It Ain’t Over Until It’s Over
Once again, Barack Obama had a chance to close the deal last night. Once again, he could not. Just as in New Hampshire and on Super Tuesday, Hillary Clinton stayed alive. Voters in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island weren’t ready to put Obama over the top. Maybe it was the ad about the 3 a.m. phone call. Maybe Dunkin’ Donuts voters aren’t comfortable with a Starbucks candidate. Maybe Latinos and older whites aren’t comfortable with a black candidate. Or maybe it’s buyer’s remorse. Maybe Democrats fear what the Republican attack dogs will do – are already doing – to Obama. Maybe Democrats aren’t sure he’s electable. Clinton’s attacks on Obama are mild: inexperienced, just words, not ready. The Republican attacks will be brutal, along three lines: This is why the Democrats – led by Jim Hunt and David Price in 1982 – created superdelegates. The superdelegates’ job is the pick a candidate who can win. So now it’s up to them. They have to decide if Obama can win. It’s unlikely that Clinton can get more delegates than Obama through the caucuses and primaries. The nomination landscape changes dramatically now: weeks and months with few primaries – Pennsylvania and North Carolina being the two biggest – but much scrutiny of and much pressure on Clinton and Obama. Especially Obama. Clinton is a known quantity; there’s little mystery there. It is Obama’s turn to fight attacks from the Clinton machine, from the Republicans and from a press corps that is sensitive to being ridiculed on Saturday Night Live as swooning for the Obamanon. It’s trial-by-fire time. Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.
It Ain’t Over Until It’s Over
Once again, Barack Obama had a chance to close the deal last night. Once again, he could not. Just as in New Hampshire and on Super Tuesday, Hillary Clinton stayed alive. Voters in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island weren’t ready to put Obama over the top. Maybe it was the ad about the 3 a.m. phone call. Maybe Dunkin’ Donuts voters aren’t comfortable with a Starbucks candidate. Maybe Latinos and older whites aren’t comfortable with a black candidate. Or maybe it’s buyer’s remorse. Maybe Democrats fear what the Republican attack dogs will do – are already doing – to Obama. Maybe Democrats aren’t sure he’s electable. Clinton’s attacks on Obama are mild: inexperienced, just words, not ready. The Republican attacks will be brutal, along three lines: This is why the Democrats – led by Jim Hunt and David Price in 1982 – created superdelegates. The superdelegates’ job is the pick a candidate who can win. So now it’s up to them. They have to decide if Obama can win. It’s unlikely that Clinton can get more delegates than Obama through the caucuses and primaries. The nomination landscape changes dramatically now: weeks and months with few primaries – Pennsylvania and North Carolina being the two biggest – but much scrutiny of and much pressure on Clinton and Obama. Especially Obama. Clinton is a known quantity; there’s little mystery there. It is Obama’s turn to fight attacks from the Clinton machine, from the Republicans and from a press corps that is sensitive to being ridiculed on Saturday Night Live as swooning for the Obamanon. It’s trial-by-fire time. Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.