Pennsylvania loss shows Obama still struggling to win key constituencies

Wednesday 23rd April, 04:29 PM JST

By Beth Fouhy

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Latest 15 of 25 Total Comments Show All

SushiSake3 at 09:23 PM JST - 23rd April

What really worries me is just how desperate posters like Jambon, RomeoRamenII and redacted have become.

They will pick up *anything *- anything - to attack about Clinton or Obama, just to try and stay above water.

The Republican reaction to the Rev. issue was embarrassing, "Michelle's anti-patriotic statements" - give us a break - she was speaking mind - and the Republicans laucnch yet another mindless assault.

It's just ridiculous, but, heh, it all makes sense when you look at the candidate they are left supporting - John McCain.

the
redacted at 09:29 PM JST - 23rd April

"They will pick up *anything *- anything - to attack about Clinton or Obama, just to try and stay above water."

You just don't get it, do you sushi.

Obama and Hillary - with a little help from the media - are going to do more damage to their party than Karl Rove could have dreamt possible.

Google it - - Rush Limbaugh + Operation Chaos - - to see the sort of fun hardcore Republicans are having with the mess the Dems have gotten themselves into.
SushiSake3 at 09:39 PM JST - 23rd April

redacted - you just don't get it, do you?

McCain - the man you never would have supported if you had the choice - may be level with Obama in the % support stakes.

Only problem for types like you is that 3 to 4 times more Dem voters are coming out to play.

Rush Limber and his Operation Kay-os - yeah, is that the best you've got?

I mean, I agree with you, McCain's not much so anything is better than nothing, right?

You can ridicule Obama all you like.

But get back to us when you compare the number of votes he is pulling compared to those of your Last Choice candidate.
SushiSake3 at 09:44 PM JST - 23rd April

Sadly for the Republicans, this is going to be a numbers game regardless of who wins the Democratic nomination.

Um, and there's going to be a truckload more Democrats voting.

But there's still time for more mindless taunts and baseless accusations from the Republicans, bring it on! :-)
SezWho2 at 11:41 PM JST - 23rd April

RomeoRamenII,

You may be right about the nomination. I don't think so, though. I don't think the superdelegates are going to subscribe to the nomination of anyone they think can't win the presidency. I don't see how many people can think that Hillary can possibly get that job done.

As for those examples from the Obama campaign, I think you should try to lead from strength. Otherwise, your litany of complaints tends to become diluted. For example, I don't think Obama's wife ever made any "anti-patriotic statements".
RomeoRamenII at 01:18 AM JST - 24th April

Anyone who's listened to or read barack's stump speech knows that the number one thing he's focused on from day one is how everyone is suffering, struggling, disenfranchised, etc.

But a a 5% national unemployment rate that means 95% are employed. And with a 2% national foreclosure rate, 98% are not losing their homes.

Contrary to barack's rhetoric, the majority of people in America are not struggling or miserable.

This is yet another reason why barack does not connect with the electorate and why he is unable to win key American states.

RR
SuperLib at 01:58 AM JST - 24th April

This really sucks... I'm boycotting the entire state of Pennsylvania...heh.

There's just no way Hillary can get the nomination without winning the popular vote. It's disastrous for a lot of reasons.

It's going to remind people of how Bush got into office. It will disenfranchise some Democratic voters and open up the possibility of them switching to McCain. I think there's less of a chance of Democrats switching to McCain if Obama is the nominee since Bush in 2004 will not be an issue.

She has fewer votes to begin with, so she's already starting the race in second place even tho she'll be the Democrats #1 man (woman).

McCain has some moderate views that he'll most likely promote during the election which makes him an attractive alternative to Clinton if he plays his cards right. If Republicans know what they're doing, and during elections they generally do, I'd imagine they'll form their plan of attack around going after Obama supporters if Hillary is nominated.

Clinton is already a polarizing figure. It will be even worse if she gets the nomination this way. Her one biggest negative will become even more of a liability for Democrats.

The fact is that nominating her will make it more difficult to get a Democrat elected president, period.

Really the only thing the Democrats can do now is to have the superdelegates start making their votes public and come out in support of Obama. Essentially it would make waiting for August moot. If she extends this until August with her only chance being winning without the popular vote it's just going to suck. Really.
WhiteHawk at 02:56 AM JST - 24th April

It's too late for Clinton can "turn the tide" at this point, but it does make something about the '08 election entertaining.

Something that may have been missed in all of this coverage is that Obama is actually losing a constituency that he previously had wrapped up: The religious vote. Clinton did better among Christians than Obama in Pennsylvania. Obama can thank Wright for wrecking that.

Maybe the DNC convention should be pay-per-view...
Badsey at 05:13 AM JST - 24th April

your U.S. Dollar is worth 40% less, food prices are at an all time high, gas prices.

And what have your politicians been doing to correct these issues?

People need to get serious quickly. -seriously.

Japan/China/USA = only a fool can't see it getting more dangerous very quickly.
WhiteHawk at 06:05 AM JST - 24th April

Badsey, you're quite right. Unfortunately, we're run by elitists who make rules for us, not them. They don't care about our problems, because they've insulated themselves so well. If they lived in our neighborhoods, for example, they would care about things like illegal immigration.

On the international level, the fear of being criticized prevents anything substantive from being done about Iran/China/North Korea. This extends to the UN, of course, not that they can do anything anyway.
Badsey at 06:56 AM JST - 24th April

if they would just limit the Presidency/House/Congress to one term you wouldn't have these powerstruggles and payoffs. Judges also I guess.

Just seeing Ted Kennedy having to get a real job for once would be worth it.

If these politicians don't start fixing this country people will start leaving just like they are leaving California.

How much oil money did Hilliary get this year? How much is in foreign accounts? Why does Bentonville,AR look like a mini Washington DC?
SezWho2 at 08:49 AM JST - 24th April

SuperLib,

I think you're absolutely right. From what I understand, Obama supporters are more open to supporting Hillary than Hillary supporters are to supporting Obama.

McCain is certainly positioned to appeal to Obama supporters. I'm not sure he would need to do that, though. The elephant in the room is Bill. I don't think Hillary can win with him and I don't think she can win without him. Photos of Hillary and Chelsea are just not going to get the job done.
SezWho2 at 08:58 AM JST - 24th April

WhiteHawk,

I think it's true that the US was established by elitists--either that or I've mislaid the deed to my old Virginia mansion. I think that is why Andrew Jackson was such a breath of fresh air to so many. The problem with populists is that sooner or later they all begin to look like South American leaders that we delight in reviling.

It is natural to look for leadership among the elite. That is precisely the class of people who are more comfortable with the responsibilities and duties of leadership. This doesn't change just because we have a democracy as opposed to, say, a monarchy.

That being said, I have often heard the claim that Obama is an elitist. However, I think the same could be said about Clinton and McCain and about most of the presidential contenders now fallen.
redacted at 01:31 PM JST - 24th April

Hillary's people, as Libs like to say, are claiming she is on pace to pick up 10 million dollars in 24 hours.

http://time-blog.com/realclearpolitics/2008/04/clintononpacefor10_million.html

"Follow the money"

That's what the clever people like to say, yeah?
presto345 at 10:48 PM JST - 24th April

Romeo said it. Obama is focusing too much on the idea that the people are suffering, while Clinton is zeroing in on issues she wants to fix. Both candidates are very clever with rhetoric. Obama the better orator, but lacking substance. I would vote for Hillary. I am worried however that these democratic candidates are engaged in a too fierce a battle, one that is hurting the overall target: to get a democrat to lead the country.