Obama Set To Reach Delegate Milestone

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama will reach a significant milestone Tuesday as he marches toward the Democratic nomination for president _ a majority of pledged delegates at stake in all the primaries and caucuses.

Obama will still be short of the overall number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination, unless he were to suddenly receive an avalanche of endorsements from the party and elected officials known as superdelegates. But the Illinois senator's campaign is touting the delegate milestone as a big step in defeating his rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

"A clear majority of elected delegates will send an unmistakable message _ the people have spoken, and they are ready for change," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe wrote in a memo to supporters Monday.

"As we near victory in one contest, the next challenge is already heating up," Plouffe wrote. "President Bush and Senator McCain have begun coordinating their attacks on Barack Obama in an effort to extend their failed policies for a third term."

Obama picked up the endorsement of Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia Monday, less than a week after Clinton overwhelmingly won the state's primary. Byrd is the longest serving member of the U.S. Senate.

Obama has led in pledged delegates since he won the first caucuses in Iowa on Jan. 3. The two candidates stayed close through Super Tuesday, when Democrats voted in 22 states and American Samoa. Obama won 13 more delegates than Clinton that day _ out of nearly 1,700 at stake.

Obama built an imposing lead the following two weeks, winning 11 straight contests in states such as Louisiana, Maryland, Washington and Virginia. He led by 161 pledged delegates on Feb. 19, after victories in Wisconsin and Hawaii. The lead has been relatively unchanged ever since as the candidates spent the past three months trading victories.

Obama goes into Tuesday's contests with 1,610.5 pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses. He needs 17 more to reach a majority of the 3,253 pledged delegates available. Clinton has 1,443.5 pledged delegates, according to the latest tally by The Associated Press.

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Clinton's campaign played down the significance of the milestone, accusing Obama of declaring victory without reaching the required number of overall delegates.

"Premature victory laps and false declarations of victory are unwarranted. Declaring 'mission accomplished' does not make it so," Howard Wolfson, Clinton's communications director, said in a memo to supporters.

Obama has a total of 1,915 delegates overall, including endorsements from superdelegates. Clinton has 1,721, according to the latest AP count.

Obama is a little more than 100 delegates short of the 2,026 needed to clinch the nomination. He cannot make up that ground in the Kentucky and Oregon primaries because of the proportional way in which Democrats award delegates. The two states have a total of 103 delegates at stake Tuesday.

But winning a majority of pledged delegates could help his case with undecided superdelegates, who are free to support whomever they choose at the party's national convention in August. Obama argues that superdelegates should support the candidate who wins the most delegates in the primaries and caucuses. Otherwise, he says, they would be overturning the will of the voters.

Obama, who overtook Clinton in superdelegate endorsements a little more than a week ago, picked up six more Monday. Clinton added none.

Clinton argues that superdelegates should exercise independent judgment.

Her campaign is also trying to change the math by getting the delegates seated from the Michigan and Florida primaries. Clinton won both primaries, but the states had been stripped of their delegates for violating party rules by holding their primaries before Feb. 5.

The Democratic National Committee's rules panel is scheduled to address the issue May 31. If any of the delegates are reinstated, it would increase the number needed to clinch the nomination.

Comments

[kevenseven]

Do you know what I find really disgusting? That a politician would manipulate people in order to get them to like and admire him.

What is this world coming to when a man like Obama can fool 75,000 people to show up and listen to him give a canned speech and cheer and cheer and be all excited and enthusiastic and get the stupid idea in their heads that they can make any difference and should have hope that tomorrow could be better?

What is happening when people make an emotional bond to a mere politician? Do these people not have brains in their heads? Are they on drugs? Don't they understand the risks of such a large crowd?

You would think it was 1992 and Bill Clinton was running for president. Or something.

[Dragon5616]

Must have been the Kool-aid, or the lattes, or something!

[kevenseven]

Indeed!

[moana]

My sarcasm meter isn't working...­.are you?

[kevenseven]

Sister, your sarcasm meter has been recalled by the manufacturer.

I've had a miserable couple of day's work, thanks for asking. I was called to restore power to an apartment in a record breaking heat wave.

Thankfully, I'm booked on some nice, comfortable recessed lights and ceiling fans in a very nice town home for the next week.

How are you?

And take that meter back.

[VolvoBirkenstock]

http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/L10583224.jpg

[kevenseven]

Hehehehehe­hhehehhee!

[Rumplestiltskin]

I can see the thousands as Adolf spoke about the economic left behinds.

[ldsrapha]

Whatever, lol.

[LastRefugeofScoundrels]

Good point.

[ghop]

Whoo-hoo! I love some good ol' fashioned Nazi hyperbole.
It's like mad libs for politicos.

(Politician's name) uses demagoguery and simplistic arguments to sway the (synonym for poor people). Why don't they just the put the (minority group) into camps? We live in America, not (Country with oppressive regime).

Godwin's law exists for a reason, people.

[KarateKid]

LMFAO!!

[najablah]

Wolfson talks about declaring "mission accomplished" to early? The Clinton campaign declared that we would have a nominee by Feb. 5th! Talk about a bunch of hypocrites.

[BigSid]

Obviously, Wolfson was speaking from experience.

[shotgunjohnny]

"Clinton's campaign played down the significance of the milestone, accusing Obama of declaring victory without reaching the required number of overall delegates.­"

I thought the only thing that really mattered was the popular vote. I am so confused, you mean Hillary isn't winning?

[ObamAtomic]

Pledge Delegates adjudicated on proportion to popular vote.
Hillary lost long time ago,math no on her side.
Rules are different for each Party.

[useyourbrain]

Not so, the DNC has an arcane method of assigning delegates which differ in some states. One of the strangest is Texas, which has a Primary and a Caucus. They need to clear things up for 2012 -- as well as with the super delegates, winner take all and NO MORE CAUCUSES??? They are not democratic.

Also, they should divide the US map into four sections and have 4 super primaries starting in April 2012 and have one every 3 weeks. Let's cut the campaigning down so there is less reason to raise tons of money and people wouldn't be so bored.

What is strange about this contest is that the Media has played each local primary as if it were a national referendum on the candidates. It isn't and they have messed with the electorate. Especially when they can make a candidate disappear, like the have been doing to Clinton this past week.

Obama has a big speech tomorrow night which he plans to step on Clinton's big win in Kentucky -- and you thought he was a new kind of politician. He is down and dirty as the rest of them, only hypocritical about it.

[Poohnc]

She is winning the popular vote:

Clinton: 16,691,283
Obama: 16,647,926

Also, keep in mind that 2,026 number is fraudulent - the correct number of delegates needed to secure the nomination is 2209.

[donaldw6]

Did you not breast feed?

[VolvoBirkenstock]

All about the delegates. Popular vote means bupkis.

[ldsrapha]

This is only true if you lie, go back on your pledge, and discount thousands of American's who voted in caucuses. Wait, I thought that was her big argument for FL and MI. She was SOOOOOOOOOOO worried about counting their vote, but for the math to work for her now she would have to discount EVERYONE who voted in a caucus state because they don't matter. We are SOOO over it already

[Jaxxon]

Your candidate, Hillary Clinton is the fraud.

If your candidate for the Dem. primary is constantly changing the rules, what kind of president do you expect will be in the White House after they win? Will it be someone who plays by the rules, or someone who wants to ignore them?

[IAM4CLINTON]

Thank you

[KYJurisDoctor]

S-W-E-E-T! The SOONER we can RID ourselves of BILLARY Clinton the BETTER for us!!

[shotgunjohnny]

"Premature victory laps and false declarations of victory are unwarranted. Declaring 'mission accomplished' does not make it so," Howard Wolfson, Clinton's communications director, said in a memo to supporters.

No but here's one for ya' wolfie: "you lost, get over it."

[Jaxxon]

I just wonder how much money she'll continue to spend.

[Grannysue]

Well you knew it wouldn't be too long before Hillary changed the scenerio again, now were back to I have the most popular votes! Of course that's only in Hillary's mind and that of her faithfull minions, like if you count those two states that don't count I could be winning, or if I were in the GOP, I would be winning, or if we want to have this fair it's the delegate count, or no it's the super delegates but any of the delegates can change their votes as long as they change their vote for me! Well Hill, if you Aunt had kahonas she'd be your Uncle and you still will lose! Get over yourself already, it ain't gonna happen no matter what kind of "fuzzy math" or quoting Rove, hahaha, that you use, your done, see ya.

[useyourbrain]

Those were real people who put an X next to her name. They didn't vote for others in FL and they didn't vote non-committed in MI. The fact that the DNC chose to punish the voters and not the Dem leaders in those States is a big mistake that will haunt them when they lose MI and FL in the general.
Go on, make fun of those 1.5 million people who voted. Be like the Bush team and make those votes disappear. It's amazing that after 2000 you can even think of depriving them of their say in the nomination.

[kcinci]

If the voters in those states don't go after their elected officials, then, frankly, it's all on them. Specifically in Florida, it was the state's Democrats who thought this was such a great idea and brought it up as an issue and which nearly the entire Florida legislature voted to approve. No one can fix this except the voters of those states.

Reneging and sitting Florida and Michigan as is in either state disenfranchises all voters, states and candidates who followed the rules laid out before the primaries began. It would also disenfranchise all those in Florida and Michigan who didn't come out to vote or didn't vote for a presidential candidate because they were promised it did not and would not count. Any cries that Senator Obama doesn't want to count votes is specious, hypocritical and plainly untruthful (LIE). But may like sniper-fire the voters are just supposed to "overlook it" as was recommended by Senator Clinton in the ABC Gotcha TV Special.

[thepoliticalcat]

If that's the case, then those "real people" need to pressure their State legislators who decided to move the primary up despite being told of the penalty. Dealing with you people is like talking to little kids. You tell your kid, "No, you can't do that or you'll get grounded," and they do what you told them not to, then they cry and throw a tantrum when you ground them.

Go to YouTube and do a search on Florida primaries. There's an excellent little clip about the Florida state legs laughing and joking about moving their primary up. They did it on purpose so they could mess with the Democrats. If you're a real Democrat, you won't be distracted by this mess. But you're probably a Limbaugh troll.

[cylindar]

Finally!!!!! Yeah.

[deecee22]

If Obama chose Hillary as VP. I would lose all respect for him.
EVERY bit of HOPE will drain from my body.

[heal57]

Obama will never choose Hillary for VP. He knows his friends and enemies; he's one smart man. I think she knows that now; she should.


Independent for Obama '08

[IntelligentDesign]

The ones pushing hard for an Obama-Clinton ticket are mostly Rush Limbaugh ditto head executing plan B of Operation Chaos - Hillary will not be the VP choice.

[JShankel]

> If Obama chose Hillary as VP. I would lose all respect for him.

I think he'd sooner put an apple on his head and hand her a shotgun

[CocteausTwin]

LOL

[useyourbrain]

Anyone who looks to a political leader for inspiration or hope is a fool. Get a life. Live your own life and stop putting all your hopes and dreams onto people made of clay. Haven't you learned yet?
Look at Obama's career. He's been running for president for years.

He should have waited 8 years -- better for the USA.

[thepoliticalcat]

Apparently, the majority of Democrats disagree with you. We want change. We want it now. Only Obama can deliver.

[RButler]

I lost respect for Obama when he 'inspired' people like you. That's why I'm not voting for him- his supporters.

[johnnygoodwud]

6 more today, drip, drip, superdelegate drip.

[ccmd]

Video photoshow of Barack Obama's amazing rally 75, 000 in Portland..­.

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Barack_Obama_Portland_Oregon_City_of_Blinding_Lights

[MichelleB]

This should bring pride to all single mothers out there!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!

[forpeace]

*

ccmd
=============

That was a GREAT video, the whole thing.....­.. People of Portland, Obama, and U2, I did enjoy it very much.

Thank you so much!

*

[aznurse]

THAT WAS WONDERFUL!!!!!

[doublesvb]

i know the hrc supporters are pissed off that their girl didn't win, but for the life of me i don't understand how they will vote for mccain. it just really seems like sour grapes. i am hoping they are mad now but will come to their senses come november. if they vote for mccain then they're really not dems but feminists.

[KimberlyKay]

If women are voting for Senator McCain they are not feminists, either. Senator McCain opposes Roe v. Wade and equal pay. Senator McCain's comment about equal pay was that it was not needed since the answer was to get women more education. Apparently, Senator McCain is unaware that women make up more than 1/2 of the student bodies on most college campuses-- and have for awhile now.

[McFlipFlop]

No woman that votes for McCain is a feminist.

He won't support equal pay for women.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-watzman/mccain-government-lawsuit_b_98618.html

He's anti-choice, and has recently flip-flopped even in the case of incest and rape.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/10/mccain-flips-on-abortion_n_101115.html

He called his wife a c*nt.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/07/report-mccains-profane-ti_n_95429.html

[IntelligentDesign]

It's worse than that, many "Hillary supporters" on this site are actually Rush Limbaugh ditto heads faithfully executing Operation Chaos - how pathetic is that.

[JackND]

I find it amusing. It keeps us from getting complacent.

[useyourbrain]

NO, operation chaos is a cover for the Rove plan to have lots of Repugs donate money to Obama and voted for Obama to make him look good. Then they all go out into the media and say "how scared they are of an Obama nomination". Yeah, they have all their racist and other garbage ready to throw at the Newbie. He will be ducking and dodging for months.

[RButler]

No way. Obama supporters have done more damage to the relationship with Hillary supporters than McCain have ever done.

[Poohnc]

The game is far from over. After WV victory Hillary leads the popular vote, including Michigan and Florida.

From ABC News:

Clinton: 16,691,283
Obama: 16,647,926

[VolvoBirkenstock]

This is the primary season. Delegates, and not popular vote, are what matter.

Perhaps, rather than posting here, you should be educating yourself as to how the nominating process works.

[JackND]

Actually, I like when they post this stuff here.

[donaldw6]

As a Washington State caucus voter, it would appear that Hillary doesn't want to count my vote. Would you like to hear my response to that?

[Dragon5616]

Do you have any idea how ridiculous that idea is?

[puffhost]

Can't say that I find ABC news to be credible any more. Does this number include caucuses and how much of the uncommitted vote in MI goes to Obama? Didn't think so.

[Chillinout]

And your point is?

Oh yes, irrelevant.

[openlids]

well, doesn't matter much to me that Obama isn't claiming victory tomorrow, b/c i am going to be saluting the man & celebrating the all the people across the US who made it happen!

[frappe]

i would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Barack Obama on having won the nomination the old fashioned way -- by actually earning it by winning the majority of delegates.

Obama '08!

[ssmit98]

Obama/America '08