. If it weren''t for the feud, we wouldn''t know about the Rev. Wright debacle, and other things we''ve learned about Obama. The longer the feud continues, the more we''ll find out. Then maybe we''ll have enough information on the man to make a reasonable decision.

We already know everything there is to know about McCain and Hillary. We need to know more about Obama. Thank you Hillary for this opportunity. It''s what''s best for America.

[popath]

HillaryGrl34, I, in fact, like my healthcare system. There are definite drawbacks and it is by no means a perfect system. But the fact that I have always been able to go to my doctor of choice and never once had to worry about being unable to pay for my years of cancer therapy, make me a believer in universal healthcare. Are there ways to make it better? Absolutely. But we have a very good baseline from which we can start to improve the system.

[notblue]

sgrts, when self-righteous, ignorant asssholes like you call fellow American citizens Nazi''s the debate is over and the divide is widened. you obviously have NO idea what a true Nazi is or you wouldn''t use the term so liberally. While I know many people from both sides of the politcal divide the only ones who come close to that comparison are hateful divisive idiots like yourself.

[donnell828]

Hillarygrl34,
Don''t need your grand. Need a new direction for the country that in the long run will garner me much more than that amount. Obama''s additions to the Democratic party base in terms of people who don''t vote now (the youth vote) will reap long-term benefits. The only thing that could energize the republicans behind their flawed nominee is a vote against Hillary.

[sosoe-2009]

"Obama''s massive, smoothly INTEGRATED volunteer organization." "VOLUNTARY ARMY" I LOVE IT!!! You Hell-ery Rotten Clinton supporters, keep on hanging on to that Rev Wright bull####. IT''S NOT WORKING!!!!! You,Clinton and the media CERTAINLY gave it a da## good try!! All you racist ###### out there, GET READY, America is about to have our first napp#-head## president!!

[popath]

As an outsider (Canadian) looking in, I have to say that some of you post the most ridiculous arguments to argue for your chosen candidate. To say that Obama is anti-American or inappropriate to lead by mere association with his pastor is ludicrous. If that''''s the case, then the argument can and should then be made that Hillary is not fit to lead because of her association with Bill. Bill Clinton was an actual president, yet he disrespected the American people by sullying his office, lied to his family, Congress and the world, and broke laws that he swore to uphold as a lawyer and and as an elected official. Yet Hillary is still is his wife, she did not disown him, and she still uses him to promote her candidacy. If Obama should be held accountable for his pastor''''s comments, should Hillary not be held accountable because her husband''''s actions? Ultimately, which of these two extraneous characters (Wright and Bill Clinton) conducted himself in a more egregious and destructive manner? You should all be focusing on what needs to be focused on. Nobody can decide for you what''''s important in a candidate. But don''''t waste your time on petty and unnecessary, if not occasionally bigoted and sexist, name calling. It gets you nowhere.

[craigh9]

craigh9; its over;

NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND. OBAMA DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH DELEGATE VOTES TO WIN THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION. THIS WILL BE DECIDED BY THE SUPERDELEGATES. THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO VOTE FOR ANYONE. ONE NEVER KNOWS WHAT LURKS BEHIND THOSE DARK SHADOWS.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT " G D AMERICA."

Posted by crater7 at 10:02 AM : Apr 02, 2008

AND YOU MISSED THE WHOLE POINT - THE SUPERDELEGATES ARE THE POLITICALLY CONNECTED WHO KNOW - AND LIVE BY THE FACT THAT MONEY DRIVES IT ALL - NO MONEY - NO ELECTION WIN - THEY WILL FLOCK TO OBAMA BECASUE OF IT - AS ROY ORBISON SINGS - "IT''S OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[barbaraf4]

"HillaryGrl34, I, in fact, like my healthcare system. There are definite drawbacks and it is by no means a perfect system. But the fact that I have always been able to go to my doctor of choice and never once had to worry about being unable to pay for my years of cancer therapy, make me a believer in universal healthcare. Posted by popath
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Don''t plan to ever retire. Healthcare coverage will never be the same as it was when you were employed.