Barack Obama may have reached what he describes as "a major milestone on this journey" up the 2008 campaign trail. The senator from Illinois has now secured a majority of the "pledged" delegates to be chosen in the party's primaries and caucuses.

Citing that achievement, Obama told wildly cheering supporters in Des Moines that he was now "within reach of the Democratic nomination for president of the United States of America."

But Hillary Clinton is not going to let him grab the prize this week.

The lady is not quitting this contest just yet.

The pressure on Clinton to finish her run for the Democratic presidential nomination has been intense. And it will get more intense now that the results from Tuesday's primaries in Kentucky (a loss for the Illinoisan) and Oregon (a win for the Illinoisan) have given Obama that pledged-delegate majority. The senator from New York's keeping her campaign afloat by writing checks out of her own account. And she's watching from the sidelines as Obama and Republican John McCain launch their fall campaigns against one another.

But there is one ironclad rule when it comes to races for presidential nominations: You don't quit when you are winning primaries.

And Clinton has won another primary by a lopsided margin.

The former first lady took 65 percent of the vote in Kentucky to just 30 percent for Obama -- almost as overwhelming win as she secured last week in West Virginia. That victory had her crowing Tuesday night that, "It's not just the Kentucky bluegrass that music to my ears -- it's the sound of your overwhelming vote of confidence even in the face of tough odds."

"You've never given up on me, because you know I've never given up on you," told her cheering supporters in a speech that will be repeated as she moves her campaign on to Puerto Rico (where she should do well) and the last primary states of Montana and South Dakota (where Obama's probably a little ahead).

Clinton's had a good enough night.

There is little reason to believe, however, that she will get any more traction from the Kentucky win than she did from the West Viginia victory. Even as he lost Kentucky, Obama picked up enough delegates there to attain the bragging rights that go with the pledged-delegate majority. And his solid win in Oregon padded the margin.

Every indication is that the unpledged super-delegates who have it in their power to "seal the deal" for the eventual nominee will continue to break his way.

"The Democratic Party through the democratic process has spoken," Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, a former presidential candidate who has endorsed Obama. "The super-delegates aren't going to change that."

Dodd predicted that party leaders will ultimately allow delegations selected in the disputed January primaries in Michigan and Florida will be seated at the convention in August, but not with a big advantage for Clinton. "I think it will be an even split," said Dodd, who added that he believes the race is essentially "over."

But Clinton will soldier on. She'll point to the fact that she did very, very well in Kentucky -- running up a 250,000 margin in the popular vote, and winning women and men, rich and poor, college graduates and high-school drop outs, liberals and conservatives, Protestants and Catholics, suburbanites and rural folks and just about every other group except the state's small African-American population. She'll suggest, again, that she can win blue-collar voters and Obama cannot. And she'll continue to peddle the line that a lot of Democrats will cross over to back Republican McCain in November if she is not the party's nominee -- pointing to the Kentucky exit polls that suggest that, in an Obama-McCain race, 32 percent of Democratic primary voters who back McCain while 15 percent would not vote.

Clinton's not a bitter ender.

When Obama gets the majority of delegate commitments -- from pledged delegates and super-delegates -- she will quit the race. But until she really has been defeated, Clinton will keep running.

Nights like this guarantee that.

UPDATE: Video from Obama's victory speech in Iowa below.

Comments (29)

1. Posted by wgilwood at 05/20/2008

   Hippies? The ludicrous anachronism betrays the author's bigotry & ignorance. CA & NY, as heavy as it gets in electoral votes, won't be going for McC in Nov, however much the bigots bawl about it now, and in spite of any futher triangulating & lowball tactics, sub rosa or otherwise, by Billary. The Pardon Sellers have cooked their political goose too well, they're done for.

   Posted by sloper at 05/20/2008 @ 10:53pm

2. Think about this when all the dust settles: what you get is what you saw?

   ----------

   Geraldine Ferraro, calling Barack Obama "sexist," may not back him Might fully one-third of the six surviving Democratic vice presidential nominees end up opposing their party's national ticket this November?

   That possibility arose today based on comments Geraldine Ferraro, the 1984 Democratic veep candidate, made to The New York Times

   Posted by HelenDAO at 05/21/2008 @ 12:43am

3. Posted by Mask at 05/20/2008

   I disagree that it's primarily about money, MASK. The Clintons have become gazillionaires through politics (you don't expect them to get REAL jobs, do you?), and their money-making abilities remain unimpaired. It's always mostly about the power with the Clintons, because a) she really does believe that she knows what's best for the country and b) both of them know the money follows the power just as night follows day. Hillary is going to squeeze the Democratic Party until it screams this year. Sure, she'll get all of her $20 mill back, and more, but she'll also get a stranglehold on the Party again as she holds out for that last pound of flesh, closest to the heart.

   Posted by pontificus at 05/21/2008 @ 03:04am

4. So Billary persist, we're now told, because Hillary is a victim ... haven't we heard this song before? & before & before? Shameless. Like that sociopath couple Billary impersonated so tellingly in a TV ad last fall, Tony & Carmela Soprano. Listen you, feel sorry for them, pal. Or else. Soon Billary will depart about as gracefully as their role models, Mr. T & Carm.

   Posted by sloper at 05/21/2008 @ 04:41am

5. WV and KY are actually two states going against the national trend of voting blue. Instead, KY and WV are strong red states, despite Bush, with little chance for a Dem win in November. Oregon, on the other hand, has been trending blue the last two election cycles. Since McCain believes he can compete in Oregon, it will be a battle state that has a good chance to be a win for Democrats. Also Oregon is not a wealthy state but it's a white state. It would be fair to call Oregon a white working class state. The corporate news spin is inaccurate and yet another example the media's disservice to the American voter.

   Posted by SandyFeet at 05/21/2008 @ 04:52am

6. Posted by pontificus at 05/21/2008

   Clinton Derangement Syndrome just as bad as Bush Derangement Syndrome.

   and check out your newest Drudge....she's deeper in the hole than even I thought!

   It's about money.

   Posted by Mask at 05/21/2008 @ 07:07am

7. Posted by wgilwood at 05/20/2008

   non-sensical. your terms make no sense to me.

   "hippy"= young voters?

   Limousine liberal = McCain and Hillary as much as any Obama supporter.

   Posted by crabwalk at 05/21/2008 @ 07:23am

8. Hillary needs to step off, now.

   Take the buy down MASK is offering and go away.

   but then who will Ponti hate?

   Posted by crabwalk at 05/21/2008 @ 07:27am

9. At this point, Hillary's max'd out whatever mix of powermongering agendas - 2012 / Veep / Health Care Czar agendas, and is ready to talk $.

   I'd say this has been in play ever since she backed off the Wright coattails free ride. She's disgusting - IMO.

   Posted by winyahn at 05/21/2008 @ 07:48am

10. "How many pols do you know would attend a radical church for 20 years, solicit the support of a radical bomber to run for office, and has a wife who has never been proud of her country until Magic was `discovered'?"

    Aside from the last, as far as I know most of the Republican party for the past seven years has solicited the support of a radical bomber--they call him Mr. President--and attend services at churches that promote a form of Jesus not found in the gospels, a pretty radical jump. Many Democrat politicians also attend these churches and while not soliciting the support of the radical bomber George Bush, did go along with him.

    Not sure what there is to be proud of. But it sure is a nice looking flag.

    Posted by onthehelm at 05/21/2008 @ 08:30am

11. So the question from Florida 2000 rears its ugly head. Do you follow the rules or let the votes from Florida and Michigan be counted. Does Obama stand with George Bush and follow the rules or does he stand with Al Gore and "let the votes be counted?"

    Posted by abell12ct at 05/21/2008 @ 08:31am

12. Posted by abell12ct at 05/21/2008

    Nice try, but Floridan Democrats knew what they were getting into BEFORE they voted...Dean and the boys were pretty clear.

    As for Michigan...she was the ONLY one on the ballot. Hard to defend a "Soviet-style" election like that, isn't it?

    They'll eventually cut a deal where the delegates get seated, but with no winnable advantage to Hillary.

    Posted by Mask at 05/21/2008 @ 08:50am

13. Clinton now needs to win a hair above 75% of the remaining delegates tied to the last three primaries and 75% of the uncommitted supers to win the nomination.

    From cnn.com:

    "Twenty-one percent of all respondents and 19 percent of whites said race was a factor, and 7 percent of all voters said it was the most important factor."

    Congratulations Ms. Clinton - "Mission Accomplished."

    Posted by Hman23 at 05/21/2008 @ 09:56am

14. It's a commitment to her candidacy that is motivated by selfishness, not what's best for the democratic party or this country. Even she I'm sure agrees deep down that Obama is what the democratic party needs going forward - that is too obvious and logical even for her to deny behind closed doors. But her self-motivated desire to be the dem candidate won't allow her to quit just yet. Although I expect her to drop out right after June 3rd, with some nausiating excuse like "I stayed in the race because I wanted everyone's voice to be heard", I would not be surprised if she stays in until the convention. As long as she is in she can always sit quitely and hope that some crazy controversy about Obama breaks out that will leave him unelectable in the eyes of superdelegates. Of course she would be risking her political career in the democratic party by doing this.

    Posted by danconstan at 05/21/2008 @ 10:27am

15. At one point, I would have thought it crazy to think Clinton would even consider taking this to the convention. At this point, I would not put it past her - no matter the damage it would do to Obama's campaign.

    She is simply running four years early.

    Posted by Hman23 at 05/21/2008 @ 10:35am

16. "Latte liberals"

    Don't republicans drink lattes too? Why are lattes the drink of the "elitists"? I know alot of non-elitists who drink lattes, so that particular theory doesn't hold up. I mean really, HAPP. You didn't even use the term until the media's talking heads and the politicians started throwing the term around ad-nauseum. I know because I've been coming to this site and reading HAPPY's posts for alot longer than the campaign has been underway. Either it's because you are easily influenced by the talking heads (polticially or otherwise) or you're not the same HAPPY I came to know and love. Which is it?

    Posted by k330k at 05/21/2008 @ 10:35am

17. "How many pols do you know would attend a radical church for 20 years, solicit the support of a radical bomber to run for office, and has a wife who has never been proud of her country until Magic was `discovered'?"

    How quickly we forget that McCain reacieved POLITICAL support from and considers an advisor, a church leader who once said that the purpose of America was to destroy Islam...lol...the media hasn't touched it yet, but I think I know how that will play out...

    Plus what's the count at now for McCrook campaign officials that have been PAID lobbyists for foregin oppressive governments? Anybody? Anybody?

    Posted by danconstan at 05/21/2008 @ 10:39am

18. danconstan -

    . . . also, one of McCain's "spiritual advisors" believes America's abortion policies are a form of "Black Genocide."

    Posted by Hman23 at 05/21/2008 @ 10:42am

19. One good thing about this extension of the political process's, the side bars from the 527 type ads can't find a candidate to focus on.

    Posted by dycel8r at 05/21/2008 @ 11:03am

20. your mom's cutting back driving is EXACTLY the behavior modification that the Frosty Lattes want, no?

    ••••••••••••••••••••••

    For the record, I am ALL for lowering consumption and more efficient use of the personal car....for better air in the major urban centers and lower trade deficits!

    Posted by HAPPY3

    so you are a frosty latte?

    personally, i've been to starbucks once.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 05/21/2008 @ 12:50pm

21. >>>But Clinton will soldier on. She'll point to the fact that she did very, very well in Kentucky -- running up a 250,000 margin in the popular vote, and winning women and men, rich and poor, college graduates and high-school drop outs, liberals and conservatives, Protestants and Catholics, suburbanites and rural folks and just about every other group except the state's small African-American population. She'll suggest, again, that she can win blue-collar voters and Obama cannot. And she'll continue to peddle the line that a lot of Democrats will cross over to back Republican McCain in November if she is not the party's nominee -- pointing to the Kentucky exit polls that suggest that, in an Obama-McCain race, 32 percent of Democratic primary voters who back McCain while 15 percent would not vote.<<<

    Hillary Clinton really has become delusional!

    Everyone knows that Kentucky and West Virginia are bastions of white racism, so winning there proves absolutely nothing!

    Kentucky, in particular, has always gone Republican, and Hillary Clinton has absolutely no chance of putting Kentucky in play for the Democrats in November.

    The mainstream press keeps pushing Hillary's talking point about white blue-collar voters, even though the evidence shows that it is RACIST white blue collar voters that Obama has trouble with. In Iowa, Wisconsin, Wahington State, Oregon rural Nevada, and many other states, Obama has WON over these white blue collar voters. When are the pundits in the mainstream press going to recognize this, call a spade a spade, and quit this ridiculous appeasement of "racist" white voters in very isolated parts of the country?

    Posted by Metteyya at 05/21/2008 @ 12:54pm

22. . Sure, she'll get all of her $20 mill back, and more, but she'll also get a stranglehold on the Party again as she holds out for that last pound of flesh, closest to the heart.

    Posted by pontificus at 05/21/2008

    Yep! Probably working right now on her new book "How I Lost the Nomination," with an advance in excess of $20M easy.

    Posted by OneVote at 05/21/2008 @ 2:33pm

23. When are the pundits in the mainstream press going to recognize this, call a spade a spade, and quit this ridiculous appeasement of "racist" white voters in very isolated parts of the country?

    Posted by Metteyya at 05/21/2008 |

    When Obama wins the general election.

    Posted by OneVote at 05/21/2008 @ 2:35pm

24. Posted by OneVote at 05/21/2008

    First, it was Obama has problems with "blue collar voters" until it was pointed out that many people of color who voted for Obama were blue collar voters.

    Then it was Obama has problem with "WHITE blue collar voters", until they say him carry nearly 50% of these voters in Oregon.

    Now they are saying he has a problem with "CONSERVATIVE WHITE blue collar voters.

    I am saying look at ALL 48 contests thus far and focus on the numerous states where Obama WON blue collar voters. If you do this, you can't help but acknowledge that Barack Obama only has a problem with RACIST CONSERVATIVE WHITE blue collar voters.

    When we see this as it really is, we realize that this is not Barack's problem, but the mainstream press' failure to do any real analysis of the exact nature of these blue collar voters and how small the racist conservative white blue collar vote is in comparison to the entire electorate!

    Another MANUFACTURED issue from the mainstream press!

    Posted by Metteyya at 05/21/2008 @ 4:21pm

25. Also why haven't we heard more about Hillary's problem with "male voters"? This is far more serious than having a problem with racist conservative blue collar voters, isn't it?

    Posted by Metteyya at 05/21/2008 @ 8:07pm

26. Another MANUFACTURED issue from the mainstream press!

    Posted by Metteyya at 05/21/2008 |

    It really is amazing that they can be talking about Obama's big problem with white working class voters as if it was a nationwide problem for him based on West Virginia and Kentucky while Obama coasts to victory to Oregon. What is further amazing is that they draw this conclusion knowing the results from Oregon, but delaying their discussion because to the time differential between east and west coasts and the closing of the polls. I have made vow not buy any product I see advertised on mainstream media. They are trully a bunch of shills for the corporate bosses who want to prolong the agony for the sake of ratings, and because they would really like a corporate democrat (closet Republican) like Clinton to be President. The best political analyst team in the business indeed!

    Posted by OneVote at 05/21/2008 @ 8:37pm

27. winyahn

    it's a joke

    à la craig..........

    Posted by frosty zoom at 05/22/2008 @ 09:25am

28. The single most important quality of the Obama VP selection turns on this question: How to prevent rednecks* from pulling the McCain lever in the privacy of the voting booth?

    *You might be a redneck if... your white, blue collar and have no biracial friends or family

    *You might be a redneck if... your white, blue collar and you have never been to a Muslim country and/or have no Muslim friends

    *You might be a redneck if... your white, blue collar and resisted jungle fever and never had a black friend

    *You might be a redneck if... your white, blue collar and your address involves the words, "where the paved road ends"

    Posted by winyahn at 05/23/2008 @ 2:47pm

29. It is AMAZING and sad how the media, particularly CNN have trivialized the horrifically diobolital mentality of the Clintons.

    Black Americans, and many of all races are EXTREMELY disturbed by Hillary's insinuation of a possible assassination of Barack Obama. To imply that her reason for staying in the race is because anything can happen, then nonchalantly say that even Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June, meaning therefore she should stay in, is not only pitifully diobolical but incredibly dangerous.

    As I read some of the comments, I sense that some do not understand the true impact of her deadly insinuation. Keep in mind, when it was first announced that Obama was running for President, the initial concern in Black America was his safety. "Would some nut sniper him"? Obama had to hire secret service security right out of the gate.....why? Because of the true possibilty of some nut doing harm to him or his family.

    Also, during the last 50 years, the people who have been assassinated have ALL been leaders who were working toward equality for ALL. John F., Robert and of course Dr. King. So just the WORD assassination brings to us not only an extreme fear but is a reminder of the incredibly sad loss to America, particularly Blacks, at the hands of the sick and wicked. For Hillary Clinton, a so-called leader, to insinuate, for WHATEVER reason assassination....is beyond disgusting. It subliminally sparks the hatred, bigotry and destruction that most Americans have worked so hard to overcome.

    Greg Jones www.Blacks4Barack.org A Multi-Racial Org...Dedicated To Truth !

    Posted by gregjones at 05/25/2008 @ 12:35pm