Friday, April 04, 2008

Pennsylvania Narrowing

Pennsylvania Narrowing

Latest polls are showing Barack Obama rapidly gaining ground in Pennsylvania. Credit the schedule. For the first time since Iowa, he's been able to throw himself fully into one state, and voters have been able to pay close, local level attention. (One more argument in favor of the Iowa caucuses.) He was just spread too thin on Super Tuesday and the calendar was moving too fast. But to know him is to love him, and Pennsylvania is getting to know him.

More news on the Train Leaving The Station front: Who said this?
“We are very interested in the primaries. Don’t forget that Obama won in my state. My town which is home to 625 people is for Obama, my children and their spouses are pro-Obama. My grandchildren are also pro-Obama. As a Super Delegate, I would not disclose who I am rooting for, but I leave you to make that guess."

Hints: He's got a Nobel Peace Prize, was elected president, and actually got to serve as president. If you guessed "the only living former Democratic president who is not married to a candidate," you are correct.

The son of another former president is not doing so well in the history books: the historians are ranking Bush II as Worst. President. Ever. Perhaps, but I just can't work up as much loathing for him as I had for Reagan. Must be an age thing; Reagan was just too formative an experience for me.

Finally, here's an argument why Hillary's staying in. It's Dick Morris, so consider the source, but still:
Hillary Clinton’s campaign currently owes vendors $8 million, exclusive of the $5 million she owes herself. She cannot use general election money to pay for this debt. If she begins to be anything less than certain that she will stay in up to the convention, she won’t raise any money and will be stuck with the debt. She also realizes that it is only by projecting an almost manic air of certainty that she has any chance at all of hanging onto super delegates. The first whiff they get of a withdrawal, they will all run screaming to Obama to get on the late train. Don’t think that Hillary is delusional. She knows she’s lost but she has no choice but to play the rest of the game. To fold now would leave her in an untenable situation.

Maybe. But I remember a variation of the same case from last fall: John McCain is staying in to collect his public financing money in January and pay the bills, then he's out. Wonder how that worked out?

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