Article taken from AOL.com
End of Democratic White House race could be near
Reuters News
Posted: 2008-05-30 08:16:16
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The end is near. Probably.
After five months of voting, 16 months of campaigning and more surprises, reversals and comebacks than any U.S. political race deserves, the grueling duel for the Democratic presidential nomination could be entering its final days.
With three small nominating contests left, Barack Obama has moved within a few dozen delegates of beating rival Hillary Clinton and securing the right to face Republican John McCain in November's presidential election.
When the last votes are counted in Montana and South Dakota on Tuesday night, Obama will have either just enough delegates to the August convention to clinch the nomination or be just a few short.
If he is shy of the magic number, a flurry of endorsements from some of the nearly 200 uncommitted superdelegates -- party leaders who can back any candidate -- would easily put him over the top and likely send Clinton to the sidelines.
"After June 3, you're going to see a wave of superdelegates beginning to go Obama's way," said Democratic consultant Chris Kofinis, an aide to former U.S. Sen. John Edwards during his presidential bid this year.
"And when Sen. Obama reaches the magic number, whenever that is, Sen. Clinton is going to do what every Democrat will do -- acknowledge he is the Democratic nominee and help unify the party to defeat John McCain in November."
For weeks, Clinton has shrugged off calls to step aside before the voting concludes in their back-and-forth battle for the nomination. She also has called for an agreement to allow the delegates from disputed contests in Florida and Michigan to be seated at the convention.
Clinton still says superdelegates should consider her argument that she would be a stronger candidate against McCain in November than Obama.
"This is going down to the wire. Neither one of us have the number of delegates yet that would secure the nomination," the New York senator and former first lady, said on Thursday in Huron, South Dakota.
The final three contests are in Puerto Rico on Sunday, and Montana and South Dakota on Tuesday. A party committee will try to resolve the Florida and Michigan dispute on Saturday.
STEP ASIDE
Clinton aides have hinted she will be willing to step aside once the final issues are resolved, and even some of her staunchest supporters see the end coming.
"I'm a realist, and I think most likely the superdelegates will give Sen. Obama the votes he needs," Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, who endorsed Clinton and helped her win his home state in April, told Bloomberg Television on Wednesday.
"I think it's very unlikely that Sen. Clinton can prevail. I think that means we're not going to field our strongest candidate," he said.
Obama, an Illinois senator, made his expectations clear.
"We've got three contests in succession, and at that point all the information will be in," Obama told reporters on Wednesday. "There will be no more questions unanswered. I suspect that whatever remaining superdelegates will be able to make their decisions quickly after that."
Once he has enough delegates to clinch the nomination, Obama said, "then I'm the nominee."
An MSNBC delegate count gives Obama 1,982 delegates, 44 short of the 2,026 now needed to win the nomination.
If the rules committee seats the Florida and Michigan delegations, it could add to the total needed to win. Seating half the delegates from each state, a compromise to be considered on Saturday, would put the finish line at 2,118.
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the campaign was anxious to shift into a full-time general election battle with McCain.
"Our goal is to get to the nomination number as quickly as we can so that we can move our entire focus to the general election because, you know, the clock is ticking here," he said.
(Additional reporting by Thomas Ferraro in South Dakota, editing by David Wiessler)
(To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)
05/30/2008 07:07 EST
Friday, May 30, 2008
Today on the presidential campaign trail
Article from AOL.com
Today on the presidential campaign trail
AP
Posted: 2008-05-30 08:18:30
IN THE HEADLINES
South Dakota newspaper endorses Clinton five days ahead of primary ... Obama campaign mastered party rules and used them to foil Clinton ... League of Democracies concept gains ground in presidential race ... Texas Democratic Party chairman, wife endorse Obama
South Dakota newspaper endorses Clinton
WASHINGTON (AP) - South Dakota's largest newspaper endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination while acknowledging that rival Barack Obama may be unbeatable.
The Argus Leader in Sioux Falls said in an editorial Friday that Clinton "is the strongest Democratic candidate for South Dakota."
"Her mastery of complex policy detail is broad and deep, and her experience as a senator and former first lady matches that," the editorial said. "Measured against her opponent, Clinton is philosophically more moderate. That is likely a good thing for South Dakota."
South Dakota and Montana hold the last primaries in the marathon Democratic nomination race on Tuesday. South Dakota has 15 delegates at stake, Montana 16.
Obama leads Clinton by about 200 delegates, according to a tally by The Associated Press.
Obama used party rules to foil Clinton
WASHINGTON (AP) - Unlike Hillary Rodham Clinton, rival Barack Obama planned for the long haul.
Clinton hinged her whole campaign on an early knockout blow on Super Tuesday, while Obama's staff researched congressional districts in states with primaries that were months away. What they found were opportunities to win delegates, even in states they would eventually lose.
Obama's campaign mastered some of the most arcane rules in politics, and then used them to foil a front-runner who seemed to have every advantage - money, fame and a husband who had essentially run the Democratic Party for eight years as president.
"Without a doubt, their understanding of the nominating process was one of the keys to their success," said Tad Devine, a Democratic strategist not aligned with either candidate. "They understood the nuances of it and approached it at a strategic level that the Clinton campaign did not."
Careful planning is one reason why Obama is emerging as the nominee as the Democratic Party prepares for its final three primaries, Puerto Rico on Sunday and Montana and South Dakota on Tuesday. Attributing his success only to soaring speeches and prodigious fundraising ignores a critical part of contest.
League of Democracies gains ground in prez race
WASHINGTON (AP) - Gaining ground this political season is a proposed League of Democracies designed to strengthen support for the next president's overseas agenda and ensure a global leadership role for the United States.
John McCain, the virtually certain Republican presidential nominee, has endorsed the concept of a new global compact of more than 100 democratic countries to advance shared views and has discussed the idea with French and British leaders.
"It could act where the U.N. fails to act," he said last month, and pressure tyrants "with or without Moscow's and Beijing's approval."
McCain said the League might impose sanctions on Iran, relieve suffering in the Darfur region of Sudan and deal with environmental problems.
Barack Obama, who has a lead in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, has not taken a stand. But Anthony Lake, one of Obama's policy advisers, has spoken in favor of the idea.
Analysts at think tanks in Washington and elsewhere envision a league focused on maintaining peace and limiting U.S. military intervention, such as the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Texas Democratic chairman, wife endorse Obama
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Barack Obama picked up two Texas superdelegates, bringing him closer to locking up the Democratic presidential nomination.
Texas Democratic Party chairman Boyd Richie and his wife, Democratic National Committee member Betty Richie, endorsed Barack Obama for president late Thursday.
Texas has 32 superdelegates and the Richies were among a handful of those remaining who had not committed to either Obama or rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"I believe Senator Obama is the candidate who can best provide the leadership and change Texans desire," Richie said in a statement issued by the party. "Senator Obama has the skill and ability to unite Americans from all walks of life and put our country back on the right track."
Clinton narrowly won the state's primary March 4, but Obama has prevailed in two rounds of caucuses that also determine pledged delegates from Texas. The final division of those caucus delegates comes next week at the state convention in Austin.
THE DEMOCRATS
Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with voters in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Barack Obama holds a rally in Great Falls, Mont.
THE REPUBLICANS
John McCain holds an informal news conference in Milwaukee.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Listen and learn. Listen and learn. That's what great commanders do. That's what great leaders do. You listen and you learn." - John McCain.
STAT OF THE DAY:
Of South Dakota's 508,240 registered voters - 235,388 are Republicans, 195,063 are Democrats and 75,894 are independents, according to the South Dakota Secretary of State's Office.
Compiled by Ann Sanner and Ronald Powers.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
05/30/08 08:17 EDT
Today on the presidential campaign trail
AP
Posted: 2008-05-30 08:18:30
IN THE HEADLINES
South Dakota newspaper endorses Clinton five days ahead of primary ... Obama campaign mastered party rules and used them to foil Clinton ... League of Democracies concept gains ground in presidential race ... Texas Democratic Party chairman, wife endorse Obama
South Dakota newspaper endorses Clinton
WASHINGTON (AP) - South Dakota's largest newspaper endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination while acknowledging that rival Barack Obama may be unbeatable.
The Argus Leader in Sioux Falls said in an editorial Friday that Clinton "is the strongest Democratic candidate for South Dakota."
"Her mastery of complex policy detail is broad and deep, and her experience as a senator and former first lady matches that," the editorial said. "Measured against her opponent, Clinton is philosophically more moderate. That is likely a good thing for South Dakota."
South Dakota and Montana hold the last primaries in the marathon Democratic nomination race on Tuesday. South Dakota has 15 delegates at stake, Montana 16.
Obama leads Clinton by about 200 delegates, according to a tally by The Associated Press.
Obama used party rules to foil Clinton
WASHINGTON (AP) - Unlike Hillary Rodham Clinton, rival Barack Obama planned for the long haul.
Clinton hinged her whole campaign on an early knockout blow on Super Tuesday, while Obama's staff researched congressional districts in states with primaries that were months away. What they found were opportunities to win delegates, even in states they would eventually lose.
Obama's campaign mastered some of the most arcane rules in politics, and then used them to foil a front-runner who seemed to have every advantage - money, fame and a husband who had essentially run the Democratic Party for eight years as president.
"Without a doubt, their understanding of the nominating process was one of the keys to their success," said Tad Devine, a Democratic strategist not aligned with either candidate. "They understood the nuances of it and approached it at a strategic level that the Clinton campaign did not."
Careful planning is one reason why Obama is emerging as the nominee as the Democratic Party prepares for its final three primaries, Puerto Rico on Sunday and Montana and South Dakota on Tuesday. Attributing his success only to soaring speeches and prodigious fundraising ignores a critical part of contest.
League of Democracies gains ground in prez race
WASHINGTON (AP) - Gaining ground this political season is a proposed League of Democracies designed to strengthen support for the next president's overseas agenda and ensure a global leadership role for the United States.
John McCain, the virtually certain Republican presidential nominee, has endorsed the concept of a new global compact of more than 100 democratic countries to advance shared views and has discussed the idea with French and British leaders.
"It could act where the U.N. fails to act," he said last month, and pressure tyrants "with or without Moscow's and Beijing's approval."
McCain said the League might impose sanctions on Iran, relieve suffering in the Darfur region of Sudan and deal with environmental problems.
Barack Obama, who has a lead in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, has not taken a stand. But Anthony Lake, one of Obama's policy advisers, has spoken in favor of the idea.
Analysts at think tanks in Washington and elsewhere envision a league focused on maintaining peace and limiting U.S. military intervention, such as the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Texas Democratic chairman, wife endorse Obama
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Barack Obama picked up two Texas superdelegates, bringing him closer to locking up the Democratic presidential nomination.
Texas Democratic Party chairman Boyd Richie and his wife, Democratic National Committee member Betty Richie, endorsed Barack Obama for president late Thursday.
Texas has 32 superdelegates and the Richies were among a handful of those remaining who had not committed to either Obama or rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"I believe Senator Obama is the candidate who can best provide the leadership and change Texans desire," Richie said in a statement issued by the party. "Senator Obama has the skill and ability to unite Americans from all walks of life and put our country back on the right track."
Clinton narrowly won the state's primary March 4, but Obama has prevailed in two rounds of caucuses that also determine pledged delegates from Texas. The final division of those caucus delegates comes next week at the state convention in Austin.
THE DEMOCRATS
Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with voters in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Barack Obama holds a rally in Great Falls, Mont.
THE REPUBLICANS
John McCain holds an informal news conference in Milwaukee.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Listen and learn. Listen and learn. That's what great commanders do. That's what great leaders do. You listen and you learn." - John McCain.
STAT OF THE DAY:
Of South Dakota's 508,240 registered voters - 235,388 are Republicans, 195,063 are Democrats and 75,894 are independents, according to the South Dakota Secretary of State's Office.
Compiled by Ann Sanner and Ronald Powers.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
05/30/08 08:17 EDT
Obama Faces More Clergyman Trouble
Article taken from AOL.com
Obama Faces More Clergyman Trouble
By CARYN ROUSSEAU,AP
Posted: 2008-05-30 07:45:02
Filed Under: Elections News, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton
CHICAGO (May 30) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Thursday that he was "deeply disappointed" by a supporter's sermon at his church that mocked Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The Rev. Michael Pfleger, a Chicago activist, also apologized for last Sunday's sermon at Obama's church, in which he said Clinton's eyes welled with tears before the New Hampshire primary because she felt "entitled" to the Democratic nomination and because "there's a black man stealing my show."
In video circulating on the Internet, Pfleger said the former first lady expected to win the nomination before Obama's sudden popularity.
"She just always thought that, 'This is mine. I'm Bill's wife. I'm white.' ... And then, out of nowhere, came 'Hey, I'm Barack Obama." And she said, 'Oh damn, where did you come from? I'm white. I'm entitled. There's a black man stealing my show,'" Pfleger said at Trinity United Church of Christ.
He then went on to parody Clinton, sobbing and wiping his face with a handkerchief.
"She wasn't the only one crying," he said. "There was a whole lot of white people crying."
Obama won the Iowa caucuses, the first contest of the nominating season, in January. Days later, Clinton's eyes brimmed with tears and her voice broke as she talked with New Hampshire voters on the eve of the primary, which she won.
Obama said he was "deeply disappointed" by Pfleger's comments.
"As I have traveled this country, I've been impressed not by what divides us, but by all that that unites us," he said in a statement. "That is why I am deeply disappointed in Father Pfleger's divisive, backward-looking rhetoric, which doesn't reflect the country I see or the desire of people across America to come together in common cause."
Pfleger, the white pastor of predominantly black Saint Sabina Roman Catholic Church on the city's Southwest side, said he regretted his choice of words.
"These words are inconsistent with Senator Obama's life and message and I am deeply sorry if they offended Senator Clinton or anyone else who saw them," Pfleger said.
Clinton's campaign denounced Pfleger's comments.
"Divisive and hateful language like that is totally counterproductive in our efforts to bring our party together and have no place at the pulpit or in our politics," the campaign said in a statement. "We are disappointed that Senator Obama didn't specifically reject Father's Pfleger's despicable comments about Senator Clinton, and assume he will do so."
In March, Pfleger invited Obama's embattled former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, to speak at Saint Sabina, embracing Wright in the church.
Obama recently broke with Wright, who had been his longtime pastor, after video of his sermons blaming U.S. policies for the Sept. 11 attacks and his calls of "God damn America" became fixtures on the Internet and cable news networks and created a political problem for the candidate.
Pfleger, known locally as a community activist and organizer, was arrested in June 2007 with the Rev. Jesse Jackson during a protest outside of a south suburban Chicago gun shop. The criminal trespass charges were later dropped.
He also has hosted Louis Farrakhan, the controversial leader of the Nation of Islam, at St. Sabina and has called him "a gift from God to a sick, sick world."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-05-30 07:45:02
Obama Faces More Clergyman Trouble
By CARYN ROUSSEAU,AP
Posted: 2008-05-30 07:45:02
Filed Under: Elections News, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton
CHICAGO (May 30) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Thursday that he was "deeply disappointed" by a supporter's sermon at his church that mocked Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The Rev. Michael Pfleger, a Chicago activist, also apologized for last Sunday's sermon at Obama's church, in which he said Clinton's eyes welled with tears before the New Hampshire primary because she felt "entitled" to the Democratic nomination and because "there's a black man stealing my show."
In video circulating on the Internet, Pfleger said the former first lady expected to win the nomination before Obama's sudden popularity.
"She just always thought that, 'This is mine. I'm Bill's wife. I'm white.' ... And then, out of nowhere, came 'Hey, I'm Barack Obama." And she said, 'Oh damn, where did you come from? I'm white. I'm entitled. There's a black man stealing my show,'" Pfleger said at Trinity United Church of Christ.
He then went on to parody Clinton, sobbing and wiping his face with a handkerchief.
"She wasn't the only one crying," he said. "There was a whole lot of white people crying."
Obama won the Iowa caucuses, the first contest of the nominating season, in January. Days later, Clinton's eyes brimmed with tears and her voice broke as she talked with New Hampshire voters on the eve of the primary, which she won.
Obama said he was "deeply disappointed" by Pfleger's comments.
"As I have traveled this country, I've been impressed not by what divides us, but by all that that unites us," he said in a statement. "That is why I am deeply disappointed in Father Pfleger's divisive, backward-looking rhetoric, which doesn't reflect the country I see or the desire of people across America to come together in common cause."
Pfleger, the white pastor of predominantly black Saint Sabina Roman Catholic Church on the city's Southwest side, said he regretted his choice of words.
"These words are inconsistent with Senator Obama's life and message and I am deeply sorry if they offended Senator Clinton or anyone else who saw them," Pfleger said.
Clinton's campaign denounced Pfleger's comments.
"Divisive and hateful language like that is totally counterproductive in our efforts to bring our party together and have no place at the pulpit or in our politics," the campaign said in a statement. "We are disappointed that Senator Obama didn't specifically reject Father's Pfleger's despicable comments about Senator Clinton, and assume he will do so."
In March, Pfleger invited Obama's embattled former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, to speak at Saint Sabina, embracing Wright in the church.
Obama recently broke with Wright, who had been his longtime pastor, after video of his sermons blaming U.S. policies for the Sept. 11 attacks and his calls of "God damn America" became fixtures on the Internet and cable news networks and created a political problem for the candidate.
Pfleger, known locally as a community activist and organizer, was arrested in June 2007 with the Rev. Jesse Jackson during a protest outside of a south suburban Chicago gun shop. The criminal trespass charges were later dropped.
He also has hosted Louis Farrakhan, the controversial leader of the Nation of Islam, at St. Sabina and has called him "a gift from God to a sick, sick world."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-05-30 07:45:02
Thursday, May 22, 2008
President Obama in the Stars, Panel Says
Article taken from AOL.com
A panel at the United Astrology Conference in Denver predicts that Sen. Barack Obama would be the ultimate winner of the presidential contest this fall -- but one says there may be a threat to him actually taking office next January.
Sen. Barack Obama will win the presidency in the fall, according to seven top astrologers on a panel at the United Astrology Conference in Denver. One panelist, however, offered a caveat: "We don't have a single solid birth chart," Robert Hand said. "If those dates are wrong, everything I say is garbage."
Besides Obama's astrological chart, panelists also looked at the charts of Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. John McCain and the U.S. itself, a Denver Post columnist reported. Apparently Obama and McCain's charts have strong connections with that of the U.S. Clinton's, not so much.
Panelist Shelley Ackerman said she worried about something in January endangering Obama's chances of ever taking office, and others agreed. Plus, she said, "there are things that are going to happen in the next couple of months that could turn the game into something different than we think it is right now," The Durango Herald reported.
A panel at the United Astrology Conference in Denver predicts that Sen. Barack Obama would be the ultimate winner of the presidential contest this fall -- but one says there may be a threat to him actually taking office next January.
Sen. Barack Obama will win the presidency in the fall, according to seven top astrologers on a panel at the United Astrology Conference in Denver. One panelist, however, offered a caveat: "We don't have a single solid birth chart," Robert Hand said. "If those dates are wrong, everything I say is garbage."
Besides Obama's astrological chart, panelists also looked at the charts of Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. John McCain and the U.S. itself, a Denver Post columnist reported. Apparently Obama and McCain's charts have strong connections with that of the U.S. Clinton's, not so much.
Panelist Shelley Ackerman said she worried about something in January endangering Obama's chances of ever taking office, and others agreed. Plus, she said, "there are things that are going to happen in the next couple of months that could turn the game into something different than we think it is right now," The Durango Herald reported.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Obama to Reach Delegate Milestone
Article taken from AOL.com
WASHINGTON (May 19) - Barack Obama will reach a significant milestone Tuesday as he marches toward the Democratic nomination for president — a majority of pledged delegates at stake in all the primaries and caucuses.
Obama will still be short of the overall number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination, unless he were to suddenly receive an avalanche of endorsements from the party and elected officials known as superdelegates. But the Illinois senator's campaign is touting the delegate milestone as a big step in defeating his rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York."
A clear majority of elected delegates will send an unmistakable message — the people have spoken, and they are ready for change," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe wrote in a memo to supporters Monday.
"As we near victory in one contest, the next challenge is already heating up," Plouffe wrote. "President Bush and Senator McCain have begun coordinating their attacks on Barack Obama in an effort to extend their failed policies for a third term.
"Obama picked up the endorsement of Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia Monday, less than a week after Clinton overwhelmingly won the state's primary. Byrd is the longest serving member of the U.S. Senate.
WASHINGTON (May 19) - Barack Obama will reach a significant milestone Tuesday as he marches toward the Democratic nomination for president — a majority of pledged delegates at stake in all the primaries and caucuses.
Obama will still be short of the overall number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination, unless he were to suddenly receive an avalanche of endorsements from the party and elected officials known as superdelegates. But the Illinois senator's campaign is touting the delegate milestone as a big step in defeating his rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York."
A clear majority of elected delegates will send an unmistakable message — the people have spoken, and they are ready for change," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe wrote in a memo to supporters Monday.
"As we near victory in one contest, the next challenge is already heating up," Plouffe wrote. "President Bush and Senator McCain have begun coordinating their attacks on Barack Obama in an effort to extend their failed policies for a third term.
"Obama picked up the endorsement of Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia Monday, less than a week after Clinton overwhelmingly won the state's primary. Byrd is the longest serving member of the U.S. Senate.
Obama eyes general election while Clinton hangs on
Article taken from AOL.com
PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama turned his attention to a general election campaign against Republican John McCain on Sunday, slamming him for having lobbyists as top advisers.
Obama has still not formally won the Democratic presidential nomination. His rival, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, kept working to overtake him, urging supporters in Kentucky, which holds its primary contest on Tuesday, to show up at the polls.
Obama, an Illinois senator, drew his biggest crowd to date in Portland, estimated by a fire and rescue official at 75,000 people. Oregon also votes on Tuesday.
"Over the last several weeks John McCain keeps on having problems with his top advisors being lobbyists, in some cases for foreign governments or other big interests that are doing business in Washington," Obama said.
Former Texas Rep. Thomas Loeffler, McCain's national finance co-chairman, resigned his post because of lobbying ties, a McCain campaign official confirmed. He was the fifth person to leave the campaign over concern about links to lobbying.
"The McCain campaign has recently put a strict policy in place and all personnel are required to be in compliance with it. Many fine people may have a conflict that is not reconcilable," said McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds.
Obama praised Clinton, but spoke of her in the past tense in another sign he has shifted focus past the primary season.
"She has been a formidable candidate. She has been smart and tough and determined and she has worked as hard as she can," Obama said of the former first lady. "She has run an extraordinary campaign."
CLINTON KEEPS GOING
The New York senator started her day by attending church and then headed off to "Get Out the Vote" rallies.
"It's not enough to show up and cheer," she told a crowd at Western Kentucky University. "You've got to get out and vote. You've got to bring everybody you can find to vote."
Obama holds a commanding lead in the pledged delegates to this summer's party convention that will pick a candidate to run against McCain, an Arizona senator.
While Clinton was expected to win handily in Kentucky, Obama was ahead in the polls in Oregon, leaving only three more primaries before the party voting ends on June 3.
Obama planned to be in Iowa on Tuesday to celebrate in the state where he scored his first victory in January.
"We thought it was a terrific way to kind of bring things full circle. We still have some contests left, but if Kentucky and Oregon go as we hope, then we think we will have a majority of pledged delegates at that point, and that's a pretty significant mark," he told reporters.
All polls are closed in Kentucky at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT) and Oregon at 8 p.m. PDT/11 p.m. EDT (0300 GMT). Results are expected shortly after.
Clinton indicated she was going to keep going. "It's not going to be easy and it doesn't happen by wishing and hoping for it. It happens by rolling up our sleeves and getting to work," she said in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
"You don't tell some states that they can't vote and other states that have already had the opportunity that they're somehow more important," she said. "I don't believe that."
Even with five primaries to go and the issue of Florida and Michigan's disputed delegates still to be decided, Democrats were starting to focus on preparing for the November election.
The Washington Post reported that financial backers of both Obama and Clinton have begun private talks, including a dinner in Washington last week, to discuss the two campaigns working together after June 3.
Speculation continued over the vice presidential picks for both parties with former Democratic New York Gov. Mario Cuomo again advocating an Obama-Clinton ticket.
Former Republican Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, the last major challenger to McCain before he bowed out, had been mentioned as a possible McCain running mate. But last week he made an insensitive remark about aiming a gun at Obama.
Huckabee apologized but was asked on Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" whether he would help McCain if he was on the ticket. "I don't know," Huckabee said. "He is the only one that can know that."
(Writing by Jeff Mason and David Wiessler; additional reporting by Lesley Wroughton and Caren Bohan in Washington, Ellen Wulfhorst with Clinton; editing by Chris Wilson)
PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama turned his attention to a general election campaign against Republican John McCain on Sunday, slamming him for having lobbyists as top advisers.
Obama has still not formally won the Democratic presidential nomination. His rival, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, kept working to overtake him, urging supporters in Kentucky, which holds its primary contest on Tuesday, to show up at the polls.
Obama, an Illinois senator, drew his biggest crowd to date in Portland, estimated by a fire and rescue official at 75,000 people. Oregon also votes on Tuesday.
"Over the last several weeks John McCain keeps on having problems with his top advisors being lobbyists, in some cases for foreign governments or other big interests that are doing business in Washington," Obama said.
Former Texas Rep. Thomas Loeffler, McCain's national finance co-chairman, resigned his post because of lobbying ties, a McCain campaign official confirmed. He was the fifth person to leave the campaign over concern about links to lobbying.
"The McCain campaign has recently put a strict policy in place and all personnel are required to be in compliance with it. Many fine people may have a conflict that is not reconcilable," said McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds.
Obama praised Clinton, but spoke of her in the past tense in another sign he has shifted focus past the primary season.
"She has been a formidable candidate. She has been smart and tough and determined and she has worked as hard as she can," Obama said of the former first lady. "She has run an extraordinary campaign."
CLINTON KEEPS GOING
The New York senator started her day by attending church and then headed off to "Get Out the Vote" rallies.
"It's not enough to show up and cheer," she told a crowd at Western Kentucky University. "You've got to get out and vote. You've got to bring everybody you can find to vote."
Obama holds a commanding lead in the pledged delegates to this summer's party convention that will pick a candidate to run against McCain, an Arizona senator.
While Clinton was expected to win handily in Kentucky, Obama was ahead in the polls in Oregon, leaving only three more primaries before the party voting ends on June 3.
Obama planned to be in Iowa on Tuesday to celebrate in the state where he scored his first victory in January.
"We thought it was a terrific way to kind of bring things full circle. We still have some contests left, but if Kentucky and Oregon go as we hope, then we think we will have a majority of pledged delegates at that point, and that's a pretty significant mark," he told reporters.
All polls are closed in Kentucky at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT) and Oregon at 8 p.m. PDT/11 p.m. EDT (0300 GMT). Results are expected shortly after.
Clinton indicated she was going to keep going. "It's not going to be easy and it doesn't happen by wishing and hoping for it. It happens by rolling up our sleeves and getting to work," she said in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
"You don't tell some states that they can't vote and other states that have already had the opportunity that they're somehow more important," she said. "I don't believe that."
Even with five primaries to go and the issue of Florida and Michigan's disputed delegates still to be decided, Democrats were starting to focus on preparing for the November election.
The Washington Post reported that financial backers of both Obama and Clinton have begun private talks, including a dinner in Washington last week, to discuss the two campaigns working together after June 3.
Speculation continued over the vice presidential picks for both parties with former Democratic New York Gov. Mario Cuomo again advocating an Obama-Clinton ticket.
Former Republican Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, the last major challenger to McCain before he bowed out, had been mentioned as a possible McCain running mate. But last week he made an insensitive remark about aiming a gun at Obama.
Huckabee apologized but was asked on Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" whether he would help McCain if he was on the ticket. "I don't know," Huckabee said. "He is the only one that can know that."
(Writing by Jeff Mason and David Wiessler; additional reporting by Lesley Wroughton and Caren Bohan in Washington, Ellen Wulfhorst with Clinton; editing by Chris Wilson)
Today on the presidential campaign trail
Article from AOL.com
McCain's national finance co-chair Loeffler resigns because of lobbyist ties ... Huckabee says he'd like to join GOP ticket as John McCain's running mate ... Obama tells seniors McCain would threaten Social Security; Clinton stumps in Kentucky ...
McCain's national finance co-chair resigns
WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain's national finance co-chairman has stepped down, the latest casualty of a presidential campaign eager to cauterize damage caused by its ties to lobbyists.
Former Texas Rep. Thomas G. Loeffler, one of McCain's key fundraisers, resigned in the wake of a new McCain policy on conflicts of interest that required campaign volunteers to disclose their lobbying connections
"Mr. Loeffler has resigned from his position with the campaign," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said Sunday.
Loeffler, who runs the lobbying shop The Loeffler Group, is the highest profile departure from McCain's inner circle since a summer 2007 shake-up cost McCain his campaign manager and chief strategist.
Among Loeffler's clients is the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., the parent company of plane manufacturer Airbus. Northrop Grumman Corp. and EADS won a lucrative contract to provide air refueling tankers for the Air Force. McCain helped scuttle an earlier contract in 2004 that would have gone to a competitor, Boeing Co.
Loeffler's firm also has lobbied for other foreign interests and foreign governments. Newsweek reported over the weekend that Loeffler's firm was paid $15 million by Saudi Arabia. The news magazine also said Loeffler listed meeting McCain along with the Saudi ambassador to "discuss US-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relations," even though Loeffler told a reporter last month that he had not discussed his clients with McCain.
McCain's new policy prohibits any staffer on the campaign from being a registered lobbyist or foreign agent.
The work of lobbyists close to McCain had become fodder for critics, undermining McCain's image as a reformer who has tried to restrict the influence special interests in government.
Huckabee says he would like to be McCain's No. 2
WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Sunday he'd like to be John McCain's running mate.
"There's no one I would rather be on a ticket with than John McCain," said Huckabee, who was a stronger than expected challenger against McCain for the Republican presidential nomination. "All during the campaign when I was his rival, not a running mate, there was no one who was more complimentary of him publicly and privately. ... I still wanted to win, but if I couldn't, John McCain was always the guy I would have supported and have now supported.
"But whether or not I do the best for him, that's something that only he can decide," Huckabee said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister who had strong support from religious conservatives, won the leadoff Iowa caucuses and seven other states. He left the race in March after Arizona Sen. McCain clinched the nomination following a series of big victories.
Huckabee also apologized again for remarks he made Friday to the National Rifle Association. Responding to an offstage noise during a speech, Huckabee said it was Democrat Barack Obama diving to the floor after someone had aimed a gun at him. Huckabee issued an apology Friday evening.
"It was a dumb, off-the-cuff remark," he said.
Obama warns seniors on Social Security
GRESHAM, Ore. (AP) - Hours before being greeted by the biggest crowd of his campaign, Democrat Barack Obama quietly told a small group of seniors Sunday that Republican John McCain would threaten the Social Security they depend on because he supports privatizing the program.
Fire officials estimated 65,000 packed into a riverside park for a spectacular afternoon rally at a sun-splashed scene on the banks of the Willamette River in Portland. They said an additional 15,000 were left outside and dozens of boaters could be seen floating in the river.
"Wow, wow, wow," Obama said as he surveyed the audience. "We have had a lot of rallies. This is the most spectacular setting, the most spectacular crowd we have had this entire campaign."
While more subdued, his appearance early in the day before about 130 people at an assisted living facility to talk Social Security was a significant attempt to tie the GOP's presidential nominee-in-waiting to an unpopular President Bush on a pocket book issue that motivates seniors - and also concerns younger generations worried about their own future retirement.
"Let me be clear, privatizing Social Security was a bad idea when George W. Bush proposed it, it's a bad idea today," Obama said.
Bush proposed a Social Security plan in 2005 that focused on creating private accounts for younger workers, but it never came up for a vote in Congress.
Obama was in Oregon, where he is favored to win the state's presidential primary on Tuesday. Hillary Rodham Clinton spent a second straight day in Kentucky, where she is favored to win when its voters head to the polls the same day.
"Now, my opponent said the other day he wasn't coming back, so I've got the whole state to myself," Clinton said, sounding happy not to be sharing the Kentucky spotlight. "What a treat."
THE DEMOCRATS
Hillary Rodham Clinton holds rallies in Lexington and Louisville, Ky. Barack Obama talks to voters in Billings and Bozeman, Mont.
THE REPUBLICANS
John McCain gives a speech to the National Restaurant Association in Chicago.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"It wasn't the first dumb thing I've ever said. And ... it won't be the last dumb thing I've ever said." - Mike Huckabee apologizing again for saying during a speech to the National Rifle Association that an offstage noise was Barack Obama diving to the floor because someone had aimed a gun at him.
STAT OF THE DAY:
Records from the Kentucky Board of Elections show that 53 percent of the state's registered voters are women.
Compiled by Ann Sanner and Ronald Powers.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
McCain's national finance co-chair Loeffler resigns because of lobbyist ties ... Huckabee says he'd like to join GOP ticket as John McCain's running mate ... Obama tells seniors McCain would threaten Social Security; Clinton stumps in Kentucky ...
McCain's national finance co-chair resigns
WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain's national finance co-chairman has stepped down, the latest casualty of a presidential campaign eager to cauterize damage caused by its ties to lobbyists.
Former Texas Rep. Thomas G. Loeffler, one of McCain's key fundraisers, resigned in the wake of a new McCain policy on conflicts of interest that required campaign volunteers to disclose their lobbying connections
"Mr. Loeffler has resigned from his position with the campaign," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said Sunday.
Loeffler, who runs the lobbying shop The Loeffler Group, is the highest profile departure from McCain's inner circle since a summer 2007 shake-up cost McCain his campaign manager and chief strategist.
Among Loeffler's clients is the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., the parent company of plane manufacturer Airbus. Northrop Grumman Corp. and EADS won a lucrative contract to provide air refueling tankers for the Air Force. McCain helped scuttle an earlier contract in 2004 that would have gone to a competitor, Boeing Co.
Loeffler's firm also has lobbied for other foreign interests and foreign governments. Newsweek reported over the weekend that Loeffler's firm was paid $15 million by Saudi Arabia. The news magazine also said Loeffler listed meeting McCain along with the Saudi ambassador to "discuss US-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relations," even though Loeffler told a reporter last month that he had not discussed his clients with McCain.
McCain's new policy prohibits any staffer on the campaign from being a registered lobbyist or foreign agent.
The work of lobbyists close to McCain had become fodder for critics, undermining McCain's image as a reformer who has tried to restrict the influence special interests in government.
Huckabee says he would like to be McCain's No. 2
WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Sunday he'd like to be John McCain's running mate.
"There's no one I would rather be on a ticket with than John McCain," said Huckabee, who was a stronger than expected challenger against McCain for the Republican presidential nomination. "All during the campaign when I was his rival, not a running mate, there was no one who was more complimentary of him publicly and privately. ... I still wanted to win, but if I couldn't, John McCain was always the guy I would have supported and have now supported.
"But whether or not I do the best for him, that's something that only he can decide," Huckabee said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister who had strong support from religious conservatives, won the leadoff Iowa caucuses and seven other states. He left the race in March after Arizona Sen. McCain clinched the nomination following a series of big victories.
Huckabee also apologized again for remarks he made Friday to the National Rifle Association. Responding to an offstage noise during a speech, Huckabee said it was Democrat Barack Obama diving to the floor after someone had aimed a gun at him. Huckabee issued an apology Friday evening.
"It was a dumb, off-the-cuff remark," he said.
Obama warns seniors on Social Security
GRESHAM, Ore. (AP) - Hours before being greeted by the biggest crowd of his campaign, Democrat Barack Obama quietly told a small group of seniors Sunday that Republican John McCain would threaten the Social Security they depend on because he supports privatizing the program.
Fire officials estimated 65,000 packed into a riverside park for a spectacular afternoon rally at a sun-splashed scene on the banks of the Willamette River in Portland. They said an additional 15,000 were left outside and dozens of boaters could be seen floating in the river.
"Wow, wow, wow," Obama said as he surveyed the audience. "We have had a lot of rallies. This is the most spectacular setting, the most spectacular crowd we have had this entire campaign."
While more subdued, his appearance early in the day before about 130 people at an assisted living facility to talk Social Security was a significant attempt to tie the GOP's presidential nominee-in-waiting to an unpopular President Bush on a pocket book issue that motivates seniors - and also concerns younger generations worried about their own future retirement.
"Let me be clear, privatizing Social Security was a bad idea when George W. Bush proposed it, it's a bad idea today," Obama said.
Bush proposed a Social Security plan in 2005 that focused on creating private accounts for younger workers, but it never came up for a vote in Congress.
Obama was in Oregon, where he is favored to win the state's presidential primary on Tuesday. Hillary Rodham Clinton spent a second straight day in Kentucky, where she is favored to win when its voters head to the polls the same day.
"Now, my opponent said the other day he wasn't coming back, so I've got the whole state to myself," Clinton said, sounding happy not to be sharing the Kentucky spotlight. "What a treat."
THE DEMOCRATS
Hillary Rodham Clinton holds rallies in Lexington and Louisville, Ky. Barack Obama talks to voters in Billings and Bozeman, Mont.
THE REPUBLICANS
John McCain gives a speech to the National Restaurant Association in Chicago.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"It wasn't the first dumb thing I've ever said. And ... it won't be the last dumb thing I've ever said." - Mike Huckabee apologizing again for saying during a speech to the National Rifle Association that an offstage noise was Barack Obama diving to the floor because someone had aimed a gun at him.
STAT OF THE DAY:
Records from the Kentucky Board of Elections show that 53 percent of the state's registered voters are women.
Compiled by Ann Sanner and Ronald Powers.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
In multiracial Hawaii, Obama faced discrimination
Article from AOL.com
HONOLULU (AP) - Growing up as a young man of mixed race, Barack Obama benefited from the spirit of tolerance that defined Hawaii's racial climate.
His childhood in the country's idealized melting pot was far from painless, though.
As part of the islands' small group of black Americans in the 1970s, he encountered racism and struggled to form a black identity.
Obama's experience in Hawaii is echoed by other blacks, including some of his schoolmates, and challenges the state's vaunted image of racial harmony.
"A big joke amongst the brothers was you could be anything else but a brother and have free rein of the world in Hawaii," said Rik Smith, a black former schoolmate of Obama's at Punahou, an elite private school in Honolulu. "When it comes to people of color, black people, there's a huge amount of racism."
In his memoir, "Dreams from My Father," Obama, who is half black and half white, recalled a seventh grader calling him a "coon" and a tennis pro who joked that his color might rub off. One person wanted to touch his hair, and he was asked whether his father, a native of Kenya, ate people. An assistant basketball coach used a racial epithet in referring to black players.
Obama, who attended Punahou on scholarship, was among a handful of black students at the K-12 school.
In a 1999 essay for the Punahou alumni magazine, Obama wrote: "Hawaii's spirit of tolerance might not have been perfect or complete. But it was - and is - real."
Smith estimated that about six black students were enrolled in high school at Punahou around the time that he and Obama attended.
Smith, a geriatrician in California, said his experience at Punahou and in the islands was similar to Obama's. Smith recalled classmates at Punahou agreeing that he should put his individual identity ahead of his race and remembered girls he wanted to date telling him they'd meet him somewhere else when he came to pick them up.
"Even in Hawaii, I'd walk down the street with a white guy, white girl, Asian person, and they would get uncomfortable if there were a whole bunch of black GIs coming down the street," he recalled. "It wasn't that different from the South or the mainland."
Lewis Anthony Jr., another black student at the school in the 1970s, said there were clear boundaries between black students and students of other races when it came to dating.
He remembered when the parents of a white girl objected to her going to the prom with him, fearing someone would have a problem seeing a black man and a white woman together and shoot at them.
"I bought into the whole melting-pot theory of Hawaii," Anthony said. "I thought it was true. And in many ways it was until it became more personal."
Hawaii's almost iconic status as the nation's most diverse state stems from its mix of mostly Asian cultures. Asians - mainly Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos - number around 700,000 and constitute more than 50 percent of the state's population, the highest percentage by far of any state. They are followed by whites and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders as the largest racial groups in Hawaii, according to the most recent U.S. Census estimates.
Nearly 20 percent of Hawaii's population is multiracial compared with about 2 percent for the United States as a whole.
The islands' 49,000 blacks make up less than 4 percent of the population, with a sizable portion of that number consisting of transient military families. That compares with a national average of 13 percent and ranks Hawaii 38th among all states in the percentage of its population that is black.
When Obama went to school in Hawaii between 1971 and 1979, there were even fewer blacks.
Although Obama was raised by his white mother and grandparents, he chose to identify himself as black and tried to understand his black identity.
He read black writers such as Richard Wright and met periodically with Smith and Tony Peterson, another black schoolmate at Punahou.
Peterson, who unlike Smith and Obama is not biracial, said Obama seemed curious about what it meant to be part of a black community.
Smith and Peterson remembered the group discussing race. The topics ranged from people who appeared to dislike being seen with blacks to whether non-black girls would date them. According to Peterson, they also discussed whether the country would ever see a black president.
Kathryn Takara, a professor at the University of Hawaii and a poet who has written about the early black experience in the islands, said she understands Obama's feelings of isolation.
"There are many issues that affect the black world, such as the dearth of African-Americans in higher education and problems of poverty and justice, and there are few in the islands whom I can engage with about them," said Takara, who is black.
She said many people in the islands don't see issues affecting the black community as relevant to Hawaii.
Miles Jackson, a professor emeritus at the University of Hawaii, said blacks in Hawaii have never faced the type of "outward hostility" and widespread discrimination many have encountered on the mainland.
Jackson said the number of blacks in Hawaii shot up after World War II. The emigration from the mainland was spurred by articles in black magazines depicting the state as a comfortable place for blacks, he said.
Although some Asian and white landlords in Hawaii in the past have refused to rent to blacks, Jackson said blacks were never restricted wholesale from living in certain neighborhoods and usually had opportunities to work and prosper.
"Historically, Hawaii has been a refuge for African-Americans," said Jackson, who has written about the history of blacks in the islands. "It took them away from the harshness of discrimination and segregation on the mainland."
But that doesn't mean Hawaii blacks don't sometimes encounter ignorance about their culture that can border on racism, said Elisa White, an assistant professor in the ethnic studies department at the University of Hawaii.
"To be African-American sometimes means you have to explain your experience in a way that you wouldn't have to in the continental United States," she said.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
HONOLULU (AP) - Growing up as a young man of mixed race, Barack Obama benefited from the spirit of tolerance that defined Hawaii's racial climate.
His childhood in the country's idealized melting pot was far from painless, though.
As part of the islands' small group of black Americans in the 1970s, he encountered racism and struggled to form a black identity.
Obama's experience in Hawaii is echoed by other blacks, including some of his schoolmates, and challenges the state's vaunted image of racial harmony.
"A big joke amongst the brothers was you could be anything else but a brother and have free rein of the world in Hawaii," said Rik Smith, a black former schoolmate of Obama's at Punahou, an elite private school in Honolulu. "When it comes to people of color, black people, there's a huge amount of racism."
In his memoir, "Dreams from My Father," Obama, who is half black and half white, recalled a seventh grader calling him a "coon" and a tennis pro who joked that his color might rub off. One person wanted to touch his hair, and he was asked whether his father, a native of Kenya, ate people. An assistant basketball coach used a racial epithet in referring to black players.
Obama, who attended Punahou on scholarship, was among a handful of black students at the K-12 school.
In a 1999 essay for the Punahou alumni magazine, Obama wrote: "Hawaii's spirit of tolerance might not have been perfect or complete. But it was - and is - real."
Smith estimated that about six black students were enrolled in high school at Punahou around the time that he and Obama attended.
Smith, a geriatrician in California, said his experience at Punahou and in the islands was similar to Obama's. Smith recalled classmates at Punahou agreeing that he should put his individual identity ahead of his race and remembered girls he wanted to date telling him they'd meet him somewhere else when he came to pick them up.
"Even in Hawaii, I'd walk down the street with a white guy, white girl, Asian person, and they would get uncomfortable if there were a whole bunch of black GIs coming down the street," he recalled. "It wasn't that different from the South or the mainland."
Lewis Anthony Jr., another black student at the school in the 1970s, said there were clear boundaries between black students and students of other races when it came to dating.
He remembered when the parents of a white girl objected to her going to the prom with him, fearing someone would have a problem seeing a black man and a white woman together and shoot at them.
"I bought into the whole melting-pot theory of Hawaii," Anthony said. "I thought it was true. And in many ways it was until it became more personal."
Hawaii's almost iconic status as the nation's most diverse state stems from its mix of mostly Asian cultures. Asians - mainly Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos - number around 700,000 and constitute more than 50 percent of the state's population, the highest percentage by far of any state. They are followed by whites and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders as the largest racial groups in Hawaii, according to the most recent U.S. Census estimates.
Nearly 20 percent of Hawaii's population is multiracial compared with about 2 percent for the United States as a whole.
The islands' 49,000 blacks make up less than 4 percent of the population, with a sizable portion of that number consisting of transient military families. That compares with a national average of 13 percent and ranks Hawaii 38th among all states in the percentage of its population that is black.
When Obama went to school in Hawaii between 1971 and 1979, there were even fewer blacks.
Although Obama was raised by his white mother and grandparents, he chose to identify himself as black and tried to understand his black identity.
He read black writers such as Richard Wright and met periodically with Smith and Tony Peterson, another black schoolmate at Punahou.
Peterson, who unlike Smith and Obama is not biracial, said Obama seemed curious about what it meant to be part of a black community.
Smith and Peterson remembered the group discussing race. The topics ranged from people who appeared to dislike being seen with blacks to whether non-black girls would date them. According to Peterson, they also discussed whether the country would ever see a black president.
Kathryn Takara, a professor at the University of Hawaii and a poet who has written about the early black experience in the islands, said she understands Obama's feelings of isolation.
"There are many issues that affect the black world, such as the dearth of African-Americans in higher education and problems of poverty and justice, and there are few in the islands whom I can engage with about them," said Takara, who is black.
She said many people in the islands don't see issues affecting the black community as relevant to Hawaii.
Miles Jackson, a professor emeritus at the University of Hawaii, said blacks in Hawaii have never faced the type of "outward hostility" and widespread discrimination many have encountered on the mainland.
Jackson said the number of blacks in Hawaii shot up after World War II. The emigration from the mainland was spurred by articles in black magazines depicting the state as a comfortable place for blacks, he said.
Although some Asian and white landlords in Hawaii in the past have refused to rent to blacks, Jackson said blacks were never restricted wholesale from living in certain neighborhoods and usually had opportunities to work and prosper.
"Historically, Hawaii has been a refuge for African-Americans," said Jackson, who has written about the history of blacks in the islands. "It took them away from the harshness of discrimination and segregation on the mainland."
But that doesn't mean Hawaii blacks don't sometimes encounter ignorance about their culture that can border on racism, said Elisa White, an assistant professor in the ethnic studies department at the University of Hawaii.
"To be African-American sometimes means you have to explain your experience in a way that you wouldn't have to in the continental United States," she said.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
John Edwards endorses Barack Obama
Article taken from NDTV.com
Associated Press
Thursday, May 15, 2008 (Washington)
Barack Obama secured the long sought-after endorsement of former rival John Edwards, a gesture aimed at solidifying support for the party's likely presidential nominee as Hillary Clinton refuses to abandon her long-shot candidacy. Edwards' endorsement on Wednesday deals a sharp blow to Clinton, a day after she sought to convince top Democrats that her 2-1 victory over Obama in West Virginia on the strength of working-class voters was evidence that her campaign still had signs of life despite her rival's largely insurmountable delegate lead.
Edwards, who had based much of his candidacy on supporting the working-class voters that Obama hopes to woo, made a surprise appearance with the Democratic front-runner in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a critical general election battleground state. Obama has shrugged off his largely symbolic loss to Clinton, and turned his attention to a general election matchup against Republican John McCain.
Edwards said Obama ''stands with me'' in a fight to cut poverty in half within 10 years. Obama devoted his speech to one of his guest's favourite topic, fighting poverty. In America, he said, ''you should never be homeless, you should never be hungry.''As president, he vowed to ''lift up every American out of poverty. ''Earlier, Obama tried to reach out to Michigan workers, promising to pump billions of dollars into efforts to keep manufacturing jobs from being shipped overseas.
Clinton vowed to stay in the campaign despite struggling with debt, though she hinted that the protracted race would end shortly after the primaries concluded and that the party would select a candidate before its national convention in August.
Associated Press
Thursday, May 15, 2008 (Washington)
Barack Obama secured the long sought-after endorsement of former rival John Edwards, a gesture aimed at solidifying support for the party's likely presidential nominee as Hillary Clinton refuses to abandon her long-shot candidacy. Edwards' endorsement on Wednesday deals a sharp blow to Clinton, a day after she sought to convince top Democrats that her 2-1 victory over Obama in West Virginia on the strength of working-class voters was evidence that her campaign still had signs of life despite her rival's largely insurmountable delegate lead.
Edwards, who had based much of his candidacy on supporting the working-class voters that Obama hopes to woo, made a surprise appearance with the Democratic front-runner in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a critical general election battleground state. Obama has shrugged off his largely symbolic loss to Clinton, and turned his attention to a general election matchup against Republican John McCain.
Edwards said Obama ''stands with me'' in a fight to cut poverty in half within 10 years. Obama devoted his speech to one of his guest's favourite topic, fighting poverty. In America, he said, ''you should never be homeless, you should never be hungry.''As president, he vowed to ''lift up every American out of poverty. ''Earlier, Obama tried to reach out to Michigan workers, promising to pump billions of dollars into efforts to keep manufacturing jobs from being shipped overseas.
Clinton vowed to stay in the campaign despite struggling with debt, though she hinted that the protracted race would end shortly after the primaries concluded and that the party would select a candidate before its national convention in August.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Clinton Trounces Obama in West Virginia
Article taken from AOL.com
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (May 14) - Hillary Rodham Clinton coasted to a large but largely symbolic victory in working-class West Virginia on Tuesday, handing Barack Obama one of the worst defeats of the campaign yet scarcely slowing his march toward the Democratic presidential nomination.
West VirginiansVote for ClintonPresidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton insists she's more determined than ever to press ahead with her campaign after her thumping victory in the West Virginia Democratic primary Tuesday night. She speaks to supporters at a victory rally in Charleston, W. Va.
Obama conceded defeat in advance of polls closing in West Virginia as he moved on to campaign in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The move is the clearest sign yet that the Obama camp is turning its attention to a general election match-up with Republican John McCain. Missouri will be a key battleground state in November.
A voter enters the polls at City Hall in St. Albans, W.Va., Tuesday. Clinton's win is one of her widest margins of victory of the primary contests. The Mountain State is home to many older, white, rural and low-income voters, who have embraced her in other contests such as Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Before her big win in West Virginia, Clinton did a little voting herself on Tuesday -- on the Senate floor. Here, the former first lady arrives on Capitol Hill.
Barack Obama also took a rare diversion from the campaign trail to vote on energy-related bills Tuesday. The rivals briefly shook hands during an encounter on the Senate floor. Despite his defeat, Obama kept up his momentum with superdelegates Tuesday, winning over Roy Romer, a former Democratic Party chairman.
Clinton chats with a shopper during a campaign stop at a farmers' market in Charleston, W.Va., Tuesday. The New York senator contends that her strength among blue-collar voters will make her the better candidate to take on presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.
Clinton Expects Big Win in West Virginia
Article taken from AOL.com
Voters in West Virginia's Democratic presidential primary head to the polls today, and they're expected to deliver a victory to Hillary Rodham Clinton. The senator and former first lady is locked in a protracted battle with Sen. Barack Obama for their party's nomination. A big win could bolster her claim that Obama can't hold onto some key Democratic constituencies.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Media pronounces race over; Hillary still running
Article taken from AOL News
Washington, May 12 : Even as the media pronounced the Democratic presidential nomination race over with Barack Obama overtaking Hillary Clinton in the support of super delegates, his gritty rival was all set to take one last stand Tuesday.Picking up 21 endorsements since his sweeping victory in North Carolina and a narrow loss in Indiana primaries, Obama had by Saturday the backing of 276 key party officials holding the balance of power in the nomination process as against Clinton's 271.5, according to one count.
Yet amid ever growing calls to quit the White House race, Clinton has doggedly continued her campaign in West Virginia, the next scene of battle Tuesday.
She is widely expected to win there with one poll suggesting she holds a commanding 43-point advantage over Obama in the mountain state thanks to her white working class base. But even a big victory in West Virginia is unlikely to upset Obama's applecart now.
The cascade of endorsements for Obama virtually sealed the former first lady 's fate as she was banking on their support to anoint her the party nominee even though Obama has won more primaries, has a larger share of popular vote and leads her in the count of delegates, who actually elect the party nominee.
But Clinton has advanced the argument that as she has won bigger states,she is more electable in the November presidential contest which is held under a winner take all system rather than Democrats' own proportional one in the allocation of delegates to the presidential Electoral College.
She also claims overwhelming support among the white working class that makes up the majority of the electorate whereas Obama has been propelled forward largely by the blacks and left leaning liberals.The backing of super delegates, party officials and leaders who have held elective office, is considered crucial in the nomination battle as neither candidate is likely to reach the magic winning number of 2025 delegates by the end of primary season June 3.
Many of the super delegates who endorsed Obama in the last week said it is time for the party to unite behind him to take on presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in the presidential elections in November.
In the overall race for the nomination, Obama has a 167.5 delegate advantage with his 1,864.5 delegates to Clinton's 1,697, according to the latest Associated Press (AP) tally.
Clinton started the year with a 106-delegate lead among super delegates, but her margin started to shrink after Obama won the Iowa caucuses in early January.
After 11 straight victories in primaries and caucuses from February 5 Super Tuesday to March 4 primaries in Ohio and Texas, Obama picked up 51 super delegates while Clinton had a net loss of one.
Obama added another 22 even after her victory in Pennsylvania that her helped her add 11.5 super delegates, including the half delegate from the Democrats Abroad.
There are 217 pledged delegates at stake in the remaining six primaries. A little more than 200 super delegates also remain undecided, and about 40 others will be named by state parties at state conventions and meetings throughout the spring.Meanwhile, even before Obama fully wraps up the Democratic presidential nomination, he and McCain are already drawing up strategies for taking each other on in the general election, the New York Times reported Saturday citing campaign aides.
Both camps are focusing on the same groups - including independent voters and Latinos - and about a dozen states where they think the contest is likely to be decided in November,They are also starting to assemble teams in the key battlegrounds, develop negative advertising and engage each other in earnest on the issues and a combustible mix of other topics, including age and patriotism, the Times said.
In a sign of what could be an extremely unusual fall campaign, the two sides said Saturday that they would be open to holding joint forums or un-moderated debates across the country in front of voters through the summer.
Obama, campaigning in Oregon, said that the proposal, floated by McCain's advisers, was 'a great idea.'
© Copyright 2008 Indo Asian News Service.
Washington, May 12 : Even as the media pronounced the Democratic presidential nomination race over with Barack Obama overtaking Hillary Clinton in the support of super delegates, his gritty rival was all set to take one last stand Tuesday.Picking up 21 endorsements since his sweeping victory in North Carolina and a narrow loss in Indiana primaries, Obama had by Saturday the backing of 276 key party officials holding the balance of power in the nomination process as against Clinton's 271.5, according to one count.
Yet amid ever growing calls to quit the White House race, Clinton has doggedly continued her campaign in West Virginia, the next scene of battle Tuesday.
She is widely expected to win there with one poll suggesting she holds a commanding 43-point advantage over Obama in the mountain state thanks to her white working class base. But even a big victory in West Virginia is unlikely to upset Obama's applecart now.
The cascade of endorsements for Obama virtually sealed the former first lady 's fate as she was banking on their support to anoint her the party nominee even though Obama has won more primaries, has a larger share of popular vote and leads her in the count of delegates, who actually elect the party nominee.
But Clinton has advanced the argument that as she has won bigger states,she is more electable in the November presidential contest which is held under a winner take all system rather than Democrats' own proportional one in the allocation of delegates to the presidential Electoral College.
She also claims overwhelming support among the white working class that makes up the majority of the electorate whereas Obama has been propelled forward largely by the blacks and left leaning liberals.The backing of super delegates, party officials and leaders who have held elective office, is considered crucial in the nomination battle as neither candidate is likely to reach the magic winning number of 2025 delegates by the end of primary season June 3.
Many of the super delegates who endorsed Obama in the last week said it is time for the party to unite behind him to take on presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in the presidential elections in November.
In the overall race for the nomination, Obama has a 167.5 delegate advantage with his 1,864.5 delegates to Clinton's 1,697, according to the latest Associated Press (AP) tally.
Clinton started the year with a 106-delegate lead among super delegates, but her margin started to shrink after Obama won the Iowa caucuses in early January.
After 11 straight victories in primaries and caucuses from February 5 Super Tuesday to March 4 primaries in Ohio and Texas, Obama picked up 51 super delegates while Clinton had a net loss of one.
Obama added another 22 even after her victory in Pennsylvania that her helped her add 11.5 super delegates, including the half delegate from the Democrats Abroad.
There are 217 pledged delegates at stake in the remaining six primaries. A little more than 200 super delegates also remain undecided, and about 40 others will be named by state parties at state conventions and meetings throughout the spring.Meanwhile, even before Obama fully wraps up the Democratic presidential nomination, he and McCain are already drawing up strategies for taking each other on in the general election, the New York Times reported Saturday citing campaign aides.
Both camps are focusing on the same groups - including independent voters and Latinos - and about a dozen states where they think the contest is likely to be decided in November,They are also starting to assemble teams in the key battlegrounds, develop negative advertising and engage each other in earnest on the issues and a combustible mix of other topics, including age and patriotism, the Times said.
In a sign of what could be an extremely unusual fall campaign, the two sides said Saturday that they would be open to holding joint forums or un-moderated debates across the country in front of voters through the summer.
Obama, campaigning in Oregon, said that the proposal, floated by McCain's advisers, was 'a great idea.'
© Copyright 2008 Indo Asian News Service.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Clinton presses on, urges supporters to ignore calls to quit
Article from AOL
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Her voice raspy, her tone determined, Hillary Rodham Clinton urged her supporters Thursday to ignore the political pundits who have declared her toast.
The former first lady raced into a long West Virginia-to-the-West Coast campaign day, declaring she would move forward with her presidential effort and insisting anew that she, not Barack Obama, would be the stronger Democratic candidate to face Republican John McCain in November.
But her fresh comments about race dogged her as she pressed forward with her struggling candidacy.In an interview with USA Today published Thursday, Clinton said, "I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on." She cited an Associated Press article "that found how Senator Obama's support among working, hardworking Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me.""There's a pattern emerging here," she said.
Obama's campaign did not respond to the comments, which generated buzz in the liberal blogosphere.Working-class whites overwhelmingly favor Clinton over Obama, and their view of the Illinois senator has grown increasingly negative since late last year, according to Associated Press-Yahoo News polling. In an AP-Yahoo survey a month ago, more than half - or 53 percent - of whites who have not finished college had negative impressions of Obama, up a 12 points since November.
Data from exit polls also show that Obama's problem with working-class whites persists. About six in 10 of them voted for Clinton in primaries on Super Tuesday (Feb. 5) and earlier, and they have leaned toward her slightly more since then.
On Tuesday, Clinton was supported by 65 percent of whites who have not finished college in Indiana and 71 percent of them in North Carolina.With virtually no chance of catching Obama in the popular vote or among pledged delegates, Clinton and her strategists have pinned their hope on persuading superdelegates - elected officials and party activists - that she would be the stronger Democrat to run against McCain.
Harold Ickes, who heads the Clinton campaign's outreach to superdelegates, has acknowledged discussing Obama's controversial former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, with superdelegates, saying Wright's incendiary anti-American sermons and other comments could alienate voters in the fall.At a rally under the dome of the West Virginia Capitol, Clinton dismissed calls for her to drop out as "deja vu all over again." She said she had faced similar pressure before going on to win primaries in New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania.She made her case for pressing on, and thanked her supporters for doing the same."A lot of you have stuck with me. You've been through all the ups and downs in this campaign, the biggest victories and toughest moments," Clinton said. "I think it is because you understand that you've got to have a president who gets up every day and fights for you, who never gives up on you."Her fading chances didn't diminish the loyalty of Evelyn Smith, 78, one of hundreds of supporters who jammed into the Capitol and waited nearly two hours to hear Clinton speak.
"It's going to take a miracle for her to get the nomination, which I could sit down and cry about because I think she really deserves to be president and the first lady president," Smith said.Smith said Clinton should stay in the race until the final contests June 3. "I'm a lot like she is, and I would go to the finish line even if I came in last and took a fall. I'd make it to the finish line, and I think she should, too," she said.Jim Duffield, 64, agreed."Of course she should keep going until we get a winner," he said.Said Clinton as her audience cheered: "I'm running to be president of all 50 states. I think we ought to keep this going so the people of West Virginia's voices are heard."In contrast to her confrontational comments in speeches leading up to recent primaries, Clinton's only mention of Obama on Thursday was to say next Tuesday's primary in West Virginia would be a test for both of them. She did highlight her strengths with various voting blocs through the primaries, an implicit comparison with her Democratic foe.
She said the states she has won and the voters she has attracted are essential if the party is to reclaim the White House."We need to bring back hardworking people to the Democratic Party," the New York senator said. "I'm winning Catholic voters and Hispanic voters, blue-collar workers and seniors. People Senator McCain will need in the general election.
"She added, "Some call you swing voters. I call you Americans."At a rally at an airport hangar in Sioux Falls, Clinton said, "There are some folks arguing we should stop voting," Clinton said, eliciting boos. South Dakota and Montana cast the last primary votes June 3.
In Sioux Falls, Gabriella Collignon said there was no way Clinton should drop out."I think it shows a lot about her personality that she's going to keep going," Collignon said.West Virginia's demographic makeup of white, older voters favors Clinton. During her appearance Thursday, she offered the same populist pitch she began making in the closing days before Indiana and North Carolina voted.She renewed her call for a summertime holiday for the federal gasoline tax, with oil companies making up the difference, a proposal that many economists - and Obama - have dismissed as a meaningless pander.
The West Virginia rally was the first event on Clinton's exceptionally busy campaign schedule Thursday.
She also planned an appearance in Oregon.She is favored to win West Virginia's primary but has fallen further behind Obama in delegates won in primaries and caucuses. Her hopes for the Democratic nomination rest on strong showings in the remaining six contests to convince more than 200 party elders and other "superdelegates" to support her.
Obama met in Washington with superdelegate members of Congress, telling them it was now time to declare for him. He picked up support from at least two superdelegates: Reps. Brad Miller of North Carolina, where Obama handily won the primary this week, and Rick Larsen of Washington state.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
05/08/2008 21:41 ET
Obama Reportedly Will Declare Victory
Article taken from AOL
Politico.com reported Thursday that Barack Obama plans to declare victory in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination on May 20. Time magazine is already ahead of him. The magazine's May 19 issue features Obama on the cover with the headline "And the Winner* Is..." The small type at the bottom reads, "*Really, we're pretty sure this time."
Kentucky and Oregon hold primaries on May 20. After those contests, Obama will have "the most pledged delegates and the most popular votes," a campaign adviser told Politico.com. Obama is shown at an event commemorating Israel's 60th birthday on Thursday.
Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign said it will dispute any victory claims by Obama. "You can declare mission accomplished but that doesn't mean that the mission has actually been accomplished," said Howard Wolfson, one of Clinton's top strategists. Here, Clinton speaks at a rally in Sioux Falls, S.D., Thursday. Sources: Politico.com, Time.com, AP
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Obama's Weekend to Win
Article from Time
For all of his attempts to downplay expectations, Senator Barack Obama is heading into a weekend that will probably make him look like anything but the underdog. Democrats in four more states are scheduled to cast their ballots, and while they will not be the deciding factors in what remains a virtual dead heat between him and Hillary Clinton, the contests could give Obama an extra boost heading into next week's important Potomac primaries of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. On a conference call with key Clinton donors on Thursday, the campaign's senior strategist Mark Penn admitted as much; "I think we'll have some bumps in the road, some difficult states in the next week or two."
Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington State are holding contests Saturday and Maine Democrats will caucus on Sunday. There are 228 pledged delegates at stake this weekend, though all of the states will split delegates proportionally, so it's unlikely that either candidate can gain too big an advantage. As it stands now, Obama leads Clinton with 853 pledged delegates to her 849, not including Superdelegates, according to Real Clear Politics.
The caucus format in Washington, Nebraska and Maine could help Obama, who has won six of the seven caucus states so far, thanks to his passionate, dedicated following and stronger grassroots organizations. "I think that it is fair to say that he should win the caucuses in Maine, Nebraska and Washington State on Saturday. For my own state of Louisiana, I would venture that Senator Obama should win here," said Kevin Mulcahy, a political science professor at Louisiana State University, who himself plans on voting for Clinton.
But just because Obama has momentum — beating the expectations game on Super Tuesday and continuing to lead Clinton in the money race — doesn't mean Clinton, a New York senator and former First Lady, isn't putting up a fight in the weekend's races. Clinton, who still leads in most national polls, is campaigning vigorously in Washington Friday and in Maine Saturday, while her husband, former President Bill Clinton, has headed to Louisiana.
For all of his attempts to downplay expectations, Senator Barack Obama is heading into a weekend that will probably make him look like anything but the underdog. Democrats in four more states are scheduled to cast their ballots, and while they will not be the deciding factors in what remains a virtual dead heat between him and Hillary Clinton, the contests could give Obama an extra boost heading into next week's important Potomac primaries of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. On a conference call with key Clinton donors on Thursday, the campaign's senior strategist Mark Penn admitted as much; "I think we'll have some bumps in the road, some difficult states in the next week or two."
Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington State are holding contests Saturday and Maine Democrats will caucus on Sunday. There are 228 pledged delegates at stake this weekend, though all of the states will split delegates proportionally, so it's unlikely that either candidate can gain too big an advantage. As it stands now, Obama leads Clinton with 853 pledged delegates to her 849, not including Superdelegates, according to Real Clear Politics.
The caucus format in Washington, Nebraska and Maine could help Obama, who has won six of the seven caucus states so far, thanks to his passionate, dedicated following and stronger grassroots organizations. "I think that it is fair to say that he should win the caucuses in Maine, Nebraska and Washington State on Saturday. For my own state of Louisiana, I would venture that Senator Obama should win here," said Kevin Mulcahy, a political science professor at Louisiana State University, who himself plans on voting for Clinton.
But just because Obama has momentum — beating the expectations game on Super Tuesday and continuing to lead Clinton in the money race — doesn't mean Clinton, a New York senator and former First Lady, isn't putting up a fight in the weekend's races. Clinton, who still leads in most national polls, is campaigning vigorously in Washington Friday and in Maine Saturday, while her husband, former President Bill Clinton, has headed to Louisiana.
The Five Mistakes Clinton Made
Article taken from Yahoo
For all her talk about "full speed on to the White House," there was an unmistakably elegiac tone to Hillary Clinton's primary-night speech in Indianapolis. And if one needed further confirmation that the undaunted, never-say-die Clintons realize their bid might be at an end, all it took was a look at the wistful faces of the husband and the daughter who stood behind the candidate as she talked of all the people she has met in a journey "that has been a blessing for me."
It was also a journey she had begun with what appeared to be insurmountable advantages, which evaporated one by one as the campaign dragged on far longer than anyone could have anticipated. She made at least five big mistakes, each of which compounded the others:
1. She misjudged the mood
That was probably her biggest blunder. In a cycle that has been all about change, Clinton chose an incumbent's strategy, running on experience, preparedness, inevitability - and the power of the strongest brand name in Democratic politics. It made sense, given who she is and the additional doubts that some voters might have about making a woman Commander in Chief. But in putting her focus on positioning herself to win the general election in November, Clinton completely misread the mood of Democratic-primary voters, who were desperate to turn the page. "Being the consummate Washington insider is not where you want to be in a year when people want change," says Barack Obama's chief strategist, David Axelrod. Clinton's "initial strategic positioning was wrong and kind of played into our hands." But other miscalculations made it worse:
2. She didn't master the rules
Clinton picked people for her team primarily for their loyalty to her, instead of their mastery of the game. That became abundantly clear in a strategy session last year, according to two people who were there. As aides looked over the campaign calendar, chief strategist Mark Penn confidently predicted that an early win in California would put her over the top because she would pick up all the state's 370 delegates. It sounded smart, but as every high school civics student now knows, Penn was wrong: Democrats, unlike the Republicans, apportion their delegates according to vote totals, rather than allowing any state to award them winner-take-all. Sitting nearby, veteran Democratic insider Harold M. Ickes, who had helped write those rules, was horrified - and let Penn know it. "How can it possibly be," Ickes asked, "that the much vaunted chief strategist doesn't understand proportional allocation?" And yet the strategy remained the same, with the campaign making its bet on big-state victories. Even now, it can seem as if they don't get it. Both Bill and Hillary have noted plaintively that if Democrats had the same winner-take-all rules as Republicans, she'd be the nominee. Meanwhile, the Clinton campaign now acknowledges privately:
3. She underestimated the caucus states
While Clinton based her strategy on the big contests, she seemed to virtually overlook states like Minnesota, Nebraska and Kansas, which choose their delegates through caucuses. She had a reason: the Clintons decided, says an adviser, that "caucus states were not really their thing." Her core supporters - women, the elderly, those with blue-collar jobs - were less likely to be able to commit an evening of the week, as the process requires. But it was a little like unilateral disarmament in states worth 12% of the pledged delegates. Indeed, it was in the caucus states that Obama piled up his lead among pledged delegates. "For all the talent and the money they had over there," says Axelrod, "they - bewilderingly - seemed to have little understanding for the caucuses and how important they would become."
By the time Clinton's lieutenants realized the grave nature of their error, they lacked the resources to do anything about it - in part because:
4. She relied on old money
For a decade or more, the Clintons set the standard for political fund-raising in the Democratic Party, and nearly all Bill's old donors had re-upped for Hillary's bid. Her 2006 Senate campaign had raised an astonishing $51.6 million against token opposition, in what everyone assumed was merely a dry run for a far bigger contest. But something had happened to fund-raising that Team Clinton didn't fully grasp: the Internet. Though Clinton's totals from working the shrimp-cocktail circuit remained impressive by every historic measure, her donors were typically big-check writers. And once they had ponied up the $2,300 allowed by law, they were forbidden to give more. The once bottomless Clinton well was drying up.
Obama relied instead on a different model: the 800,000-plus people who had signed up on his website and could continue sending money his way $5, $10 and $50 at a time. (The campaign has raised more than $100 million online, better than half its total.) Meanwhile, the Clintons were forced to tap the $100 million - plus fortune they had acquired since he left the White House - first for $5 million in January to make it to Super Tuesday and then $6.4 million to get her through Indiana and North Carolina. And that reflects one final mistake:
5. She never counted on a long haul
Clinton's strategy had been premised on delivering a knockout blow early. If she could win Iowa, she believed, the race would be over. Clinton spent lavishly there yet finished a disappointing third. What surprised the Obama forces was how long it took her campaign to retool. She fought him to a tie in the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday contests but didn't have any troops in place for the states that followed. Obama, on the other hand, was a train running hard on two or three tracks.
Whatever the Chicago headquarters was unveiling to win immediate contests, it always had a separate operation setting up organizations in the states that were next. As far back as Feb. 21, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe was spotted in Raleigh, N.C. He told the News & Observer that the state's primary, then more than 10 weeks away, "could end up being very important in the nomination fight." At the time, the idea seemed laughable.
Now, of course, the question seems not whether Clinton will exit the race but when. She continues to load her schedule with campaign stops, even as calls for her to concede grow louder.
But the voice she is listening to now is the one inside her head, explains a longtime aide. Clinton's calculation is as much about history as it is about politics. As the first woman to have come this far, Clinton has told those close to her, she wants people who invested their hopes in her to see that she has given it her best. And then? As she said in Indianapolis, "No matter what happens, I will work for the nominee of the Democratic Party because we must win in November." When the task at hand is healing divisions in the Democratic Party, the loser can have as much influence as the winner.
For all her talk about "full speed on to the White House," there was an unmistakably elegiac tone to Hillary Clinton's primary-night speech in Indianapolis. And if one needed further confirmation that the undaunted, never-say-die Clintons realize their bid might be at an end, all it took was a look at the wistful faces of the husband and the daughter who stood behind the candidate as she talked of all the people she has met in a journey "that has been a blessing for me."
It was also a journey she had begun with what appeared to be insurmountable advantages, which evaporated one by one as the campaign dragged on far longer than anyone could have anticipated. She made at least five big mistakes, each of which compounded the others:
1. She misjudged the mood
That was probably her biggest blunder. In a cycle that has been all about change, Clinton chose an incumbent's strategy, running on experience, preparedness, inevitability - and the power of the strongest brand name in Democratic politics. It made sense, given who she is and the additional doubts that some voters might have about making a woman Commander in Chief. But in putting her focus on positioning herself to win the general election in November, Clinton completely misread the mood of Democratic-primary voters, who were desperate to turn the page. "Being the consummate Washington insider is not where you want to be in a year when people want change," says Barack Obama's chief strategist, David Axelrod. Clinton's "initial strategic positioning was wrong and kind of played into our hands." But other miscalculations made it worse:
2. She didn't master the rules
Clinton picked people for her team primarily for their loyalty to her, instead of their mastery of the game. That became abundantly clear in a strategy session last year, according to two people who were there. As aides looked over the campaign calendar, chief strategist Mark Penn confidently predicted that an early win in California would put her over the top because she would pick up all the state's 370 delegates. It sounded smart, but as every high school civics student now knows, Penn was wrong: Democrats, unlike the Republicans, apportion their delegates according to vote totals, rather than allowing any state to award them winner-take-all. Sitting nearby, veteran Democratic insider Harold M. Ickes, who had helped write those rules, was horrified - and let Penn know it. "How can it possibly be," Ickes asked, "that the much vaunted chief strategist doesn't understand proportional allocation?" And yet the strategy remained the same, with the campaign making its bet on big-state victories. Even now, it can seem as if they don't get it. Both Bill and Hillary have noted plaintively that if Democrats had the same winner-take-all rules as Republicans, she'd be the nominee. Meanwhile, the Clinton campaign now acknowledges privately:
3. She underestimated the caucus states
While Clinton based her strategy on the big contests, she seemed to virtually overlook states like Minnesota, Nebraska and Kansas, which choose their delegates through caucuses. She had a reason: the Clintons decided, says an adviser, that "caucus states were not really their thing." Her core supporters - women, the elderly, those with blue-collar jobs - were less likely to be able to commit an evening of the week, as the process requires. But it was a little like unilateral disarmament in states worth 12% of the pledged delegates. Indeed, it was in the caucus states that Obama piled up his lead among pledged delegates. "For all the talent and the money they had over there," says Axelrod, "they - bewilderingly - seemed to have little understanding for the caucuses and how important they would become."
By the time Clinton's lieutenants realized the grave nature of their error, they lacked the resources to do anything about it - in part because:
4. She relied on old money
For a decade or more, the Clintons set the standard for political fund-raising in the Democratic Party, and nearly all Bill's old donors had re-upped for Hillary's bid. Her 2006 Senate campaign had raised an astonishing $51.6 million against token opposition, in what everyone assumed was merely a dry run for a far bigger contest. But something had happened to fund-raising that Team Clinton didn't fully grasp: the Internet. Though Clinton's totals from working the shrimp-cocktail circuit remained impressive by every historic measure, her donors were typically big-check writers. And once they had ponied up the $2,300 allowed by law, they were forbidden to give more. The once bottomless Clinton well was drying up.
Obama relied instead on a different model: the 800,000-plus people who had signed up on his website and could continue sending money his way $5, $10 and $50 at a time. (The campaign has raised more than $100 million online, better than half its total.) Meanwhile, the Clintons were forced to tap the $100 million - plus fortune they had acquired since he left the White House - first for $5 million in January to make it to Super Tuesday and then $6.4 million to get her through Indiana and North Carolina. And that reflects one final mistake:
5. She never counted on a long haul
Clinton's strategy had been premised on delivering a knockout blow early. If she could win Iowa, she believed, the race would be over. Clinton spent lavishly there yet finished a disappointing third. What surprised the Obama forces was how long it took her campaign to retool. She fought him to a tie in the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday contests but didn't have any troops in place for the states that followed. Obama, on the other hand, was a train running hard on two or three tracks.
Whatever the Chicago headquarters was unveiling to win immediate contests, it always had a separate operation setting up organizations in the states that were next. As far back as Feb. 21, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe was spotted in Raleigh, N.C. He told the News & Observer that the state's primary, then more than 10 weeks away, "could end up being very important in the nomination fight." At the time, the idea seemed laughable.
Now, of course, the question seems not whether Clinton will exit the race but when. She continues to load her schedule with campaign stops, even as calls for her to concede grow louder.
But the voice she is listening to now is the one inside her head, explains a longtime aide. Clinton's calculation is as much about history as it is about politics. As the first woman to have come this far, Clinton has told those close to her, she wants people who invested their hopes in her to see that she has given it her best. And then? As she said in Indianapolis, "No matter what happens, I will work for the nominee of the Democratic Party because we must win in November." When the task at hand is healing divisions in the Democratic Party, the loser can have as much influence as the winner.
Clinton asks supers to commit in private
Article taken from Yahoo
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's visit to Capitol Hill this week may have been more about weighing her support than it was about wooing superdelegates.
According to a senior Democratic aide, Clinton asked some uncommitted superdelegates if they could commit to her privately -- without the political risks of a public endorsement -- so that she could gauge whether she has the support she feels she needs to remain a viable candidate.
A Clinton staffer acknowledged Thursday that the campaign was in the process of "counting up" superdelegates because, "at the end of the day, we have to know where our numbers are."
"We do have some private supporters," the staffer said. "[But] for their own political purposes, they can't be on record."
The staffer conceded that lawmakers could, in theory, "privately back" Clinton then ultimately support Obama but said: "We need to track where we are, and there's no other way."
Clinton met with a smattering of superdelegates Wednesday; aides and lawmakers said she appeared at the offices of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and simply asked to meet with any uncommitted superdelegates who happened to be around.
One Clinton supporter familiar with the meetings described the senator's "ask" as "vague."
Obama, by contrast, took the Hill by storm Thursday. In the morning, he met with a large group of uncommitted Blue Dog Democrats at a townhouse owned by UPS. Then he walked over to the House and spent half an hour working the left side of the chamber, shaking hands, signing autographs and posing for pictures. In the afternoon, he spent nearly three hours at the Democratic National Committee, where he met with a number of superdelegates, including four North Carolina congressmen.
"We seem to be making progress," Obama told reporters after his meetings ended on Thursday.
The Democratic front-runner said he wouldn't "count any chickens before they're hatched," but he managed to pluck at least one from the nest: On Thursday afternoon, Obama picked up the endorsement of Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.).
The Clinton campaign had a harder time gaining traction. After a number of media outlets -- including Politico -- reported that Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth was backing Clinton, his spokeswoman put out the word that there was some "nuance" to the congressman's position: Ellsworth is actually remaining neutral in the race but will cast his superdelegate vote for the candidate who carried his district (Clinton) if the nomination process goes all the way to convention, "unless," of course, "there is a compelling reason to do otherwise."
And adding insult to injury, Clinton backer Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) eagerly approached Obama during his visit to the House on Thursday and asked him to autograph the cover of the day's New York Daily News. The headline: "It's His Party."
Another Clinton supporter, Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida, gave Obama a bear hug.
But for the most part, Clinton supporters appeared to be sticking with the New York senator, even as countless newspapers and television news pundits were writing her off.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that the prolonged Democratic presidential campaign was beginning to hurt the party. But after talking with Clinton on Thursday morning, Feinstein said her candidate is "persevering, very collected, very determined."
"She's going to make the decision if the time comes," Feinstein said. "Her strategy is to win this, and she's entitled to her opportunity to try. I'm sticking with her."
Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), a Clinton supporter, crossed paths with Obama on Thursday during meetings at the DNC but told reporters he merely said hello. "I'm committed to Sen. Clinton until she becomes president," Israel said.
Other superdelegates insisted that they were still undecided even after meeting with both candidates this week. Florida Rep. Tim Mahoney was courted by Clinton on Wednesday and Obama on Thursday, and said he was equally impressed by both.
"It's a difficult decision," he said. "They're two great candidates."
Josephine Hearn contributed to this story.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's visit to Capitol Hill this week may have been more about weighing her support than it was about wooing superdelegates.
According to a senior Democratic aide, Clinton asked some uncommitted superdelegates if they could commit to her privately -- without the political risks of a public endorsement -- so that she could gauge whether she has the support she feels she needs to remain a viable candidate.
A Clinton staffer acknowledged Thursday that the campaign was in the process of "counting up" superdelegates because, "at the end of the day, we have to know where our numbers are."
"We do have some private supporters," the staffer said. "[But] for their own political purposes, they can't be on record."
The staffer conceded that lawmakers could, in theory, "privately back" Clinton then ultimately support Obama but said: "We need to track where we are, and there's no other way."
Clinton met with a smattering of superdelegates Wednesday; aides and lawmakers said she appeared at the offices of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and simply asked to meet with any uncommitted superdelegates who happened to be around.
One Clinton supporter familiar with the meetings described the senator's "ask" as "vague."
Obama, by contrast, took the Hill by storm Thursday. In the morning, he met with a large group of uncommitted Blue Dog Democrats at a townhouse owned by UPS. Then he walked over to the House and spent half an hour working the left side of the chamber, shaking hands, signing autographs and posing for pictures. In the afternoon, he spent nearly three hours at the Democratic National Committee, where he met with a number of superdelegates, including four North Carolina congressmen.
"We seem to be making progress," Obama told reporters after his meetings ended on Thursday.
The Democratic front-runner said he wouldn't "count any chickens before they're hatched," but he managed to pluck at least one from the nest: On Thursday afternoon, Obama picked up the endorsement of Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.).
The Clinton campaign had a harder time gaining traction. After a number of media outlets -- including Politico -- reported that Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth was backing Clinton, his spokeswoman put out the word that there was some "nuance" to the congressman's position: Ellsworth is actually remaining neutral in the race but will cast his superdelegate vote for the candidate who carried his district (Clinton) if the nomination process goes all the way to convention, "unless," of course, "there is a compelling reason to do otherwise."
And adding insult to injury, Clinton backer Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) eagerly approached Obama during his visit to the House on Thursday and asked him to autograph the cover of the day's New York Daily News. The headline: "It's His Party."
Another Clinton supporter, Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida, gave Obama a bear hug.
But for the most part, Clinton supporters appeared to be sticking with the New York senator, even as countless newspapers and television news pundits were writing her off.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that the prolonged Democratic presidential campaign was beginning to hurt the party. But after talking with Clinton on Thursday morning, Feinstein said her candidate is "persevering, very collected, very determined."
"She's going to make the decision if the time comes," Feinstein said. "Her strategy is to win this, and she's entitled to her opportunity to try. I'm sticking with her."
Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), a Clinton supporter, crossed paths with Obama on Thursday during meetings at the DNC but told reporters he merely said hello. "I'm committed to Sen. Clinton until she becomes president," Israel said.
Other superdelegates insisted that they were still undecided even after meeting with both candidates this week. Florida Rep. Tim Mahoney was courted by Clinton on Wednesday and Obama on Thursday, and said he was equally impressed by both.
"It's a difficult decision," he said. "They're two great candidates."
Josephine Hearn contributed to this story.
Obama picks up superdelegates; undecideds moving his way
Article taken from Yahoo.
WASHINGTON - Barack Obama's march toward the Democratic presidential nomination picked up support from four more superdelegates Wednesday, pushing him ever closer to victory over Hillary Rodham Clinton — even as their primary marathon staggered on.
She added two superdelegates herself in what has become the last big contest as their race winds toward a finish.
There are just 217 delegates to be chosen in the final six primaries, and neither candidate can win enough of them to claim final victory. Meanwhile, 265 additional delegates — the party elders and other "superdelegates" — have yet to be claimed, and their support will be the deciding factor.
Though Obama padded his delegate lead in Tuesday's primaries, most uncommitted superdelegates still want to remain on the sidelines. The Associated Press interviewed more than 70 undeclared superdelegates or their representatives Wednesday, and many said they don't want to get involved until the voting ends June 3.
However, the comments of some of the uncommitteds were anything but encouraging for Clinton.
"I'm just wondering about the viability of Clinton's campaign at this point," said Laurie Weahkee, an add-on delegate from New Mexico. "I really want to hear from her more about if she wants to stay in the race — if the reason remains very concrete."
Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Doyle said Clinton's pitch to superdelegates has been that she can win the popular vote, but that was undercut when Obama netted more than 200,000 popular votes in the Tuesday contests.
"The math just got very tough for her after last night," Doyle said. "I think most of us out of respect for her are content to wait a little longer. ... The absolute best way for this to end is for the candidates to end it, not the superdelegates. That's the ending we all dream about every night."
She picked up two in the wake of Tuesday's loss in North Carolina and narrow victory in Indiana. North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler had said he would support the winner of his district, and she won it handily. A spokeswoman for Texas labor leader Robert Martinez told the AP he is committed to Clinton, but it wasn't clear when he made the decision.
But she lost another supporter, Virginia state House member Jennifer McClellan. McClellan is one of at least nine superdelegates who have switched from Clinton to Obama since the Super Tuesday primaries on Feb. 5. There have been no public switches in the other direction.
"I think the time has come to support Senator Obama as the likely nominee," McClellan said in a conference call with reporters. "Given what happened last night, it's very unlikely we will have a different result, and it is time to come together as a party and prepare for victory against John McCain in November."
Obama also got the support of North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek, North Carolina Democratic National Committee member Jeanette Council and California DNC member Inola Henry.
Clinton met with undecided superdelegates at Democratic Party headquarters Wednesday. She said, "We talked a lot about Florida and Michigan," two states that she won but don't have any delegates to count toward her total because their early primaries violated party rules. "I continue to emphasize and stress that we cannot disenfranchise those voters."
Clinton said later that she would be sending a letter to Obama and Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean expressing her belief that seating the Florida and Michigan delegations is a civil rights and voting rights issue.
Obama was to make his pitch to the congressional fence sitters in meetings Thursday. He also planned to start traveling to swing states to signal that the general election has begun.
Superdelegates supporting Obama recently have given a number of reasons. They recognize he is the front-runner and want to end a divisive party fight. They were impressed with his handling of a crisis that confronted his campaign in the comments of his former pastor. They don't want to risk alienating black voters who are excited about Obama's chance to become the first black president. They simply think Obama would be a more attractive choice at the top of the ticket.
"I think that Senator Obama is going to be a tremendous boost for down-ballot races in North Carolina," Meek told the AP. "He's going to turn out segments of the electorate — particularly young people and African-Americans — who have historically low turnout levels. That will help candidates up and down the ballot."
Nancy Worley, Alabama's former secretary of state and the state Democratic Party's first vice chair, said she got calls Wednesday morning from Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine — both Obama supporters.
"It appears that the Obama supporters, just from my perspective, are working a little harder at getting commitments," she said. Clinton's campaign has mainly used letters and e-mails, with occasional calls from staffers, she said, while Obama has used more of a "personal touch" with direct phone calls.
Nonetheless, she said she still hasn't been convinced one way or another even though she said she would be reluctant to vote against the pledged delegate leader. That is almost certain to be Obama.
Arizona Democratic Chairman Don Bivens also appeared closer to backing Obama after receiving e-mails from both camps Wednesday.
"The Obama one was more fulsome and sort of laid out the mathematical facts," Bivens said. He said the Clinton e-mails were from multiple individuals sharing why they thought she was the best choice.
"I'm still uncommitted, but I do believe that yesterday's results put me at a decisional plateau." He said the rest of the contests' outcomes are more predictable. "I think that we're at a point where the track got shorter and you can see the finish line."
___
Associated Press writers Stephen Ohlemacher, Ann Sanner, Ben Evans, Kim Hefling and Liz Sidoti in Washington, Matt Mygatt in Albuquerque, N.M., Mike Baker in Raleigh, N.C., and Bob Lewis in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - Barack Obama's march toward the Democratic presidential nomination picked up support from four more superdelegates Wednesday, pushing him ever closer to victory over Hillary Rodham Clinton — even as their primary marathon staggered on.
She added two superdelegates herself in what has become the last big contest as their race winds toward a finish.
There are just 217 delegates to be chosen in the final six primaries, and neither candidate can win enough of them to claim final victory. Meanwhile, 265 additional delegates — the party elders and other "superdelegates" — have yet to be claimed, and their support will be the deciding factor.
Though Obama padded his delegate lead in Tuesday's primaries, most uncommitted superdelegates still want to remain on the sidelines. The Associated Press interviewed more than 70 undeclared superdelegates or their representatives Wednesday, and many said they don't want to get involved until the voting ends June 3.
However, the comments of some of the uncommitteds were anything but encouraging for Clinton.
"I'm just wondering about the viability of Clinton's campaign at this point," said Laurie Weahkee, an add-on delegate from New Mexico. "I really want to hear from her more about if she wants to stay in the race — if the reason remains very concrete."
Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Doyle said Clinton's pitch to superdelegates has been that she can win the popular vote, but that was undercut when Obama netted more than 200,000 popular votes in the Tuesday contests.
"The math just got very tough for her after last night," Doyle said. "I think most of us out of respect for her are content to wait a little longer. ... The absolute best way for this to end is for the candidates to end it, not the superdelegates. That's the ending we all dream about every night."
She picked up two in the wake of Tuesday's loss in North Carolina and narrow victory in Indiana. North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler had said he would support the winner of his district, and she won it handily. A spokeswoman for Texas labor leader Robert Martinez told the AP he is committed to Clinton, but it wasn't clear when he made the decision.
But she lost another supporter, Virginia state House member Jennifer McClellan. McClellan is one of at least nine superdelegates who have switched from Clinton to Obama since the Super Tuesday primaries on Feb. 5. There have been no public switches in the other direction.
"I think the time has come to support Senator Obama as the likely nominee," McClellan said in a conference call with reporters. "Given what happened last night, it's very unlikely we will have a different result, and it is time to come together as a party and prepare for victory against John McCain in November."
Obama also got the support of North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek, North Carolina Democratic National Committee member Jeanette Council and California DNC member Inola Henry.
Clinton met with undecided superdelegates at Democratic Party headquarters Wednesday. She said, "We talked a lot about Florida and Michigan," two states that she won but don't have any delegates to count toward her total because their early primaries violated party rules. "I continue to emphasize and stress that we cannot disenfranchise those voters."
Clinton said later that she would be sending a letter to Obama and Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean expressing her belief that seating the Florida and Michigan delegations is a civil rights and voting rights issue.
Obama was to make his pitch to the congressional fence sitters in meetings Thursday. He also planned to start traveling to swing states to signal that the general election has begun.
Superdelegates supporting Obama recently have given a number of reasons. They recognize he is the front-runner and want to end a divisive party fight. They were impressed with his handling of a crisis that confronted his campaign in the comments of his former pastor. They don't want to risk alienating black voters who are excited about Obama's chance to become the first black president. They simply think Obama would be a more attractive choice at the top of the ticket.
"I think that Senator Obama is going to be a tremendous boost for down-ballot races in North Carolina," Meek told the AP. "He's going to turn out segments of the electorate — particularly young people and African-Americans — who have historically low turnout levels. That will help candidates up and down the ballot."
Nancy Worley, Alabama's former secretary of state and the state Democratic Party's first vice chair, said she got calls Wednesday morning from Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine — both Obama supporters.
"It appears that the Obama supporters, just from my perspective, are working a little harder at getting commitments," she said. Clinton's campaign has mainly used letters and e-mails, with occasional calls from staffers, she said, while Obama has used more of a "personal touch" with direct phone calls.
Nonetheless, she said she still hasn't been convinced one way or another even though she said she would be reluctant to vote against the pledged delegate leader. That is almost certain to be Obama.
Arizona Democratic Chairman Don Bivens also appeared closer to backing Obama after receiving e-mails from both camps Wednesday.
"The Obama one was more fulsome and sort of laid out the mathematical facts," Bivens said. He said the Clinton e-mails were from multiple individuals sharing why they thought she was the best choice.
"I'm still uncommitted, but I do believe that yesterday's results put me at a decisional plateau." He said the rest of the contests' outcomes are more predictable. "I think that we're at a point where the track got shorter and you can see the finish line."
___
Associated Press writers Stephen Ohlemacher, Ann Sanner, Ben Evans, Kim Hefling and Liz Sidoti in Washington, Matt Mygatt in Albuquerque, N.M., Mike Baker in Raleigh, N.C., and Bob Lewis in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.
Clinton campaign presses on with visits to 3 states today
Article taken from Yahoo News
WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton is pushing on in her race for the Democratic White House bid, despite calls to drop out. She has events scheduled today in the upcoming primary states of Oregon, South Dakota and West Virginia. Barack Obama will be in Washington today.
With her money drained and her options dwindling, a resolute Hillary Rodham Clinton vowed to press on with her presidential bid even as she and top advisers were hard-pressed to describe a realistic path for her to wrest the nomination from Barack Obama.
After a wrenching primary outcome Tuesday in which she was routed in North Carolina and barely won Indiana, Clinton made a hastily scheduled trip to West Virginia to show her determination to fight on. The state holds a primary next Tuesday.
"I'm so happy to be here in West Virginia and excited about the next week as we campaign here in this beautiful state about our country's future," Clinton told an audience at Shepherd University Wednesday.
She planned to return to the state Thursday, then fly to South Dakota and Oregon, which also have upcoming contests.
Also Wednesday, aides disclosed that Clinton had lent her campaign $6.4 million since mid-April, on top of a separate $5 million loan in February. She contributed $5 million on April 11, $1 million on May 1 and $425,000 on May 5.
Spokesman Howard Wolfson said the New York senator made the investment to keep pace with Obama, who has shattered all fundraising records and vastly outspent her in recent contests. The loan also reinforced her belief that the campaign must continue, Wolfson said, suggesting she would be willing to spend more of her own wealth if necessary.
"This is a sign of her commitment to this race, her commitment to this process and her commitment to ensure the voices of her supporters are heard," Wolfson said.
Nonetheless, Tuesday's results drastically reshaped the dynamic of the campaign, positioning Obama as the all-but-certain nominee and casting Clinton as a dogged but deluded also-ran. At least one prominent Democrat, Clinton supporter and former South Dakota Sen. George McGovern, called on Clinton to quit the race. Others held back, allowing her to assess the landscape and draw her own conclusion about how to proceed.
But at a news conference in West Virginia, the former first lady showed no sign of going anywhere. "I'm staying in this race until there's a nominee," she declared.
Clinton barely mentioned Obama but insisted, as she has throughout the race, that she would be the stronger candidate against Republican John McCain. While Obama has run strongest among blacks, college educated and younger voters and has produced record turnout among all three groups, Clinton pointed to her own strength among Hispanics and white, working-class voters, especially women. She noted they are the swing voters Democrats need to win a general election.
"What we have not been able to count on in the last elections are the voters that I'm getting," she said.
Wolfson and chief strategist Geoff Garin echoed that argument in a conference call with reporters. They also described a scenario they said would keep her candidacy alive, including resolving disputed primaries in Florida and Michigan. Clinton won both contests but the results were voided because their timing violated Democratic Party rules.
But Clinton's team acknowledged that even if both states' delegations were seated, she would still not close the gap with Obama, who leads Clinton by about 150 delegates. Clinton said Wednesday that she would be sending a letter to Obama and Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean expressing her view that seating the Florida and Michigan delegations is a civil rights and voting rights issue.
Garin sought to put the best face on a bad turn of events, touting what he called a "come from behind" win in Indiana and saying the campaign had long expected her to lose North Carolina.
In fact, the campaign made an aggressive play in that state, nearly matching Obama in television ad spending in the closing days. Clinton also campaigned extensively in the state and her husband kept a separate, packed schedule of appearances — all to little avail.
Another sign of trouble came as a much-hoped for spike in Internet fundraising didn't materialize after Tuesday's results. After winning Pennsylvania decisively on April 22, the Clinton campaign said it raised about $10 million in 24 hours; aides Wednesday said they had seen a bump in online cash but nothing close to their post-Pennsylvania success.
Clinton brought in about $20 million total in April, aides said.
She attended a women's fundraiser Wednesday night, expected to yield about $500,000. She has a Mother's Day fundraiser scheduled with daughter Chelsea Clinton in New York on Saturday. She also signed a new fundraising e-mail to supporters.
"I know that we have a lot of steps to go. We have more elections that will take place," Clinton told 1,500 women at Wednesday's event in Washington. "We are being outspent, two to one, three to one, four to one, even five to one, but we have been able to battle back."
Earlier, the candidate met with the candidate met with superdelegates on Capitol Hill in an effort to woo the undecided and keep her own supporters on board. Few had many words of encouragement.
New York Sen. Charles Schumer, an early and enthusiastic Clinton backer, was uncharacteristically quiet when asked whether she should soldier on.
"It's her decision to make and I'll accept what decision she makes," Schumer said. "This is still a close race, and you know, the decisions that Hillary Clinton makes are the decisions that, as a supporter of hers, I will abide by."
For his part, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada refused to speculate on whether Clinton had any chance of winning the nomination.
"That's not for me to judge," Reid said.
Said Clinton supporter Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.: "I think we're at a point where I would like to know what the strategy is, how it becomes doable, and that's all I've been trying to say to people."
WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton is pushing on in her race for the Democratic White House bid, despite calls to drop out. She has events scheduled today in the upcoming primary states of Oregon, South Dakota and West Virginia. Barack Obama will be in Washington today.
With her money drained and her options dwindling, a resolute Hillary Rodham Clinton vowed to press on with her presidential bid even as she and top advisers were hard-pressed to describe a realistic path for her to wrest the nomination from Barack Obama.
After a wrenching primary outcome Tuesday in which she was routed in North Carolina and barely won Indiana, Clinton made a hastily scheduled trip to West Virginia to show her determination to fight on. The state holds a primary next Tuesday.
"I'm so happy to be here in West Virginia and excited about the next week as we campaign here in this beautiful state about our country's future," Clinton told an audience at Shepherd University Wednesday.
She planned to return to the state Thursday, then fly to South Dakota and Oregon, which also have upcoming contests.
Also Wednesday, aides disclosed that Clinton had lent her campaign $6.4 million since mid-April, on top of a separate $5 million loan in February. She contributed $5 million on April 11, $1 million on May 1 and $425,000 on May 5.
Spokesman Howard Wolfson said the New York senator made the investment to keep pace with Obama, who has shattered all fundraising records and vastly outspent her in recent contests. The loan also reinforced her belief that the campaign must continue, Wolfson said, suggesting she would be willing to spend more of her own wealth if necessary.
"This is a sign of her commitment to this race, her commitment to this process and her commitment to ensure the voices of her supporters are heard," Wolfson said.
Nonetheless, Tuesday's results drastically reshaped the dynamic of the campaign, positioning Obama as the all-but-certain nominee and casting Clinton as a dogged but deluded also-ran. At least one prominent Democrat, Clinton supporter and former South Dakota Sen. George McGovern, called on Clinton to quit the race. Others held back, allowing her to assess the landscape and draw her own conclusion about how to proceed.
But at a news conference in West Virginia, the former first lady showed no sign of going anywhere. "I'm staying in this race until there's a nominee," she declared.
Clinton barely mentioned Obama but insisted, as she has throughout the race, that she would be the stronger candidate against Republican John McCain. While Obama has run strongest among blacks, college educated and younger voters and has produced record turnout among all three groups, Clinton pointed to her own strength among Hispanics and white, working-class voters, especially women. She noted they are the swing voters Democrats need to win a general election.
"What we have not been able to count on in the last elections are the voters that I'm getting," she said.
Wolfson and chief strategist Geoff Garin echoed that argument in a conference call with reporters. They also described a scenario they said would keep her candidacy alive, including resolving disputed primaries in Florida and Michigan. Clinton won both contests but the results were voided because their timing violated Democratic Party rules.
But Clinton's team acknowledged that even if both states' delegations were seated, she would still not close the gap with Obama, who leads Clinton by about 150 delegates. Clinton said Wednesday that she would be sending a letter to Obama and Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean expressing her view that seating the Florida and Michigan delegations is a civil rights and voting rights issue.
Garin sought to put the best face on a bad turn of events, touting what he called a "come from behind" win in Indiana and saying the campaign had long expected her to lose North Carolina.
In fact, the campaign made an aggressive play in that state, nearly matching Obama in television ad spending in the closing days. Clinton also campaigned extensively in the state and her husband kept a separate, packed schedule of appearances — all to little avail.
Another sign of trouble came as a much-hoped for spike in Internet fundraising didn't materialize after Tuesday's results. After winning Pennsylvania decisively on April 22, the Clinton campaign said it raised about $10 million in 24 hours; aides Wednesday said they had seen a bump in online cash but nothing close to their post-Pennsylvania success.
Clinton brought in about $20 million total in April, aides said.
She attended a women's fundraiser Wednesday night, expected to yield about $500,000. She has a Mother's Day fundraiser scheduled with daughter Chelsea Clinton in New York on Saturday. She also signed a new fundraising e-mail to supporters.
"I know that we have a lot of steps to go. We have more elections that will take place," Clinton told 1,500 women at Wednesday's event in Washington. "We are being outspent, two to one, three to one, four to one, even five to one, but we have been able to battle back."
Earlier, the candidate met with the candidate met with superdelegates on Capitol Hill in an effort to woo the undecided and keep her own supporters on board. Few had many words of encouragement.
New York Sen. Charles Schumer, an early and enthusiastic Clinton backer, was uncharacteristically quiet when asked whether she should soldier on.
"It's her decision to make and I'll accept what decision she makes," Schumer said. "This is still a close race, and you know, the decisions that Hillary Clinton makes are the decisions that, as a supporter of hers, I will abide by."
For his part, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada refused to speculate on whether Clinton had any chance of winning the nomination.
"That's not for me to judge," Reid said.
Said Clinton supporter Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.: "I think we're at a point where I would like to know what the strategy is, how it becomes doable, and that's all I've been trying to say to people."
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Obama wins close race, beats Clinton in Guam
Article from yahoo
HAGATNA, Guam - Barack Obama defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton by seven votes in the Guam Democratic presidential caucuses Saturday. The count of more than 4,500 ballots took all night.
Neither candidate campaigned in the U.S. island territory in person, but both did long-distance media interviews and bought campaign ads for the caucuses.
Results of the count completed Sunday morning Guam time show delegates pledged to Obama with 2,264 votes to 2,257 for Clinton's slate. That means they'll split the pledged delegate votes. Obama's slate won in 14 of 21 districts.
Clinton issued a statement Saturday night promising, "I will continue to champion the issues facing the people of Guam, and when I'm president I will ensure that hard-working families of Guam have the resources and the opportunity to succeed." Obama's campaign had no immediate reaction to the results.
Eight pledged delegates will attend the convention, each with one-half vote.
U.S. citizens on the island, however, have no vote in the November election.
The territory also sends five superdelegates to the National Convention in August in Denver.
Voters picked two of the superdelegates, electing uncommitted Pilar Lujan party chairman and Jaime Paulino vice chairman. Paulina ran as an Obama supporter. One other existing superdelegate has favored Clinton and the votes of the other two have not been declared.
The Guam caucuses added two pledged delegates apiece for Clinton and Obama. The vote for party chairman and vice chairman also added a superdelegate for Obama and subtracted one for Clinton because the outgoing vice chair had endorsed the New York senator.
Obama had a total of 1,742.5 delegates, including endorsements from party and elected officials who will serve as superdelegates. Clinton had 1,607.5 delegates, according to The Associated Press tally.
It will take 2,025 delegates to secure the Democratic nomination at the party's national convention this summer in Denver.
All-day voting Saturday had people lining up at 21 caucus sites around the U.S. territorial island, which has unexpected importance in a historic Democratic race in which every delegate matters.
There was no direct presidential vote, but each candidate had a slate of supporters on the ballot.
Slow ballot-by-ballot counting went through the night in the territorial legislative building after votes were hand-carried from the caucus sites.
Presidential caucuses on Guam usually pass without much notice from the candidates. This time, Obama and Clinton made their case for the territory's four regular delegates with local advertising and long-distance interviews.
Lines formed early at some caucus sites.
Cynthia Estrada of Dededo said she was making up her mind while waiting to vote, but she was leaning toward Clinton.
"She's had the experience," she said. "She's got her husband to help her."
Yona resident Tommy Shimizu said he was voting for Obama delegates.
"It's the fact that he grew up in Hawaii, and I think he can make change," he said. "I think it's time for that."
Clinton and Obama pitched improved health care and economic opportunity as they courted Guam voters from across the international date line. Both Clinton and Obama say they've got the better health plan for Guamanians.
Obama said in an interview with Pacific Daily News that he would support reexamination of a $5.4 million Medicaid spending limit imposed on the territory. Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, told KUAM radio that his wife would work to remove the cap.
Hillary Clinton also has called for Guamanians to be able to vote in presidential elections.
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