UPDATE:
I just looked at www.electoral-vote.com and Clinton now has 310 electoral votes compared to Obama's 242. She has been consistently stronger for the past two months, maybe even longer. Polls now have her up in Missouri and North Carolina and she seems to be VERY strong in Arkansas. She would also take West Virginia, which Bush took in 2000 and 2004. Isn't she the one now actually EXPANDING the electoral map? Obama even won the North Carolina primary and Clinton still stacks up against McCain better in that state. The only state that Obama might be able to hold on to of the big four...Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida, is Pennsylvania. Pennyslvania alone will not beat McCain!! Mark my words. Obama will not win without 3 of those 4 big states. The Obama supporters and campaign team seem to be in some state of denial of these facts and they would probably fight back by saying that Hillary Clinton is in denial of losing to Obama. Did you read the Political Ticker on www.cnn.com today? Polls show warning signs for Obama in the swing states. Why would you risk this with the nominee and simply hope he is able to win over these voters? Even John Edwards stated that Clinton is a stronger candidate now, but he thinks that she cannot make a case because of the math. The "math," that comes out of a flawed democratic primary system anyway, is something that Superdelegates have power to go against. This will be a true test to the Superdelegates, who were designed to overturn a pledged delegate lead, if need be. This is one of those times in history where I believe it is vital that they do that.
ORIGINAL POST:
I had one thing on my mind when I went to vote in the Pennsylvania Primary: Who can beat McCain more easily!!! The answer is Clinton!! If Obama was considered the stronger candidate and it was proven in all the polls I would have picked him. I am a Clinton fan to begin with, but I really want a Democrat in office and my personal bias toward Clinton did not affect how I voted. We simply need a Democrat in office.
I am astonished at how the media and the supporters of Barack Obama are disregarding the whole rust belt working class argument of the swing states. How can a 41 point win in WV be overlooked? Before I go on, I must state that I am a loyal democrat and will vote for the democratic nominee in the fall no matter who it is, but I do think that nominating Obama is a HUGE error. He and his support team claim that they can expand the electoral map and make up for swing state losses by turning some of the red states to blue, like CO, VA, etc. However, that is not a given. They are simply hoping that he is able to do that. Well, it IS is a GIVEN that Clinton is stronger in the swing states like OH, PA, FL, and MI and that has consistently been proven in the polls and averages of polls. Shouldn't you go with what's GIVEN, and not just relying on HOPING. Why is this argument failing with the Superdelegates?
I look at the electoral map. Check this one out because the owner of the site does a great job at matching up Obama and Clinton against McCain. Obama is clearly the weaker candidate and I don't know why the Superdelegates seem to overlook this. He has a lot more risky baggage than Clinton has as well and I'm afraid that the Republican attack machine will slaughter him in the summer and fall. What exactly are people afraid of if they do not nominate him? More Clinton supporters say they will vote for McCain or not vote if she is not the nominee than Obama supporters who say they will do the same thing if he is not the nominee. I think Obama will have a tough time in unifying the party. Fortunately I am not someone who would vote for McCain or not vote at all, but I do believe that many people will.
What else can be done to make the case to the Superdelegates? According to CNN there are only 231 Superdelegates left to make a commitment. Will a big victory in Kentucky do anything to veer them Clinton's way and take Obama's momentum away after the Edwards endorsement? Again, I will vote for Obama if he is the nominee, but I have major doubts on him being able to defeat McCain and this can be a major year for Democrats especially since significant gains are expected in the House and Senate. I just think it is a grave mistake to let Obama get this nomination. I think it is ok to overturn the pledged delegate lead that Obama has. If it were a winner take all primary, Clinton would be ahead anyway. The flawed democratic primary system has been totally advantageous for Obama, along with the media bias. It seems like everything out there is geared against Clinton, starting with the MI/FL fiasco.
I feel very passionate about this. However, if Obama is the nominee, I really do hope that I am proved wrong with McCain's defeat, but at this point I feel I'm right and I have to voice my opinion in this election year. Who knows, I know I'm about 1 in 301 or so million people in this country, but maybe I can help make a difference.