Obama Says He's on His Way to Nomination

SAN ANTONIO — Barack Obama says even if rival Hillary Rodham Clinton has had a good night, he's on his way to winning the Democratic presidential nomination.

Clinton broke Obama's winning streak Tuesday. But he says he still leads in the count of delegates who will decide the nomination.

Speaking to supporters in front of the San Antonio Municipal Auditorium, Obama said, "We can stand up with confidence and clarity.

He said, "We are on our way to winning this nomination."

Going into Tuesday's voting, Obama had won 11 straight victories.

He won Vermont Tuesday before losing Rhode Island to Clinton. She also declared victory in Ohio, and they were still awaiting results from Texas.

Comments

[mcnairbo]

He sure looked pissed for someone on his way to the nomination.

[dajay]

HF Post: Who wrote this article? An Obama supporter who is in sixth grade. You have got to be kidding.

[goodsnservices]

The facts are pretty clear and in stark contrast to the spin:

Obama has the most popular votes, the most pledged delegates, the most states won and he's rapidly eroding Hillary's lead in superdelegates pledges.

Did Clinton break his stride? No.

Did Clinton close the delegate gap? No.

Did Clinton narrow the popular vote gap? No.

Did Clinton convince superdelegates to stay neutral or stay with her? No.

On the basis of the clear facts, it's very difficult for me to understand why Hillary looks so perky today.

[RobertHewson]

Re: Winning ugly

From today's "Head of State"
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/03/aprs-lui-le-dluge.html

"Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Après lui, le déluge <

The kitchen sink runneth over.

The fact that many would fall prey to such a desperate, Rovian grab-bag of distortion and misrepresentation brings home a truth that, now more than ever, must be recognized--a truth about us.

As long as we remain susceptible to negative campaigning --as long as we allow inchoate fear and primitive doubt to overwhelm our capacity to understand and check the facts--we will get the winners we deserve-- namely, those who win ugly.

Democracy takes more than participation--a goal we have yet to achieve--it also takes a willingness to apply thought over fear.

We have been trained to respond to fear appeals aimed at the pursuit of electoral success very well over the past 7 years--and at this point, we should begin to become inured to them. In plain speaking: we should wise up.

The Clinton camp has discovered a formula that, at least in the days of its brief burst of novelty, has worked. We can expect a deluge of such tactics in the coming weeks.

However, despite a sink that will likely fill to bursting-- paired, of course, with the conciliatory words that are meant to justify and allow further attacks--we now have time to adjust and evaluate.

We can and should do so.

A campaign that wins in adversity by the use of distortion and fear will govern in adversity in the same manner.

This is the true "red phone" lesson, one that we should remember over the coming weeks. Overcome vague appeals to fear. Pursue their reality. In the face of appeals to induced doubt, unproven "experienced", and dark insinuation, tenaciously get--and vote--the facts."

Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/03/aprs-lui-le-dluge.html

[Berce]

I fObama get the nomination, McCain will be our next President. Democrats for McCain.

[AjicNYC]

I dont get this concept that the big states WON by Hillary will vote for Obama. If we wanted Obama we would have voted for him> Our Voice should count for something!!!

[Zhonni]

Clinton is the darling of the Democrats especially the older old guards of the party. That is why she is winning in states where there are not a lot of independent to blunt her BUILT-IN advantage.

That being said, Obama WON'T be running against Clinton in November, he will be running against McCain.

He will beat McCain in NY,CA, MA, NJ e.t.c. Get the point?

[snesich]

Exactly, Zhonni! Everyone knows that either Democratic candidate will easily win the Big Blue States: NY, NJ, CA, MA, etc. that Hillary won in the primaries.

The states that the Democratic candidate MUST break into are swing states such as MO, VA, CO, IA, etc. All won by Barack Obama earlier this year.

Some of the Clinton backers seem confused by this very clear point.

Texas will never go Democratic in the fall. Ohio is 50-50 no matter who heads the ticket. I know you want Hillary to win, but at least step back, take a deep breath and try to be just a little objective in your analysis.

[Notapathetic]

I think THIS race is for the nomination, not for speculation on how States will vote in November. I also think that a person who lives in Minneapolis is just as equal as a person who lives in New Jersey, and that her vote should be not devalued, as Hillary habitually does when she doesn't win.

[Najam]

After yesterday's primary, the angry looks of Barack Hussain Obama make him look so much like Mrs. Angry Obama. So much for a change.

[BigLib]

Omarosa Obama's at it again:

Barack Obama’s wife Michelle is quoted in New Yorker Magazine saying America is a nation of cynics, sloths, and complacents, and we’re “just downright mean.”

Obama begins with a broad assessment of life in America in 2008, and life is not good: we’re a divided country, we’re a country that is “just downright mean,” we are “guided by fear,” we’re a nation of cynics, sloths, and complacents.

She keeps trying for her "gin-soaked raisins" moment, doesnt she?

[ESK]

BigLib - I found and read the article - Nice taking statements out of context. There are problems in America and she's not afraid to ask us to face them. I'd rather have someone tell me what I need to hear as opposed to what I want to hear.

"The four times I heard her give the speech—in a ballroom at the University of South Carolina, from the pulpit of Pee Dee Union, at an art gallery in Charleston, and in the auditorium of St. Norbert College, in De Pere, Wisconsin—its content was admirably consistent, with few of the politician’s customary tweaks and nods to the demographic predilections, or prejudices, of a particular audience.

Obama begins with a broad assessment of life in America in 2008, and life is not good: we’re a divided country, we’re a country that is “just downright mean,” we are “guided by fear,” we’re a nation of cynics, sloths, and complacents. “We have become a nation of struggling folks who are barely making it every day,” she said, as heads bobbed in the pews. “Folks are just jammed up, and it’s gotten worse over my lifetime. And, doggone it, I’m young. Forty-four!”

From these bleak generalities, Obama moves into specific complaints. Used to be, she will say, that you could count on a decent education in the neighborhood. But now there are all these charter schools and magnet schools that you have to “finagle” to get into. (Obama herself attended a magnet school, but never mind.) Health care is out of reach (“Let me tell you, don’t get sick in America”), pensions are disappearing, college is too expensive, and even if you can figure out a way to go to college you won’t be able to recoup the cost of the degree in many of the professions for which you needed it in the first place. “You’re looking at a young couple that’s just a few years out of debt,” Obama said. “See, because, we went to those good schools, and we didn’t have trust funds. I’m still waiting for Barack’s trust fund. Especially after I heard that Dick Cheney was s’posed to be a relative or something. Give us something here!”

[Notapathetic]

I like Michelle Obama.

Maybe some folks are more Bill Clinton enthusiasts---honest and forthright, without a hint of manipulation.

[Delaware22]

She'll get a pass from the MSM on this comment like all the others.

[tkk]

Can't someone tape those ears back?

[BigLib]

They are,

[calgary]

Obama to his credit was able to tap a part of the public that want to hear the right words in our troubled times. Of course, Clinton's point is that she is far more capable of deliverying us to the promise land than Obama. Shame on us for taking a chance and leap of faith with Bush twice and shame on us if we were to do the same again. The stake sare very high and the next President will either get us out of the hole or dig it so deep that will have serious permanent damage to our nation.

[plutorage]

Obama needs to show fortitude and integrity.

IMHO the "commander in chief" / "inexperienced" argument is really just made by women, racists, zionists who don't want to say that they support Hilary because she is a woman/white/bellicose.

The real danger for Obama is that Hilary's campaign will show Obama to be "just another politician".

Also he must project strength (fortitude) because Americans like "strong" leaders. He needs to drop insecure styles like aping MLK, truncating his phrases with stern emphasis, etc.

Obama needs to be perfect. After all, when Hilary says "we're just warming up" the reaction of the crowd is that it shows that Obama is "cocky". Go figure.

All Hilary's weaving to and fro will be forgiven her. Media pundits are free to speculate "which Hilary will it be tonight?" but if the same were said of Obama he would be finished.

It is not going to be easy.

[Portmanteaux]

Zionists everywhere applaud your candor and insightful analysis.

[Jazz42]

I agree with you completely.
Senator Obama is leading in popular vote, he is leading the delegate count. If Senator Obama had lost 12 out of 15 elections. The Clinton campaign would be demanding he drop out. Insted she is being treated like a Queen, only in america can a person lose in all catagories, and be declared the winner.

[roncraw]

jazz49 Clinton won all the big states that would give her the Pres. 12 of Obamas states are solid red and in a general election would never go to him.The states Hillary are Dem states and in this political climate the Repb. will lose to almost anyone.

[IkeChicago]

The two biggest states down, Texas and Ohio, one to go Penn and here is what Hillary Clinton has gained from her two big win. Where does she plan to make up the shortfall.

YESTERDAY: OBAMA +160 pledged delegates

OH: OBAMA -9

RI: OBAMA -5

TX P: OBAMA -2

TX C: OBAMA +9

VT: OBAMA +3

TODAY: OBAMA + 154 pledged delegates (net loss 4)

[RButler]

If Obama doesn't get to 2025 delegates, he doesn't win. Then, the super-delegate's votes matter and they don't have to go with him if he's ahead no matter how much you want that. They can vote however they want or take into account the fact that there are both primaries and caucuses and Texas has both. Caucuses are less democratic than primaries as some voters are excluded by the design. Then, there's MI and FL. Why did the DNC punish those 2 states for moving their primaries ahead, especially since the move was done by republicans in FL? What was the point? To please Iowa and New Hampshire.

Sometimes I think that the Democrats shouldn't govern simply for designing such a lousy primary process. The process should have been designed for the worst scenario such as what we currently have. Instead, it falls apart when the contest is close. It's like building a car that can't be driven in the rain.

[goodsnservices]

Newsflash: Neither Hillary nor Obama have enough pledged delegates at this point to secure the nomination, even if one or the other of them won 100 percent of the vote in all the remaining states. That means the superdelegate votes will be needed to make up the difference. Guess their votes will count too. The only question that remains is will it take one vote of all the delegates on the floor of the convention to declare the nominee, or will it take two?

[anthonylee]

You are absolutely correct regarding 2025 delegates to win.

Super Delegates, especially elected public servants will be "hard pressed" to go against their constituencies and vote for Hillary, that would place their respective offices in great jeopardy. Super Delegates holding offices (state/national) within the DNC (according to bylaws) can only cast their vote to break a tie, which leaves a lesser number of free-lance Super Delegates who've already committed to a candidate. That said, the undeclared Super Delegates "don't have to go with him", but conventional wisdom will tell you they probably will because anything else will disenfranchise the "majority" which would prove destructive to the party. The critical concept here . . . to vote in the "best interest" of the party - make sense?

Caucuses are not "less democratic", but actually more democratic, one must publicly declare their support of a Candidate to their respective communities and provide a compelling argument for said support.

"MI and FL. Why did the DNC punish those 2 states"? I'm not even going to touch that one, review today's response by Chairman Dean to this "spin"

[JanStan]

So far, it appears Obama has been his own worst enemy, not Hillary.

[samson24]

President Hillary Clinton. I'm used to it, and it's beautiful.

[Kally]

Obama is falling apart at the seams, with just alittle bit of critizism he is stuttering and stammering all over the place. It is a shame the MSM hasn't posted his filth and slime with auchi and rezko.

[ESK]

Maybe we should start looking at Hillary's filth and slime. Let's see who would win that battle. It's a shame but the discussion may need to go there. People in glass houses....

[DaisyMiller]

Icarus - wings melting.

[enoughalready13]

Madame President - even better!

[RButler]

How about 'The Presidents Clinton'?

[kroses98]

Obama can afford it. He has all the money he needs to go wherever he has to go. There are millions of us in his movement who will support him to the end! We will do anything for him, because he is the one to lead us out of the mess we are in, and we cannot tolerate HER!!!

[RButler]

He is your cult leader, right?

[dajay]

kroses98: Oh, you can't tolerate HER. Too bad for you. Now she just can't get the nomination for sure now.

Keep the dream alive in the Twilight Zone, clueless.