MyDD :: this needs to end on march 4th

this needs to end on march 4th

by Doug Tuttle, Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 09:30:58 PM EST

Whether or not a brokered convention is possible, it is not acceptable. It doesn't matter if you're pro Obama or pro Clinton; I think everyone here realizes that the only way democrats can win 08 after a brokered convention is by nominating al gore. He would be the only person with both the name recognition and the favorables to wage a TWO MONTH campaign for the Whitehouse. A battered Hillary or Obama, even with both of them on the same ticket would likely lose. Looking at the calendar, we see that after March 4th, there is only the Wyoming caucus, Mississippi primary (both Obama states most likely) then a month and eleven days until Pennsylvania. After, a few more states, totaling about 500 delegates vote over the next month. This is far too much of a head start for McCain. A one month head start? Fine, he wants the war to last 100 years, and we have excitement in the party, we can survive that, but not knowing until June, or even august? No. After march fourth, the candidates and DNC need to access who has the popular vote, money, delegate count, states, both number and region, and momentum then apply all the pressure they have to get the loser to withdraw. That loser would almost be guaranteed the veep slot out of necessity, things have become far too divided, and while there is certainly animosity between the two candidates, they wouldn't be the first prez-veep ticket with problems. Gore/Lieberman, kerry-edwards, Reagan-bush nixon-agnew ike-nixon. It might be awkward, but would help a lot more than hurt. What I'm, basically saying is, both to the blogosphere and the DNC (though I hold no delusions that they're listening) fix this mess!!!!!! DNC you let the states front load this and we're screwed, fix this!

Tags: election 08, march 4th, texas, primary election. (all tags)

Permalink :: 18 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: this needs to end on march 4th (none / 0)

Winning OH and TX would decide the winner right?

No longer a Democrat, now proudly an independent voter!

by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 09:38:01 PM EST

Re: this needs to end on march 4th (none / 0)

Clinton would likely win Puerto Rico and Pennsylvania so she just needs to win a couple between now and then to assure herself of a lead that either earns her the top of the ticket if a deal is made or it goes to a brokered convention (which no one wants)

Obama's chance is to sweep everything and build momentum to the point where he wins Texas in March. Then he has a chance.

by diplomatic on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 09:41:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: this needs to end on march 4th (none / 0)

Voters seem to immune to momentum this campaign season. I don't think much will change between now and March. Lots of voters want Obama and lots of voters want Hillary. It seems that they don't care about what the last state did.

No longer a Democrat, now proudly an independent voter!

by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 10:00:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Seat the Florida delegates at least (none / 0)

Clinton just needs to win Texas and it's pretty much her nomination. The reason being is that the writing will be on the wall if she prevails there because she is practically guaranteed to win the 60+ delegates from Puerto Rico and has strong support in Pennsylvania (which would be in April I think) If she holds the superdelegate lead by then also... it's hard to argue she doesn't get the top billing on the ticket.

Oh and I do believe it will be a Clinton/Obama ticket. It has to be. We can GUARANTEE a win in November if we just run that ticket. Enough messing around.

by diplomatic on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 09:39:21 PM EST

I don't think she can afford to lose OH (none / 0)

She needs to sweep TX, OH and PA.

John McCain: 100 years in Iraq "would be fine with me."

by desmoinesdem on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 09:42:26 PM EST
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Re: I don't think she can afford to lose OH (2.00 / 0)

She'd better hope to win some of the states before TX and OH if she expects to win there...

by Cycloptichorn on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 09:53:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I don't think she can afford to lose OH (none / 0)

Just 2 out of 3. But the margins for Texas and Pennsylvania need to be sizable.

by diplomatic on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 10:52:01 PM EST
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Re: this needs to end on march 4th (none / 0)

The only poll of Gore's favorables I saw was from about a year ago and his numbers were worse than Hillary's.

by frankies on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 09:39:36 PM EST

a long primary battle is not a problem (none / 0)

It will keep our candidates in the news, while there will be less of a reason to cover what McCain is doing.

The Iowa Democratic gubernatorial primary in 2006 was hard-fought and didn't end until June, while Republicans coalesced around Jim Nussle early. It didn't hurt our candidate.

I think tough primaries sharpen our candidates' skills.

What's disastrous to my mind is if the decision about seating FL and MI decides the nomination for us. That would lead to lasting ill will, no matter how it was resolved.

John McCain: 100 years in Iraq "would be fine with me."

by desmoinesdem on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 09:44:13 PM EST

Re: this needs to end on march 4th (none / 0)

It depends how much HRC wins by in those states.

by puma on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 09:45:30 PM EST

Re: this needs to end on march 4th (none / 0)

whomever is the beneficiary, if this ends b/c of backroom machinations or what is considered undue influence to "force" hrc or bho to withdraw - the party will be very weakened. for the party, the best scenario is a situation where one candidate wins so many pledged delegates that the other bows out, or u see a huge movement of superdelegates to put the race away. if it is still close after march 4 and the party goes behind closed doors it will be trouble. hrc supporters, esp women may think it is sexism/ageism etc. bho supporters, MANY of whom gravitated towards obama first on an anybody but hillary platform, may stay home or head to mccain.

by highgrade on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 09:52:16 PM EST

Re: this needs to end on march 4th (none / 0)

Obama supporters heading to McCain? I don't see how that's possible considering that the Obama platform is based on two central issues: CHANGE and the stance against the war from the beginning.

by diplomatic on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 10:54:07 PM EST
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Re: this needs to end on march 4th (none / 0)

I am in ohio and I can tell you that many obama supporters are also motivated by opposition to clinton. a lot of his supporters are middle and upper class, very educated. simply put these types of people are able to vote their political consciences more so than some working class female who thinks that the day hrc is inaugurated that she will have health care. yeah they want the war to end but its unlikely they're son or daughter is there. I know that to many people (hrc supporters) this may sound crazy, but to many obama supporters, their hatred of hrc is eclipsed only by their hatred of bush. she is that unpopular. its the same phenomenon as the conservatives that would rather see mccain and the gop lose than to vote for him. of course some of them will wander back onto the reservation, but not all of them.

by highgrade on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 11:18:22 PM EST
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Re: this needs to end on march 4th (none / 0)

Most Obama supporters I know will go to McCain if Hillary wins the nomination, including myself.

by Toddwell on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 11:18:30 PM EST
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so you prefer the guy (none / 0)

who has voted to confirm every single Bush judge?

Your comment just reinforces my belief that Obama is building nothing but the Barack Obama fan club.

John McCain: 100 years in Iraq "would be fine with me."

by desmoinesdem on Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 11:30:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: this needs to end on march 4th (none / 0)

There are primaries still on the schedule after March 4th and no reasonable justification for denying them their right to vote.

If Dems take away my primary vote, they don't deserve my general vote.