Obama vs Clinton: “A Nightmare That is Only Getting Worse”
[Guest post by DRJ]
The AP reports that Democratic insiders are worried about the stalemate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama:
“Many undeclared superdelegates express confidence that all will be well. Democratic voters will unite in the fall, they say, and the injuries that Obama and Clinton inflict on each other this spring will heal.
Privately, however, some party insiders worry that these superdelegates may be blithely marching toward a treacherous crossroad, where they will have to choose between a deeply wounded Obama and a soaring Clinton whose success was built on tearing down the party’s front-runner in terms of delegates.
A senior Democratic Senate aide, who would speak only on background because most members of Congress bar their staff members from being quoted by name, called it a nightmare that’s getting worse.
The Democrats’ optimism of February has been replaced by fear, this aide said, referring to the widely held view last month that Obama was coasting to the nomination after winning 11 straight contests. Clinton halted the skid in Texas and Ohio on March 4 and is favored to win the Pennsylvania primary on April 22.
If the New York senator also tops Obama in Indiana and North Carolina on May 6, West Virginia a week later, and Kentucky and/or Oregon on May 20, her supporters will argue that the dynamic has sharply changed in ways party leaders cannot ignore. Obama is no longer the sure-footed campaigner who piled up wins and delegates in February, they will say, and the superdelegates’ obligation to the party is to nominate the sprinting Clinton, even if it angers Obama backers.”
If Obama can halt Hillary’s momentum, he is all but assured of the nomination. But Democrats are still worried about what Hillary will do:
“Some Obama supporters question Clinton’s motives: They suggest she is counting on a stunning gaffe or shocking revelation to cripple Obama and hand her the nomination. Others float a more sinister possibility, which has found its way into mainstream news accounts: Clinton hopes to damage Obama so severely that he loses to McCain this fall, clearing her path to challenge McCain in 2012, when he will be 75.”
I believe in competition but it doesn’t seem to be agreeing with Democrats this year.
— DRJ
Another exciting aspect to this unfolding nightmare is, in light of the annoying superdelegate issues of Aceved-Villa, Spitzer, Williams Jeffersona and Kwame K., one has to wonder who will drop next and which candidate will come up short… (Sen. Mendez is another possible. I believe he’s a Hillary SD)
Dana (fba430) — 3/30/2008 @ 12:04 pmCompetition is the greatest thing in the world, but the Democrats aren’t experiencing competition, they are simply seeing who can be the biggest victim.
If they would treat the race as an actual competition (instead of a race-sex bait show) they would enjoy it more.
Verlin Martin (f359ef) — 3/30/2008 @ 12:51 pmWhen an Obama commercial, running here in Pennsylvania, mentioned a “Windfall Profits Tax“, the conversion of Barack Obama into the black version of Jimmy Carter was complete.
Neo (cba5df) — 3/30/2008 @ 1:05 pmThis article appeared on RCP’s afternoon round-up today. A Gore scenario is being still discussed by some, and the summary is compelling.
driver (faae10) — 3/30/2008 @ 1:47 pmhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/30/wuspols130.xml
I wasn’t aware that liberals were ever n favor of competition…
Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec) — 3/30/2008 @ 2:02 pmI am convinced that if Clinton would prefer John McCain to win the election rather than Senator Obama. They were terrified John Kerry would win in 2004 because it would have made unlikely this run of Hillary Clinton’s. This has NEVER been about what the Clintons can do for the Democratic Party (and the country) but rather how the Clintons can USE the Democratic Party to further their own agenda.
elle (3e4712) — 3/30/2008 @ 2:22 pmThe Democrats have a real chance with Barack Obama to elect a President who will put the country before any personal agenda….. let’s hope they don’t allow the Clintons to destroy that chance with their usual combination of character assassination and brazen dirty politics.
Senator Clinton is being selfish. It is no longer about her winninng , b/c its impossible. We need to save the party and Unite. She has no good reason to stay than b/c of her own selfish needs. Obama is about “us” and us winninng the Presidency. Sen. Clinton its enough, stop loss your dignity
Beth (27c169) — 3/30/2008 @ 2:40 pm*sigh*
You’re kind of like a living example, Beth… It’s cute.
Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec) — 3/30/2008 @ 3:23 pmThe random drive-by Obama posters are certainly committed. Spamarama.
Vermont Neighbor (e7ed47) — 3/30/2008 @ 4:05 pmthe clintons will do anything to win—- its so sad to see them tear down obama this way.
jim in pennsylvania (3fa625) — 3/30/2008 @ 4:17 pmpennsylvania needs to know that the clintons are running a campaign that is over 65 million dollars in debt. they are not paying there bills to vendors. some who are young just started businesses. they dont even pay there rent on the buildings they rent for campaign headquarters. one building renter had to threaten to sue to get five hundred dollars from them
they finally paid after he put it in local newspaper.typical clinton hide it all shit.
now he is giving the five hundred dollars to the obama campaign whats that tell u about the clintons
u want the fat lady to run this great country .??
she cant even run her own campaign finances.
they are broke and are now gonna use elton john to help them go further in campaign debt.
pennsylvania has a big surprise for the clintons.
we in pennsylvania are not a niave as the clintons think,,,
they havent polarized pennsylvania.
Beth never mentions that Obama cannot win either. No calls for him to quit eh?
Verlin Martin (899dce) — 3/30/2008 @ 4:18 pmWhose turn is it for the popcorn run?
jim2 (f1871c) — 3/30/2008 @ 5:27 pmHillary has the if I cant win, I’ll take the party withme mentality, Go away…
Pat (c87021) — 3/30/2008 @ 6:14 pmThe Clintons know they can not win. For God’s sake the have practically endorced John Mccain.
Marge (0d458c) — 3/30/2008 @ 6:35 pmI think tjeir sights are set for 2012. If Mccain wins the election Hillary thinks her nomination in 4 years will be in the bag.
Many in the democratic party blame them for Al Gore’s lost. Do they think we will forget the damage her campaign has done if Mccain wins the election?
The DNC leaders along with the SD could have ended this mess. Why won’t they?
I think we should all help ourselves to a big bucket of buttered popcorn.
DRJ (a431ca) — 3/30/2008 @ 6:40 pmThat’s right Marge, Hillary is trying to steal the nomination. It’s all about Hillary and not the party, but that’s just the way the Clinton’s are. You just didn’t believe it when Blowjob Bill was in the White House.
daleyrocks (906622) — 3/30/2008 @ 6:46 pmIn what senario does the leader quit? True they both will need SD to get to the magic number. But it’s a fact that Obama can make the stronger argument. He’s leading in pledged delegates,popular votes and states won. Why would he asked to drop out?
Marge (0d458c) — 3/30/2008 @ 6:52 pmAnd your point is? Shouldn’t the government pick up the tab on stuff we don’t want to pay for? Why else would you vote for Obama??
Vermont Neighbor (e7ed47) — 3/30/2008 @ 7:01 pmIf the scenario that Hillary will forgo 2008 to make a run in 2012 is true has anyone considered that in 2012 we’ll have had 20 years of the Clintons on the national stage. Will anyone (aside from diehard ‘activists) really, really, really want to vote for her then. Wouldn’t that be a good time for some fresh faces?
sam (a75ffa) — 3/30/2008 @ 8:14 pmAnd your point is? Shouldn’t the government pick up the tab on stuff we don’t want to pay for? Why else would you vote for Obama??
What???? Translation Please!!!!
Marge (0d458c) — 3/30/2008 @ 8:21 pmWhat???? Translation Please!!!!
Seriously, if you can’t figure that one out you shouldn’t be voting anyway.
Taltos (4dc0e8) — 3/30/2008 @ 10:29 pmCheap shot of the day alert!
Psyberian (d18acc) — 3/31/2008 @ 3:34 amas a democrat, one thing i’m really tired of is hearing former president cumstain telling me to “relax” and “chill out”. no bill, you stfu.
assistant devil's advocate (d02814) — 3/31/2008 @ 4:51 amTHe only people I hear calling for Hillary to pull out the race are all of the Liberal press and the obama suppporters…If you care so much about the party..tell him to pull out the race..he doesn’t have a snowballs chance in hell at winning.
Terry (a76e2e) — 3/31/2008 @ 4:58 amWhy would either of them bow out of this race? Neither one can get the requisite number of vots without the aid of a good majority of the SuperDelegates. Until they have had their say, there is no reason to go away. Obama is claiming this based on his 11 in a row, but Hillary could very easily rattle off wins in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Indiana, following her wins in OH, and TX. Methinks Obama needs a win pretty soon.
JD (75f5c3) — 3/31/2008 @ 5:08 amHillbilly needs to grow up and go away. She can’t win.
Some say Obama can’t win either but he is in the lead so he is the winner by default. That is how people are expecting the superdelagates to vote.
You vote for the one in the lead not the one behind which is what Hillary wants to happen. What ever her situation is she wants the benefit of the doubt.
If she’s behind she wants the superdelagates to vote for her as the most electable. If she is in front she will claim she is clearly the decided winner and Barack should back out.
She is a flip flop, self-absorbed lunatic who should not be running our country but be in a mental institution.
jo (6dbbb1) — 3/31/2008 @ 5:13 am“You vote for the one in the lead not the one behind which is what Hillary wants to happen. What ever her situation is she wants the benefit of the doubt.”
And here I thought the purpose of the super-delegates was to vote for whom they thought would win heh
Verlin Martin (f359ef) — 3/31/2008 @ 6:19 amhad to threaten to sue to get five hundred dollars from them
rhodeymark (6797b5) — 3/31/2008 @ 7:05 amthey finally paid after he put it in local newspaper.typical clinton hide it all shit.
now he is giving the five hundred dollars to the obama campaign whats that tell u about the clintons?
Tells me they were right! Chump didn’t need the money that bad 🙂
PS – what is with all you gals piling on Hill? Cycling together? Don’t you know it’s Women’s History Month?
rhodeymark (4f2403) — 3/31/2008 @ 7:12 amjo – Please point us to the place where it says the nomination goes to the person that comes the closest to the required number of delegates.
JD (75f5c3) — 3/31/2008 @ 7:17 amI still want someone to tell me about Rev. Manning, some of the accusations he made are very serious. Why hasn’t Obama or his camp replied to this man’s terrible accusations. Is it because what he says is true? This man appeared on Hannity & Colmes on Thursday, March 20th. I want more information on this man, and how much more baggage does Obama have. I think Obama is street smart and running circles around a lot of voters.
Liz M (ad8087) — 3/31/2008 @ 8:44 amGo to:
http://www.cagle.com/news/HillaryUnderFire/
Have a good day
Roy
Roy Rustomji (bcbaf5) — 3/31/2008 @ 11:37 am