It's Over

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In a 2.23 Washington Post story, an anonymous Clinton campaign adviser tells reporters Anne Kornblut and Shailagh Murray that Barack Obama's 17-point Wisconsin victory last Tuesday "[has] started to sink in as a decisive blow, given that the state had been viewed weeks earlier as a level playing field."

"'The mathematical reality at that point became impossible to ignore,' the adviser said. `There's not a lot of denial left at this point.' He added that despite Clinton's public pronouncements of optimism, `She knows where things are going. It's pretty clear she has a big decision. But it's daunting. It's still hard to accept.'"

"Some Democratic political sources said discussion has begun about encouraging Clinton to transition into a different party leadership role, one that could carry her on a path to becoming Senate majority leader." Obviously this scenario could be adversely affected if Clinton continues the battle past the point of numerical reality and assumes the role of a spoiler.

It's at least comforting to realize, considering the gist of this story, that Clinton advisers with their feet on the ground have managed to scotch the idea of burning the house down by fighting all through the summer for every last delegate and super-delegate. Thank God for cooler heads. If Clinton splits the Texas vote with Obama and just narrowly edges Obama in Ohio, it'll be time to hit the showers. She'll withdraw on March 6th or 7th. The Pennsylvania primary will not be hotly contested.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 23, 2008 at 8:32 AM

comment #1

joncro says ...

Please Hilary, step down and we can get on with McCain....

Please.

Posted by joncro at February 23, 2008 8:57 AM

comment #2

goodvibe61 says ...

I fear the Dems are doomed at this point.

I was on a business trip this week, and I was in the hotel bar with a couple of teammates while the debate in Texas was going on, and we were talking about how this thing is gonna play out, and just about everyone there agreed: stupid America is going to look at McCain and Obama, and they're prejudices will decide, and we'll be looking at John McCain as the next president.

If you've been looking at the Republican side of the media, they're all chomping at the bit to go after Obama; they know that he's assailable, whereas Hillary would've presented far greater problems for them. It's going to be an old fashioned witch hunt.

One of my friends was going on about how stupifying it was that people are falling all over themselves over Obama, that he's never run anything, let alone something like this country; that he's just a junior senator, he's never even governed a state, etc. Everybody just shot my friend down, saying that the masses in podunk Idaho won't take two seconds to find out whether Obama is a junior Senator or a Senior Car Salesman; all they'll do is look at the two men on the ballot and make an instinctive choice.

It's scary and depressing. Why didn't Al Gore simply run again this time? He would have won in a landslide...

Posted by goodvibe61 at February 23, 2008 9:15 AM

comment #3

Rosebudsthesled says ...

Goodvibe61, you couldn't be more wrong. Should he be the nominee, Obama will win this thing and he'll win it big. Reason: put those two guys up on a stage. One of them is inspiring people across the country not connected to the dumbest war since Nam. The other is a 71 year old codger who will not be pulling us out. Americans, regardless of race, are going to see this as a time for change in this country. I don't think it's McCain's to lose at all.

By the way, Ed Schultz is a total prickhole. I don't care how much I agree with him, if I were Matthews I would have ordered to cut off his microphone.

Posted by Rosebudsthesled at February 23, 2008 9:19 AM

comment #4

buckzollo says ...

Goodvibe61 you are describing what is called anecdote. You and some buddies figured this think out over beers in a hotel bar? Oh, okay I guess we're done now.
If you have been listening, you would know that two things must be true:
1. the repubs are worried; they have been saying anything to keep Hillary in and try hope upon hope that she is the nominee; so they can dust off the Rove playbook on her
2. there are many stories (anecdote I know, but many, like 100s) about old school repubs liking Obama; not to mention the obvious impact youthful voters are having on their parents and grandparents

Posted by buckzollo at February 23, 2008 10:03 AM

comment #5

moviesquad says ...

Rosebudsthesled, so what you are saying is that Americans are more agist than they are racist?

Posted by moviesquad at February 23, 2008 10:07 AM

comment #6

christian says ...

Bush approval at 19 percent. Holy shit. The GOP better send blow and hookers along with the rebate checks if they expect voters to turn out for them. I'm in half-agreement with goodvibe but kinda expect the masses to turn out and turn off the GOP.

Mark Green was very reasoned. The others, typical ADD pundits.

Posted by christian at February 23, 2008 10:16 AM

comment #7

Balthazar says ...

There's a lot to be said (frighteningly) about people who just won't listen and won't do their homework or change their minds. My mother-in-law was convinced 3 months that Obama was an American flag-shunning Muslim and nothing will turn her on that. She's no McCain lover, but she will vote for him, hands down, if he's up against Obama. I still think Obama beats McCain, but it's going to be closer than people suspect.

Posted by Balthazar at February 23, 2008 10:29 AM

comment #8

Walter Sobchak says ...

Why won't Hillary step down already so that we can turn our hate, vitriol and venom-spewing away from her and towards McCain?

Posted by Walter Sobchak at February 23, 2008 11:09 AM

comment #9

nemo says ...

McCain still has a lot going against him. The reliable GOP wingnut base hates him. He's older than dirt and looks it. That crack about staying in Iraq for another 100 years will haunt him, along with his 150% support of an unpopular war.

And if the Democrats have any gumption at all (a very big "if" with the Democrats) they will play that photo of McCain hugging and nuzzling up to 19% Bush over and over and over again.

Posted by nemo at February 23, 2008 11:17 AM

comment #10

SmilingPolitely says ...

Senate Majority leader? With how cheap and repulsive her campaign has become? The Clintons can forget that shit. That ship has done sailed.

She should be preparing take a trip into the wilderness like Joe Lieberman. If she's going to remain a senator of New York, it won't be with a (D) next to her name. Say adios in 2013, Hillary!

Posted by SmilingPolitely at February 23, 2008 11:41 AM

comment #11

D.Z. says ...

goodvibe: "stupid America is going to look at McCain and Obama, and they're prejudices will decide, and we'll be looking at John McCain as the next president."

If they're gonna have any prejudices, it's gonna be against elderly vets with possible PTSD.

"they know that he's assailable, whereas Hillary would've presented far greater problems for them. It's going to be an old fashioned witch hunt."

Hillary couldn't even keep Bush from winning 2000 with her "Republican conspiracy" comment.

"One of my friends was going on about how stupifying it was that people are falling all over themselves over Obama, that he's never run anything, let alone something like this country;that he's just a junior senator, he's never even governed a state, etc. "

How well did Bush and Schwarzenegger run Texas and California?

"Why didn't Al Gore simply run again this time? He would have won in a landslide..."

No, he wouldn't, because he couldn't get his message across then, and he had to settle for a documentary.

moviebob: "Rosebudsthesled, so what you are saying is that Americans are more agist than they are racist?"

Juno wouldn't be a contender against No Country for Old Men if that wasn't the case.

Posted by D.Z. at February 23, 2008 1:39 PM

comment #12

truefaith says ...

I never bought that it was a "level" playing field between Obama and Clinton in Wisconsin. If anyone knows anything about Wisconsin it is one of the most liberal states in the country. Hell, U. of Wisconsin - Madison is arguably the most liberal college in the country--next to U. of California - Berkeley. Anyway, I'm not surprised that Wisconsin went with the more liberal (and welfare giving) Obama over a moderate Clinton.

By the way, if gas prices go up to $4 a gallon this summer, we'll see how strong the Republican Party is come November at the ballots.

Posted by truefaith at February 23, 2008 1:53 PM

comment #13

Balthazar says ...

Not IF Truefaith, WHEN.

We'll see $3.50 by Easter at this rate.

Posted by Balthazar at February 23, 2008 2:51 PM

comment #14

Rosebudsthesled says ...

Moviesquad, I don't believe America is agist--we elected Reagan twice. But when the contrast between two candidates such as Obama and McCain is so great, and when the election is about the country starting over vs. more of the same policy we've had for the last eight years, then people will take the young over the old.

Posted by Rosebudsthesled at February 23, 2008 3:43 PM

comment #15

rozh2 says ...

why is it all your republican commentators are just your typical school yard bully? what happened in their childhood that makes them just want to scream and shout at people?

Posted by rozh2 at February 23, 2008 4:50 PM

comment #16