The Democratic candidates are in Florida today for very different reasons -- Sen. Barack Obama is mending fences with voters irritated by the whole delegate mess, and Sen. Hillary Clinton is pushing her case for seating the Sunshine State's delegation.
As the world knows by now, Clinton won Kentucky, Obama won Oregon last night, and there are just three contests to go.
Obama told Iowans he'd crossed a key threshold and had earned the majority of pledged delegates, which is illustrated today on his Web site:
Problem is, more uncommitted superdelegates are telling me and other reporters they share Clinton's view that 2,026 is no longer the magic number to become the nominee. They say the number will go up on May 31 when the DNC resolves the Florida and Michigan debacle.
So. What now?
I have an analysis piece in today's paper looking at Clinton's legacy, and how she has positioned herself over the last few weeks as the math trends Obama's way and the campaign winds down.
Every move that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton makes in the final weeks of the prolonged presidential primary shapes her legacy and will determine how united the Democratic Party can be in the fall.Will voters remember the angry "shame on you" candidate who suggested that Sen. Barack Obama's chief experience was giving a speech opposing the Iraq war, or the tough, driven Democrat who passionately said she would fight for health care and unify the Democratic Party when the primary season finally ends?
Depends on whom you ask.
Some Obama supporters say their opinion of the former first lady has seriously degraded over the bruising months of the campaign, but many Democrats who a few weeks ago worried that Mrs. Clinton was creating a permanent rift within the party by attacking Mr. Obama now say her scrutiny has made him a better general election candidate.
Read the full story here.
Team Obama is cheered by news today he was endorsed by the United Mine Workers, a nod that hopefully for reporters comes along with fiery Cecil Roberts on the stump.
He also leads presumptive GOP nominee Sen. John McCain by 8 points in the latest Reuters/Zogby poll.
Here's some video from the victory rallies last night:
Obama:
Here's Clinton:
— Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (2)
The trouble with the undeclared Superdelegates is that a 115 are from states that Obama won and only 86 from states that Clinton won.
A lot of these delegates will be up for re-election in the future. hmmm, sticky situation.
Posted by Dustee | May 21, 2008 2:48 PM
I am surprised it has taken so long for this type of coverage to come out. The scenario of the delegate total increasing has been looming since Howard Dean admitted that they must seat Michigan and Florida before the convention in order to not disenfranchise them. As a Clinton supporter I have viewed the media's unwillingness to admit that 2026 delegates is not the number that will be needed as irresponsible and just plain poor reporting. Maybe even a little biased. It's a reality that Hillary saw months ago and has framed her current campaign strategy around. It's a reality that Obama either doesn't see or doesn't want to see. I feel like Obama is deliberately ignoring it so that he can cry fowl when it does happen.
Obama supporters will likely say that Hillary is playing dirty or something along those lines. The fact of the matter is that Hillary is one very smart player(why I support her). I have a feeling this will go to the convention. I do not feel that is a bad thing. I think our nomination process needs some changing and this season has highlighted that. A fight on the convention floor will further enlighten people for the need to change the process to be more consistent from state to state and more accurately reflect what is relevant in a General Election.
I personally am very excited about the prospect of this going to the convention. For too long the convention has been nothing more than a formality. A brokered convention will open a lot of people's eye's the democratic parties process. And lets not forget what good TV it will make!
Posted by Shahn | May 21, 2008 4:17 PM