Clinton and Obama may be tired, but the public isn't

The surprisingly prolonged Democratic presidential race may have become as much a battle against fatigue and exhaustion as each other for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and their top staffers these days, but the contest continues to exhilarate segments of the body politic as it moves from state to state.

Consider:

The Associated Press reports that "Pennsylvanians are rushing in record numbers to sign up as Democrats so they can vote" in the state's April 22 primary. (As we've noted previously, Monday is the deadline for state residents to sign up as Democrats for a faceoff that is closed to non-party members.)

The AP story (available here) found that since January, more than 100,000 Pennsylvanians who had not been registered to vote now are. Also during that time, more than 68,000 who were registered switched affiliation to one of the major parties -- with the vast majority flipping from Republican to Democratic.

Meanwhile, in Montana -- site of a June 3 primary that now will mean something -- it took all of about 15 minutes earlier this week to sell out 2,400 bleacher seats in the auditorium where a state Democratic dinner will be headlined by Obama and Clinton.

The 1,000 seats on the floor of the facility in Butte long ago were grabbed up, according to a story in the Missoulian. The newspaper also reported that 99% of the bleacher ducats "were sold to Montana residents, with each person buying an average of 3.8 tickets."

Could it be that a night full of political speeches will generate some ticket-scalping? If so, it's just another sign of this one-of-a-kind campaign.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Fred]

People of Pennsylvania, please do not be taken in by Barrack Obama's winning smile and soft spoken voice. Remember always that he sat in a church for 20 years listening the most hate-filled, racist, Anti-American preacher that I have ever heard. He is not a good leader, a good leader would not have been able to listen to his country be spit upon like that. A good American would never let a man be his mentor when that man hates his country. And a good man would never subject his children to the hate spewing filth of Reverend Racist Wright. Obama is neither a good leader, a good American, nor a good man. Please vote against him.

[Linda]

This is posted in response to “Fred’s” comment that Obama is a bad man for doing nothing against hate. Let’s take a small snippet of America and hate. Out of the general hate groups that operate everyday in every state of the union, the Klu Klux Klan is the oldest terrorist group in America. Currently there are seven clan groups active in California (Pennsylvania, you have five). There are thousands of members. This number grows exponentially when you include all hate groups beyond the KKK like neo-nazis, white nationalists, racist skinheads, Christian identity, neo-confederate, black separatists, etc., etc. You may be part of a group that either directly or indirectly supports the thoughts, goals and actions of these people. Does your church indirectly support bombing of abortion clinics by charity donations or actions? Does your son or daughter’s after school group’s umbrella organization actively discriminate against gays in their hiring practices? Do you stand behind kids bullying other kids at the grocery store and do nothing? Or, on the larger scale, has this country stood by and allowed genocide to happen (the answer is yes)? Given Fred’s moral code, none of us are “good” Americans, “good” men or women.
If you actually care, do something about hate. It’s in all of our lives, every day.

[Ron M]

Barach Obama is not Rev Wright. The Rev like any racist is hateful towards another race. Obama not Wright is running for president. The Senator's speech was an honest assessment of race in America today. It is a better situation than two or three decades ago. It needs further improvement. Obama is a reconciler not a divider.

This election is about the future of America and whether anger toward and belittling of the opposition will continue. Hillary and her supporters think yes and Obama and his supporters think building this country back to being the exemplar of the world is what is the direction.

Don't let those who wish to demonize their opposition win again for what we get is someone like Bush, good at taring down his opponents but unable to execute anything positive. Obama is a model of what is good about this country. Support him.

[MMiller]

Did it occur to anyone else that prior to this personal revelation by Barak Obama regarding his minister and his need to speak to the race issue..40% of Americans felt Barak Obama's religious affiliation was Muslim? Now they know. This appears to me as a perfect orchestration of political prowess by the Obama team. Release the Rezko update, address the screaming 'racist' all on a Friday afternoon. Then, let it fester for the weekend with an announcement of a major speech on 'race' on Tuesday.
This tactic negated the admission by the Obama campaign that once again, a new set of circumstances regarding the Rezko growing donor list and trial.
Interestingly, the speech once again enflamed the racist angle by comparing Mrs Ferraro to Reverend Wright. How can African Americans as a core group not feel like a lost 'race' in the United States when the 'race' is pushed out and roped in at the whim of Barak Obama when he first needs a launching base to make a name for himself..second disavows the 'race' while he says he transcends 'race' and ignores the plight of the Jenna 6. Once again he reaches for the 'race' to propel him forward in a caucus..giving his stump speech in 'black speak' accent on ya'all..throws the 'race' back in the closet as he denies his faith and once again open the wounds by declaring himself the 'uniter'.
Uniter of what? A country that has long lived, since the late 60's in relative comfort with all races and religions. My street is a great mix..we have black, white, christians, jews, homosexuals and a lot of pets. It is my choice as a free citizen to attend any function, church, lecture or movie, I choose. If I ever get the inclination to go to South Central, Los Angeles, I am as uncomfortable in that neighborhood, as someone from South Central,would feel in my neighborhood. The same goes for Koreatown and Chinatown. That is the beauty and the beast we describe as our country.
Our choice-not Obamas business or political ploy used as chicanery to influence an election. The greatest speech ever given on the subject of 'race' began when our forefathers landed on this soil and wrote the rest of the story they called the Constitution. It describes what I believe most thinking Americans long for..a place to call home.
All the while his campaign saying a redo was OK in MI and FL but working to destroy the redo by running the clock.
I have to hand to to BO as this is as low as it gets. To stir the racial pot to subjugate impropriety on the state level and gain enough media attention to disenfranchise millions of 'folks' by not addressing their voting concerns in two populace states.
Unbelievable-and CNN focuses on the dates of liaisons with Monica Lewinsky as the sole information worth garnering from 11,000 pages of documentation of data 'everyone' was salivating over that are obviously very public thanks to the Ken Starr authority.
Is there reality reporting going on?

[intimallku]

The biggest issue in the next four years won't be race, or Iraq, but the economy, public and private debt, and budget deficits. Now, ask yourself, who is best equipped to handle that job? Whoever wins they've got a tough climb ahead, and I don't envy them.

[Misty]

This is in response to Linda's comment about "If you actually care, do something about hate." What did Barack Obama do during those 20 years as a member of Wright's congregation? Did he not care? Was he afraid? Did he try, but was just ineffective? Whatever it was, it reflects a weakness in Obama's ability to perform as President.

The Wright controversy was not so much about race as it was about extremism, patriotism, and judgment. While it may demonstrate political savvy to choose to focus on race as a justification of Wright's, Obama's speech did not answer those questions.

[Rambo]

The good ol people of Pensylvenia! Don't be fooled by Obama. He may sound good or even look good but he knows nothing about taking that call at 3 am because, I heard, that he sleeps like a rock! He snores bad too, I heard!! Hillary I love you!!!!!!!!!

[Bo]

To Linda above. I totally agree with you whole-heartdely. Your analysis is intelligent and well thought out unlike the bigotry rants of 'Fred'.

[pat colmenares]

Obama has a white mother and a black father. His mother didn't abandon him. It is unfortunate that so many people in USA still think Obama is only pro-black because he looks more black then white. Who would you love more the parent that left you or the one that help be who you are

Thanks
Pat

[Laura]

It's ridiculous to suggest that Obama spent 20 years listening to hate. I suspect the people writing these comments know very little about the church, which has done amazing, Christian work for the community including outreach and drug and alcohol rehabilitation, AIDS ministry, and anti-war work. Rev. Wright's sermons, now available on YouTube, show the work of a man committed to helping the oppressed. Feel free to check them out for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/user/TRINITYCHGO

If, after watching these, you still think the man preaches hate, then you have a very strange definition of the word. Do a little research before jumping to conclusions.