Obama's Super Tuesday

posted by John Nichols on 06/03/2008 @ 07:42am

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"It's time," said U.S. Senator Herb Kohl, the senior Democratic workhorse from Wisconsin who had resisted making an endorsement in the race for the party's presidential nomination out of a desire to maintain productive relations with colleagues Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Kohl, after more than a few consultations with Obama, will announce his position this week -- perhaps even today.

The same goes for a dozens of other Democratic National Convention super-delegates who during the course of the final day of the party's long primary season will endorse the senator from Illinois.

The Obama campaign, which has been accused of not being able to "close the deal" in the race for the nomination, is orchestrating a massive push to do just that on what they hope will be their real "Super Tuesday."

With rival Hillary Clinton preparing to deliver "a major speech" not in the primary state of South Dakota -- where she still hopes to win a symbolic victory today -- but in New York, and with Clinton aides being told to turn in their final expense reports before the end of the week, Obama's on the verge.

While some believe Clinton will quit tonight, others suggest that the New York senator's speech will be more of a valedictory address -- with an actual suspension of candidacy and endorsement of Obama coming as early as Wednesday.

Obama will be in New York Wednesday night to headline a small fund-raising event for the Democratic National Committee. He and Clinton are also expected to be in Washington at the same time earlier in the day.

The Obama camp does not want it to appear that anything is being given to the candidate, however. They want him to be holding the nomination in his hands by the time he speaks tonight in the swing state of Minnesota, at what is expected to be a huge rally in St. Paul.

So his campaign hopes to dot every "i" and cross every "t" today.

After he collects the delegates he is expected to secure from Montana and South Dakota, Obama will need in the range of 25 more to go over the 2,118 number needed to be nominated.

He'll get many if not all of them from members of Congress.

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin is expected to lead a crew of uncommitted senators -- probably including Colorado's Ken Salazar, Delaware's Tom Carper and Maryland's Ben Cardin -- into the Obama fold.

South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, a member of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's leadership team, announced for Obama this morning. And Clyburn could be joined during the day by any of a number of other uncommitted House members, including Californians Sam Farr and Bob Filner, Massachusett's Ed Markey, John Olver and John Tierney, Michigan's Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, New Jersey's Rush Holt and Ohio's Marcy Kaptur and Dennis Kucinich.

Even Obama, ever cautious about such things, said Monday night that before the end of Tuesday "we've got a good chance of getting the number we need to win the nomination."

For his part, Obama is more than ready to turn the page and begin the next chapter of the tale of 2008.

"I emphasize that tomorrow is the last of the contests and the sooner that we bring the party together," the senator says. "The sooner we can begin focusing on beating John McCain."

Comments (45)

"For his part, Obama is more than ready to turn the page and begin the next chapter of the tale of 2008."

I think we ALL are!

Posted by Balrog at 06/03/2008 @ 08:31am
Well I don't think they will come out until sometime this week, not today. I hope I am wrong, but this is yet another opportunity to miss an opportunity and the Democrats just can't help themselves. Yeah it would be great to get pushed over by Montana and get the supers as the day goes on. I actually expected several supers this morning, at noon, and as the polls close. Anything this morning? Nothing more than was reported yesterday.

How much of this is deference to Clinton and how much of this is actual reservation about Obama in the Fall? Either way, it's over and they need to fall in line. Clinton supporters can wait, heal, and consider the views of everyone, but the Supers, who's job is to be a loyal party member need to get in gear and fall in line.

Do they think Obama rented out the site of the Republican Convention for shits and giggles?

Posted by Tzimisce at 06/03/2008 @ 08:52am
Last Polling Report survey of the various polls puts Obama either AHEAD or tied with McCain (within the MoE of course)...and all of that during the height of the "Rev. Wright" thing, as well as the scrap with Hillary.

Once we're done, I'll be curious to see how those polls shape up in the next two weeks.

Posted by Mask at 06/03/2008 @ 08:56am
McCain's had a free pass up til now. I'll be more curious how the polls shape up in, say, two months? After his flip-flopping, the Hagee situation, etc...have recieved due attention.

I have to believe that Obama has taken all the hits he's gonna take - surely the Clintons have exposed all that could be found. Now it's McCain's turn to be scrutinized. It will be interesting to see how he bears up...or to see if he even receives the same level of scrutiny that Obama has.

Posted by Balrog at 06/03/2008 @ 09:13am
well thank god it's kinda, sorta, maybeish over.

so, who got voted off this week?

these reality shows are SO fake.

Posted by frosty zoom at 06/03/2008 @ 09:25am
Posted by JOMAMMA at 06/3/2008

Seems a better move than the Repubs, MAASCH.

They chose St. Paul in the first place....the site of the I-35W Bridge Collapse!

Posted by Mask at 06/03/2008 @ 09:49am
Once we're done, I'll be curious to see how those polls shape up in the next two weeks.

Posted by Mask at 06/3/2008

Watch. Those polls will trend Obama's way - all the way to the general. In my opinion, the worst to Obama has been attempted. Pastor gotcha games have been played out - except for fools like PONTI, of course. As have many of the other little diversions like lapel pins, and "He's really a Muslim!!!" Gay marriage initiatives won't cut it either. It will be McSame vs. Obama. Most of Clinton's supporters will get over their loss.

There is a very good reason many Republicans were pulling for Clinton in the primary, why many Republican strategists have said they will sit this one out if Obama is the nominee, and that they have "no plan" to defeat Obama in the general (like Frank Luntz has said).

Posted by Hman23 at 06/03/2008 @ 10:12am
It seems likely that SD's will prefer to declare in groups for a couple of reasons -but mostly to impact any negative effects on 'split-definitives' in their respective constituencies. This unusual competition for the nomination, coming on the heels of the worst product of the American electorate ( and Supreme Court) the public is raw with emotion and the National temperament needs a group chill pill.

At the same time, there will be a penalty to pay for any elected official, that is a Super for dragging their feet. It is my opinion that today is the last the day that a SD can declare without paying a price in the next election.

Binx101 The Almost Daily Binx http://binx101.wordpress.com

Posted by Binx101 at 06/03/2008 @ 10:14am
Posted by Euler at 06/3/2008

This has been thoroughly debunked. See Newsweek for example. You only get there if you count Florida and, even worse, Michigan, where Obama was not on the ballot. I remember in October, when Clinton said "It's clear, this election they're having [in Michigan] is not going to count for anything." Do you? You also only get there by ignoring many of the caucuses won by Obama.

And, you liken the Supers to the Supreme Court, when Clinton for the past two months has been doing everything possible to secure their support. Somehow, I do not think you would be using this analogy if she had succeeded.

Posted by Hman23 at 06/03/2008 @ 10:21am
FZ .. wold that show be "American Idolatry"?

Posted by leftofcenter at 06/03/2008 @ 10:23am
Posted by Hman23 at 06/3/2008

That seems to be the case.

The Right (here and on other blogs) seem to think "There's MORE stuff on Obama, yet to come out!"

But that makes no sense. If there WAS...wouldn't HILLARY have played it days, even weeks ago?

And as that polling showed, Obama was leading or atleast tied with McCain AFTER the major part of the "Rev. Wright" and "bitter" "scandals" had broken.

Posted by Mask at 06/03/2008 @ 10:35am
The rules were clear before the Michigan and Florida elections... and any attempt to change them now are done so in violation of the public trust. I am not interested in hearing any McCain bashing... if we are to stand up to the challenges our Twenty-first century is already presenting us with...

...we will need all the positive considerativities we can get.

Leave the barbarians at the gate.

Posted by ttr at 06/03/2008 @ 10:36am
'After a day of wrangling in front of a sometimes unruly crowd, the Democratic National Committee's rules and bylaws committee reinstated all of Florida and Michigan's delegates to its party convention, with each getting a HALF-vote...' -- CNN.com -- 31 May, 2007

'Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, THREE FIFTHS of all other Persons.' -- US Constitution, Article I Section 2

Posted by HonestLiberal at 06/03/2008 @ 10:43am
Euler***Balrog - see the Bush machines 2000 efforts to destroy McCain

The public could stand reminding of what those issues were...and there are plenty more that have arisen since then.

Posted by Balrog at 06/03/2008 @ 10:51am
I guess I'll stop reading the blog comments for a few days until all the Hillary whiners either get it out of their system, or go away.

Anyone that thinks Hillary is ahead in the popular vote just doesn't get it.

Posted by whateverblah at 06/03/2008 @ 11:12am
Posted by HonestLiberal at 06/3/2008

"When the night comes back telling a story, I'm lazy: beautiful sounds of a primitive faith appear in my mind, and even that arrow describes, in a moment, the slippery darkness of a tender caprice, there, where a light fades away......"

Francesco Sinibaldi

Posted by frosty zoom at 06/03/2008 @ 11:16am
LOC:

indeed.

or, perhaps "Lost".

TTR:

indeed.

or, perhaps lie to them really well. [insert winkwinknudgenudge face]

MUTTLEY:

indeed.

i think the most telling thing is that the conventions will be held at

the pachidermal ¡XCEL ENERGY CENTER!

and

the oh,so,bubbly ¡PEPSI CENTER!

KVH:

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 11:25:43 AM

Posted by frosty zoom at 06/03/2008 @ 11:26am
Posted by Euler at 06/3/2008

Let's follow the rules.

Remember those?

Posted by Hman23 at 06/03/2008 @ 11:30am
Xcel Energy looking to add nuclear plants

Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:56pm EST

NEW YORK, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Utility holding company Xcel Energy (XEL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is looking to increase its number of nuclear plants, probably in partnership with other parties, the company's chief executive said on Monday.

"I certainly hope nuclear is part of our answer going forward," CEO Richard told attendees at the EXNET Utility M&A Conference in New York.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Coca-Cola, Pepsi Plundering India's Water: Maneka Gandhi

UNI

October 28, 2005

Kochi, Kerala: Accusing softdrinks majors Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola of ''plundering'' India's groundwater resources while contributing ''little'' to the country, Member of Parliament Maneka Gandhi today said the policy planners need to rethink on the current anti-environment industrialisation model .

Claiming that the two multinational softrink companies were extracting 50 to 60 million litres of groundwater per year, Ms Gandhi said if the people in Plachimada, Kerala, could feel the pinch, what would be the plight of the poor villagers in Rajasthan.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

i bet ol' hugo's got his sights trained on this one!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Plaza_Venezuela%2C_Ca racas.jpg

Posted by frosty zoom at 06/03/2008 @ 11:33am
It's amazing: Hillary signed the same agreement as ALL other candidates. The rules were set by the DNC early on exactly to AVOID the mess in which Hillary took us all.

The rules were worked on and approved by all States and agreed by ALL candidates prior to the start of the primaries.

Now. Hillary wants to be treated differently than anyone else, after breaking the rules she agreed to obey (It's clear, this election they're having [in Michigan] is not going to count for anything." - and not to campaign in Florida as well, which she did).

That only shows that she feels ENTITELD to the presidency, ENTITLED to have it her way, REGARDLESS of the rules everyone agreed upon.

Changing the rules of the game after you have lost is NOT a Democratic move.

Thinking only about yourself and your self-centered thirst for super-power to the point of wishing a candidate to be assassinated, or quoting Karl Rove's number theory and making racist, divisive statements over and over is NOT the Democratic way. It's the Neocons' way!

And those of you who threaten to vote for McCain only show your true, egotistical, immature nature. With our country on its way to total disaster you'd rather give the keys to yet another Bush???

Thats' beyond the pale!

Do you not realize that the Neocons would have ALL Americans work for food rations (which is what's happening anyways)? DO you not realize that the Neocons have been at the root of every major set back for ALL working Americans? Neocons are ONLY interested in power and the funneling of tax funds into their companies, by any means necessary.

Money, and NOTHING else is the REAL reason we are in Iraq. IF you haven't figured that one out yet... Where's all the oil that was supposed to pay for the war?

Sure, vote for McCain. That's like letting your house burn down because your favorite fireman couldn't come to put the fire out!

Posted by digit at 06/03/2008 @ 11:40am
The Clintons and their cult remind me of what it's like to play a board game with a small child in that the child feels entitled to win and expects you to let them win even if it means changing the rules,Florida and Michigan,in order for them to win and if you don't let them win they get mad and destroy the entire game so that you can't win,either.

Posted by i'm nobody at 06/03/2008 @ 11:41am
digit***Sure, vote for McCain. That's like letting your house burn down because your favorite fireman couldn't come to put the fire out!

Nice analogy.

Posted by Balrog at 06/03/2008 @ 11:42am
Let's count the people who voted (it was Obama's decision not to be on the ballot). Michigan, by the way, would have gone for Clinton in any case, as would - re: hispanic vote - Florida.

Posted by Euler at 06/3/2008

This nominating process was never about popular vote. Sorry but its a is a terribly flawed metric in order to gauge the winner.

1) Not all states had traditional primaries

2) Some states like Washington had both a caucus and a primary, but only one counted as far as delegates

3) Buyers Remorse. There are many polls from New York and California (and other states) of Clinton supporters, at the time, now regretting their vote.

4) The staggered primary means that many states got unequal treatment and we have seen that there has been a steady increase in turnout for the most part.

5) There was no campaigning in Michigan and Florida, it was her loaded RBC that decided to strip them of delegates to begin with so that she could win Super Tuesday and cruise to the White House. She had no post Super Tuesday strategy and it showed; since she lost ten contests in a row. Obama wasn't even on the ballot, sure it was his decision, but everyone else made that decision too, only Clinton staid on. To count this Soviet style election is pure fantasy.

6) There are caucus states that do not have totals that can easily be converted, or the won't convert, into a popular vote total.

7) And this is the hardest pill to swallow for some of the deadenders, this was always about delegates. Always. Popular vote is a great sort of spin, but it doesn't net you a win.

Posted by Tzimisce at 06/03/2008 @ 11:55am
"Obama's Super Tuesday". YA THINK? God I hope so. I had a nightmare last night and Ms. Clinton went Lieberman on us. I have visions of four years of McCcain repeating the phrase, " The surge is working my friend". I don't know who washed his brain. If the old war hero keeps repeating that phrase he won't have a friend in the coutry

Posted by julien38 at 06/03/2008 @ 12:02pm
Sure, vote for McCain. That's like letting your house burn down because your favorite fireman couldn't come to put the fire out!----Posted by digit at 06/3/2008

Save that for the next "Return of Frankgrits!"....right on target.

Posted by Mask at 06/03/2008 @ 12:09pm
It's interesting that Bush supporters believe that they have credibility when it comes to the issue of picking a new POTUS and believe that we should all listen to them.

Posted by i'm nobody at 06/03/2008 @ 12:10pm
The Bridge Collapse was in Minneapolis, home of the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Xcel Energy Center is in St. Paul.---Posted by marybretbrad at 06/3/2008

Okay, Darin...how about

"They chose St. Paul in the first place....part of the Twin Cities vicinity of the I-35W Bridge Collapse!"

Cut the line fine enough for you?

Posted by Mask at 06/03/2008 @ 12:11pm
The Bridge Collapse was in Minneapolis, home of the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Xcel Energy Center is in St. Paul.

Posted by marybretbrad

oh. i see.

Posted by frosty zoom at 06/03/2008 @ 12:25pm
"Sure, vote for McCain. That's like letting your house burn down because your favorite fireman couldn't come to put the fire out!----Posted by digit at 06/3/2008"

I'll be the 3rd or 4th person to praise digit for this great analogy!

Posted by Be Good at 06/03/2008 @ 12:34pm
Do you not realize that the Neocons would have ALL Americans work for food rations-Posted by digit at 06/3/2008 |

Well, we certainly wouldn't want, or expect, anyone to work for a living now would we! "Let them eat cake!" (My apologies to Marie-Antoinette-probably a neocon)

Posted by meathelmet at 06/03/2008 @ 12:41pm
Posted by Euler at 06/3/2008

On the idea of reform and making a better system, we can totally agree.

Posted by Tzimisce at 06/03/2008 @ 12:50pm
Posted by HAPPY3 at 06/3/2008

I can't help but wonder. Imagine 8 years of Obama. Still HAPPY?

How long before you get tired of the racism of "magic negro"?

Will you be able to forgive yourself for contributing to the Obama presidency given your support for Obama in...what was it called? Oh yes, "Operation Chaos". You, too, supported "surrender".

It would be amusing to watch people of your ideological stripe so smugly shoot themselves in the foot - year after year - if it didn't have such dire consequences for our country.

Posted by srjenkins at 06/03/2008 @ 2:09pm
5) There was no campaigning in Michigan and Florida, it was her loaded RBC that decided to strip them of delegates to begin with so that she could win Super Tuesday and cruise to the White House.

Posted by Tzimisce at 06/3/2008

This bears repeating every time a Hillary supporter whines about MI and FL.

Posted by Hman23 at 06/03/2008 @ 2:27pm
SR Jenkins: I'm imagining 8 years of Obama and yes, I'm still happy. On the other hand, I've lived nearly 8 years of Bush/Cheney and I'm not happy. In fact very few Americans are happy with those two morons.

As for your comment about the racism of "Magic negro," I see that you are a bigot. Your rascism is deplorable. Please don't teach it to your children. America has had enough of it. Time to move on.

And then we're given the same old tired "Supporting surrender" comment. Is this your best defense for continuing the Iraq mistake? Many have called Iraq the biggest foreign policy blunder in the history of the United States. History will no doubt acknowledge the same.

Since you support the war, I wonder if you are willing to fight it? Bush & Cheney aren't willing to fight their war, but they're more than willing to fight it to every last drop of your blood. Many many tours of duty would you like to sign up for?

Meanwhile, we're losing in Afganistan because we don't have enough troops there and Osama Bin Laden laughs in his cave as Saddam Hussein hangs for his crimes.

McCain said he would continue the Iraq war for 100 years if necessary. He'll never surrender. All this even though the planners of the war - Cheney, Bush, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld got EVERYTHING wrong! Iraq was, and continues to be, a HUGE mistake. The justification for the war was nothing but propaganda and lies. Everyone but you acknowledges this.

And finally, the "dire consequences for the country" that you predict are happening right now! Have you bought any gasoline lately? Better go back to the Rush Limbaugh webpage where your comments belong. Don't try and pass them off here. We know better.

Posted by macduck at 06/03/2008 @ 3:45pm
Remember how long it took them to leave the WH? The Bush crew waiting patiently, Clinton's taking their time. Same thing today, first she's going to concede, then not, then yes, not......

Suddenly this afternoon, a spanish supporter of Clinton's in NYC reported by AP to MSNBC.. Hillary will accept the VP spot if Obama asks her. WOW!!

The spanish supporter said the spanish community and herself will not vote for Obama, if she is not on ticket! Is this a 'bribe'? How dare she. First of all, she doesn't want him to Win tonite and proclaim that win until tomorrow, because it's her nite tonite with her supporter's. Unbelievable. Who ever said the Clinton's have nerve, is right.

Posted by nativegirl at 06/03/2008 @ 4:05pm
Hill will not be asked to VP.

Posted by emile duBois at 06/03/2008 @ 4:18pm
Hill will not be asked to VP.

Posted by emile duBois at 06/3/2008

On a rare occasion me and "Professor" ROLF agree.

She really brings little to the table...

what groups would "stay home" and not vote for Obama, would be miniscule compared to the "Hillary negatives" of nearly HALF the general public who said they would "never vote for her".

Posted by Mask at 06/03/2008 @ 4:27pm
"Do you not realize that the Neocons would have ALL Americans work for food rations (which is what's happening anyways)?"

Not true. That's a socialistic theme that you libs want to use.

"DO you not realize that the Neocons have been at the root of every major set back for ALL working Americans?"

Really!? What setbacks are you referring to?

"Money, and NOTHING else is the REAL reason we are in Iraq."

Geez, and they said it was for the oil...go figure...

"Sure, vote for McCain. That's like letting your house burn down because your favorite fireman couldn't come to put the fire out!"

Huh?!?! You've been taking lessons from Yogi Beara again.

Posted by digit at 06/3/2008

Posted by ACook at 06/03/2008 @ 5:19pm
I Am Right

http://www.votenic.com

run by a kid

Posted by votenic at 06/03/2008 @ 6:16pm
Posted by macduck at 06/3/2008

Macduck, I would recommend reading people's posts before responding to them.

As a courtesy, I'll explain the problem to you.

1. The post was for Happy - someone who does listen to Rush Limbaugh, uses Rush's "magic negro" comments in this forum and voted for Obama in the Texas primary. It was not for you nor was I advocating these positions, as is obvious from phrases like: "How long before you get tired of the racism of "magic negro"?

2. I'm actually against any kind of military adventurism, which includes Iraq, Iran AND Afghanistan. Afghanistan was just as much of a war of aggression as Iraq.

Does this mean you are only against the wars of aggression when they get tough? I'm against them period.

I'm also a veteran that fought in the first Gulf War. Which war did you fight in again? I take it you've signed up for Afghanistan?

3. I voted for Kucinich in my state's primary. The chances of me voting for McCain are zero.

I can see where you might have been confused. Still, I don't like sloppy, cliched thinking from people that self-identify as "liberals" and more than I like it from the "conservatives". You need to do a better job understanding what is being said and why before jumping to the ad hominem attack.

You would also do well to shore up your act. Your support for Afghanistan leaves you wide open for the same turn around about doing a tour you use for people that support Iraq - and I haven't even gotten started looking at the flaws in your other positions.

Posted by srjenkins at 06/03/2008 @ 6:21pm
srjenkins

I respect and share your position on the Afghanistan war. we started up a civil war there too.

Posted by emile duBois at 06/03/2008 @ 7:06pm
Congratulations to Senator Obama for winning the Democratic Party nomination! At this rate, we'll ALL be singing 'God Damn America' soon!

Posted by pontificus at 06/03/2008 @ 7:08pm
They'll be coming for you first, Ponti.

Posted by Balrog at 06/03/2008 @ 7:35pm
There are more than a handful of innocent civilians detained in secret prisons singing "God Damn America" right now. Are those people now and who have been illegally incarcerated in the past by this awful administration wrong?

Posted by agentweez at 06/03/2008 @ 7:39pm
agentweez

a few million Iraqis too.

Posted by emile duBois at 06/03/2008 @ 7:59pm