IS THIS RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION OVER YET?Hillary Rodham Clinton hoped a convincing win in Tuesday’s West Virginia primary would raise doubts about Barack Obama’s electability, but her rival was already mapping out his strategy for the upcoming presidential campaign against Republican John McCain.
Clinton has every reason to expect a big victory over Obama in West Virginia yet scant hope it could turn around her bid to become the first female U.S. president. Polls show her leading by as much as 40 percentage points in a state that has large numbers of working-class whites — a group that usually backs the former first lady.
Obama may be only a few weeks from clinching the Democratic nomination, no matter what happens in West Virginia or in another Clinton stronghold, Kentucky, a week later.
In his tone, words and itinerary, Obama is focused on McCain almost to the exclusion of his fading Democratic rival. He planned to spend primary night in Missouri, a bellwether in the general election.
Only 28 delegates are at stake in West Virginia. Obama has already picked up 26 superdelegates since last Tuesday when he routed Clinton in North Carolina and narrowly lost to her in Indiana.
Obama, who is vying to become the first black president, is now mathematically within reach of clinching the Democratic nomination by the end of the primary season on June 3 — even if he loses half of the remaining in five states and Puerto Rico.
Neither Obama nor Clinton can reach the 2,025 delegates needed to secure the nomination just through the final contests. That means the superdelegates — the nearly 800 party leaders and elected officials who may vote for whichever candidate they choose regardless of the state primary or caucus results — are essential to capturing the nomination.
Obama will be the Dem nominee and will pick New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D) as VP.
ReplyDeleteMcCain is likely to pick Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R) as VP for the GOP.
I say she should stay in to the very end. Just from a Historical standpoint, she should stay in to the end. She is the first female to get this close to the Presidency and the last label she want to see slapped on her is "quiter".
ReplyDeleteObama will be the candidate. Everyone knows it including Hillary. Let her run to the end, AS SHE SHOULD and let it be. The pundits and Obama supporters should just leave it alone.