Barack Obama, already in Indiana, says Clinton ran 'terrific race'

As Barack Obama took the stage tonight in Evansville, Ind., to try to look ahead in his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination, Hillary Clinton broke through an important symbolic barrier in the state he must be happy to leave behind -- she went up by 10 percentage points in Pennsylvania.

Maybe her margin will slip back a bit when 100% of the vote is in, but with most of the count completed, her double-digit lead seemed to be holding steady. And, psychologically, it's a significant result -- one that should cause many leading Democrats to listen a little more intently to her case that she still represents the party's best chance for victory in November.

What happened in Pennsylvania eerily paralleled what happened exactly seven weeks ago in neighboring Ohio. As the campaign there wrapped up, Clinton was considered the favorite, in view of her stronger hold on the votes of lower-income whites. On primary day, that support proved even bigger than expected, powering her to -- sound familar -- a 10-point triumph.

Obama, in his comments in Indiana, had little to say about Pennsylvania, other than to graciously congratulate Clinton on her win and tell his Hooiser supporters who didn't like hearing those words that "she ran a terrific race" (an evaluation that contrasted with his complaints, as the vote neared, that she was in full-fledged attack mode).

He also borrowed a page from Clinton, who in stressing her father's Scranton roots seemed to effectively establish a kinship with Pennsylvanians. Obama, in almost the very first words he uttered, said it was "good to be back in the Midwest."

Maybe that will prove to be the case for the Illinois senator. But his rhetoric didn't soar at this event (a hard task, to be sure, when you've just taken your lumps). And, as will be driven home in news story after news story in the walkout to the May 6 Indiana primary, the state's demographics bear many similarities to Ohio and Pennsylvania.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Matt]

Hillary is McCains easiest path to the White House. Hillary cannot attract voters of a divided party or the money that Obama can. McCain is terrified to go up against Obama (McCain pressing public financing on Obama, McCain pandering to African American voters, McCain attacking Obama on everything while not attacking Hillary). A vote for Hillary is a vote for McCain. Obama is the stronger candidate against McCain. On another front, look at all the margins and see who is losing. At which point does Hillary accept that a loss is a loss?

[John Sinclair]

The worrying thing for me now is if Hilary wins the nomination, eventually, and she wins the presidency, eventually, will she really bomb a country of complete innocents (Iran) just because she doesn't like their leaders rhetoric? What if some Russian, Chinese, North Korean, Pakistani, Indian etc nutcases decide to plant a nuclear device in a ship bound for Tel Aviv harbour on the basis of her comments about Iran the other day. Hilary should learn to keep such thoughts to herself. A leader should never give away their trigger points or as "The Godfather" might have said "never tell anyone outside the family what you are thinking". What has protecting Israel, a sovereign Jewish state with hundreds of nuclear weapons at its disposal (provided largely by the British and American technological support in the 60's and 70's), got to do with the USA a supposedly Christian country? It beats me but I think Hilary should tell us before she takes one more step towards the presidency.

[Young At\]

In the 1990s, the Dems lost congress while Bill Clinton was fixing this country AND balancing the budget. A confused nation responded by letting the neo-cons take control of the Presidency as well. The neo-cons not only unraveled everything Bill Clinton accomplished, they are dismantling our constitutional liberties won with blood over generations. Since regaining control, the Dems have not done anything except complain. Why does anyone think that Hillary can fix this by fighting and half truths. She is not even the negotiator that Bill was.

I am a 47 year old who is voting for the first time in my life because of Obama's leadership in 12 years of elected office. Look at Barrack's 800+ bills from 8 years in the Illinois senate. Barrack is the ONLY candidate to pass Healthcare reform.
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html
From the US Senate --
**the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more.

If the DEMS over-turn the outcome of this race through Super-delegate-meddling, I will go back to ignoring politics and look out for my own interests.

[Mike Sherman]

".... Indian etc nutcases decide to plant a nuclear device in a ship bound for Tel Aviv harbour ". Israel is India's biggest defence exporter, how the hell do you even list that as a hypothetical situation? Hillary doesn't owe nutcases like you an explanation on geopolitics

[Carol]

Without negotiation? Hillary Clinton promises to annihilate Iran, a sovereign nation! Aren't our service personnel stretched to the max? And now we are going to face down another country in the middle east.
America's problems have been exacerbated by wars. Where is the money going? Not for schools, medical care, and jobs. We cannot even restore New Orleans from the devastating damage of Katrina.
Who's the only anti-war candidate in this presidential race -- Barack Obama

[Michelle]

Barack Obama for President!

He is the only candidate for Change in Washington.

Clinton is "bitter" and feels entitled.

McCain is a continuation of the Bush Policies.

VOTE BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!

[3rdsun]

IT'S TIME AMERICA:
It’s time for everyone to face the truth. Hillary Clinton has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. The math and momentum are not in her favor and the people of this great nation are not responding to her style of leadership the way she had expected them to. Her inability to attract more votes and more delegates makes that fact crystal clear. Her best, and only real chance of winning in November is by overturning the popular vote of the United States and to ignore the delegates system which has worked for decades and even elected her husband to office 2 times.
Barack Obama has the honor to admit when his opponent is strong, but also is the only candidate able to focus on real issues when the pressure is on, and not resort to negative politics when the going gets tough. We don’t need the same kind of leadership of fear and hatred we have had to endure for 8 years.
But it is absolutely essential that the Democrats take back the White House in November. America and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. By brining more new voters into the process than ever before, and by bringing together all walks of life from all corners of America in a unified and positive campaign, Barack Obama has shown why he has the ideas and experience to lead this nation to a new horizon, to a level it has never been to before. Mr. Obama is the only candidate to do this, and there is no better time in history than now.
Barack Obama knows that the heat and decisions in the White House are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Mrs. Clinton faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander-in-chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before her, and the decision behind her. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering her whole hearted assistance to Barack Obama to help him take back the White House for the American people, and the world. How can one who is unable to win over their own long time supporters and properly manage their own campaign expected to lead our nation out of the these difficult times?
It should be clear to everyone by now that Barack Obama is doing what is truly right for the American people, no matter how difficult that truth may be to accept for many people who have seen too much of the old style politics and are tired of it. He has known for a long time that Mrs. Clinton can not win this November, as she polarizes many voters and is unable win on issues alone.. You have to remember that Mr. Obama brings a fresh face to politics, and fresh ideas of honesty and integrity, something that is rare, even today, in any politician. He knows what it takes, and his supporters do too, all 1.3 million of them.
If Mrs. Clinton fails his test of commander-in-chief we can only hope that Barack Obama can continue her passionate fight for the American people. And that he prevails. He will need all the continual support and help we can give him. He may fight like a superhuman. But he is only human.
Sincerely,
Jason W. - White, working class, moderate

[Bernie Sta.-Coloma]

Barack - I truly believe you can win this race! It's not easy, however, despite all your recent problems you may still prevail. We definitely need genuine change in politics & you demonstrate this kind of verve, above all. Your Essence/Presence shines thru as a guiding beacon in very troubled times...God bless you & your lovely family & w/ God's will you'll be our upcoming Pres....Change is burgeoning, coming into being, into full fruition.