Obama Memo: 17 Pledged Delegates Away From Winning Primaries

In a sign that they are likely to declare victory in the presidential primary very soon, the Obama campaign is now boasting in a memo to reporters that they are on the cusp of winning the pledged-delegate majority, thanks to the endorsement from John Edwards and a group of his delegates.

By the Obama campaign's math, they are only 17 elected delegates away from the pledged-del majority, a number that they are guaranteed to pull off next week in Oregon and Kentucky. Expect them to court super-delegates to break their way en masse after that happens, on the basis that Obama has the popular mandate to be the nominee.

Comments

[eladora]

Hillary for Sec of Defense. With her at that position no assholes in the world will mess with us!!!

Thats the ticket

[drzoon]

i think the best place for her is Supreme Court. Her AND Edwards

[Raymondf]

I sure do hope your talking about Carl Edwards, you can't want John Edwards.

[azcamp]

Supreme Court would be good appointment for Hillary. She could distinguish herself without having to worry about Bill. No conflict of interest as Bill continues to rake in his speaking fees from foreign governments.

This would be a good place for Hillary to serve her country. The court, after Sandra Day O'Connor, has not been very balanced. She would fight with less talented men like Judge Clarence Thomas.

[Raymondf]

Hillary and her supporters are mad . She will not accept any position in the Obama cabinet. so he should not ask. She will tell him no, thats the reason she hasn't quit yet, she is secretly campaigning for McCain, the longer she hangs in there the more it helps Mccain.

[Trinidad707]

CFR boy...as is Edwards,Dodd,Kerry,Kennedy,Richardson.........and everybody else on the ticket on both sides...our so called choices`

[McPander]

The main thing to remember is his money is from the people....that is better than anybody else....change is slow but it is a start

[kellygrrrl]

Thank You John Edwards!!!!!

now to a more serious issue: Mike Huckabee has just made a "joke" that Obama is going to get shot at.
He was speaking at an NRA conference.
This man needs to be denounced rejected and disciplined by McCain and Bush immediately.

This behavior is inexcusable and has my blood boiling!

[sanywhere]

i am glad that mathews refused to play that joke. nuts out there would take it as permission.

[sandiegoconservative]

I agree, but now I fully expect for you to condemn the people on here and any future politicians who wish ill will on a Republican. I appreciate your concern for ALL humans.

[moodpost]

I think that all the Obama supporters who think HRC will continue to damage Obama have it all wrong. In a few weeks, the democrats will have campaigned in almost every state (sorry Fl. MI) and interest in democratic candidates has never been higher. If you, as an Obama supporter, continue to claim that HRC is only in it for herself and is damaging the party, I think you will be embarrassed when events unfold between now and when the convention is over.

I believe that HRC, (and Obama, of course) help unite the party between now and the convention. Then, when everyone is watching at the convention, she will make a great speech. You may not like the things she has done to try to get elected, but in the end, if you don't think she will try to do the best thing for the party, prepare to be surprised. I expect big things from her.

This is a really big party, and there are a lot of different types of people in it and HRC, like her or not, deserves a lot of credit for raising interest and awareness.

Hillary, please don't prove me wrong.

Get out the Vote.

The world is watching.

[justobserve]

Hopefully everyone who wants to vote for Dem in the GE will unite. It depends on the Clintons but it seems Bill is still going around criticizing the party for disenfranchising MI&FL voters. DNC already promised it will seat MI&FL delegates so what the point of going around making fun of his party's rules? He is not above the party, is he? He shouldn't do that if she is preparing to unite the party at the convention.

[McPander]

I don't think you really know what has happened in the past week.
Let me refresh you.
Prior to the primary in West Virginia HRC made a statement that party insiders considered "Opening the Gates of HE&*"
Have you read the Noonan article?

HRC's statement "Ward Working Americans. White Americans" effectively ended any hope that she would become President, VP and probably ended her chances for re-election.

After the statement a slow and steady stream of Supers started to move towards Obama. The writing was on the wall and she still didn't listen. She had her chance to have a seat at the table. When she chose not to back down after Indiana and escalated her race baiting to a point that it was blatant, she effectively ended her political career.

This is not discussed in the press. This is not discussed on the blogs.

The MSM and the party are really afraid of the escalation and the wedge that would occur in this country by her remarks.

I know it is hard to support a candidate and see them defeated, but the writing is on the wall.

[Raymondf]

HRC, Michigan, and Florida feel their Constitutional rights have been Violated by the DNC, and I feel they are right, and every American should boycott the DNC convention until the votes are counted, even if takes until Nov.1st. Obama stole the election. No matter how you spin it. I'm a McCain supporter, and I think Hillary is stronger, than Obama, and has a better chance beating McCain. Just my opinion.

[kevenseven]

Any Democrat who fails to vote for the nominee is a gutter dwelling traitor to the party.

[AMJordan]

Normally, I would say that's a bit harsh.

However, considering who we're fighting, it's too weak.

Whoever votes Repulsive this year is a slime-pit dwelling traitor to all of humanity and history.

[patmancando]

"Whoever votes Repulsive this year is a slime-pit dwelling traitor to all of humanity and history."

Those kinds of attacks are exactly why many Dems will not vote for Obama............Whether of not they will vote for McCain is debatable, but guaranteed certain that many Hillary voters, as they have indicated in exit polls on election day will not support Obama. Why? Because many of us feel he has run a devious, deceptive and dirty (the 3 big Ds), that his has disenfranchised 300 delegates and 2.2 million voters by refusing to have a re-vote, and by using the race card and blaming it on the Clintons. I would not trust this opportunistic audaciously ambitious neophyte with POTUS, and their are many like me. So connive to get the nomination which will be illegitimate and lose the GE, and then of course, blame it on Hillary. As a flavor of the month, Obama's newness is wearing out, and as he speaks more and more unscripted, people learn that he is an empty suit.........we are tired of Bush using ers, dahs and ahs in his speeches and are hearing Obama do much of the same when he tries to speak spontaneously.

[misstickly]

Hillary Clinton was vilified for being a woman, period. I don't expect you to see this because you believe people who see this plainly & wish to empower themselves the only way they know how as 'slime-pit dwelling traitors to all of humanity and history.' Obama supporters & the MSM have tried to deny women their respect & power, so we'll take that back & prove our empowerment.

Unfortunately, it's not the right-wing that vilified Hillary, it's the Obama supporters. How can we show they need to respect us and 50% of the Democratic Party? By not supporting their candidate. Got that? It would be too convenient and meaningless to them to illustrate that point by supporting THEIR candidate. Women matter, our time is NOW. Not later.

Traitors? To whom? The DNC? HA! So what, there are bigger fish to fry for REAL women, like me. Spend one minute writing about the larger issue of sexism in America then tell ME who I need to vote for. My candidate was torn down by a deliberate pattern of gender bias and sexism. She cannot win? Then, I cannot condone this blatant smear campaign with a clear conscience by allowing those who plainly display their ignorance to choose who should lead this country.

[misstickly]

Many fine women fought for my right to vote for whomever and they fought for many womens' right to vote Obama. I respect that. Now respect ME.

[misstickly]

I'm a white, middle class woman and like it or not, we are suffering atrocities. And if you believe we are petty for acting out against the sexist bullies out there after we have all been bullied by bush for 8 years, you will believe it when you have McCain.

Thank you, but I will vote for whomever I want, it's all the power we have right now thanks to the media and the Obamabots.

And if women like me are allowed to succeed in this boycott, you will only have yourselves to blame.

[drkazmd65]

As an independent-minded, mostly Democrat voting Liberal,.....

I am loyal to the Constitution, and to my fellow men and women Americans,...

I am not loyal to the party - that would be one of the tell-tale signs of an unthinking lemming following the will of his dictator,...

That being said,... I would have been hard pressed to be convinced to vote for Hillary Clinton if she were the nominee.

Obama,... him I can live with.

[RNdaSilva]

Well said. I'm a registered republican who's voting for Barack Obama. A non-lemming so to speak.

As an aside, why do some posters here continue to "feed" the troll(s). IGNORE.

[abby4ever]

You're no diplomat.

[misstickly]

I won't vote for him because I am a woman, not because I am a (soon to be independent) democrat. I would rather be a traitor to my party than a traitor to myself and my sisterhood.

[blaquekat9]

great what's the hold-up? let's get it together and get that weird old man back to ARIZONA .

[Lisette]

GOD BLESS BARACK OBAMA

WE AMERICANS ARE FORTUNATE HE CAME ALONG

[SmootyBooty]

Yes we are...

[CarmenCameron]

Last stop for the Clintons' hopes: Kentucky.

Today, Bill Clinton spoke to a group of approximately 300 people - mostly high school students who'd just left their classrooms - here in Louisville, Kentucky.

Last Monday evening, Senator Obama spoke to approximately 8,000 at the Louisville Convention Center.

Granted, Louisville is the only truly urban exception in this wastly rural state (with a big swath of Appalachia in the east), BUT as an indicator of just how the major population centers in this country will go in the general, it is heartening to know that even in this truly conservative (conservative even by standards circa the early 1900's) state, Senator Obama is winning hands down with a wonderful cross-section of voters!

YES WE CAN!

[bongogirl]

I AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gladys46]

Hillary's ads are now civil ... they speak to her and not attacking Obama!! Snakes in the grass? Don't trust her ... hillary's not to be trusted! Or, has she finally realized she just can't win especially failing so badly with all those horrific tactics they already used? She is responsible to clean up the sh.t she left in many very volunerable states such as WV ... poor people without education ... Hillary took total advantage of those poor unread, people! I didn't call them that the media did and Hillary never, ever corrected the media either!

Clean it up Hillary!

[Freedomscap]

MSNBC is reporting now that people in the Clinton campaign are advising her that she can't secure the nomination.

[Scarllatti]

That is refreshing. We need to move on to clip old war-monger McBush.

[kevenseven]

What, do you suppose, was their first clue?

[PrdAmerican]

How if only someone would whisper that to Terry M.

[Bluejay00234]

Ugh oh

[Thatcher]

http://tinyurl.com/6qehy8

27 (superdelegates) is the magic number - Very magic. That is the number of Superdelegates Obama needs to shut-out Clinton for the nomination. But wait, you say - Obama needs many more delegates than that, he needs about 140 to get to 2025! You are correct. But the 27 Superdelegates are the actual number needed to shut-out Clinton from HER getting the nomination.

[Freedomscap]

In other words, once he gets 27 superdelegates, Hillary will not have enough superdelegates to chose from to reach the magic number of 2025. However, on the other hand, something to consider is the fact that she believes the superdelegates can switch their support at any time and that may be a game plan for her at the convention.

[HowietheScreamer]

That would be her plan ONLY if she wanted to destroy the Democratic party in the process. I would sincerely hope that she isn't that selfish.

[Softnsweet]

The superdelegates may switch. I have

[DoTheMath]

Superdelegates, haven't you heard? She believes that even PLEDGED delegates can switch, which is technically true, but not something most of us would want to pin our hopes on.

[Sparklez]

Wait a minute

I thought he needed 120.5 more to win the nomination

Im gettin confused by this delegate business

[dentuso]

He needs another 120.5 total for delegates, pledged and super combined.

However, the supers are not going to turn over the will of the people, which is the pledged delegates. Currently, he's 18 away from claiming the majority of pledged delegates, which are the will of the people, and do not include supers.

[Freedomscap]

Yes, he needs 120.5 to secure the nomination. However, to secure the majority of remaining pledged delegates, i.e., the delegates awarded by the votes in each state, and not the superdelegates, he needs only to secure 17 and now I think the number is 16.

In other words, there are only so many more states left to vote -- I think 5, if I'm not mistaken. With those remaining 5 states, Obama only needs to secure 17/16 of those delegates to secure the majority of pledged delegates. There will be no more pledged delegates left to secure. However, this number doesn't take into account the states: MI and FL.

[Sparklez]

Thank you

I just read it on the website also

If he can get that magic number before they meet, then he is good

But i do think he needs to advocate for them to be seated like in the article on here said giving her a nice advantage, yet she is still the loser

Then he can get that support from MI and Fl back.

[Freedomscap]

And with voting next Tuesday in Oregon, he wil suprass the 17/16 number of securing the majority of pledged delegates.

[amazinggrace]

I am simply amazed at how well the Obama campaign was run. He will do the victory lap with class as well mindful that he needs Clinton supporters as well. I have great confidence that he can run this off the course country like he ran his campaign. It will be amazing to behold.

Obama '08

[dentuso]

Absolutely agree.

This has been, unquestionably, the most incredibly well-managed enterprise I've seen in my 40-some years in business.

He started with no brand, no money, no network, no favors owed, no lobby support, and no team, running against a political machine who had a nominee with brand, money, and network.

He ended up with $74 million, the nomination, and the largest support network in the history of US politics.

Remarkable.

[Lagniappe]

The audacity of INTEGRITY! Cream ALWAYS rises.

[metalpipe]

Yup, and I flipped from the 'Hillary Camp' very early; long before he was showing signs of winning. The guy is smart, honest, and able. If he doesn't win in November I may move to Costa Rica for a while and watch the fire works from there.

[leftoflennon]

Yup.

Clinton and McCain can't even run efficient campaigns.

OBAMA '08

[johnnygoodwud]

HILLARY WHO,,,,,,,,,,,IS ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION TO HER? I READ SHE RECENTLY GOT OFF HER PLANE AND WAVED TO THE CROWD, AS THE PRESS WAS WATCHING AND IT WAS A PHOTO-OP. ONLY ONE PROBLEM, NO ONE WAS THERE TO WAVE TO. PRETTY SAD AND PATHETIC. HILLARY GIVE IT UP.

[shubes61]

MSNBC.com has a story in "First Read" that North Carolina adjusted their delegate split, taking two delegates away from Senator Clinton and giving them to Senator Obama.

The final split is Obama 67, Clinton 48.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/16/1031452.aspx

[Bluejay00234]

Even better!

[Seattlelite]

I heard a media commentator say yesterday that Obama should re-think having a nomination victory party once he reaches the magic number next week in OR -- I could not disagree more, why should he and his supporters be denied that joy and excitement just because Hillary won't step down?

[Freedomscap]

I don't maybe because some people are mean spirited and twist and turn anything and everything.

Always best to take the high road.

[dentuso]

Simple. Appearances.

Clinton is YET to tell her supporters that it's mathematically over, and has been for some time. She keeps leading them on that there's still a good shot at winning, which keeps them coming out. Which is fine.

I do believe, however, that if Hillary had told them 6 weeks ago that it was impossible to catch up, and that her intentions were to have Superdelegates overturn the will of the voters, many of them would give her the deer-in-the-headlights look, screaming Huh? That's what this is all about?"

[abouttime]

Obama is not going to declare victory before the Convntion. I like others believe this race was settled months ago. Obama will wait until the final delegate "Vote" at the Convention to announcevictory of the party, not himself. It's not that Obama wants to deprive celebration to suporters, but hey, the Convention will be the turning point of the Democratic party, at which point Obama will be officilly its new leader - and I assure you it will be a celebration for all democrats- It will also be unifiying to wait until then.
I personnaly have been celebrating for some time.
Obama 08