Last night we heard Hillary say that she wasn't making any decisions anytime soon regarding her presidential bid. This gives her some time to see if she can raise more money and if the Michelle Obama "whitey" video surfaces today as the rumors say it will. If it does and the video is as damning as people say it is, then that gives Hillary a lot more leverage with not only the remaining uncommitted superdelegates but with those who have already publicly said they will support Obama to get them to change sides and support her.
A new problem has arisen today for the Hillary camp, however. According to the LA Times' Top of the Ticket, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Howard Dean have set a Friday deadline for all uncommitted superdelegates to pick their candidate. This would force Hillary out of the primary race and bring it to a close.
With the final primary concluded barely hours before, top Democratic Party leaders in Washington early this morning ratcheted up the pressure to force all remaining uncommitted superdelegates to make their choice of candidate known by Friday -- and thus end the now hopeless, one-time frontrunning campaign of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.The joint statement was obviously pre-planned and timed for issue shortly after Clinton refused to concede the presidential nomination's victory to Barack Obama, who's gained sufficient delegates to clinch the party's nomination.
Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, chairman of the Democratic Governors Assn., issued the brief statement for unity just minutes ago:
"The voters have spoken," they said, adding later, "Democrats must now turn our full attention to the general election. To that end, we are urging all remaining uncommitted super delegates to make their decisions known by Friday of this week, so that our party can stand united."
This certainly puts to bed Hillary's quest for the Democratic nomination. Even if the Michelle tape surfaces today, Friday may still be too soon to really tell what the damage will be as it can sometimes take several news cycles for a scandal to truly take shape and hurt a candidate seriously. By Friday, uncommitted superdelegates may still choose to go with Obama.
But who knows. This is politics and anything can happen in a span of two days.
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2008 Presidential Race
Comments (18)
It's not "whitey" it's "why... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Adrian Browne | June 4, 2008 7:17 AM | Score: -10 (10 votes cast)
It's not "whitey" it's "why'd he . . ."
1. Posted by Adrian Browne | June 4, 2008 7:17 AM |
Score: -10 (10 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 07:17
2. Posted by Jeff Medcalf | June 4, 2008 7:47 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
I suppose that depends on whether the superdelegates will listen to them. I am unaware of any rule that allows these three to set any kind of deadline at all.
2. Posted by Jeff Medcalf | June 4, 2008 7:47 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 07:47
3. Posted by Upset Old Guy | June 4, 2008 8:31 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Delegates are chosen based on caucus results and tallies from primary voting. These delegates are bound to a particular candidate only through the first round of voting at the convention.
Super delegates are free agents (put in place by the Democrat party to ensure the voters don't make "a mistake"). They are, and never have been, bound to anything except their own personal whim. They can say they support anyone, but they are not bound by what they say until they actually cast their votes at the convention.
Nobody can force Hillary out of the race at this point. She needa ro do nothing more than travel around, make speeches, hold town hall meetings and and do photo-ops to keep herself viable until the convention. As long as she does not concede she is available should Obama's campaign fall apart (for whatever reason).
Perhaps the one thing that would actually drive Hillary to concede is for the Obama campaign to pay off all of her campaign debts. Afterall, she's loaned herself six million dollars. Getting that back with a bit of interest might look very attractive to Hillary at this point. Time will tell.
3. Posted by Upset Old Guy | June 4, 2008 8:31 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 08:31
4. Posted by sam | June 4, 2008 8:35 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
"It's not "whitey" it's "why'd he . . ."
How do you know? Is there a tape?
4. Posted by sam | June 4, 2008 8:35 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 08:35
5. Posted by Upset Old Guy | June 4, 2008 8:36 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Crap, lost the home row there.
Paragraph three, second sentence should start, "She needs to do nothing more than travel around"
Apologies to all.
5. Posted by Upset Old Guy | June 4, 2008 8:36 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 08:36
6. Posted by Adrian Browne | June 4, 2008 8:50 AM | Score: -7 (7 votes cast)
Michelle Obama responds:
"Eye did Nazi that cuming."
6. Posted by Adrian Browne | June 4, 2008 8:50 AM |
Score: -7 (7 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 08:50
7. Posted by J.R. | June 4, 2008 9:27 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Adrian is right. I detest the speeches and thoughts expressed by Michelle Obama. She is a hypocrite and deserves all the scorn thrust upon her. But from what I've read about this tape it's almost certain to me that she must have been saying "why'd he" while referring to Bush.
And Upset Old Guy is right on, these super delegates can change their mind right up to the point they cast their vote. Hillary knows this is nothing but a charade which is why she didn't conceed last night. I mena with the current supers commintments she has already lost the nomination.
7. Posted by J.R. | June 4, 2008 9:27 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 09:27
8. Posted by _Mike_ | June 4, 2008 9:30 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
It doesn't really matter. As you can see, if the phrase is there, the Obamessiah's followers will refuse to hear it. If it isn't, then it's a "Karl Rove frogmarched" moment.
There's plenty of reason's to not vote for Obama. His wife making racist comments is a minor one, honestly.
8. Posted by _Mike_ | June 4, 2008 9:30 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 09:30
9. Posted by Adrian Browne | June 4, 2008 9:37 AM | Score: -12 (12 votes cast)
There is
creative editing.
There is
taking things out of context.
And introducing:
transcribing speech phonetically in a desperate attempt to smear a political opponent's family.
9. Posted by Adrian Browne | June 4, 2008 9:37 AM |
Score: -12 (12 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 09:37
10. Posted by Gayle Miller | June 4, 2008 10:04 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
If Obama wins this election I will seriously consider moving to Mexico. And unlike the Alec Baldwins and Susan Sarandons of this world, I will KEEP my promise!
10. Posted by Gayle Miller | June 4, 2008 10:04 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 10:04
11. Posted by JFO | June 4, 2008 10:14 AM | Score: -10 (10 votes cast)
Bye Bye....don't let the border fence hit you in the arse.
11. Posted by JFO | June 4, 2008 10:14 AM |
Score: -10 (10 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 10:14
12. Posted by AJ | June 4, 2008 10:14 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
As much as I would like to see more Obama hypocracy, I doubt that a tape exists.
12. Posted by AJ | June 4, 2008 10:14 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 10:14
13. Posted by Clay | June 4, 2008 12:23 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
It's not "whitey" it's "why'd he . . ."
You're sure? I mean, as you were listening to the tape, did you back it up and play it again a few times? What was Karl doing while you took notes?
13. Posted by Clay | June 4, 2008 12:23 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 12:23
14. Posted by LouisianaLightning | June 4, 2008 1:20 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Howard Dean have of course let the way by choosing.....
This is one area where McCain can hammer Obama.
First: congratulate Obama on being SELECTED by the Superdels as the Democrat nominee.
Second: Force Obama to defend the Democrate superdelegates, why have them? Don't they trust the will of the people? Why have this Party override?
14. Posted by LouisianaLightning | June 4, 2008 1:20 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 13:20
15. Posted by SPQR | June 4, 2008 1:33 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Actually Adrian's talking points are obsolete and he does not even know it.
15. Posted by SPQR | June 4, 2008 1:33 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 13:33
16. Posted by WildWillie | June 4, 2008 1:49 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
I believe Obama stole the nomination. Hillary should have a recount. What we have is a left wing triumverant of Pelosi, Reid and Dean selecting the nominee. He will not be my president. (sarcasm off) ww
16. Posted by WildWillie | June 4, 2008 1:49 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 13:49
17. Posted by moseby | June 4, 2008 2:31 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
pelosi, reid and dean...which one got replaced by Shemp? I forget....
17. Posted by moseby | June 4, 2008 2:31 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 14:31
18. Posted by Master Shake | June 4, 2008 6:10 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Moseby, I think you're getting the "Three Stooges" and the "Three Douches" mixed up there.
18. Posted by Master Shake | June 4, 2008 6:10 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on June 4, 2008 18:10