Articles tagged: barak+obama
Posted by: Brent James on March 12, 2008 Hot Issues •
How much does it cost to stay in the presidential race? As someone with campaign experience will tell you – “a whole lot more.” All I know is, if I was running low on cash, I wouldn’t be able to use personal funds to extend my opportunity. And even if I did, that might only keep me in the contest for an extra five minutes.
Contributions are just about everything. Remember last year when John McCain’s campaign was strapped? He was performing poorly and many suggested he would soon be left on the sidelines. Now look at him. His campaign is sitting in the enviable position of saving money while his Democrat opponents burn through their millions.
Numbers reported for February show that Barak Obama raised $55 million to Hillary Clinton’s $35 million. McCain’s campaign declined to disclose February figures and Ron Paul’s are unknown though he is thought to have $8 - 10 million on hand. And we still have nearly eight months to go.
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Posted by: Brent James on April 18, 2008 Hot Issues •
The Mississippi Primary on March 11 didn’t do much in the way of deciding who will be the Democrat’s presidential nominee, but that’s nothing new in this election season. As expected, both candidates will most likely arrive at the finish line in somewhat of a stalemate. That isn’t to say one might not have a decided advantage. But advantages are like the wind being quite hard to keep. In Mississippi, Barak Obama won 61% to Clinton’s 37%. The delegates went 19 and 14, respectively.
Looking at the results, it is most interesting to see how few voted and of those who did vote, how many of them chose to write-in other candidates, apparently dissatisfied with the current national choices. While the percentages of those preferring other candidates was small, they do provide a glimpse into what is becoming a rather unusual election.
Some Christian leaders remain steadfast that all believers have a spiritual-moral duty (civic duty perhaps being easier to prove) to cast a vote in November. Others are not so inclined, strongly proclaiming our currently slate of candidates (on both sides of the aisle) unacceptable.
One thing we do know, the remaining primaries are just as unlikely to provide a distanced frontrunner. The pressure is on Clinton to win all of the upcoming contests in order to legitimize her claims that she is the one to lead us. Only thing is, the numbers aren’t there. Coupled with the way delegates are apportioned to the Democrat contest winners, there is no way to overcome Obama’s lead. They will be delivered to the convention floor with options in the works. And there are still the superdelegates, of which Hillary’s commanding lead has shrunk to 34. Of the 795 total, only around 330 remain uncommitted.
The Pennsylvania Primary, coming up next week on April 22, in the latest Zogby poll has it: Clinton 45%, Obama 44%, with 12% still wandering. The effect of Wednesday’s debate is unlikely to change those results.
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Posted by: Brent James on May 10, 2008 Hot Issues •
Is it over? Howard Dean hopes so. Rush clearly doesn’t. Whatever your take, George McGovern, speaking aloud what many democrats would only whisper quietly, has urged Hillary Clinton to step aside by declaring that Barak had won the nomination.
The Clinton campaign, despite numerous suggestions and pleas for a white flag, has given no signs they intend to shut down. George Stephanopoulos encouraged Hillary to accept the vice presidential role.
Speaking with John Gibson on radio last week, Geraldine Ferraro, who has been working with Clinton from a distance, advised that there is still a chance for a Clinton victory. The thinking is this: If Hillary could win 80% of these remaining Democrat primaries, she would tie Barak H. Obama for delegates, but not the popular vote. That’s a big “if”.
May 13 - West Virginia
May 20 - Kentucky, Oregon
June 3 - South Dakota, Montana
There is another possibility that in recent days has gathered optimism based on comments from Howard Dean. That is, whether or not the Florida and Michigan delegations will be seated. Dean told CNN “I think the delegates are eventually going to be seated in Florida and Michigan as soon as we get an agreement between the candidates on how to do that.” Then last week, he followed that statement on the Daily Show, by confirming that both state’s delegations would definitely be seated.
One issue remains for Clinton and Obama, how this is going to be worked out.
For Barak Obama, including the full delegation would complicate his winning the nomination, which for many, is a done deal. The full inclusion of both delegations would cut his lead and mean that Clinton would be ahead in the popular vote.
But the superdelegate count may be the deal breaker. Clinton once led 169-63. By March 2008, her lead was a scant 35. As of May, the New York Times has Clinton leading by only one. ABC shows Obama leading by two.
Howard Dean, Chairman of the DNC, announced last week that one of the candidates must step down by June so the primaries can be wrapped up.
However things seem to be evaporating, remember Clinton is a pro, and as such is not easily deterred. She has Bill in her corner as well as a host of brilliant political strategists probing each and every contingency as they search for daylight. Don’t count her out. All she needs is a little breathing room and sometimes, that can come suddenly out of thin air.
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