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Pennsylvania Battleground
- Filed under: Democrats '08
- Date: Mar 30,2008
The past couple weeks have been a bit of a spring beak from presidential politics for Democrats, but the break is over. Prominent Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Pat Leahy have called for Hillary Clinton to drop out of the Presidential campaign and support Barack Obama. This morning, Senator Clinton responded in the Washington Post: "I know there are some people who want to shut this down and I think they are wrong," Clinton said in an interview during a campaign stop here Saturday. "I have no intention of stopping until we finish what we started and until we see what happens in the next 10 contests and until we resolve Florida and Michigan. And if we don't resolve it, we'll resolve it at the convention — that's what credentials committees are for."
Wow. Think about that statement for a second. The Democratic National Convention does not start until August 25th. Senator Clinton is suggesting that we continue to duke it out until then. As a Democrat, I see nothing healthy for our party about this protracted battle. Our chances of beating John McCain diminish slightly each week this infighting continues.
The Democratic Primary season ends June 10th. That should mark the official end of this process so that our nominee can have time to recover before the convention. All signs seem to be pointed towards a protracted battle until then. National polling shows Senator Obama with a 4% average lead on Senator Clinton. However, Pennsylvania is looking like it will give Senator Clinton a bump. Polling there shows Senator Clinton with a solid lead and she needs to keep it big to help her close the popular vote gap. Michael Barone wrote a lengthy article that breaks down a hypothetical scenario where Clinton can overcome Obama's popular vote advantage without Florida and Michigan. It requires Clinton winning PA 60% - 40%, which is unlikely to happen.
The Pennsylvania Primary is April 22nd and it is shaping up to be an intense battleground. Democrat Senator Bob Casey endorsed Obama. This was great news because Obama lacked a real statewide endorsement here in Ohio and I think that made him more vulnerable to last minute attacks by the Clinton campaign. Prominent Congressman Jack Murtha endorsed Senator Clinton. This endorsement helps Senator Clinton deal with her Iraq vote question in PA because Murtha has been one of the most vocal critics of President Bush on the Iraq war. Governor Ed Rendell is following the Ted Strickland model by being the lead surrogate for the Clinton campaign in his state. The split of these prominent endorsements is indicative of the kind of division we have in our party which seems destine to continue.
More: Tom Abrahams at TheVote.abc13.com has more on Hillary and her determination to fight on today at his site. Check it out.
11 Responses for "Pennsylvania Battleground"
Good update on Clinton's apparent willingness to take it to Denver.
The problem most Obama supporters point out is that after all is said and done in June…..Hillary will still trail Obama in delegates and popular votes. It would take, as you rightly point out, huge wins in many of the remaining primaries to overtake Obama. That ain't gonna happen.
With Bill's recent comments added to Hillary's recent comments, all in praise of McCain, I can't come up with any other conclusion then…. the Clinton's first and only priority is to the Clintons.
Bill appeared on the Rush Limbaugh show(Rush was gone that day) and Hillary sat down with the cretin Richard Mellon-Schaife in what can only be regarded as a case study on triangulation.
Triangulation with the media and Republicans to try to get what they want…..is exactly what Obama has repeatedly stated is the problem of "old politics".
Will the Clintons take it all the way to Denver endangering the nation, perhaps irrevocably this time?
Maybe.
If so, the chances are high that the Clinton's will go down in history as the politicians who handed the Supreme Court over to the fascists, thus bringing a once promising nation of libery and justice for all to an end.
They would probably have an entire chapter in future history books to themselves.
Rev, of course the Clintons only care about the Clintons. People have known that for awhile. You probably always knew it deep down, but couldnt admit as such until your hero decided he was running for president.
Bob Casey. I'm scared.
Obama needed the Casey nomination. That combines with an overall good week for Obama to make it clear he will not be too hurt from PA.
Bottom line: Hillary has to win PA by 25% or more and just embarrass Obama. That is not going to happen. So this is done.
It is over and Clinton can not come back. We need to end this and focus on exposing McCain before it is too late.
Why should Hillary step aside? The nomination has not been decided. She will win PA. and her position will become even stronger. I firmly believe she feels that the Presidency is her birthright but having said that she certainly has the right to maintain she is the best person for the job. Besides it is about time for the other shoe to drop—W. Ayers.
What would the Obama bloggers complain about (discuss) if Clinton dropped out? She has a very strong position to argue to the super delegates.
angry: Why did Willard Romney step aside? Same reason Hillary should.
"her position will become even stronger"
With whom? To what end? Even if Hillary wins every remaining primary by a 60-40% margin (which ain't gonna' happen) she STILL will trail in delegates and popular vote.
W.Ayers….huh? Reach a bit higher for those straws and hold on real tight.
Rowsey:"strong position to argue"?
What would that be? Jeremiah Wright? Even though Obama has recovered and once again surpassed Hillary in Democratic polling nationally AFTER the Wright issue was aired out….you say she has a "strong position to argue".
Even though AFTER the Wright issue has been aired out….Obama is shown in national polls to be leading against McCain while Hillary trails the GOP'er…you say Hillary has a "strong position to argue".
What would you base your assertion upon?
Rev, I know you have complained inthe past about the use of "Hussein Obama" but I see you have no problem saying "Willard Romney" in an effort to mock him.
William Ayers will come up whether you like it or not.
I doubt Casey's endoresment will do much for Obama. Hell most people in Pa. arent even sure who the hell he is other than their senator. The picture that got my attention is Hllary with Mr. Arrogant Porkbarrel. I realize Obama cant speak poorly about another Dem. but that picture typifies what is wrong with the good old boy system that is destroying our country.
I don't think HRC should be pushed out by party leaders until the primaries are complete. So when I say she should drop out, I am saying she should do it to save face and dignity. Just like Romney did, when he still had some very small chance.
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