When will the Democratic race end?
By Chris Cillizza | Monday, March 31. 2008 | The Washington Post
“…A quick scan of the Sunday papers underscores that the central question in the Democratic presidential race remains: ‘When will it end?’
To that end, there are two pieces you should make sure to read before the start of the political week tomorrow….”…BS
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/03/sunday_reading_when_will_it_en.html
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2 Responses to “When will the Democratic race end?”
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I sent the following letter to the NYT re this very issue:
To The Editor:
Each time Senator Barack Obama wins a primary or gets an endorsement (no matter how minor), there are renewed calls for Senator Hillary Clinton to “pack up her tent” and withdraw from the race (“Endorsement of Obama Points Up Clinton Obstacles,” Mar. 29).
It is not a given that Ms. Clinton will not tie or even edge out Mr. Obama in total number of delegates, much less total percentage of the popular vote. As well, Ms. Clinton has won states representing more electoral college votes than Mr. Obama – and these are the votes that actually determine who would win a presidential election. And although Mr. Obama has suggested that the superdelegates vote for the candidate who has the most pledged delegates by the time of the August convention, this is not a given either: the superdelegates may (and I believe should) consider factors other than solely who has the most pledged delegates, including who has the higher percentage of the popular vote, who is more likely to win the most electoral college votes, and who is more likely to weather what is certain to be the most blistering, withering “investigate and smear” general election campaign ever undertaken by the G.O.P. and its right wing supporters.
Finally, it is an insupportable canard that the length and tensions within the campaign are somehow helping Mr. McCain. The only thing that can help Mr. McCain is an entirely new set of policies and positions, since the ones he holds currently are certain losers in a general election against either Ms. Clinton or Mr. Obama.
Ms. Clinton has every right to continue her campaign with all the intensity, sincerity and conviction that she has shown. To suggest that she simply “pack it in” each time something “good” happens for Mr. Obama is fundamentally dishonest, to say nothing of hopelessly undemocratic.
Posted on 31-Mar-08 at 8:58 am | PermalinkI want to add that during Real Time With Bill Maher on 3/30, this issue arose, and one of his “roving reporters” (Dan Savage) was talking about the “Obama momentum,” to which the not-exactly-Hillary-loving Maher said, “WHAT momentum?” Tavis Smiley, a guest, seconded that, saying, “What momentum are you talking about?” Savage spoke of Obama winning more states, having more pledged delegates, and having a higher percentage of the popular vote. To this last, Maher said, “By how much?” Savage replied, “about 700,000.” Maher asked, “Out of how many total votes cast?” Savage said, “Millions.” [N.B. the actual total is just over 30 million.] Maher looked at him like he was from Mars, saying, “700,000 out of millions? Hillary could overcome that in Pennsylvania alone.”
Savage then mentioned the endorsement of PA Senator Bob Casey, to which Maher jokingly threw his hands in the air, saying, mockingly, “Well, that certainly cinches it for me – a guy I’ve never heard of endorsed Obama, so Hillary should just give it up.”
Again, note that Maher has been one of the most zealous Hillary-bashers for quite some time. Thus, it was quite something to hear him speak this way.
Peace.
Posted on 31-Mar-08 at 9:05 am | Permalink