Texas Dems not done voting -- Bill Clinton not done lobbying

First they had the primary. Then they had the caucuses. And on Saturday, Texas Democrats will meet in local conventions to cast yet another round of votes for the Democratic presidential contenders, which we guess makes this the Texas Three Step -- with more steps to come.

All of which brings us to Bill Clinton, who called Hillary Clinton's Texas delegates Thursday night to shore them up ahead of Saturday's conventions. Bill Clinton, legendary for his flexible approach to definitions, sought to count Democratic national delegates another way -- delegates won in primary states, versus caucus states. As we saw beginning in Iowa, Barack Obama's focus on grassroots organizing has helped him win caucus states. But in the big primary states -- we'll leave out Illinois and New York, for obvious reasons -- Clinton has prevailed.

Bill Clinton sought to persuade the Texas delegates that means something, according to ABC News' Political Radar blog, which sat in on the call:

"Right now, among all the primary states, believe it or not, Hillary's only 16 votes behind in pledged delegates and she's gonna wind up with the lead in the popular vote in the primary states. She's gonna wind up with the lead in the delegates [from primary states]....It's the caucuses that have been killing us."

Never mind the obvious point that caucuses matter, too. The focus on Texas is interesting because things remain unsettled there. Clinton won the primary vote but at the moment Obama appears to have more Texas delegates after winning the caucuses that came that same election night.

None of those delegates, though, are committed, as Political Radar points out. They can change their minds, and candidates. The final results aren't, well, final, until June 7, and the state convention. And depending on how the national delegates -- won in primaries and caucuses -- are lined up then, Texas could prove to be a crucial and last-minute battleground.

Imagine the lobbying then if one or the other candidate is riding a groundswell.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Steve M.]

Amazingly, even if you count just the primary states, Hillary is still behind. And the logic behind Bill's argument is bizarre. I mean, Al Gore would be president if we didn't count the South and the Mountain West, but we do. The rules are the rules.

What is lost here is any compelling reason for Hillary to be president. Why is she running? I've never heard a real explanation for this other than she's well-known. Lately, it seems her campaign is pushing the electability argument, which, translated to reality, means "she's not black." It's a sad commentary on her campaign that she is reduced to this. She should leave while she still has some goodwill left among Democrats.

[Michael]

apparently Bill isn't strong in Math - as in counting that Obama has won more states, delegates and the popular vote. But heck, when a dynasty wants to keep control they make up their own math -

It adds up like the story about ducking snipers in Bosnia.

[Pro-Democracy]

Bill Clinton sounds like he shares Saddam Hussein's opinions about the importance of the people's right to vote and be counted. He may be inhaling now that he is not running for office.

[Robert R Parker, Jr., LL.B.]

I was present in Texas on the day of the Primary and the night of the Caucuses. I am, on the one hand, not surprised by Bill and Hillary's continued mechanations to manipulate the "perception" of her inevitability as the eventual nominee of destiny. But once the blinders are removed, they will find this to be but a mirage.

As this campaign continues and Sen. Clinton's public statements and pronouncemnts are found, in some instances, to be incongruent, she will face the reality that she can't cut corners on credibility.

The voters have already peeped that problem....

[Walter L. Johnson]

The President is not elected by national popular vote but by a complex system in which states send electors to elect the President, and states can use any system they want to chose those electors, including the Texas two step process used in nominating candidates.

So what if Hillary Clinton won the popular vote. That is not what wins elections by itself. It takes volunteer activists to promote candidates by word of mouth according to however a state sends electors to vote for President. Al Gore won the national popular vote, but he lost the Electoral College vote--the one that matters.

Since Hillary has reached the point where she cannot mathematically win the Democratic nomination, many Texans who supported Hillary may change their mind to vote with the inevitable winner or not bother to show up to the convention rounds in Texas, since Hillary will lose regardless and thus convention time is a personal waste for Hillary delegates. For this reason I expect the number of delegates for Obama from Texas will increase, regardless of the Clinton optimism.

[Rob]

Well, with all the "accidents" that happened to the friends, supporters, and officials around the Clintons during the 90's, would Obama risk having Hillary as his vice presidential choice?

[JonSE]

Both Clintons are proven liars and cheats who will do anything at anyone's expense, including the nation's welfare, to gain office. Whatever faults Obama may bring to the Presidency pale in comparison to the travails to which the Clintons would subject the nation if they should gain the White House. Americans should be extremely wary of the Clintons, as a pair, separately, or individually. They are dangerous, pernicious people.

[Matha Davidson]

HILLARY CLINTON IS COMPLETELEY DIVORCED FROM REALITY!

ABC"s Jake Tapper reported on an unnamed Democratic Party official saying that it"s not a question of *if* Clinton can somehow secure the nomination. The question is -- what will she have to do in order to achieve it? The official"s answer: She will have to "break his back," to destroy Obama and make him completely unacceptable. "Her securing the nomination is certainly possible - but it will require exercising the 'Tonya Harding option.'" the official said. Read full story here - http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/03/dnc-official-cl.html).

As the Clinton campaign spins Obama as actually being the reprehensibly negative player in this competition, and the media swallowing and regurgitating the most incendiary non-issues, I fear for the future of Obama"s campaign, of the Democratic party, and the United States. I"m afraid we can"t take another two months of the destructive Clinton ambition machine. Please contact the Democratic National Committee (http://www.democrats.org/page/s/contactissues) and let the party leaders no that we can"t waste any more time; the train is nearing the bridge that"s out, and it takes a lot to stop that kind of fateful momentum. Superdelegates must decide *now*, not in August, to swing behind the best candidate in our generation so that the Democratic Party can look forward to the general election in November and beyond.

Take off "the pads" Bill, and "SADDLE UP". You're going to need to to get the straight jacket ready, fire up the padded bus, and take your wife and daughter home.

[Sally]

Bill Clinton has lost all my respect. He thinks he can discount something like 80% of the country's votes and call this a democracy?

[dennis]

Sen. Clinton cannot win, and yet she won't quit. At some point, "strength" becomes hubris. She's already crossed that line, and we Democrats will have a very hard time forgiving her for the damage she's done.

[Ronald Loui]

Bill C may not be done lobbying, but believe me, he is done.

His time is over.

His precious legacy is unmasked: he was not as good as he thought, not as smart as he thought, not as good for the party as he thought, not as black as he thought, not as Kennedy as he thought, and not able to deliver Hillary the presidency, as he thought. He should have put more thought into how he dealt with those tents in the sand (and those tents in his pants).

What he is apparently good at, and persistent at it too, is trying to manipulate and cheat.

Gore and Obama, and the rest of the Democrats, are smart to stay away from Clintons.

[IG]

About Hillary's big state wins; How much of it is from having the party establishment in her campaign and how much of it is on her own earning? I'd think big state takes greater resources to win. Once Obama gets nominated, with the party backing and his superb grassroot organization, he would do well in all states, big or small. I can't help feeling that the Clintons are changing the game as they go along. Would Bill say the same thing if Obama won all big states and Hillary as many states as Obama?

[This Goose is cooked]

Texas Dems not done voting -- Bill Clinton not done lobbying - Hillary Clinton not done with false reality.

Hillary has at best a 5% chance of winning this over Obama, and yet she continues down this road of ruin for our party.

Why does Hillary ignore the ringing phone?

[Ten galon yarmulka]

Leave it to the Texas dems to muddle an outcome. The
vote was Clinton 51.5% Obama 46.3 %. All the rest is
vicious manipulation as was seen in all the caucuses
victorys of that up-start who wants to tax the living
daylights out of all those wealthy $75000. and over
hard working folks...regardless how the economy may
be strugling to stay out of recession. Hillary denounces
and rejects such fiscal irresponsability.

[Dolly]

After heeding the advice of Rush Limbaugh to keep the Democrats in chaos, 9% of Republican Texans voted for Hillary. Which makes Texas Obama country.

[Martin]

Ready on day one? HRC wasn't even ready for the campaign. Obama saw the goal and selected the right people. HRC thinks she is the best candidate to run against McCain. It appears that the Repubs are more afraid of Obama. Witness Hillary's wins in Ohio and Texas popular vote that she may well owe to the work of Rush Limbaugh.

[shocked]

I've never been more sure that the President is right about caucuses. A Caucus is equal to nothing, zip, inconsequento compared to a Primary vote of the People.

That a person could be convinced otherwise is, well, embarrassing for them.

That Pelosi would come out and make her declaration of neutrality is embarrassing for her too, since it turns out she's funded by the Obama charged MOVEON.ORG.

[Joseph]

The Media's Spin World

The media's influence is so thick it is hard to figure out fact from spin. From the delegate count to popular vote numbers, the media is spinning the Democratic candidate standings with special interest.

CNN declared Barack Obama the winner of the Texas caucus two and a half weeks ago. I know what is happening and it is rooted in bias. The bias is from the right-wing media and it is a huge. At one point, Hillary Clinton's numbers were changed to a lower number she has today.

We need to tell the media to but out of our political process. I don't want my next president to be a product of the media's influence. They need to back off.

[katie1263]

I was in Houston and witnessed the Caucuses live. IT WAS A disorganized DISASTER. Hillary Clinton did win the organized primary vote, and that does matter.

And I strongly believe that some of the people who supported B.O. was because they believed in his platform which was to cross the racial divide, and having "good judgement " from day 1.
Ever since the Pastor Disastor broke out, I think some of the voters feel duped. Afterall, his platform has collapsed. So let's hope we see this refelected in the delegates today in Texas.

[Ron]

Why would Hillary quit now ?
There is no chance in hell of her winning.... No wait, there is a chance..... she did sell her soul to the devil for this nomination, but he hasn't delivered.... YET !!!!!!
A lot of people are asking her to step down,but like she said " I am a fighter " She fought everyone including her on party for her failed Health Plan and got knocked out. She got weak knees and threw the fight with the vote for war in Iraq. Her fight in Bosnia where she was riddled with gunfire.... well that would be a draw. So I can't understand why so many people want her to quit now. I mean she is so close. What if Tonya Harding suddenly reappeared and was working for Bill ?

[Richard Williams]

Obama’s Bible Study Class

James Meeks – an Illinois state senator, pastor of one of the largest churches in the state and a declared spiritual adviser for Obama – came under fire for comments rebroadcast last week calling white American mayors "slave masters" and referring to black preachers and politicians who "protect" the "white man" as "house n-ggers."

"We don't have slave masters, we got mayors," Meeks said in an August 2006 sermon broadcast on a Chicago community television channel.
Aside from his senatorial duties, Meeks is an Illinois Superdelegate pledged to Obama and also presides over Salem Baptist Church, described as the largest church in Illinois.

In 2006, Meeks informed his church during a sermon he may run for Illinois governor. He was recorded telling the mostly black congregation any "white Christian" who doesn't vote for him is a "racist."

Meeks is also notorious for his strong anti-homosexual platform, although Obama is campaigning for the "gay" vote. Meeks has routinely voted against pro-homosexual legislation and has been quoted during sermons referring to same-sex attraction "an evil sickness."

Obama told the Sun-Times that he attends Meeks' Salem Baptist Church for Wednesday night Bible study.

According to Illinois State Board of Elections records, Rezko's businesses, Rezmar Corp. and Rezko Concession, contributed to Meeks' campaign funds.