Network news shows yesterday featured prominent Hillary Clinton backers insisting that “this thing isn’t over.” But their protestations were lifeless. Clinton herself continued to declare her endurance and a woman who has gone so far isn’t likely to quit in the last lap. She’s putting on her game face and going out with a bang.
Though Clinton took Kentucky handily in yesterday’s primary with 60% of the vote, Barack Obama seized another significant victory in Oregon and continued his realignment to run against Republican nominee John McCain. Oregon, a mail-in ballot only state, was effectively declared by early this morning.
McCain and Obama began the week with a verbal sparring on foreign policy after Obama called Iran a “tiny” country that couldn’t threaten America. Lost amidst the criticism from McCain - who criticized Obama’s naïve assessment of America’s most dangerous enemy - and Obama’s retorts to mend his careless words, - was Clinton whose relevance to the race is less clear.
In an election season where candidates have survived and thrived after declarations of defeat, a Clinton comeback should not be regarded as impossible. However, it would be a mathematical (and electoral) miracle because of how Obama has won committed delegates. The latest reports on CNN’s Election Center showed Obama holding the lead with 1953 delegates over Clinton’s 1773. With few superdelegates left, the Democrat fate - and the election as a whole - lies in limbo.
Clinton halfheartedly banks on winning delegates from Michigan and Florida - not currently included due to Democratic National Party rules she is trying to overturn. A May 31 meeting among party leaders could determine the outcome of the Florida and Michigan controversies.
Superdelegates remain the last possibly decisive force in the Democratic race, but more and more seem reluctant to be a decisive factor. None of them want to be seen as the person who made the choice between Obama and Clinton. Former Bill Clinton Administration officials and Hillary Clinton supporters (Bill Richardson, Robert Reich) unexpectedly joined Obama recently - tipping the scale and camera toward the man who might be America’s first black president. Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) and Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) also endorsed Obama.
While Clinton opted not to campaign in Oregon, Obama veered the spotlight that way when he was photographed speaking to a crowd of 75,000 on Sunday. Oregon is one of the last remaining states that will probably clinch the nomination for Obama.
Puerto Rico votes on June 1 while Montana and South Dakota will end the primary season with voters casting ballots on June 3. The tiresome stateside campaigning will end while the country prepares finally for the grueling party slugfest in November.
Some experts predict McCain could more easily beat Obama due to Obama’s extreme lack of experience but the contest is debatable. According to Real Clear Politics poll averages, both Obama and Clinton beat McCain in the national election.
Talk of an Obama-Clinton “dream ticket” has surfaced repeatedly in recent months but both candidates have shied away from the notion. The Clinton and Obama campaigns have split the Democratic Party and both have taken increasingly nasty jabs at each other. But Clinton, perhaps focusing on another run in 2012, has more recently muted the attacks on Obama. Peter Brown of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute argued that such a “dream ticket” would only be good for John McCain due to the extreme similarities between Obama and Clinton on major issues. Brown said they lack crossover appeal.
On the Republican side, McCain raised a record $18 million this month and is gearing up for intense debating against his Democrat opponent in the coming months. McCain beats Obama in some states according to recent polls including a SurveyUSA poll which puts McCain at 51% over 43% over Obama. The latest Gallup Poll tracking of the National Democratic voters puts Obama significantly above Clinton.
As the Democratic nomination nears an end, talk of Vice-Presidential picks are hot on the table. McCain has been mum about his possibilities, which pundits have suggested could include Gov. Charlie Crist (Fla), Rep. Tim Pawlenty (MN) or Gov. Mark Sanford (SC). Bill Richardson and Joe Biden are said to be seeking the VP slot for Obama. Yesterday, Biden urged Clinton to “fully embrace” Obama come the last primary voting days if she is losing.
