Update: We'll be updating this post with dispatches from Monday night and all day today, Tuesday, Democratic primary election day in North Carolina and Indiana, another anything can happen day! The earliest posts today include video ground reporting from The Uptake.
OffTheBus community members spread out across North Carolina and Indiana the last few days to compile ground reports on the crucial Democratic primaries. We'll be posting community member material as it comes in here, adding to the post as the day and night progress and the campaigning heats up and goes into overdrive.
The question of course is no longer whether Hillary Clinton will stay in the race. She's staying in the race. The question is under what circumstances. In the event she loses both states, her campaign will no longer be able to pretend it's about the race on the ground. It will be clear it's about the fight for delegates and the case of electability. If she wins Indiana or North Carolina, where she and Bill Clinton have been determinedly wooing undecideds, and from anecdotal evidence at least doing so fairly effectively, Clinton supporters will see another turn in the race and more ammunition with which to make their case that Clinton is the best contender for the fall, that her campaign is "just getting started" and that her appeal among Republican crossover voters or Reagan Democrats-- that is, the increasingly mythic white-working class male voter-- will be crucial to a greater overall Democratic victory in the fall. They will also certainly point out that Republicans have already begun running in local elections against Obama (and the good Rev Wright) in a way that paints the whole Democratic party by extension as "too radical" to lead.
If Obama wins both states or wins one and finishes well in the other, his case for the nomination will be firm, and we may at last see superdelegates moving in decisive numbers to declare support, putting an effective end to the contest.... Or not.
In any case, we'll be looking for answers on the ground all today, tomorrow and beyond. Here's a start:
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North Carolina
Reny Monk: In NC Obama Proves He Has The Right Stuff (In Spite Of Wright)
As I listened to him answer questions, though, all I could think of was those people who leave long, rambling messages on my voice mail, then forget to leave their name and number.
Mayhill Fowler: Clintons On Site and On Fox, Pulling Close in NC
Many North Carolina voters say they saw Hillary on Fox with OReilley, which was a good thing. They were also swayed by live interaction with one of the three Clintons. Obama, they say, just wasn't around.
The Uptake
Arcade Fire Indiestars For Obama
The Fire is Canadian but invested all the same. Warm up act Superchunk is NC all the way and making it play for Barack in Carrboro.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-uptake/arcade-fire-and-superchun_b_100280.html
Monday
Mayhill Fowler: Clintons Tagteam North Carolina Undecideds; Little Sign Of Obama
Obama counting on a win in North Carolina has been both a plus--because he had the freedom to spend less time here--and a minus, because the consequence has been that, unlike the Clinton campaign, his has been a North Carolina fly-over, a drive-through.
Kelly Nuxoll: Hillary: A Hammer In Pastels
Clinton lives the many frustrating situations of contemporary womanhood. As candidate, she's a symbol of feminism but has eliminated all traces of softness, collaboration, warmth from her campaign.
Reny Monk: Michelle Obama Michelle Continues Tough Talk
From the outset she made it quite clear that she was there to set the record straight. She definitely left an impression that she was "sick and tired of all the games."
Reny Monk: Hillary, Barack and the Party: A Non Faceoff At A Semi-Dignified Tar Heel Affair
At the DNC North Carolina dinner, Clinton again never got a chance to trade wits with her rival, playing warm-up for him instead, basically introducing him to the cheering attendees.
Indiana
Will Mari: Indiana Deputy Mayor Sees Change, No Matter Who Wins
A 60-year-old community activist outside Indy says he hasn't seen this much political talk in half a century. "The kids don't grasp the significance," he said. "It's taking MLK's message to a new level."
Will Mari: Local Gay Community Backs Clinton In Indiana
Mark Stiker and Moises Molina, a gay couple with two kids. They've been together for about 20 years now. Friendly Midwesterners, they helped us understand how the Indianapolis gay community is feeling about Tuesday's primary.
Laura J. Mansfield: Stevie Wonder Fires Up Obama Rally
Obama spoke with confidence to the jazzed crowd. "Sen Clinton's says she's going to 'take it to OPEC.' After all her experience, the gas tax is how she's taking it to OPEC? Now that's not being straight with voters."
The Uptake (Citizen Kate): Hillary Rallies Indiana With John Mellencamp and Mary Steenburgen
Mellencamp played a single acoustic song. Steenburgen told me that she and Hill are gal pals, that their daughters grew up together and that Hillary brags about Chelsea.
Monday
Laura J Mansfield: Indiana Lunch Break In the City Of Steel
In Gary, Ind., the City of Steel, a worker says he's voting Democrat. "Oh yeah, I want a job next year," he says... Obama never mentions the mills. Clinton, at least she seems interested."
Laura J Mansfield: Indiana Town Halls, Bill Clinton-Style
I made it to two of Bill Clinton's six separate town hall appearances saturday. He runs late, talks in detail, charismatically, and doesn't answer any questions from the crowd. Not a single one.
Laura J Mansfield: President Clinton Touts Gas Tax Holiday
Bill Clinton will hold six rallies today in Indiana. He'll push Hillary's gas tax holiday at each one. Reaction is mixed. "It's a good first step," say some. But mostly: "We want a permanent solution."
Laura J Mansfield: Grant County Switchbacks: A Picnic, A Starbucks And An Update
Both of the women I met in Gas City might have been Clinton supporters. One of them had been. She wasn't alone in switching to Obama, turned off by the gas tax holiday and negative campaigning.
Will Mari: Bill Clinton: Flashing Star Power On The Hoosier Heartland
"We're very Middle America," admitted Mark Smith, from Boone Country Ind. He's a Ron Paul fan but came out for the chance to see Bill Clinton. "His talking here will really help Hillary," said another.
Will Mari: On Voter Crossover In Clinton County
This the reddest county in Indiana and sidewalks and illegal immigration are the issues that matter. Concern is that too many Republicans will vote Democratic as spoilers and not weigh in on local races.
Dan Treul: Clinton Campaign Looks Rusty In Gary, Indiana
Despite a perpetual misty cold, Genie Kastrup, political director for the SEIU Illinois Council, said more than 350 SEIU, Change to Win, and Obama campaign volunteers showed up to canvas the Steel City.
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"In the event she loses both states, her campaign will no longer be able to pretend it's about the race on the ground."
Hillary Clinton is long past that point, aready..
. In the event she loses both states, her campaign will no longer be able to pretend it's about the race on the ground. It will be clear
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As much as you may hope so, there is no way Hillary will lose both states. the better question may be what if Barrak loses both states?
If Obama loses both states he still wins the nomination. If the Giants are beating the Dodgers 5-0 by the bottom of the 8th inning, then the Dodgers rally and score 4 runs in the 9th, who wins?
Those cross over Republican's for Hillay you fools are going to vote Republican in the general election !
There idea is to help Hillary get nominated so they can beat her butt in November .
If Republicans didn't believe they could beat Hillary believe me they would be voting for Obama not Hillary !
North Carolina is 38% Black.
And the rest make up the RED state.
If Hillary loses NC, it's not really fair, because 90% of the Black population vote for Barak.
White people in droves are voting for a Black man in this race. You can't say the other way around.
And I really respect the way Hillary is telling white people not to vote their race, and abstaining from emphasizing issues that excite white racists!
Oh, wait...
If Hillary loses NC, it's not really fair, because 90% of the Black population vote for Barak.
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And don't forget that Hillary had 70% of that black vote when the race began.
Being in Chicago, some of Barak's commercials are show for Indiana, over here, as well.
I see he's now copying Clintons style, of ads, now.
His used to be cutting edge, stylized---but now they're going with what Hillary's camp has been doing all along.
I can't say since I don't live in either state, but if Obama's ads in those states are anything like the ads that are running in Oregon, his ads are nothing like Hillary's. I haven't seen one "anti Hillary" ad from Obama. Actually, he doesn't need to run them, she's doing herself enough damage where he doesn't have to worry about negative ads.
Since so much is riding on NC and IN someone better be monitoring the election headquarters. There will be shenanigans no doubt by the big corporations who want to influence the election.
When my daughter voted in Atlanta there were 8 voting machines that did not work out of the 10.
The people stood in long lines around the block determined to vote anyway.
You know what! Hillary has "The Family" and Mccain has Hagee, and Obama has wright and Hannity on Fox News is a cathelic who stayed in his church even though his church leaders raped hundred of children right here in the United States! Now it's time to move on! Apparent ly you didn't read this article well! Bill clintons answers NO quesstions, because he fouls up everytime and needs to be kept on a short leash these days! Did you catch the Ron Paul supporter wentto listen to Clinton just because he was a clinton? Ron Paul came out for obama guys! There will be a Obama voter for sure! And admittedly if she takes Indiana it will be switch over of Repub's who wants her, instead of Obama to run against and of course they willl be gone in the real election and the dems will lose Indiana for it! So a win in Indiana is not a win at all for clintons, its a win for The Republicans if Hillary takes it! Thats just the way it is! If repub's didn't cheat this way, than obama would clearly run away with the states she has taken, a real shame , and the trueth often hurts. Now she loses those votes, black votes, Independent votes, college young people votes and what's left to win with! The White old people votes that will not allow her to win in the general election in Vov.
You are abolutely correct jupitor. In Fort Wayne all the republicans I know are voting for Hillary. They are following Rush Limbaugh and his Operation Chaos...
I don't and won't read Mayhill Fowler. No credibility.
I agree. She is an "elitist" like Obama.
Why is it that someone with enough smarts to actually run the country better than you or your Uncle Bubba is an "elitist" and shouldn't be elected? Don't you want someone who can pick intelligent advisers who actually have experience or expertise in the areas they are advising? Oh, wait, no, that would be too logical! Lets elect someone who will pick industry lobbyists to regulate each industry and, oh, maybe personal friends and political operatives they owe favors to for appointed posts! Gee! No one's done that for the last 8 years! No way will I vote for "elitist" I couldn't drink a beer with!
Finally, we have a journalist who put the Wright controversy in its proper prospective. If you are an Obama supporter please read this OP-Ed and send it to everyone you know who has issues because of Reverand Wright. I've been waiting for someone to write this for a long time (This is an op-ed by Malloby in today's Washington post -- washingtonpost.com:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/04/AR2008050401600.html?hpid=
The only issue before the voter should be: "What will he/she be like as President?"
To the extent that a past statement or association can help us understand what the presidency of either candidate will be like, it can be useful. Anything more is just smoke & mirrors and intended to confuse the voters.
What the whole Rev. Wright incident tells me is that when Sen. Obama is confronted with a sticky issue, he takes it head-on and addresses it truthfully and courageously. He can be expected to do the same as President.
The Sniper Fire incident tells me that when Sen. Clinton is confronted with sticky issue, she tends to deny it or, at the very least, spin it so that it doesn't sound so bad. She can be expected to do the same as President.
Makes no difference whether Rev. Wright said blah-blah-blah or there were one, five or ten little girls on the tarmac. It's what such incidents contribute to our overall picture of what each candidate is like.
Case closed. Story over.
Great piece!
Thank You!
The need to get him on TV with the quicknes and they need to drum Johnathan self hating Caphart off the circut.
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Posted May 5, 2008 | 10:03 AM (EST)