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LIGHTNING ROUND: NOBODY'S DROPPING OUT ANYTIME SOON (PROBABLY).
- The Pennsylvania primary is still almost a month away. That's easy to forget, but it's essential because a lot of the punditry going on right now entails straight line projections from the present. For instance, at the height of the Jeremiah Wright controversy, people started talking about what would happen if Obama lost North Carolina. Now, as he's responded to that and Clinton is embroiled in her own YouTube moment, one poll shows Obama with a commanding lead there. Now, Obama is having a good week and people are starting to talk about pushing Clinton out of the race. But it just would be bizarre for her to do so now. But who knows, Edwards dropped out a weird time too, so anything is possible.
- Is the Democratic primary recruiting new Democrats? The Washington Post makes the case.
- More people (more than 4 million) watched Obama's speech on race on YouTube than watched Mike Huckabee's Chuck Norris endorsement -- which previously held the record for most viewed video by a presidential candidate.
- A few weeks ago, when Clinton wasn't doing too well, she floated the idea of getting Obama's pledged delegates to switch to her side (which they are allowed to do under party rules but which would be widely and correctly perceived as illegitimate and underhanded). Her campaign scrambled to backtrack, but now she's doing it again and her campaign is sending mixed messages about their intentions. Really though, this is all just a way to increase uncertainty and prevent a perception of an inevitable Obama victory.
- Finally, just for fun, the campaign has gone on so long that it's starting to generate some of the most deeply perplexing and bizarre web videos I've ever seen. I mean did you really expect a music video starring Hillary Clinton as portrayed by a Chilean little person of indeterminate gender? Or a horrendously off-key performance of a song called "It's Raining McCain?" Did ya?
--Sam Boyd
COMMENTS (5)
Let's face it. There are only two ways that Hillary can win the nomination.
1)superdelegates install her.
2)Obama implodes for some reason and he bows out.
I must say, it's one of the most interesting races I have witnessed.
pass the popcorn
Posted by: El Viajero | March 25, 2008 6:08 PM
Sorry, but the WaPo story doesn't make that case that the race is recruiting more Dems. Otherwise Balz would not have written:
"It's not that Democratic identification is up so much as that Republican registration is down. But among independents, Pew reported, there is now a decided advantage for the Democrats. Far more of these independents say they tilt toward the Democratic Party than lean toward the Republican Party."
The point there was that the independents are more inclined to vote for the Democratic candidates this year ... that's not the same as saying that they are becoming Democrats.
Posted by: The World's Turned Upside Down | March 25, 2008 6:33 PM
Regarding the "Chilean little person of indeterminate gender", this (perhaps NSFW) might be a helpful test.
On a serious note, it's possible to inflate YT view numbers, and they don't appear to be updated that often and I suspect they aren't accurate. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if YT cooks the numbers a bit.
And, the linked article says this is "unfiltered" campaign information, when it isn't. Both Hill and Obama only let through comments that put the candidate in a good light.
And, of course, the MSM has a habit of promoting videos from the candidates or joke videos, but ignoring videos that point out issues with the candidates.
Perhaps TAPPED should consider mentioning that and trying to oppose it in future posts.
Posted by: TLB | March 25, 2008 7:00 PM
Obama smells really bad, realy bad, and he is stinking up our Party,
get out Obama.
NObama
Posted by: Gracekelly | March 26, 2008 5:13 AM
no, it would not be "bizarre" at all for Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race right now. she is destroying the Dems' inherent lead in the polls they've had for the past 3 years. she's trying to destroy the nominee to be, and there is practically no chance she can win. as in, 1%, 2% maybe. that's it. this contest is not 'even', a lead of over 150 delegates in a proportional delegate primary system is a big, insurmountable lead at this point. just to pull even she would have to win EVERY remaining state by 65%-35% victories. there is no real chance of this happening. could people PLEASE start reporting the reality of this situation? Clinton has lost, the remaining contests are a formality, or would be. but instead she is sabotaging the election as best she can, so she can run again in 2012. get her out now, somebody please!
Posted by: onceler | March 26, 2008 8:16 AM