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How Badly Is the Presumptive Democratic Nominee Going to Be Shellacked in W.V.?

May 10, 2008 5:20 PM

Doesn't look good anecdotally for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in West Virginia this Tuesday.

Party insiders say Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., might beat him in the Mountaineer State on Tuesday by 30 points.

Yikes!

You want to know why superdelegates are trickling but not stampeding to Obama's side? His electoral weaknesses with white working-class voters, as evidenced by this pending stompage.

Of course, that doesn't change the daunting delegate math for Clinton. West Virginia has a mere 28 delegates, followed by Kentucky (51) and Oregon (52) on May 20; Puerto Rico (55) on June 1; and Montana (16) and South Dakota (15) on June 3.

- jpt

May 10, 2008 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (305)

User Comments

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Obama made a huge tactical error by not campaigning in WV(him stopping there the day before the primary is not that all helpful either). Of course Hillary is gone but losing to her by over 20 points when he is the nominee is not good and just proves Hillary right. Imagine if Ron Paul beat McCain in Pennsylvania or any other primary after he clinched the nomination. Yes its true some Republicans are still voting for Huckabee and Paul but they are not making McCain lose states by 20 points now are they. Seriously Obama you should of campaigned vigoriously in WV you would of closed the gap and you would of ended it for Hillary now she will stay in until June 3 guarenteed once again Obama can't close the deal even when everyone is saying he is the nominee. Obama I want you to win but dude you need to step up and end this.

Posted by: Gonzalo | May 12, 2008 3:27:59 PM

Hillary Supporters! Keep praying! A huge win in WV could start the delgates, MI, Fl, Edwards endorsements, Guam truth and more! If we unite in prayer it will work! Thanks!

Posted by: jeep395 | May 12, 2008 12:10:43 PM

I can see a scenario where Clinton closes the gap and gets within 100 pledged delegates and ahead in popular vote without FL and MI. Isn't that what the Clinton team have been saying all along?


Oh that's right Obama's talking points have become reality...it really is supposed to be a nomination "given" to whoever is ahead....and forget about FL and MI

Posted by: Jackie | May 12, 2008 10:33:40 AM

...delegates maths ....and FL and MI will go away too ... then Dean and Pelosi sleep better tonight

Posted by: csquan | May 12, 2008 10:07:48 AM

I have an idea that may just work ... since BHO cannot win the swing states such as OH, PA and Bubbaland such WV....have Dean and Pelosi persuade him to drop out of the race NOW, concede and accept a VEEP spot on Clinton ticket...then the campaign deficit thing will also go away. The best exit strategy for the situation the DEMS right now. No squabble this Summer at the Convention.

Posted by: csquan | May 12, 2008 10:04:49 AM

questioner, great post!

Posted by: HoosierSue | May 12, 2008 9:22:04 AM

It gives me great pleasure to see BO's poll rating going down and down and Jim Clyburn's face burning red and green.

Posted by: John_Lai | May 12, 2008 6:49:32 AM

McCain is at least a fighter, a man of honour.

This man ducks, bluffs, shuts on people of millions, do not respect nobody. He is not the type of person you may call dependable; a con man.

FACTCHECK has been telling us this guy is being negative and lies in making false accusations. That is his smearing technique which has been so far. Now his target is McCain.

The paid hands on the internet for this guy never quits doctoring credential and making fouls. He is not a person of integrity. By comparison, Hillary is honestly fighting for the nomination with guts and hard work.

Posted by: John_Lai | May 12, 2008 6:40:08 AM

It was shocking to read that BO in a rally early this year, said to people that they experienced the light coming down on them and that's epiphany and if they didn't know what to do just walk out and go vote for OB.
Then I noticed that the OB supporters were very agressive. So I thought there was something wrong. If this man is so godly then the supporters cannot express so much hate towards HC. It came to my mind that it looks closer to magic than to a real godly experience of goodness.
It was reported (there was an article in New York Times in february I think) that lots of people were depressed after attending a BO rally and some of them had to see a therapist. Even though they still felt they were deeply connected to him.
I suggest to people who don't believe in him not to mention his name fully because magic can be done in such a way to invest a name with such energy to attract all kind of approval towards the person behind the name and therefore blind the judgement of voters.
I feel there is something that does not look and sound right to me. It has been said that he is a brilliant speaker. In debates with HC he didn't have a smooth breathing and didn't outmatch her. Worse, he even looked like he didn't have a vision.
I suggest not to mention his name fully so not to activate the power of it.

Posted by: jane | May 12, 2008 6:17:55 AM

Dave:

Obama NEVER says anything about race to anyone.... He doesn't have to.


He has his posters do the dirty work for him... after all, he IS the teflon man. They were the ones in the beginning who brought the race card out... from South Carolina right on down the line.

They blamed Bill Clinton, one of their staunchest supporters, for putting it into play! Except that it was a flagrant lie, it was a brilliant move on the part of B O...and the black Joker has been kept in play ever since!

His posters have dredged up every bit of crap they could come up with ..... from the little blue dress to her use of pant suits to the donations the Clintons make to their foundation.
They neglect carrying that topic further because it would show how magnificently charitable the Clintons have been to this country!
His followers are the bigots... not Hillary or her followers. They were the ones who voted in blocks of 92% and 91% for their leader. How could this not be considered racist!

Some whites were in the mix... just as some blacks are strong for Hillary.... and all these are the blessed ones for, either way, they obviously used their Minds to come to a decision.

What will happens during the next election? Latinos have a lot of growth and citizenship bestowed upon many because of their American born children will strengthen their voting rights even more.

Will the next election require that a Latino become president?

Must an Asian follow the Latino?

Possibilities.... but shouldn't they be required to be meet some sort of STANDARDS?

Like patriotism, proven service to our country, brilliance and the ability to think on one's feet?

In any case, the accomplishments Hillary has brought to this country ahave been ignored and all attention by these posters have been re-focused on stuff for which she was unaccountable for and for which she has suffered.

They did this while B O Plenty was travelling the 57 (my! how we've grown!) states of the union in search of his throne.

They did this while B O was sticking up
for Pastor Wright and throwing his white grandmama under the bus. I can still see him being almost suffocated by about eight enormous American flags has he preached his race speech to America and the world!

They did this the second time, some weeks later, while B O was "dissing" pastor Wright and throwing HIM under the bus.

We thought this was rather twofaced... but the mediocre media absorbed it all into its predetermined plot to take him on his soar to Washington.... as if this were just a fairy tale to be taped in Hollywood and sold to Loews.

And the brilliance and accomplishments of Hillary were ignored .. not only by B O's oftimes foul-mouthed followers but also by the members or the press.

Obama's slogan is "change".His cousin Raila Odinga who he supported both financially and politically during his recent bloody struggle for power in Kenya, ran under "Agent for Change" and George Bush also ran for "Change".

So far, the only change I see in this election is one which might lead us back to the mid=-fifties.

Be careful who you vote for.

Be very very careful.

I'm for Hillary, and I approve this message!


Posted by: questioner | May 12, 2008 12:56:29 AM

Posted by: Beth | May 11, 2008 10:47:33 PM

whoa!!! nicely said1

Posted by: rrt | May 11, 2008 10:59:55 PM

I have given Hillary ALOT of money and I am moving it all to McCain if Obama is my party's nominee. They keep predicting we'll unite? No we won't. Not a single Hillary supporter here in FLA that I know will vote for him. He dissed FLA and now FLA will diss him. Didn't want my vote to count, so now he won't get my vote.

Posted by: Lorraine | May 11, 2008 10:56:31 PM

bluebird,

I don't go around calling people racist. Actually, i call out ANYONE i see throwing that accusation around...it's BS. I can't point you to munberable posts where i do that...even if it's thrown at a Republican. It's destroys any opportunity for dialogue. Maybe there are some Obama supporters who have labeled you such, but i would venture to say that Obama himself would NEVER make such an accusation. His campaign has been the antithesis to what JJackson and ASharpton are all about.

Calling someone a racists is a cop out, and i won't do it. I object to your assuming i would resort to such a thing without knowing me. That is just as irresponsible as someone calling you a racist.

I'd like to know what it is about the Obama platform/candidacy you object to. I read visceral posts here regarding dislike or Obama,, but most of it does not refer to actual quantifiable issues. Is it a defensive perch you take in supporting BClinton? Is it the gas tax? What is it? Whatever it is, is it enough to cause you to vote for a guy who puts a lobbyist in charge of the Republican National Convention who lobbied for the junta in Burma? Do you dislike him that much? Do you dislike him enough to vote for someone who promises 100 more years in Iraq?

Posted by: dave | May 11, 2008 10:53:36 PM

Hillary supporters unite to STOP OBAMA in the fall if he's the nominee! Don't let the bullying men get their way yet again! Obama and his supporters have bashed Hillary with their friends in the media for months. Yet he slides with this farce of a speech on race they the media fawned over that has now been shown to be a lie. Our party has pushed around the wrong people--the women and working class who are its backbone. He can't win on the black vote alone. We can live through 4 more GOP years if we lived through the last 8. Who wants Obama high taxes anyway. I'd rather a war hero get the presidency than Obama the anti-american who couldn't even stand up to his racist, unpatriotic pastor. I'd rather elect a MAN who stands up for this country than the girlie man Obama.

Posted by: Jerry | May 11, 2008 10:53:23 PM

he's only the presumptive nominee because you media types have said us. Us democrats are waiting for the race to finish and all voters and the DNC to have their say. He has a REAL problem with white working class voters and yes, I'm saying the word white..oh boo hoo. Obama wants to have a conversation on race only if he's the one doing the talking. The minute anyone else does his surrogates scream race baiting. Obama has race baited the entire primary season, firing up blacks that the white boogey man, in this case, the Clintons who have worked tirelessly for civil rights causes, are out to steal what is theirs. That's called affirmative action...nominating somone just because they are black. But what can we expect from a guy who supported a racist, hate monger of a pastor for 20 years. Obama is the most racially divisive political figure in our country's history. The most liberal nominee and the weakest. I'm a dem who wants him to lose just so his arrogant, bullying supporters don't get their way.

Posted by: Beth | May 11, 2008 10:47:33 PM

Posted by: dave | May 11, 2008 9:32:44 PM

sorry, dave, no can do...i do not like that ride, and i do not like the driver..

Posted by: rrt | May 11, 2008 10:35:40 PM

That concept of politics has run its course. Rove and Hillary have knocked down their las straw man. We are better than this. We are about to prove it to ourselves and everyone else out there. Come on aboard...you are all welcome and there is plenty of room.

No way. I've had enough of your candidate and his supporters. Yes, I know, I'm a racist for saying this.

Posted by: bluebird | May 11, 2008 9:48:22 PM

I hope the rank hostility here against Obama's candidacy wanes come the Fall. Bill is destroying a candidacy to save his wife's. It's not admirable. He's feeding rural voters BS about being neglected and laughed at by the "elites". Give me a break, Bill. I thought you were better than that. I voted for you twice, defended you down here in RED Texas when all my friends/co-workers cursed your name for lying to your wife, your daughter and your country. I defended you, sir.

Now you go around planting ideas in people's heads...people whose support we need in the fall. People who, if they follow your advice, will again vote agianst their interest in the fall by voting for McCain because BClinton came down there and told them Obama thinks they are lesser people. Classless, Bill.

I think voters will wise-up to you in due time. This train is moving downhill and you and your wife can't stop it. All your surrogates are peeved becasue they will be losing their influence in the Party once Obama is the defacto leader. That's why we get these hostile rants from the likes of Carville, Begala, Lanny Davis, Joe Wilson and Larry Johnson. Their time is over, and they can't fathom the idea just yet.

So, i hope all you supporters of Hillary will hop on board in the fall. There is a new dynamic evolving in politics. Millions of volunteers will be out on the street this fall camaigning for a man they truly believe in. Obama is a decent man, with a new approach to politics. He's not perfect...and he's not the freakin' devil. We all must hitch our wagon to his candidacy this fall, look at the alternative. The alternative will lose out...maybe not this fall, but they will lose out.

That concept of politics has run its course. Rove and Hillary have knocked down their las straw man. We are better than this. We are about to prove it to ourselves and everyone else out there. Come on aboard...you are all welcome and there is plenty of room.

Posted by: dave | May 11, 2008 9:32:44 PM

spread the word,
i read the letter saved it
i suggest all other sen. clinton supporters save it-it will be deleted from here.
but sen. clinton supporters go to it. and send it.
it is well worded-not to extremist.
i think if they get enough of them they will take notice.

Posted by: jgaw | May 11, 2008 5:58:52 PM

Those of you saying LOL about Obamas supporters being intimidating are completely lost. I was in Nevada and Texas and the supporters were brutal. They verbally attack people based on physical appearance and assumptions and they misled people. Well, all one needs to do is read Obama supporters posts to know it's true. The media is hiding the fact that Obama supporters are this way and I wonder why? The Jefferson-Jackson dinner was a perfect example of how disgraceful their behavior is, but we didn't hear anything on the news about it did we?

Posted by: irma | May 11, 2008 5:18:50 PM

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