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Why Can't Barack Obama Close the Deal?

April 24, 2008 5:16 PM

Senior Political Reporter and author of The Note Rick Klein blogs about how Clinton's blue-collar coalition is fueling critical wins and raising general election doubts:

Clinton_obama_080320_mn The candidate who burst onto the national stage promising to bring red and blue states together is suddenly looking quite blue.

Sen. Barack Obama's second consecutive lopsided loss in a critical swing state has exposed soft spots in the support he's been able to secure.

The Illinois senator's had persistent problems in winning working-class, less-educated whites and Pennsylvania accentuated his seeming inability to connect with those voters.

Continue reading here.

April 24, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (31)

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Even his 'speeches' are downright boring now.What is happening to barack obama is because he had no substance to begin with. Go Hillary!

Posted by: andrea | Apr 24, 2008 5:30:28 PM

Hillary said:

I won that double-digit victory that everybody on TV said I had to win, and the voters of Pennsylvania clearly made their views known, that they think I would be the best president and the better candidate to go against Sen. McCain.

The reality: Her win was only 9pts (9.38%) and why can't she close the deal--she missed the mark. The "experts" who said she needed 10% or better to be viable are silent. Why? A contentious race means more ad dollars for election coverage. I suppose I am talking about numbers and liars figure but heck, let's just say the Patriots had a great year and call them the Super Bowl Champs. The problem with that? They came up short and so did Hillary. Why do we need to fight about a done deal. If Obama is going to lose let him have a chance to lose but somebody wants to tie his hands.

Posted by: Wellican Uzacalculator | Apr 24, 2008 5:40:55 PM

Why is HIllary's PA. margin being nitpicked to fractions of a point? I have an idea, let's go back and pin Obama's margins down to 2 decimals, hey, why not thousandths of a point. This is ridiculous...if I see 9.38, I think 10...who cares. You guys are so silly, how desperate is Obama getting when his supporters have to pick this apart! This is why he can't close the deal, because he and his campaign are so ridiculous with their spin and excuses. I just can't stand him or that Axelrod anymore. What a conniving and two faced campaign.

Posted by: dc | Apr 24, 2008 5:49:23 PM

For all of you Hillary Clinton Supporters

1. What has she done, besides being the wife of Bill Clinton, to be CEO of the largest company in America.

2. What happened when she was in charge of health care reform (a disaster)

3. How can you be CEO of the largest company in America and not be trusted by over 62% of the American people

Posted by: bob hayes | Apr 24, 2008 5:49:48 PM

Go Hillary

Democrats do not want Obama

He should not even be in the running for President.

Posted by: seah | Apr 24, 2008 6:09:11 PM

To set the record straight - Mrs. Clinton's health care reform did not fail because of the republicans - it failed because a lack of leadership by Mrs.Clinton (these are not my words, but words of many democrats)

As far as Mrs. Clinton's 35 yrs of public service go, would love to see what she actually was in charge of during that time - There is a difference between landing in Bosinia "when you airplane is suppose to be under fire" and actually being the CEO of the largest company in America - simply put, she is not qualified to lead this nation and if she was such a good leader, than why do over 60% of Americans not trust her??

Posted by: bob hayes | Apr 24, 2008 6:12:51 PM

SADLY: No more than 40 percent
of Americans will vote for Obama
in the general.

How did we get into this predicament?

Posted by: sam | Apr 24, 2008 6:23:52 PM

Every day it becomes clear that
Obama is simply not much of
a leader.

Posted by: jjj | Apr 24, 2008 6:26:45 PM

Obama is simply a much weaker
candidate than MCCain or Clinton...

Posted by: irene | Apr 24, 2008 6:27:59 PM

The problem might be the empty filthy
rhetoric that comes out of Obama's mouth.

You think???

Posted by: usu | Apr 24, 2008 6:29:48 PM

Obama never was presidential material,
is not presidential material and
never will be presidential material...

Hillary 08!!!

Posted by: plato | Apr 24, 2008 6:33:10 PM

Well the pundits are now saying it is a race issue.

The real question is why can't Hillary and the ex president not win? They talk about being the only qualified, I think it is very telling that they blundered the campaign from the beginning. If she wasn't prepared to run a campaign from the start, how is she going to be prepared to run a Nation? If she can underestimate Obama, who is she going to next underestimate? If she is viewed as less truthfull how is she goining to represent us to world leaders? Why is Obama leading in polls over Hillary and McCain?

Obama08

Posted by: Thinking | Apr 24, 2008 6:37:42 PM

In 12 years Obama might be able to earn my vote.
First he needs to do afew things, take some stands, have some kind of record.

Now,I'd pick mccain over obama because mccain.

Posted by: Tuck | Apr 24, 2008 6:38:12 PM

Its not an issue of race or gender, it's about faith and beliefs. A lot of small town Americans are afraid of Obamas background. Whether he's black, white ,yellow or female doesn't matter. It's whether he's Christian or not.

Posted by: Jacque | Apr 24, 2008 7:04:10 PM

Democrats and America have to start unity, healing and get together behing Barak Obama, the next president of the United States of America. Hillary the Bosnian Genral is mobilizing resources to pay her debt and quit the primaries, she should have enough now and should get out and negotiate to be part of an Obama's government, e.g. the czar of poverty. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.

Posted by: BKMC | Apr 24, 2008 7:53:04 PM

David Axelrod says that Obama does not need working class voters since they usually vote Republican! Well we can all see where Omaba gets his elitism from, the truth is that working class voters are the core of the Democratic party and are key to winning in November! It is obvious that Obama can not win over the working class and this will make it impossible for the Dems to win! So lets nominate a canidate who knows working class americans and they know and like her and this will enabe Dems to win and take back the White House! Hillary is no Elitist and thats what makes her the stronger canidate! Hillary you go girl!

Posted by: russell | Apr 24, 2008 8:06:08 PM

There's no "deal" to be closed here.
Hillary has already lost the nomination.

Posted by: Shaarona | Apr 24, 2008 8:38:15 PM

""""Its not an issue of race or gender, it's about faith and beliefs. A lot of small town Americans are afraid of Obamas background. Whether he's black, white ,yellow or female doesn't matter. It's whether he's Christian or not"""

This election is becoming a race issue that Hillary played very well at the begining and handed the torch to the media. I am sick at Jack and others saying he has advantage there because the population is ....% black. How about Hillary? many and many are voting for her just because she is white. call them blue colour or conservative. The bottom line is that their choice is racially motivated. Obama is christian, he is american like all of you.
Hillary has Nafta, the colombia tread deals going on by her best staffer, and above all she lied and threaten people with nuclear weapon. Is this the fundation of christianism?
I am very surprise that all the cristics are directed to Wright.

Posted by: samurai | Apr 24, 2008 11:01:01 PM

Right on seah!!!

The list goes on and on.....and again I wonder, just how many people who voted for Obama before the truth became revealed could take back their vote, and vote for Hillary!!! Let me answer that.....a lot!!!!!

Posted by: carlasue | Apr 25, 2008 12:10:15 AM

It doesn't matter if you win early or late, all of the wins matter because they all count toward delegates. That's why we have primaries in every state, not just the ones that come at the end. Closing the deal? It probably got closed after the Potomac primaries. If the super delegates overthrow the elected delegates, Denver will look like Chicago 1968. By the way, let's get real.... there is no freaking way McCain is going to win in November. For starters, Obama will win California and New York and he won't have to spend a dime in either state.

Posted by: Steve from Danville | Apr 25, 2008 12:40:25 AM

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