A little more of Thursday’s campaign round-up

February 21, 2008

I’m back from my doctor’s appointment, and while dnA has already tackled some great campaign-related news items (have I mentioned how much I love dnA’s enthusiasm?), I had a few more.

* It’ll be a little harder to knock Barack Obama as part of the latte-sipping crowd now that he’s picked up endorsements from the Teamsters and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers.

* The Democrats Abroad Global Primary usually gets overlooked, but given the competitive nature of the Democratic contest, every delegate counts. In results released this morning, Obama beat Hillary Clinton, 65% to 32% among Democrats Abroad, which will send 22 delegates to the convention — with a half-vote each — 14 of whom will be pledged delegates.

* Hoping to correct a controversy of her own making, Michelle Obama insisted yesterday that she is “absolutely” proud of the U.S. In Providence, R.I., Ms. Obama said she was talking about the historic primary turnout numbers. “For the first time in my lifetime, I’m seeing people rolling up their sleeves in a way that I haven’t seen,” she said.

* Despite the current challenges, the Clinton campaign remains optimistic, and told reporters yesterday that they will be in a position to “clinch the nomination” at about the time Puerto Rico votes on June 1.

* Bill Clinton argued yesterday that if Hillary Clinton wins both Ohio and Texas, she’ll win the nomination. If she comes up short in either, he said, she’s in trouble.

* Oh my: “Hillary Clinton ended January with $7.6 million in debt — not including the $5 million personal loan she gave to her campaign in the run-up to the critical Super Tuesday elections, according to financial reports released Wednesday…. More than $2 million of the red ink is owed to chief consultant and adviser, Mark Penn.”

* Rumor has it that Obama is on track to raise an additional $36 million for the month of February. Even more impressive, the campaign will soon report that it has earned the support of its millionth donor.

Bill Clinton, Hils’ gotta do more than WIN. She has to destroy Obama in TX and OH. Judging by the polling in TX and the trends (her lead is shrinking or has shrunk), she’s in serious trouble now.

  • Yesterday, (Wednesday), Mr. Obama drew an estimated 18,000 – 20,000 people at a campaign stop in Dallas.It was the largest single campaign gathering in Dallas history. Dallas, not exactly a democratic bastion but leaning that way. If he draws that kind of crowd and they vote in the primary state wide, well HRC does not stand a chance.

  • More than $2 million of the red ink is owed to chief consultant and adviser, Mark Penn.

    I still think she should just tell him she only pays ‘significant’ employees.

  • “Clinton … will be in a position to “clinch the nomination” at about the time Puerto Rico votes on June 1”.

    Isn’t denial the first stage in dealing with grief and tragedy? Bye-bye, Hillary.

  • More than $2 million of the red ink is owed to chief consultant and adviser, Mark Penn.

    Well, at least the campaign is a little closer to paying him what he’s been worth. . . if anything, Mark Penn owes Clinton and her supporters.

    Beginning in all future cycles, new party rule – call it the Inverse Consultant Primary. Anyone who hires Bob Schrum, Mark Penn, Donna Brazile, Jim Jordan, Joe Trippi (did I miss anyone obvious?) is automatically disqualified (and hopefully early enough that no one sends contributions for them to misspend in their own enrichment).

  • dgustof,

    Oh, but they did.

    [Viagra] was patented in 1996, approved for use in erectile dysfunction by the Food and Drug Administration on March 27, 1998, becoming the first pill approved to treat erectile dysfunction in the United States, and offered for sale in the United States later that year.[3] It soon became a great success: annual sales of Viagra in the period 1999–2001 exceeded $1 billion.

  • While I am not comfortable declaring victory in advance of the the 4th, I have to agree with others here that it is not looking good for the Clinton campaign…especially in light of the structure of deligates in Texas. The places where Obama has natural advantages have more deligates up for grabs than the places where Clinton has natural advantages. And since things are looking close in the polls (for whatever they are worth) this really begins to paint a bleak picture for Clinton.

    Add to this the Teamsters endorsment for Obama just in time to mobilise people in Ohio and things get even more interesting. I’m not sure Obama can overtake Clinton in Ohio, but it will be close. And IMO he only needs to win either Texas OR Ohio to knock her out of the running, while she realistically needs BIG wins in both.

    Having said all this, it is not over until it is over. Obama supporters should not get overconfident…guardedly optimistic, yes, but for now, hold on to the baloons, streamers and champaign.

  • The governor of Puerto Rico has endorsed Obama, so if I were them, I wouldn’t be counting my beans and rice before they’re cooked.

    mmmmm beans and rice….hagggggggggggg

  • It always amazes me how Obamicans think their choice is invincable wait his turn is coming soon. He will be quote the black candidate. The media isn’t through with him yet. As a matter of fact they haven’t even started yet. They made him and they will destroy him. Mark my words down because they will prove true. Since the beginning its been all Hillary all the time on MSM and now its McCain all the time. Looking to the future it will be all Obama all the time. All of his precieved falacies and whatever else the media can throw whether its true or not. The media good or bad controls peoples minds now. 90% of Obama supporters know nothing about him. The media made him the poster boy for change with no evidence. Hes a politician and they all lie and take favors. Not that anything is wrong with that but to state time after time that you don’t take lobbyists money is just bull s*it and then take all the money that those lobbyist employees give you is being a false hope. If you can find me a candidate that doesn’t use the system I have some orange groves for sale in FL. The media has thus far gave Obama a pass.

    Yes he will most likely be the nominee but when the s*it hits the fan Bloomberg will probally win for hes the only one that can’t be bought.

  • Jim,
    Wasn’t your candidate the self anointed one just even two months ago? What happened to this vaunted machine that was supposed to destroy all comers? It stalled out in Iowa and fell flat in Super Tuesday and died pretty much since. At least Obama’s supporters have victories to point to. All Hils has is the mountain of excuses.

    How is Mr 28% Bloomberg going to win? Most independents track for Obama or McCain and there is no push for a 3rd party candidate.

    The trends don’t lie. Hils is in serious serious trouble and she’s running out of bullets, cash and time.

  • re: jim@13

    the media “made” him? nope, sorry, obama made himself. look at his roots, where he came from, what he studied and what he gave up in order to serve his (adopted) community in chicago. he deserves to be where he is, much more so than clinton. a community organizer with a background in constitutional law? can we get any better than that?

  • re: jim@13

    the media “made” him? nope, sorry, obama made himself. look at his roots, where he came from, what he studied and what he gave up in order to serve his (adopted) community in chicago. he deserves to be where he is, much more so than clinton. a community organizer with a background in constitutional law? can we get any better than that?

  • ***the Clinton campaign remains optimistic, and told reporters yesterday that they will be in a position to “clinch the nomination” at about the time Puerto Rico votes on June 1.***

    Is it just me, of does this have “Mission Accomplished” written all over it?

    Note to the Clintonista Borg Trolls: Resistance to your “legacy of ’92 candidate” is NOT futile. Ohio will NOT be assimilated. Neither will Texas, nor Pennsylvania. The People “are” becoming aware; they “were” supporters of Hillary, and now they’re NOT.

    Your “candidate” has been linked to Barry Goldwater—and we in Ohio and Pennsylvania have long, strong memories of his hostilities toward organized labor.

    Your “candidate” has been identified as “a corporate lawyer for Wal-Mart”—when the big-box giant was ramping up its anti-union campaign.

    Your “candidate” repeatedly employs the tactics of secrecy, innuendo, and false statement. “Worked the night shift,” my ^zz. “35 years experience,” another joke.

    The “firewall” has just burned to the ground—and “the Winds of Change” are never kind to a pile of ashes….

  • This is what Hillary has to put up with: today at work, I was talking with one of the strongest, most political women there, someone who goes waaaaaaaaaaaaay back in the women’s movement and has the scars to prove it. She was such a strong Hillary supporter I never even thought of engaging her in an argument (because she’s so good, I was afraid she would win). Today at lunch, a bunch of us were talking about Hillary “tripping on her shoelaces” – the business about not knowing how the Texas primaries work, not enough delegates in Pennsylvania, etc., etc. – and this woman walked past. She stopped and when there was a break in the chatter, she said “You know, I was as strong for Hillary as anyone could be, but when I got in the voting booth and thought about what it is I’ve been fighting for the past 40 years, welll – I voted for Obama.” At which point a cheer broke out.

  • “For the first time in my lifetime, I’m seeing people rolling up their sleeves in a way that I haven’t seen,” she said.

    Was she asleep during 2004?
    It was Howard Dean’s running gag, LITERALLY rolling up his sleeves.
    Obama stands on the shoulders of giants. (He, himself, may be a giant too, but our DNC chair has proven his mettle.)

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