Thread: US Presidential Campaign 2008

Originally Posted by chinthee

^Carter always meant well, he had a big heart. He just wasn't very effective. As a result, I think he still garners lots of good will and fond memories from people.

I have personally met Carter, great guy, and yes he has a big heart, a weakness in this world

Looks like Obama has taken Winsconsin.

His 9th primary on the bounce.

With 36% of the ballots counted, Mr Obama had 56% of the vote to Mrs Clinton's 43%.

Speaking at a victory rally in Houston, Texas, Mr Obama said: "The change we seek is still months and miles away and we need to get all of Texas to help us get there."

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama cruised past a fading Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Wisconsin primary Tuesday night, gaining the upper hand in a Democratic presidential race for the ages.

It was Obama's ninth straight victory over the past three weeks, and left the former first lady in desperate need of a comeback in a race she long commanded as front-runner.

Obama wins Wis. for 9th straight triumph - Yahoo! News

^
Isn't this one of those that Hilary expected to win not so long ago.

White, blue collar types?

Originally Posted by Butterfly

I have personally met Carter, great guy, and yes he has a big heart, a weakness in this world

When I was strapping lad of 4, I met Richard Nixon in the dinning room of the Mayflower hotel.

As long as we're showing off, I met George Bush Sr. when he was giving a talk to the Asia Society in Hong Kong. I also sat at the table with his son (the one not in politics).

Old Georgy kind of eyed me up and down when I was introduced. I guess it was the silk suit I was wearing. He then looked at his son as if to say "what are you doing with this shyster?"

you all deserve reds for this shameless name dropping, but butterfly started it so he can get it.

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

Isn't this one of those that Hilary expected to win not so long ago. White, blue collar types?

Yep. Seems she is losing support across the board as voters jump on Obama's band wagon. Common trait amongst voters are two fold. They want to be associated with a "winner" and always emotionally like an "under dog".

ON DEADLINE: Race is Obama's to lose


By RON FOURNIER, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 19 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - The Democratic nomination is now Barack Obama's to lose.



After nine consecutive defeats — including a heartbreaker in tailor-made Wisconsin on Tuesday — Hillary Rodham Clinton can't win the nomination unless Obama makes a major mistake or her allies reveal something damaging about the Illinois senator's background. Don't count her out quite yet, but Wisconsin revealed deep and destructive fractures in the Clinton coalition.


It's panic-button time.

ON DEADLINE: Race is Obama's to lose - Yahoo! News

how does this work?

would she retain more credibility by dropping out gracefully or is she better off battling to a loss?

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

how does this work?

would she retain more credibility by dropping out gracefully or is she better off battling to a loss?

Both Hillary and Obama's delegate count is still close.

And Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are still about 2.5 weeks away.

When to quit is a personal and political decision.

I don't see Hillary giving up. I see her going all the way, until it's not possible.

^Yes, I agree. She will fight to the end, only going kicking and screaming off the dais at the convention in Denver.

I hope she is rewarded by being ignored by Obama for any position if he wins the general election.

Originally Posted by Milkman

Obama has tapped into Hillary ... white women and working class.

I knew it!

I received personal correspondance from Slick Willy and Dubya. I met Clinton in Okinawa during a G-7 there several years ago. I had lunch with SecDef William Cohen in Saudi, I sat next to him and (mistakenly) drank from his water glass. His aide was not amused.

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

how does this work? would she retain more credibility by dropping out gracefully or is she better off battling to a loss?

As MM says it's up to her to call it quits. Hillary is rapidly moving to the point where the Democratic heavy weights will begin to put heavy pressure on the "Clinton's" to call it quits for the sake of the party. Even the strongest supporters of Hillary have stated publicly that she must win Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania by a large margin (60%) to remain in the race and have any hope of the party power folks continuing to support her. A close race even should she win or a loss in any of these states will be her end.

Norton hit the nail on the head, again.

Delegates are given out proportionally in some states, I forgot which ones and how the structure is.

And the Superdelegates know they cannot honestly go against the voters, and primary and caucus system (although technically they could).

And Superdelegates can also change their endorsement/committment at anytime before they cast them at the convention in August.

This should be a place for Obama with a few delegates.

Originally Posted by Milkman

And Superdelegates can also change their endorsement/committment at anytime before they cast them at the convention in August.

Heard something on the news saying that between Osama and Hillary they have personally donated about $900K in support of super delegate election campaigns. If this is true, Obama is even leading in the "making political friends" category.

Googled and found this. (one of many)

Tulsa World: Pressure building on super delegates

"On Thursday, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics reported that Obama's political action committee has contributed nearly $700,000 to the campaigns of super delegates in the past three years, and Clinton's has given nearly $200,000."

All this campaigning, delegates, Super delegates, primaries... It's all a bit bloody contrived and convoluted innit?

I wish they did a condensed version for people like me with limited attention spans.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

All this campaigning, delegates, Super delegates, primaries... It's all a bit bloody contrived and convoluted innit? I wish they did a condensed version for people like me with limited attention spans.

Except for us political junkies who can't get enough, I would agree the whole process is a bit much and frankly would be quite boring to less fanatic followers.

Just heard Obama wins in Hawaii. 10 in a row!

Originally Posted by Norton

Except for us political junkies who can't get enough, I would agree the whole process is a bit much and frankly would be quite boring to less fanatic followers.

Yeah don't get me wrong though, it has certainly got its intrigues and interest. I'm just too lazy by far to follow it with the necessacary committment and depth it requires.

Don't blame me, blame my MTV generation attention span!

Originally Posted by Norton

Just heard Obama wins in Hawaii. 10 in a row!

Ok this much I did follow, that was more or less fait accompli wasn't it. Spent most of his high school years there?

Originally Posted by Norton

Just heard Obama wins in Hawaii. 10 in a row!

was born there wasn't he?

sure that one was expected.

Originally Posted by Norton

Just heard Obama wins in Hawaii. 10 in a row!

definitely significant, but i'd recommend keeping an eye on the actual vote totals....i believe obama is up by more than a million votes.

it seems clear that neither side is going to reach the required number of delegates, and the impasse is going to have to be resolved.

look for al gore to step in and make the case for nominating obama based on his winning the popular vote...as you know, he'll be speaking from experience.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Ok this much I did follow, that was more or less fait accompli wasn't it. Spent most of his high school years there?

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

was born there wasn't he? sure that one was expected.

Yes fully expected and not important from a delegate standpoint. However if Hillary had won it would have been significant.