Obama's Coming. Clear the Way.
What began as a night that could have delivered a devastating psychological blow to the Obama campaign has ended with an extraordinary win for Barack Obama, leaving him comfortably poised to ascend to the nomination. Barack Obama defeated Hillary Clinton easily in North Carolina and, in a true squeaker, lost narrowly in Indiana, a result the Clinton campaign will be unable to overcome.
Expectations had cratered for Obama approaching the evening, shifting the likelihood of a large victory in North Carolina to merely the hope for a small one. In Indiana, what began as a potential victory for Obama ended with a Clinton victory assumed. And yet, expectations were shattered; Obama's North Carolina victory was decisive, his victory speech transcendent, and his loss in Indiana so close, it hardly feels like a loss.
Obama cut into Clinton's base dramatically. Hillary only won voters making less than $50,000 by a four point margin in Indiana. She also saw an eleven point drop in support among Catholics from Pennsylvania to Indiana. Additionally, as Tim Russert noted, Hillary's slide among black voters continued to worsen. With 92% of African Americans voting for Obama in Indiana, one wonders which states Hillary thinks are winnable without the most loyal bloc of Democratic voters.
All eyes turned to Indiana and North Carolina to see what impact the Reverend Wright story would have on the race. Exit polls showed that, in both states, 48% of voters saw the issue as at least somewhat important to their decision. But that number fails to tell the whole story. Among blacks in Indiana, 44% viewed the Wright story as important. And yet, more than nine in ten black voters chose Obama. With voters citing Wright as important, but still voting for Obama, it would appear that, in fact, Obama's response to the Wright crisis played as important a role in voter decisions as the initial controversy itself. Given his success, he clearly responded well.
Indiana voters trusted Hillary on the economy, but by a far narrower margin than previous primaries. In North Carolina, Obama won that category handily, suggesting that the fight over Clinton's gas-tax gimmick ultimately favored Obama - and honesty. At almost every turn, voters rejected the politics of Hillary Clinton. By a twenty point gap, voters believed Hillary unfairly attacked Obama in Indiana, a reality that has no doubt contributed to the widening divide within the party.
What is unclear still is whether, given Hillary's crushing defeat Tuesday night, she can possibly move the race forward. Whatever path to the nomination she once envisioned has entirely evaporated, a reality not lost on the remaining superdelegates. How soon will they wait to throw their support behind the first black nominee in our history?
Time is so clearly no longer on Clinton's side. Obama is within two hundred delegates of securing the nomination and will lock up the pledged delegate race by May 20th. His win in North Carolina wiped out her popular vote and delegate gains in Pennsylvania. His narrow loss in Indiana wiped out her momentum. Time marches on, but she may not. The end of her campaign might come before the end of the week.
Obama has, through the last month, experienced an extraordinary crucible of national politics, coming out on the other side more capable and focused, with calluses rather than scars. Where some see damage, even the Clinton campaign should recognize strength. The argument they have consistently used to bolster Clinton is that she has been through trials, she has been tested, and as a result she is ready for November.
Thanks to her relentless Rovian campaign, Barack Obama too is now ready.
In 2006, Obama visited Kibera, Kenya, one of the worst slums in all of Africa. As he came to the village, children from the outskirts of town, seeing him approaching, turned and ran to the village center, chanting, "Obama biro yawne yo! Obama biro yawne yo!"
"Obama's coming. Clear the way."
Read more reactions from Huffington Post bloggers to the Indiana and North Carolina primary results
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The Republican party is on its way to becoming obsolete, just watch - it's already happening -
another couple of terms & only old, mean, nasty, close-minded Scrooges & young, (inwardly insecure, outwardly "macho") KKK types will be signed on ....They're becoming cartoon characters in their lack of "keeping up with change" ....Republicans are becoming Passe ....Anybody notice that most Republican News types all look threatened & unhappy ?
Hillary's so sweet & generous - She offers a gas tax break amounting to $28 for the summer, kindof like feeding 28 peanuts to poor, starving alley cats, so sweet. She cares. Then, poor thing, she has to "loan" her campaign a few mil. more, for her, for her campaign that will make her the Evita who can give .30 a day to the poor, old rural folks, so sweet. She really does care. Then, she sweetly asks her on-line donors (those same poor, old rural folks) to log on to her website to donate MORE money than they presumably have (why not ? - they'll be able to afford it, after she helps them with .30 a day) -
May be then, after she raises that money from her donors, she can pay off her debt, get her $11.5 mil. back & then, having lost their earnings to support her useless ego-campaign, they can look forward to having a president who ....will care for the poor, old rural people - see a vicious circle ? What a fat pile of BS - where's the cane ? - get her off the stage.
After eight years of suffering through the effects of an inexperienced president, the best the democrats can do is 'more of the same?'
Neither extreme, whether it's the left or right, is good for America.
The voice of the moderate is being drowned out by the shrill wail of the extremists.
I've never voted for a Republican before, but a BO vs JM general election will make this lifelong democrat vote Republican.
I'm stunned by what I'm seeing.
You'll vote Republican?.....After all this ?...You really are (To use your own description) stunned.
Wow you are SO WRONG! Bush was a 2 term Govenor, he had staffed his office with very senior people with decades of experience. The Bush White house was full of experienced people and he himself had 8 years of executive experience. Your assumptions are clearly based on falacy.
The Moderate liberal voice has been helping run the country into the ground. The Moderate passed the patriot act and voted for the War. The Moderate sat back while Bush became a Dictator exploiting 9/11 for every power he could get. These supposed Moderates that remain Moderate in spite of all we have seen these past 7 years dont care about America as much as they do there ideology. Appeasing ideological dead enders is a dead end strategy.
Well... not quite. Sen. Obama is a true moderate. What has ahppened is the country's politicians have moved right. The DNC for the past ten years has been under the sway of the DLC in much the same way the GOP has been under control of the neocons.
When Moderates look ultra liberal there is a real problem. The funny thing is the people in the country never went right of center. They are exactly where they have always been which is to say a broad spectrum that is mostly just left of center. Americans as a whole value public education, social security, protection for the environment, consumer protection, freedom of speech, religion, the right to assemble, and have overwhemingly shown they want some form of coherent, affordable, and gauranteed health care.
Look at the groundswell of support around Sen. Obama. People not just voting for him in the polling booths, but with their money and time... all in record numbers.
Please, kindly tell me, what exactly is extremist about wanting to have a government that listens to, works on behalf of, and honors its citizens, the people? What is extremist about people talking back their country, getting involved in their government, having enthusiasm for the process that should be sacred and carefully preserved for future generations? What are you afraid of, rumors and innuendo?
What exactly is so frightening about a decent man who, coming from humble beginnings, has taught the Constitution, worked 20 years for poor people in devastated neighborhoods and in State and U.S.Senates, fought for better healthcare for children, ethics reform, civil rights, food programs, kids in trouble, earned income-tax credit, better jobs, equity and fairness ?
I hope you realize that a vote for McCain is a vote for probable endless and costly war(s). Do you want that blood on your hands? What is stunning is how easily you slide over to the enemy (Bush/McCain) without a second thought . . .
Instead, do a little reasearch; at least read one of Obama's books, or any of the many articles written about him by people who've known/ worked with him. Inform yourself before you condemn the man. You've nothing to fear from Barack Obama. He will be a President for the people, a light of real healing and peace. Give him a chance. Your (Democratic) vote can help get America back on track, back toward unity and peace. Get out of your fear - take that
. . . continued : take that chance.
Dear Mr. Obama-promoter:
This column, like your one from yesterday, is not by any stretch political analysis or discourse. It is a transparent shallow Obama campaign commercial. The primary season is not over, and despite what you say, Hillary Clinton might very well still win, and sadly, you know that. Yes, it appears that the nomination is virtually Obama's to lose, but the operative words are "virtually" and "lose." Yes, young Padawan, Your Jedi Master Obama-wan still is extrememly capable of losing. Again, the shamelessly pro-Obama/anti-Hillary Posters on the equally and overwhelmingly pro-Obama/anti-Hillary-editorially-slanted Huffington Post demonstrate their amateurish bent for hyperbole. "Ascend to the nomination" indeed. Will he get to wear a golden laurel wreath and carry a sceptor?
Dylan,
Shame on you. Cnns figures today show Mr. Obama with 1836 delegates and Ms. Clinton with 1681 out of a total of 3517 delegates assigned after the vote counts. You fail my math class if you cannot determine that of a lead of 155 delegates out of 3517 delegates only amounts to a four(4%) percent lead. Four percent is a lead of only 40 out of a thousand. Now how in the name of sanity are you and all the rest of the failing tradegians going to accept a 4% lead when the whole ball of wax would be 100%? Incidently this four percent lead has remained the same for weeks now and will very probably be the final percentage. Las Vegas would just love to have your money!
P.S. Don't fail just get it right.
Sounds just like Palm Sunday, before Good Friday.
As an American i am proud to see so many new people voting! The different directions set by differing views of a Washington insider vs; a Washington outsider has brought . Change is something we have needed for several years, the ball is in Obamas court, the direction he has set will make or break politics for several years to come. Change will be tough if not impossible. Congressionally entrenched old men with their mindset being if it worked for our fathers it will still work for us.Has caused the gridlock to become a way of life for congress that they are proud of! I Give Obama every hope that America can change direction out of the event horizon of the black hole we are falling into God help us all , We can not fail this is Americas darkest hour, And the light at the end of the tunnel is fading, Restore the government to the people ,by the people, and for the greater good.
I think the Hillary campaign wants to hold off their final announcement until mid-June because they're in discussions with the Republicans right now. It turns out many of the Republicans don't like McCain because he's not enough of a neocon -- not a really committed fanatic type of neocon, just the wimpy simpy "Let me be President and I'll do anything you want" type of neocon.
So Hillary is going to "float" her name to the top Republicans and suggest she could run for President as a Republican. Kind of like Lieberman ran as a Liebermanite when the Democrats rejected him.
Stay tuned. Remember, she's already got the support of Rupert Murdoch, the Bush family, Sciafe, the wall street boys, the insurance industry, the war industry: She could bring a lot of money into the Republican party, as could her bag man Bill. We'll see. Sure go ahead and laugh, but don't be surprised if there's a real upset at the Republican convention.
Ostrobogulous piffle!
HRC will support BHO fully. Republican liason? Nonsense.
Nor did Lieberman become a Republican, but an Independent.
Admittedly there is an odd relationship between Pres. Clinton and Pres. Bush senior, but no other Bush has spoken in favor of HRC. In fact, where did Bush senior mention his support for HRC?
No upset at the RNC will occur. Interesting will be the VP-candidate, however.
Speaking of which, whom will BHO pick for his VP?
Happy Dae.
http://www.ShoeStringGenealogy.com
It would be an interesting scenario especially now that old Rush has flip-flopped. I don't think it'll happen though. Hillary will run for POTUS again after Obamarama loses in November. Hide and watch, just hide and watch.
Clinton should join them already.
As a lifelong democrat I'm looking forward to voting for McCain this fall. Unfortunately he's the best candidate running.
WHAT?? What??? How can you possibly say that?? Good Lord, man, how on earth dare you call yourself a lifelong Democrat when you would even consider voting to continue Republican Fascism? Unbelievable!!!
I respect that you don't feel strongly about Obama. But if you have any values or love of America whatsoever you will not NOT vote Republican in November.
I hope in the intervening months the lies stop about Sen. Obama and you get to know him as a Democrat and as a human being. I believe you will reconsider your illogical statement and support the Democratic Party.
More likely a lifelong racist.
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
And all the Repugnants with their visceral hatred of the Clinton's are going to nominate Hillary Clinton over McSame, huh? And Joe Lieberman for VP, right?
Oh, Puhleeze... You should think about making your posts at least slightly reality based.
HRC is still claiming that she is the one who can beat McCain. If she cannot even beat "deficient" Obama, then how does she think she can beat McCain (who she herself claimed is ready to be CIC)? The primary is THE test of who can beat whom. Any questions? Obama '08
Might be a good question to pose to Al Gore and John Kerry.
"Among blacks in Indiana, 44% viewed the Wright story as important. And yet, more than nine in ten black voters chose Obama. With voters citing Wright as important, but still voting for Obama, it would appear that, in fact, Obama's response to the Wright crisis played as important a role in voter decisions as the initial controversy itself."
Dylan, I'm not sure of your intent here but the outrage white commentators have expressed about Wright and the outrage black voter have about Wright are not the same. Indeed, black voters are probably energized to vote for Obama because of the Wright controversy.
As an African American it was Obama's response to the controversy that made it important not Wright himself. That's the difference my friend.
Bingo.
Polls have no way of marking this nuance.
Agreed. Obama first showed grace and mercy and then toughness when it become clear Wright was a loose canon. And look at the way Obama has run his campaign! Pleanty-o-money and it is well spent. Make way, indeed.
as a lifelong follower of politics, i have to say that i agree that obama's responses to the wright controversy that was important-and it cemented the position that i had long held that obama has no more business becoming the president than i have of being named prima ballerina of the bolshoi
She stays in to clean up some bills-- that could answer that question--and she stays to see how to gracefully exit (her version of a graceful exit.)
The Clintons are self-serving frauds. As I watched Hillary make her speech after barely winning Indiana, last night, the viewing audience could see Bill and Chelsea standing up in the back-
ground. The shell-shocked expression on Bill's face was unmistakeable. He appeared to be in
a daze while his wife proceeded to spew her B.S., promising that she would fight on through
the remaining primaries and, in the end, emerge as the Democratic Presidential Nominee.
What a farce. Part of having class is to know when to step aside when defeated. Apparently,
neither learned this fact. But, wait, the Clintons can't step aside because, in the course of HRC's
pathetic presidential campaign, the draft-dodger and his Bosnian-mortar dodging wife were buried
under so much debt owed to their political backers that they can no longer see the light of day,
never their being able to asses what's going on in the world today. Apparently, the Clinton's
were planning to use HRC's imminent presidency to remedy their sad financial condition.
Alas, in life, we reap what we sow.
Clear the way alwright, the REV will be running hs own 527s, not to mention some new connections to Obama. There are a least 5 more as well as Xchurch members that are giving dates, times and videos of obama.
Also new pictures of Obama with William Ayers having dinner as well as a few cookouts they won't be released until OCT and Nov.
The beauty of Hillary is that she has run the Rev. Wright story into the ground. The American people have been saturated by it.
So good luck with that in November douchebag. We know you wingnuts can't run on the issues.
Wright will do no damage to Obama when compared to McCain's bold policy of 100 years in Iraq.
Good luck avoiding a 50 state sweep.
50 state sweep????? here's a slogan for you to file away with 'yes we can"..."CRACK IS WHACK"...the election will be the classic modern political story: dems nominate far-left moonbat, repukes nominate a weak 'establishment' candidate, left winger crashes and burns...
It will be the REV himself, attacking Obama
Great way to pick a president. Is that you, Karl Rove?
Please go away.
Now that the Dem race is settled watch McCain drop like a stone in the polls the next couple of weeks. The Obama camp has an awesome ground force in all 50 states of young and energetic people who have added MILLIONS of voters to the rolls. We have all summer to add millions more while McCain and people like noliberals have no energy or organization. Nursing homes are not the best place to recruit vols. Noliberals, come over to our side the water is fine. Our party lets anyone join even recovering Republicans like you. Ariana switched and so can you. The rev Wright and Bill Ayers stuff DID NOT WORK the first time, why are you dumb enough to think it will work in October?
Hillary Clinton had the nerve to go to West Virginia and continue in this bizzare, insane behavior. She and Bill will stop at nothing and we, as a nation, need to send them a clear message.
Who are the Clintons that they can just keep destroying the party? Who are the Clintons, who stole from the White House, committed perjury, had illicit affairs, made money speaking in China, are being sued for fraud in a current case in court right now, who are they to not listen to the majority of the voters?
They have to be betting on doing something, uncovering something to knock Obama out of the race. If they want to keep spending their own money, let them. Isn't it just like them to run up debt and expect either Obama to pay it or the citizens of the country. You know if she would get elected by some totally unfair twist she would never pay her debt.
I can't believe all the narrow minded fools who think that Obama possibly gaining the nomination would be good for the party. He will merely be a plaything for the Republicans and media until they tire of him in early November and hand him a severe drubbing.
Do you REALLY want McCaine to win?
Clinton started the nomination race with HUGE advantages in funding, name recognition, and the vast political apparatus built by her husband's eight years in the presidency. Plus the exciting prospect of nominating a woman! To mess all that up in a few months, one has to be really and truly incompetent as a campaigner.
Absolutely agree, leftcoastliberal.
Hillary Roddam Clinton, ready to be Commander In Chief on day one?
She couldn't organize a piss-up in a brewery, as they say in London.
Your namesake could spell, and had a higher vision as well.
Clinton has the highest negativity ratings ever SEEN by a candidate before a GE. Stop drinking the Clinton Kool-Aid and face reality.
I would argue that it's exactly this sort of fear of the republican attack machine, fear of right wing talking points, and fear of being labeled unpatriotic by people who have no right making that accusation, that has led this country into an ill advised war in Iraq and to squander the enormous good will of the international community in the aftermath of 9/11.
To pick a candidate based on fear of attacks that have no basis in truth would be to submit to 4 more years of intimidation by groups with ulterior motives.
It takes courage to take a stand and refuse to back down. You might get punched in the face, but if you demonstrate that you'll do anything to avoid a confrontation, then that's when the Republicans will REALLY have their way, as they've done for the past 8 years under George W. Bush.
Obama's thesis is that the nasty politics of personal destruction pioneered by Lee Atwater and embodied by Karl Rove have become fundamentally corrupt and untenable. In good times of peace and economic prosperity, matters of policy may not be what voters care about. They can be easily distracted by character assassinations. However, we're not in one of those times now. With the serious problems facing the country, Obama is betting that American will not be distracted by petty politics. Not this time. Now with his nomination all but certain, he'll have a chance to test that thesis this fall.
You all forget that Obama came of age in a time when the big bad Republicans ain't so big and bad. They are corrupt and out of energy and ideas. He just isn't afraid of them like Bill and Hillary Clinton and for good reason. Soliciting gay sex, call girls, dirty e-mails to young male pages, a war costing 4 thousand lives and trillions, I could go on and on. The Republicans can't even stand up to the supposed moral high ground that they have stuck the flag (pin) in. Mr. Cayeux just won a seat in LA that was Republican for more than 30 years, Katrina anyone? Wake up and smell the toast, it's the Republican party. Come on over to our side and feel good about your self for a change, ditch the anger and become a part of the sollution and help us rebuild the country your guys helped wreck. Remember, Obama has been married to the same woman for 20 years and never cheated on her or called her a c*nt, claiming the moral high ground just wont work this time.
I am really tired of this simplistic acceptance of Barack Obama. The only reason he is looking so popular is that 90% of his brothers and sisters are voting for him because of his race, and not on the issues. It is unacceptable to me that we are going to try to elect a president simply because he is black, or white, for that matter. Or a woman, also.....I hope we are going to nominate a person who has been there, and done that, or been damn close to someone who really HAS DONE the job of being presidentr of the world, not just a guy who knows his way aorund south Chicago. The delay in the count from Lake county, Indiana, proves the black vote is over whelming for Obama.. That one county nearly took the whole state of Indiana away from Hillary.
I am sure McCain will beat Obama, with all his baggage. It is ridiculous to think otherwise.So here we go, four more years of Bush. Thanks a lot all you senators and congressmen who have denigrated Hillary by endorsing Obama. Thank you so very much.....
"The only reason he is looking so popular is that 90% of his brothers and sisters are voting for him because of his race... Thanks a lot all you senators and congressmen who have denigrated Hillary."
Pot, kettle... (oops) black?
Would I be wrong to assume that you are older, uneducated, caucasian, and essentially frightened, angry, or without much hope?
Why do you have such a problem with black people? I feel sorry for you more than anything else. Like too many Hillary supporters, please tell us why you like her other than she was married to Bill?
"The only reason he is looking so popular is that 90% of his brothers and sisters are voting for him because of his race, and not on the issues."
You are a misguided fool. To attempt to categorize the African American race as having blind loyalty and being unaware of political issues and/or climate speaks to your own racist undertones. FYI - Every black doesn't vote because someone is black...don't believe me: Put Colin Powell or Alan Keys on the ticket...you won't get far w/ the"brothers and sisters"
fool!
Don't be bitter. She lost fair and square. In fact, she started the race with every conceivable advantage - AND SHE STILL LOST!
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