Your chance to vote: Should Hillary Clinton quit now or stay the course?

A growing number of people, mostly her opponents, are publicly calling for Sen. Hillary Clinton to withdraw from the Democratic presidential contest and cede victory to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. He leads in both total delegates and the popular votes of past primaries but has yet to gain the number required to win nomination.

This would, of course, essentially render meaningless the votes of Democrats in a bundle of upcoming primary states including Indiana, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Clinton has vowed to continue her struggle, which is her right but could produce a long-term damaging stalemate with accumulating bitterness among Obama supporters, even if she did somehow ultimately win. She's recently talked about taking the fight over disallowed primaries and their delegates in Florida and Michigan to a credentials committee fight in Denver at the national convention.

This strategy effectively consumes valuable general election preparation time and financial resources from whichever Democrat ultimately wins, as the Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, is already campaigning to unify his party, raise money (he's way behind) and set the scope of his personal campaign narrative.

Or put it this way: If the New York Giants had given up well before the....

end of regulation time in this year's Super Bowl, the overwhelmingly-favored New England Patriots would have gone undefeated. Instead, they're playing off-season golf these days and muttering unprintable things to themselves.

What's your opinion? Should Clinton give up now?

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Democrat]

I think democrats need to focus on winning 2/3 majority in the house and senate. McCain will easily beat Obama. Obama will never recover from 20 year alliance with Minister Wright. Obama is now unelectable. 30% or more of her supporters will not support Obama. He will lose NY,NJ, California, Ohio, Penn,Fllorida , Michigan. the Pols who endorsed him are going to live to reget it as more and more judgement and character defects in the Obama profile in opportunism emerge. Obama is beginning to remind me of Albert Speer and His lack of moral compass. Clinton, whatever her defects is a viable candidate for an electoral college win. Best to let this go to the convention. There may be a need to select a neutral, not Clinton, not Obama candidate to unite the party. Possibly Al Gore. I think it is going to be hard for many life long democrats who support Hillary to overlook Obama's record of poor choices and poor judgements. if Oprah had the good judgement to disavow Rev Wright years before, doesn't this indicatete that there was something pretty obviously wrong in that church for all to see. yes, Obama may be attracting new voters but he is driving out more voters as well. maybe we need a deadlock at the convention to save us. al gore can win and party leaders need to consider drafting him and presuade Obama to back Gore.

[jeff]

Peter! Glad you felt up to responding! I offer you another suggestion. Instead of presuming you understand things that you likely know little to nothing about, such as your presuming to know about my education and even of all the others of the blog, use your energy to research some facts. Sorry, but as to your references to conspiracy dot com and redbull.., I am not up with you on those.

[hipelayne]

You have GOT to be kidding! Get over yourselves Oblama supporters! Quit drinking the kool-aid - it makes you do stupid things! With all the baggage Oblama has - his murderous cousin in kenya you know, the one he took time out of campaining in New Hampshire to go support when he was stealing his election, Rezko, Wright (nice $1.6 m house Rev!) Emil Jones, shady elections in Illinois - do you really, honestly, think that he and his racist wife are fit to live in the White House? Try drinking coffee instead of the kool-aid - it'll wake you up!

[Pete]

Even though I am an Obama supporter I don't believe that Clinton should be forced (somehow) to stop her campaign for the presidency. It is her right to try to take the nomination by a political "knife fight" at the convention. If I were in her position that is what I would try for. Unfortunately that could really hurt the party. I support Obama because I believe that undecideds/independents will be more likely to vote for Obama than for Clinton in November. I hope that this all works out OK. I also hope the ground opens up and swallows Ralph Nader. He really screwed things up for the liberals in 2000 and it looks like he's going to do it again this year.

As for Michigan and Florida they didn't play by the rules. They tried to jump to the front of the line. They just ended up shafting themselves. Actions have consequences.

[Tantirc]

Democrats sounds un democrat when they ask Hillary to withdraw, if her team was prepared she would have won the caucuses, other then caucuses where he won and Black votes, which won more than 100%, People Who are opposed to Hillary contesting democratically for her nomination are very un-democrats, who wants Power, until know If any one watch closely knows, Obama’s supporters and the media manipulating and working hard she will not won Including many Democrats, Obama Wins the nomination with his cunning, manipulation he will ruin America. There are so many Senators who are showing there color’s who really they are. All Hillary’s voters should Vote to any Worthy independent. Fight to the End Hillary, Vote Hillary. Open your Eyes, Move.org and others, Obama is Opportunist and the people who support wants there Own Way. Support Hillary

[obama 08]

To Jim Angone, you're a complete loser. You would vote for McCain if Hillary can't steal the nomination? Come on, you would vote for a candidate that said he would keep American troops in Iraq for 100 years? And, what's with the people saying that Obama is blocking votes in Michigan and Florida?

[john]

we all know if hillary gets out Mccain will win. we all know thats what bush wants he knows obama has no chance of winning no white american nor hispanic will vote for him. i am 22 years old black male i dont think i will see a black president running this country in my life time i dont think white people are ready to see a black man run this country. good luck obama i dont think you have a chance

[Dr. Jesse Kally-Williams]

On reflecting on the questions of true leadership, I am often tempted to turn to the Bible or Socrates'life or Shakespeare or Francis Bacon or Tolstoy’s depiction of Kutuzov. But we live in an age dominated by American pop culture – especially the pop philosophy and aesthetics of Hollywood. And Hilary is right to say "I love long movies". The difference is that the world is more than just a movie, notwithstanding, this is where we must begin. In our age youths no longer try to read Francis Bacon's The Essays or Tolstoy's War and Peace. People nowadays turn to fiction in films. So be it.
For me the greatest actor in our days is Anthony Hopkins, but Al Pacino could often shine brilliantly. In the climax of the film Scent Of Woman, Lt. Frank Slade, remarkably played by Al Pacino, was forced to defend truth and expose on leadership. The paradox of corrupt leadership in the film is depicted when Trask refers to Charlie, Mr. Sims, as “a cover-up artist and a liar”. And Frank Slade rightly retorts: “This is such a crock of shit!”
Hilary now assures her party: “we are going to be fine”. I don’t think so. She and her husband have destroyed the vital parts of the ship already. You do not resort to the path of calumny and then say “We are going to be fine”. What type of model are they serving their daughter, when they seek to destroy their comrade by canvassing for McCain?
In the words of Frank Slade, “…when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall”. I think that policy makers and architects of political discourse must be careful the path they use to reach their goals. Without principles, without truthfulness, integrity and even the courage to lose with grace, you’re only laying false foundations for future disasters. For these virtues are the stuff true leaders are made of. A good politician like Blair abandoned this path and chose rather to tie his wagon to a mediocre (Bush) and resorted to the path of deception and lies. History will judge Blair severely. The path is as important as the journey's end. To rephrase the words of Al Pacino, the world is telling Americans, including the Clintons, that they hold Obama’s political destiny in their hands. It promises great things for America and the world. Don't mess it up, protect and embrace it. “It's going to make you proud one day...I promise you.“

[EJLima]

The Cllinton regime has become the suicide bomb of the democratic party. The Bush regime is the suicide bomb of the USA. The voters get to
"Obama us alll"

[TR]

BECAUSE I am an Obama supporter I think, of course, Hillary should continue on. Yes, it's more messy than a dictatorship or coronation - that's why it's called democracy (see how efficient the Republicans are?) We are not installing the next King - We are not voting for Jesus. Let the nomination process continue (and, no, Barack did NOT stop FL and MI - learn why FL and MI were not counted and still not and then get back - do your homework).

Speaking to those who think Barack is just pulling the wool over our eyes and "manipulating the youth", I am a middle-aged, independent voter who's "been-there, done-that", is far past the innocence of youth and knows very well who pulls the strings in this country and am looking forward to voting for Barack again in November.

[Ray]

It is absurd to ask a candidate that is still close in popular votes and delegates to drop out. Just what are the BO supporters and the media so afraid of?

[Steve Wimer]

Anyone who thinks Hillary Clinton is going to quit simply does not know much about the woman. I want to know why Obama is not forced to quit. He sits twenty years in an anti-American racist church, and has the gall to run for office of President of the United States? As Shakespeare once wrote, "Have people lost all their reason? Are they mad?"

[Marcelo Facatutti]

Mrs Clinton is by far more prepared to be the USA president. She take chances and vote for or against. Now, Mr Barack Hussein Obama preferes "present" to avoid controversy.
Mr Hussein is the one that should quit the race.

[joseph marcucil;li]

If Obama hates whites I guess he would need to hate himself.What stupidity and complete lack of logic.He has been in office for12 years,show me one example where he voted against Israel while in the Senate.Bloomberg likened him to Lincoln.

[Josh Geller]

Either Democrat would be a disaster for the country. Pull out of Iraq now, go back within the next fifteen years. Better just to stay and finish the job.

Clinton would be a measurably worse disaster than Obama (you will purchase medical insurance, tovarisch).

McCain '08!

.

[JC]

Hillary stated that she's in this for the long run for her supporters. But given:

1) she can't win
2) drawing this out is giving the Republicans clear sailing (Obama and Hillary are spending more time and effort on each other rather than McCain)

It appears that her actions show that she's really in this for herself and not her party.

[Nic]

I'm shocked that Democratic officials such as Pelosi and Dean, Dodd and Richardson have even hinted at the idea that Clinton step down.

The rules:

No Candidate wins the nomination without 2,025 delegates

The nomination is NOT won based on a 'winner takes all' formula

should there be a 'tie' in votes between candidates, SUPERDELEGATES will be brought in and asked to decide.

If the Democratic party DID NOT have superdelegates in place, it might be fair to say 'step down Hillary' but the fact is that they ARE. Their sole purpose in this process is to act should the sort of current situation arise. To ask Hillary to step down seems to me like the most blatant, hypocritical rule breaking I have seen in this race. Only this time, it hasn't come from either candidate.

SHAME ON YOU DEMOCRATIC 'ELDERS'

[Conchita Vecchio]

Geez, then the Obama people say it's Clinton who uses Tonya Harding - like tactics? This is schoolyard bullying at its most explicit. Obviously, the fear from the Obama camp is quite palpable if they are begging her to quit. Should Hillary Clinton not get the nomination because of the illicit, Chicago-style dirty politicking used Obama and his freak show, I have no choice but to vote for Mc Cain, even if I am a life-long Democrat. As an American I have a duty to vote for an American. Obama is an indecipherable enigma when it comes to his allegiance to this country.

[Frank]

How come nobody talks about Hillary and Bill's "Church" called the Family......or is it more like a secret society for rich and powerfull? Enough with Clintons or Bushes.
Obama 08

[Margaret]

NO! Hillary shouldn't get out.
Obama hasn't even been vetted - and is still lying about Wright.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/03/did-obama-say-r.html

[Frank]

John Kerry tells us to vote for Obama BECAUSE he's a black man!

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/03/kerry-obama-cou.html

[Carla]

Obama has always been LAST to release a major policy position - except for his health care plan.

This has happened twice - Hillary releases a major policy speech on the Economy - and Obama FOLLOWS several days later.

We were indifferent about the candidates - but with the economy tanking - we don't need an empty suit in the White House - and McCain is inferior on the Economy.

It'll take a Bitch to fix the economy - Kumbaya won't do.

Go Hillary!

[Carla]

"For those of you who are just weary of the primary, and feeling kind of ground down or that it's like a Bataan death march, I just want everybody to know that the future is bright." - Obama

Obama mocks America and Filipino soldiers held as POWs by the Japanese during WW2 - tens of thousands DIED during the Bataan Death March!

[Peter]

Don't run with Obama,a racist. Many view him as a traitor as well. He NEEDS your voters, you don't need him and his baggage.

[Katie]

Please don't accept the VP position, run as an Independent, your voters will follow you. But don't bow out take it all the way to Denver