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Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper

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Good Morning, 'Sweeties'

May 18, 2008 11:25 AM

G'morning. Back from a few days off. My thanks to Rick Klein, who did a great job filling in for me.

Last night, in addition to Sen. John McCain's "Saturday Night Live" cameo -- in which he said the next president should be "very, very, very old" and also urged Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to keep fighting -- the show satirized the NBA's "There Can Only Be One" ad campaign.

In the meantime, reviewing my e-mail folder, it seems I missed "sweetie"-gate (can you imagine the kerfuffle if McCain called a female reporter "sweetie"?)

Of more consequence, there was the Obama-McCain (and Rubin-Bush) dust-up over Hamas. And former Sen. John Edwards, D-NC, endorsed Obama, as he seemed to hint he might do a few weeks ago in that interview with People magazine.

But looking forward... After Obama wins the Oregon primary Tuesday (assuming he does), he will, from Iowa, announce that he has won the majority of pledged delegates. That may be an achievement deserving of bragging rights, but it's of no official significance. This is a battle for overall delegates, not just pledged delegates. Obama and Clinton need 2,026 delegates to win the nomination, according to the Democratic National Committee rules.

I do think Sen. Obama has to be careful as to how much he makes Tuesday's likely achievement a victory lap.  He hasn't won yet, Clinton is still in the race, and even if her victory is improbable, it is not impossible.

That said, the Clinton campaign will push back on Obama's announcement, saying the actual number is 2,210, since the Clinton campaign includes those unrecognized contests in Michigan and Florida. This is delegate math according to Bizarro World. The DNC rules state 2,026 delegates are needed. (It used to be 2,025 -- but with the two special House elections in Louisiana and Mississippi, it's now 2,026. And the Clinton Bizarro World number has changed from 2,209 to 2,210.)

- jpt

May 18, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (35)

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Jake, since you were gone, have you checked out the boycott all of us sweeties are organizing? Thank you.

Posted by: RL in Illinois | May 18, 2008 12:33:46 PM

Bridget, the question also could be why can't Clinton win MO, VA, IA, WI, NC, MN...? We can go on and on about that, but the truth is that both candidates are very good. So they are going to win their share. It would be foolish to think that one has to sweep all the states to claim victory. Obama has won in all the major catagories, including most delegates, which is what counts.

Posted by: Craig | May 18, 2008 12:26:38 PM

The divider is Howard Dean and his left wing conspiracy.They use the anti-Clinton machine put up by the republicans in caucuses states to advance BO. These votes won't count in November. But their strategy is to push Hillary out, using that artificial advantage and then they use the negative projection already at work by the republican machine to accuse Hillary of divisiveness.
They play with fire. BO is their puppet. Hillary supporters don't support him for that reason, nothing to do with racism. Don't focuse on that because that card is theirs.
The superdelegates can have their say, and of course the voters have to support Hillary massively in the coming primaries.
Go to NY Times, to Times Topics, to Most popular, Bill Clinton and related Hillary Clinton. Read "Mrs Triangulation" by Matt Bai and "When Hillary Runs, Old ...(excuse I don't remember the whole title, but it's by David D. Kirkpatrick dated Feb 19, 2007. You will figure out the whole thing.

Posted by: jane | May 18, 2008 12:26:26 PM

At least Rick Klein didn't have a total man crush on Obama like Jake does. We missed you sweetie, but it was nice to have a MAN stick up for Hillary, even if it was just a little. And good luck to Obama with his "Mission Accomplished" party Tuesday night. Obama has accomplished p-----g off just about every group in this country, and he still thinks he'll win in the GE. Must be all the rigged elections they have planned for November.

Posted by: calli | May 18, 2008 12:24:23 PM

If he doesn't know how to address a woman in the working place then he should drop out and go home .

IT WAS A PUT DOWN,

Posted by: Bishop | May 18, 2008 12:21:29 PM

The question is why can't Obama win Kentucky? Hillary will win KY by 25-30. Obama will say he is the nominee, but in PR he will loose again. What a nominee he is...The first thing after he will be KING Obama is a loose. HAHA

Posted by: Bridget | May 18, 2008 12:17:28 PM

jld1959,

Whenever Obama commits a gaffe or has undesirable associations, or contrdictory positions, Obama supporters say that is not relevant. LOL

Over half of the dem voters are women. Trust me, "sweetie" is relevant, especially when the primary opponent is Hillary Clinton.

Posted by: countallthevotes | May 18, 2008 12:16:00 PM

I guess he thinks he is all that and then some just like the Kennedy boys. He is such a smart a$$ and full of him self wait until it gets thru to him that he has been used by the he man women haters club he is MCgovern reborn you can take that to the bank. If she slams him tuesday he has a really big problem.

Posted by: Bishop | May 18, 2008 12:12:56 PM

I fail to see what sweetie has to do with a Presedential contest. I am tired of meaningless so called news being off as newsworthy.

Healthcare,war in Iraq, economy, Abortion rights, education, energy. etc

Posted by: jld1959 | May 18, 2008 12:11:25 PM

Beth,

I agree. While "sweetie" may be used as a term of endearment, overwehlemingly by much older folks, his use had nothing to do with enderment. It was a professional setting; he was asked a direct question by a professional female reporter. It was condescending and dismissive. His body language spoke volumns, as he turned from the reporter.

Posted by: countallthevotes | May 18, 2008 12:08:24 PM

I find Obama's flirtatious manner (he's called lots of people sweetie, he called someone else beautiful and has made all kinds of other questionable comments) really obnoxious, and can't believe he hasn't been criticized more for it. Good grief. It's obvious he thinks he can continue to get by on charm and charm alone. This isn't a beauty contest (though since he HAS gotten by without being scrutinized too carefully, I guess I can see why he thinks it works for him).

Posted by: Beth | May 18, 2008 12:02:11 PM

Welcome Back, Jake!!!

Here is how we get to 2210, rather than the previous 2209:

Previously the Hillary campaign had argued that 2,209 was the magic number. But if you add in the surprise election of Dem Travis Childers in Mississippi special election, the new threshold for winning a majority of the overall delegates -- Florida and Michigan included, of course -- is 2,210.

While many have argued and maintained that 2025 is the true number, that number predated the formal petition to seat FL and MI.

Now consider this:

It's the map not the math. In addition to the popular vote, the electoral map shows her with a cushion and Obama with a deficit. She has won 311 electoral votes to Obama's 217.

Also:

She is ahead in the popular vote by 50,000 votes, counting Florida and Michigan which must be counted. She intends to continue to lead in the popular vote when June 3 comes around and everyone has voted.

This is hard data to ignore. If the SD's do so, Dems will loose in the GE.

Posted by: countallthevotes | May 18, 2008 12:01:25 PM

LOL
Good morning Jake, sweetie.
This election is too funny:-)

Posted by: Bridget | May 18, 2008 11:57:21 AM

I don't know why the "sweetie" comment is getting such play when Obama told the diner manager in Texas during a photo "not to worry he wasn't coming on to her that was his cell phone vibrating in his pocket" I mean is the sweetie comment worse or referencing a possible hard on which the lady clearly knew was a phone??? Either quote is not very Presidential....I'm just saying.

Posted by: DG in NC | May 18, 2008 11:56:50 AM

Yup. I guess we should assume he's rested and ready to restart his Hillary-bashing/Obama lovefest.

Posted by: Cardsgal | May 18, 2008 11:54:31 AM

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