Obama In Limbo Over 'Almost Nominee' Status

The contest with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton not quite over and the one with Senator John McCain not quite under way, Senator Barack Obama is floating somewhere between the two major phases of his long campaign -- a political limbo that brought him to this Republican hamlet on the night of a West Virginia primary he was expected to lose.

Even as Mr. Obama prepared to suffer one of his worst defeats of the primary season on Tuesday, aides said his lead in delegates and in the popular vote had him feeling like a winner. And his visit here with garment workers in a district that President Bush swept in 2004 was an intended show of strength, with Mr. Obama affecting the manner of a general election nominee raiding opposition territory, the birthplace of Rush Limbaugh no less.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[pupbayer]

This is the most appropriate headline I think I've seen on this site.. Obama is a winner and he is not the nominee yet.

[paganmist]

Dear Obama supporters:

Being an enterprising Obama supporter myself, I decided to look into this new claim that "no Democratic President has won without West Virginia since 1916." I went to Dave Leip's site here:

http://uselectionatlas.org/

[paganmist]

(cont)

He has detailed maps of states won and which party won them dating all the way back to 1824.

It turns out that the Clintonistas are correct. No Democratic President has won without West Virginia since 1916. They use this as proof-in-point that Hillary Clinton is destined to become President.

Well here is my gift to you:

Turns out that no Democratic President has won without Minnesota since 1916, either. And any rational person can agree that the population of Minnesota is 10 times as representative of the United States than West Virginia is.

So the next time you hear someone cite that useless piece of information, feel free to point out that Obama won Minnesota. If you're feeling very cheeky, don't forget to mention that MN carries 5 more electoral votes than WV.

Have fun!

[Marrob]

"Feeling like the winner but not yet the nominee"...no s***!! He is winning the game right now and won't be the nominee until he has won it. 2025...keep going.

[MPCarr]

Obama will need to wear his magic flag lapel pin more often.

[antaeus]

The headline "Feeling Like a Winner but not a Nominee" has it backwards. He is emerging as the likely nominee in the eyes of many, certainly among the MSM, but he's been an unconvincing loser in crucial general-election states. OH, PA, WV. Sure, it _might_ just be an interesting fact to point out that no Dem has won the White House since 1916 without West Virginia. Then again, it might be an ominous sign of things to come.

No OH, no PA, no WV, probably no FL. Few swing blue-collar Dems (the ones who truly are swing). Weakness among Jews and women.

He should feel like a certain nominee but a likely loser.

[Tommygun264]

Among the general population (not just Democrats) Hillary Clinton has the highest negative rating of any other candidate at +60%. Furthermore, your argument that Senator Obama can't carry key states such as OH and PA in the general election just because he didn't win in the primaries only holds up if you assume that everyone who didn't vote for him in the Primary will either vote for John McSame or not vote at all in the general election, which is ridiculous. Even if you deduct the 25% to 30% of Clinton supporters who claim they will either stay home or vote Republican rather than vote for Obama, the number of remaining registered Democrats who voted in the primaries still outnumber the registered Republicans who voted in the primaries, thus suggesting the Democratic candidate will prevail in the general election regardless of whether it is Clinton or Obama.

As far as your statistic that no Democratic candidate has taken the White House without winning West Virginia since 1916, statistics also show that no candidate - Republican or Democrat - has been elected President without being a white male. So following your logic, the statistics prove that neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama stand a chance of being elected President.

Keep slinging stuff - eventually something might stick.

[antaeus]

I'm not engaged in "slinging" anything, I hope. I'm a thoughtful Democrat who was real misgivings about the viability of an African-American candidate in key states in a general election. Period.

Obama might carry PA, but it's been trending Republican lately. But there are real doubts about OH, which makes the choice of Strickland seem all the more likely.

[ApolloniaCreed]

It's the end of the electoral map as we know it... and suprisingly, I feel fine.

[antaeus]

I will believe it when I see it.

Until then it's pie-in-the-sky wishing.

[Bhall35]

I believe the word you're looking for is "hope"...

[ApolloniaCreed]

You're already seeing it... there are 1 million volunteers there are ready to register new voteres, and help get out the vote. He has for all intents an purposes won the nomination against the Clinton brand. Now while that might not mean much to republicans it says a lot about what going on in the democratic party. But you can choose to listen to me now and believe me later... *shrugs*

[Mogamboguru]

OUCH! This hurts -

from Washington Post Online:

"This Is an Ex-Candidate"

Excerpt:

"2:57 p.m., Yeager Airport, Charleston, W.Va.: A steep descent brings Clinton's plane to Charleston's hilltop airport. After an appropriate wait, she steps from the plane and pretends to wave to a crowd of supporters; in fact, she is waving to 10 photographers underneath the airplane's wing. She pretends to spot an old friend in the crowd, points and gives another wave; in fact, she is waving at an aide she had been talking with on the plane minutes earlier."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/13/AR2008051302862.html?hpid=topnews
(Note: Copy and paste in your browser. Clicking won't do.)

BAND-AID, PLEASE!

[Tommygun264]

Obviously you don't believe in Hillary. If you clap your hands, stamp your feet, cross your eyes and squint really hard you can see the throngs of adoring fans not visible to those smarty-pants non-believers who are so smug with all their reality based facts and figures. Hillary is the clear winner! She's also the real Queen of England and can make herself invisible as long as no one is looking directly at her.

[Marrob]

2025 is just around the corner Obama. And I say this as a Hillary Clinton supporter. You need to beat her and show you can cross the finish line. This isn't like your Illinois Senate races, you'll have to beat a real contendor for this one.;-)

[paganmist]

Marrob! I am really very pleased by this comment, and I'm not sure why. I think it is because you're exhibiting an ability to acknowledge that both candidates are qualified, which is pretty rare. And you're doing so while remaining loyal to your candidate.

Dare I imagine that you're one of the fearfully few Clinton supporters who plans on voting Democrat no matter who wins? If so, welcome to the fold!

Not the Obama fold, but the Democrat fold. We need to stick together if we're going to win the veto in November.

[noneIn2008]

Now is time for Obama to exit with grace. The Presidency will then be his 2016 and 2020. Sixteen years of Democratic Presidents. Nice long term plan. Are you so short term blinded in your evangelism that you're willing to sacrifice it all to take a long shot now. You say "NO it is not a long shot". You're deluding yourselves.

Obama loses swing voters in swing states. Hillary takes them. It means nothing to Democrats to win Illinois, California etc.,Dem states. The difference is in Florida, Ohio, Pen, WV.......

Obama has not been vetted. You ain't seen nothin yet. Remember Fitzgerald will indict a string of Illinois Democrats this fall. Even if Obama is clean, it will be guilt by association. The Republicans are famed for September & October surprise. Hillary has been fully vetted for 16+ years. You name it, she has been accused of it. Obama is an open target for the fall. It will be ugly.

Follow you're Obama illusion, then come back in November, after he loses, whining that the election was stolen. It will not be stolen, it will be given away, again. Remember Gore and Kerry. How many elections do the Dems need to give away.

Yet, some insist on going ahead to another defeat, turning over the White House to McCain. Obama can exit with grace for the long term good of the party and country, or he can stick this out to hand over the White House to McCain.

[Tommygun264]

Even after West Virginia with a slightly larger portion of the state's total of twenty-eight delegates going to Hillary Clinton and a few less going to Barack Obama, Senator Obama still holds a lead of more than 150 pledged delegates over Senator Clinton. Obama still leads in the popular vote, the total number of states won AND he is ahead in the number of declared super delegates. That old irrelevant refrain that Barack Obama hasn't won any of the big states continued to linger even after his subsequent victory in the Texas caucus ended up giving him two delegates more than Hillary won in the primary portion earlier in the day, but it didn't fall completely silent until Barack's double-digit victory in North Carolina. So tell me why the candidate who still leads in every category should be compelled to exit with grace and give the nomination to the candidate who comes in second in every category? The only place Hillary Clinton comes in first is in negative ratings: +60% among the general population surveyed (Republicans, Democrats and Independents). Barack Obama is still the clear leader and the Democratic party's best hope for victory in the general election.

[AdamND]

Sorry but hillary will get killed in the GE when she has to finally release her husbands foundation tax returns also she has to testify in Nov in the Paul V Clinton trial. Which is the biggest FEC fraud case in US history.

[OlderBudWeiser]

But-but-but, she claims to be fully vetted! For 16 years! Last night Russert said she "...needs to be vetted..." to be the VP. She weaseled out of being a defendant in Paul v Clinton and is now a material witness. I would certainly think the SD's and the DNC are aware. I'm sure the Repug's are! Hope Mr. Paul can recoup his $1.2 million dollars. If you google Clinton pardons FALN, you can see why she will probably win Puerto Rico. It's bought and paid for. Sure, "the bird is just resting." (see Washington Post article)

[Gma11]

LOL!!

[JackND]

They don't bother explaining how he loses in 2008, but somehow in 2016 "the Presidency will be his".

Hysterical!

[paganmist]

None in 2008 - your name makes me curious. Who do you plan on voting for?

You're well-spoken and your reasoning is sound, so I believe that you're intelligent enough to realize that the only way any Democratic candidate will win is if all Democrats line up behind him or her. It doesn't matter of the Democrats put forth Jesus Christ himself, Jesus Christ will lose to a Republican if any large amount of Democrats decide that they are too offended, angry, or hurt to vote for him.

Nonein2008: my opinion is just as valid as yours. I have good reasons for wanting Obama. I believe in him as strongly as you believe in Hillary. And though I may argue either side, I try to remember that I am not personally equipped to see into the future and know, truly, who would be the better President. I, like you, can only go on what I know and my gut instincts. So we are equally valid.

[paganmist]

(cont.)

If Hillary wins, I will be just as sad and upset as her supporters will be if she loses. I will have invested money, time, energy and hope into my candidate the same way that they have. None of us are stupid for feeling strongly about our candidate - this is one of the most important decisions of our time.

But Democrats can not put forth a candidate that *every* Democrat wants. No matter who they put forward, there will be some people who will be left feeling like the "losers". That is just the simple truth. No matter who we put forward, no matter how skilled or accomplished, they *will not win* unless the Democrats on the "losing side" of the debate suck it up and vote Democrat.

I guess at the end of the day, the reason why Democrats don't win is because so many Democrats aren't willing to sacrifice their own feelings - fleeting, in the grand scheme of things - for the common good.

[Mogamboguru]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/13/AR2008051302862_2.html?hpid=topnews

From Washington Post Online:

"This Is an Ex-Candidate"

Excerpt:

11:45 a.m., Melrose Hotel, Foggy Bottom: It's Day 7 of the Clinton Campaign Death Watch -- a full week since the official arbiter of the Democratic primary, Tim Russert, declared the campaign over and Barack Obama the nominee. Hillary Clinton's advisers continue to insist that the candidate's prospects are very much alive, but the press isn't buying it. Exhibit A: There are two press buses waiting at the hotel here for Clinton's trip to her victory rally in West Virginia, but the entire press contingent doesn't quite fill one. It isn't until the entourage arrives at Dulles Airport that Clinton aides learn that the second bus is still idling, empty, at the hotel.

If there is importance in the results of the primary in West Virginia, the press corps isn't letting on. During the security sweep at Dulles, some play Hacky Sack with a cigarette carton. Awaiting the candidate on the tarmac, two guys from CNN toss a football. Aboard the plane, one member of the press corps entertains his colleagues by flopping down the aisle on his belly, like a fish.

[mesuki]

Get out of here with your pessimism ! you're forgetting a couple of things....this country is in a bloody war,republicans have jacked up the economy,and the country is going downhill real fast.If Americans decide to choose McCain over Obama because of racism or this crap of guilt by association...you know what ? more power to them,because things will only get worse,and I'll just sit back and watch with rest of the world how racism and stupidity brings this country into a state of collapse.

[northeast73]

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

His supporters need to look at the numbers.

Obama hasnt won with voters (except blacks) since FEBRUARY.

The scandals have PERMANENTLY DAMAGED HIM.

[NCRESIDENT]

I'm sorry to let you know this but the blacks are the minority which means they are outnumbered by whites, hispanics, and other nationalities. If he only won with the black votes can you please let me know when they became the majority. What they are not telling you is that although Obama is getting 92% of the black vote the white for him is outnumbering the black votes. So if you got numbers that prove blacks became the majority overnight please put them up so that I can see it.

[Sabreen60]

ROTFLMAO!!!!

[hussein]

Nebraska. Obama beats Clinton by a margin of 35 points the sparsely attended caucus in Feb, but only by 2 points in the heavily attended primary yesterday. Nobody talks about it.

Nevada. Clinton wins popular vote in the caucus, Obama gets more delegates. Imagine what the margin will be had Nevada held a primary instead of a caucus.

Texas. Clinton wins the primary of 2.8 million people, but on the same day, Obama wins the caucus of 1 million people by 10 points. This results in Obama netting more delegates.

Iowa. According to entrance polls, Clinton comes in second in the popular vote. In fact, Obama, Clinton and Edwards were separated by 5 points. But, Clinton comes in third in the delegate count. Minor candidates are virtually nonexistent.

Washington. Obama wins caucus by 30 points, yet loses the primary, which more people participated in, by 5 points.

Conclusions:
1. Obama's victories are hollow and unrepresentative of what he will do in Nov.
2. Caucuses are undemocratic that does not give a maximum share of the electorate to voice their opinions and should be abolished for good.
3. Clinton is clearly the stronger candidate. Let the democrats nominate Obama to their own undoing in Nov.

[CocteausTwin]

Wow it reeks of desperation here. Your days are numbered in the few. You better get rid of your Blackwater investments and try to find some good lawyers. They will be in high demand come the fall.

[ApolloniaCreed]

All your post proves is Obama ran a smarter campaign. And it does not negate the fact the he is ahead in every metric, not just delegates. And it should also be noted that how a democrat does up against another democrat is necessarily indicative of how they will do in the fall... Obama will be fine.

[paganmist]

Hussein:

If you are a Democrat and believe in the various issues the Democrats are trying to advance, then that "undoing" in November will also be your own.

In fact, if you are a Democrat but do not vote for the Democratic nominee, you will have contributed to your own undoing.

Does this make sense?

[Mogamboguru]

Nice spin, nice name: "Hussein" - or whatever.

Can you read? Can you count? It's MATHEMATICALLY IMPOSSIBLE for her to get nominated by the DNC-congress in Denver anymore.

IT'S OVER! Hillary hast LOSTLOSTLOST the nomination. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is an Ex-Parrot"

But, to be frank, I am absolutely sure, you don't bother a BIT about that.

In fact, all you are trying to do, is sowing dissent among Democrats with your contribution. I BET, you are a Rebublican pro-writer. Mistrial, buddy. Try again next time.

[noneIn2008]

November, whining "they stole it"

[bison2]

Is Hillary saying that she can get votes that she really does not have? The Democratic Party has not won the white blue collar constituency since Lyndon B. Johnson. Her husband did not win this constituency. I think the highest he ever got was 39% of this group. Humphrey, McGovern, Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, Gore, nor Kerry did well with this constituency. Just because she is winning this group against Obama, does not mean that she can win them against McCain. She sayings that she has voters that she really does not. While on the other hand, any white blue collar workers who have voted for Obama will probably vote for him in the general elections.

[jrterrier]

the dems cannot win without substantial support from blue collar workers. bill clinton and jimmy carter did better with this group which is why they were both elected while dukakis, gore (had he won even one of the blue collar states, the FL mess wouldn't have mattered) and kerry all lost.

[Bluejay00234]

It's interesting to me for her to claim that she would win the state in the GE, and that no nominee had ever been elected without carrying W.V, but Bush carried the state in 2004, so who's to say she would beat McCain in an GE match up? For all we know the state could go to red.