Hillary Clinton's camp touts new poll findings

A just-released "memo" from Hillary Clinton loyalist Harold Ickes -- ostensibly directed at Democratic superdelegates, but also meant for a broader audience (like us) -- succinctly and effectively rolls out the spate of new poll data that bolsters her case that she, rather than Barack Obama, offers Democrats their best chance in the looming matchup with John McCain.

Here are the key details from the release:

"HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH MCCAIN: In a hypothetical general election match-up with McCain, Clinton wins handily (50-41) while Obama is virtually tied with McCain (46-44), according to the AP-Ipsos poll released Monday.  A new poll from CBS/NYT show Clinton beating McCain by five points (48-43), while Obama ties McCain (45-45). The new Fox poll has Clinton beating McCain by one point (45-44), while Obama trails McCain by three points (43-46). And in Gallup's daily tracking poll, Clinton leads McCain by one point (46-45) while Obama trails McCain by two points (44-46).

"SWING STATES: New Quinnipiac polls out today show Clinton dramatically outperforms Obama in the critical swing states of Ohio in Florida. In Ohio, Clinton beats McCain by ten points (48-38), while Obama loses to him by one point (43-44). In Florida, Clinton beats McCain by 8 (49-41), while Obama loses to him by one point (42-43). Hillary also tops McCain by 14 points in Pennsylvania (51-37), while Obama's lead over McCain is in single digits.

"CLINTON BEATS MCCAIN AMONG INDEPENDENT VOTERS; OBAMA TIES HIM: The new AP poll has Clinton leading McCain among independents (50-34) while Obama is tied with him (42-42).  The NBC/WSJ poll notes that Obama’s negative ratings among independents are they highest they have ever been."

As tracked by Time magazine's Page blog, some superdelegates just aren't getting the message, however.

Also, the polling results that most immediately will count in the Democratic battle will be what happens at the polling places in North Carolina and Indiana on Tuesday (for the latest trends, see here and here).

-- Don Frederick

 

Comments

[David Eubanks]

Barack is trying to sit on a lead. That's not usually effective. He should debate. Barack appears to have earned an early lead that in all reality not amount to much. He's going to have a very tough time in the general.

[nick]

I am so sick of these polls and their skewed numbers. She's obviously just trying to build up a case that she is the better candidate.. she's ruthless.

[yo]

Geez, while the democrats are polarized across two candidates, these poll numbers do not amount to much. The "hypothetical" match-up would never happen with two democrats running against mccain for the general election, so the analysis is bunk

[Bruno]

what are the super delegating waiting!! Hillary is clearly the most electable democrats... what else matters? For god sake, do they need help making a simple decision like that?

[Wayne]

And at this point in 1992 Bill Clinton was running third nationallly behind the first President Bush and Ross Perot.

These polls mean nothing.

[Wm Tate]

Now that Hillary and Obama have both appeared on the Fox News Channel, where will the hard-core leftists turn?
-Wm Tate
http://www.atimelikethis.us

[jOE]

HRC's camp conveniently forgets the many weeks Obama has outperformed her in all of these national polls. This is a minor blip from the slew of "controversy" flames she helped fan ad nauseum. Bravo, Hill... you're a good Republican! Keep up the great work. Richard Mellon Scaife and Bill O'Reilly are proud of you!

meanwhile... thank you Joe Andrew! Clinton's Super Delegate lead is down to a very slim 18 supers now!!!

[Bill]

The polls say what I've believed all along. Obama may win democratic delegates, especially in the inner cities, however, he will not be electible because of the masses of previously loyal democrats like me that will cross party lines to vote for McCain simply because he is real, and not a bunch of pie in the sky, feel good, verbage that has not a shred of credibiilty behind it. The only way to guarantee a Democratic loss in a presidential election that should see a certain Republican loss is by nominating Obama, who will clearly be viewed as the lesser of the evils. God help this country. Aside from the politics, if Pastor Wright made these incindiary remarks in any other forum, he would be on a Homeland Security watch list. Obama being a close associate for 20 years would be on the same list. Can we trust our country to that?

[MyPollResults]

When asked what these results ment:

"Nothing - Obama already won a while ago."

Hillary = Paula Abdul of international politics.

[Lanny Davis]

Now the polls mean something ... goodnight, boring

[Peter DesLauriers]

Ms. Clinton is more concerned with winning the election than she is with the Democrats winning this election. Her personal goals and place in history are overshadowing the needs of our country. She is not 'taking one for the team". Al Gore showed true courage when he stepped aside in the battle with Bush. He was truly altruistic. Ms. Clinton should, but cannot, show the same strength. Sad.

[Dimple Adams]

Do we really want the Clinton years repeated. We had a majority of Democrats in Congress when they took office, and a minority when they left. We need a leader who can bring both sides together. Clintons have a record of not being able to do that. We need a fresh start, which McCain or Clinton can not offer.

[Peter DesLauriers]

Ms. Clinton is more concerned with winning the election than she is with the Democrats winning this election. Her personal goals and place in history are overshadowing the needs of our country. She is not 'taking one for the team". Al Gore showed true courage when he stepped aside in the battle with Bush. He was truly altruistic. Ms. Clinton should, but cannot, show the same strength. Sad.

[Chessie]

The party should realize that it's a Clinton/Obama ticket that will bury the Republicans, and come together to make that happen, and instead of spending all this money in the primaries-- save it for the election.

[Mateo]

Hillary Clinton has committed the worst kind of dis-service to the Democrats. I was a supporter. However, her recent expressions of blind ambition and power mongering are downright scary. This country is truly at a serious crossroads. God help us all if she weasels her way in by employing "swift boat" tactics. I don't doubt her intellectual abilities. I am however concerned about her willingness to swim in the cesspool of racism and fear based politics in order to gain support.

[John A]

Wow...they're touting Fox polls now? Going on O'Reilly? Maybe she should consider switching parties.

[JOE BENTO]

More Hillary and her team trying to get us to view the world as they want us to see it. She is an expert at using the reality bending kaleidoscope folks so lets not fall for it.

Reality is the underdog from nowhere has beat her period in delegates, votes, states, and the super delegate tide is moving strongly in Obama's direction. Reality is setting in and Rev Wright and bittergates is all any opponents have which is nonsense when you put it up against how the electorate views her lack of honesty and the Iraq debacle. No surprise that Ickey is not telling you about the polls that show her negatives almost up there with George W. and that takes some doing. Barack Obama land is fine and as soon as he is the official nominee the majority of her supporters will come on home to the Democratic party. No fear folks the house is not on fire no matter how many matches Hillary has in her little arson hands.

Vote Barack Obama and be proud you get a candidate with integrity and intellect a great combo.

Barack and Roll in 2008

[Obamabot]

To Hilleritas and McCainites, please let us rally around Barak now, no more hate. He must do that which every politician must do. But with our support, he will be elected President. Perhaps then a serious discussion on reparations for our past sins of slavery and Jim Crow laws can begin. Once America has paid for it past mistakes by voting for Obama, and the Reparations checks are sent out, then the healing and acceptance of the majority can be considered by the minority. This is the "Change we can believe in!" We paid the Japanese who were interred in concentration camps during WW2, $20,000 each, for 400 plus years of slavery and racism, much more will be required. Vote for Obama - Whites to finally pay for Slavery $$$$$$$$

[almanac kid]

The only superdelegates not getting this new message are most certainly Bush hating, left-wing elitists, who will strive for nothing other than complete radical change of America, at all costs, the scope of which will surely lead to failure in November.

[d scott]

Um, just in case anyone cares about the subversive text from the Los Angeles Times' bloggers roster~
Would it be less 'interesting' as credentials if D. Frederick has stated "attempted" impeachment of President Clinton or does he actually think Clinton was impeached?

[Sean]

We haven't entered the general election yet. Do the polls mean that much? Also, who has contributed more to Obama's numbers right now? Clinton or McCain? I think in fairness, one could argue a democrat tearing down another has a lot more impact.

[almanac kid]

checking in

[Randy]

Message to the DNC...

Hillary CAN WIN... hands down! In a landslide!

Please don't screw the pooch this time.

[Jilly]

Push poll + unmitigated gall = Hillary Clinton.

[eSPO]

This race is incredibly close .. until you consider Hillary is on a high and Obama is on a low. The super delegate lead for Hillary is steadily disappearing. Most will wait until after Indiana and North Carolina to endorse their candidate. This is when the landslide of super delegates fall to Obama and the race is over.

[joel]

So predictable. I'd love to see a chart that breaks down campaign responses to polls. Amazingly the polls are generally flawed or incorrect when the data doesn't support the candidate or an obvious reason why everyone should jump on board when it does support the candidate. It's such stupid politics and completely irrelevant. However, it does suggest what the campaigns think about the intellectual capabilities of the targets of their memos...not much.

[dee]

GO HILLARY! THANKS REV. WRIGHT.

[TRENIA KAY KASUNICK]

PLEASE DO NOT FORCE ME TO VOTE FOR MCCAINE I WILL NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA PLEASE TELL THE SUPER DELLIGATES THAT THEY SHOULD HERE WHAT THE VOTER WANTS AND THAT IS HILLARY . SHE CAN TURN THIS COUNTRY AROUND AND IMY 401K CAB GAIN BACK WHAT IT HAS LOST IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

[Debbie , in El Paso, Texas]

...I think that those States that voted for Obama early in the election year...lacked the information to make an informed vote...they voted on a dream and a hope for a better tomorrow...
The problem:...they did not know the "true" Obama...until info. came out about his wife, his Reverend, and Obama's own racist comments about people in small towns "clinging to their guns and religion" and "G D America"...How stupid does Obama think the American people are to believe that he had no idea whatsoever about Rev Wright. after 20 years....C'MON!!!!

Now, people have more info. about Obama and his crew of racists loonies. This is why Hillary would win against McCain. Many who voted Obama are experiencing "buyers remorse". Additionally, I believe that Hillary would draw disenfranchised Republicans to the Democratic Fray.

Lastly, being Hispanic myself...I think it is very naive for the Democratic Party to assume that Hispanics will rally for Obama...I think NOT...I think that Hispanics would vote for McCain...that is if Hillary is not the Dem. nominee. I believe that if Obama wins the Dem. nomination (to appease the Black voters)...I am extremely confident that he will absolutely lose the presidency and McCain will win. The Democratic party will win the battle (and appease the Black voters), but will lose the war (and implode). What the Democratic Party lacks the most is...strategy....

[Kuilor2k]

So you want to vet the candidate. Ok, let's vet the candidate.

1.) Selma Got Me Born - Lie, you were born in 1961 - Selma had no effect on your birth, as Selma was in 1965.
2.) Father Was A Goat Herder - Lie, he was a privileged, well educated youth, who went on to work with the Kenyan Government.
3.) Father Was A Proud Freedom Fighter - Lie, he was part of one of the most corrupt and violent governments Kenya has ever had
4.) My Family Has Strong Ties To African Freedom - Lie, your cousin Raila Odinga has created mass violence in attempting to overturn a legitimate election in 2007, in Kenya. It is the first widespread violence in many years.
5.) My Name is African Swahili - Lie, your name is Arabic and ‘Baraka’ (from which Barack came) means ‘blessed’ in that language. Hussein is also Arabic and so is Obama.
6.) I Never Practiced Islam - Lie, you practiced it daily at school, where you were registered as a Muslim and kept that faith for 31 years, until your wife made you change, so you could run for office.
7.) My School In Indonesia Was Christian - Lie, you were registered as Muslim there and got in trouble in Koranic Studies for making faces (check your own book).
8.) I Was Fluent In Indonesian - Lie, not one teacher says you could speak the language.
9.) Because I Lived In Indonesia, I Have More Foreign Experience - Lie, you were there from the ages of 6 to 10, and couldn’t even speak the language. What did you learn, how to study the Koran and watch cartoons.
10.) I Blame My Early Drug Use On Ethnic Confusion - Lie, you were quite content in high school to be Barry Obama, no mention of Kenya and no mention of struggle to identify - your classmates said you were just fine.
11.) An Ebony Article Moved Me To Run For Office - Lie, Ebony has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn’t, and never did, exist.
12.) A Life Magazine Article Changed My Outlook On Life - Lie, Life has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn’t, and never did, exist.
13.) I Won’t Run On A National Ticket In ‘08 - Lie, here you are, despite saying, live on TV, that you would not have enough experience by then, and you are all about having experience first.
14.) Present Votes Are Common In Illinois - Lie, they are common for YOU, but not many others have 130 PRESENT VOTES.
15.) Oops, I Misvoted - Lie, only when caught by church groups and democrats, did you beg to change your misvote.
16.) I Was A Professor Of Law - Lie, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.
17.) I Was A Constitutional Lawyer - Lie, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.
18.) Without Me, There Would Be No Ethics Bill - Lie, you didn’t write it,introduce it, change it, or create it.
19.) The Ethics Bill Was Hard To Pass - Lie, it took just 14 days from start to finish.
20.) I Wrote A Tough Nuclear Bill - Lie, your bill was rejected by your own party for its pandering and lack of all regulation - mainly because of your Nuclear Donor, Exelon, from which David Axelrod came.
21.) I Have Released My State Records - Lie, as of May, 1 2008, state bills you sponsored or voted for have yet to be released, exposing all the special interests pork hidden within.
22.) I Took On The Asbestos Altgeld Gardens Mess - Lie, you were part of a large group of people who remedied Altgeld Gardens. You failed to mention anyone else but yourself, in your books.
23.) My Economics Bill Will Help America - Lie, your 111 economic policies were just combined into a proposal which lost 99-0, and even YOU voted against your own bill.
24.) I Have Been A Bold Leader In Illinois - Lie, even your own supporters claim to have not seen BOLD action on your part.
25.) I Passed 26 Of My Own Bills In One Year - Lie, they were not YOUR bills, but rather handed to you, after their creation by a fellow Senator, to assist you in a future bid for higher office.
26.) No One Contacted Canada About NAFTA - Lie, the Candian Government issued the names and a memo of the conversation your campaign had with them.
27.) I Am Tough On Terrorism - Lie, you missed the Iran Resolution vote on terrorism and your good friend Ali Abunimah supports the destruction of Israel.
28.) I Am Not Acting As President Yet - Lie, after the NAFTA Memo, a dead terrorist in the FARC, in Colombia, was found with a letter stating how you and he were working together on getting FARC recognized officially.
29.) I Didn’t Run Ads In Florida - Lie, you ran ads ONLY along the florida border as well as national ads in an attempt to reach Florida voters 8-12 times per day for two weeks - and you still lost.
30.) I Won Michigan - Lie, no you didn’t.
31.) I won Nevada - Lie, no you did not.
32.) I Want All Votes To Count - Lie, you said let the delegates decide, and you have fought to have another primary in Michigan or Florida.
33.) I Want Americans To Decide - Lie, you prefer caucuses that limit the vote, confuse the voters, force a public vote, and only operate during small windows of time.
34.) I passed 900 Bills in the State Senate - Lie, you passed 26, most of which you didn’t write yourself.
35.) My Campaign Was Extorted By A Friend - Lie, that friend is threatening to sue if you do not stop saying this. Obama has finally stopped saying this.
36.) I Believe In Fairness, Not Tactics - Lie, you used tactics to eliminate Alice Palmer (a fellow democrat that wanted you to replace her in the next term) from running against you by challenging ALL of her signatures and thus running unapposed.
37.) I Don’t Take PAC Money - Lie, you take loads of it. The Obama PAC is the largest PAC in the US Senate. I dare Obama supporters to go look this up.
38.) I don’t Have Lobbysists - Lie, you have over 47 lobbyists, and counting.
39.) My Campaign Had Nothing To Do With The 1984 Ad - Lie, your own campaign worker made the ad on his Apple in one afternoon.
40.) My Campaign Never Took Over MySpace - Lie, Tom, who started MySpace issued a warning about this to MySpace clients.
41.) I Inspire People With My Words - Lie, you inspire people with other people’s words.
42.) I Have Passed Bills In The U.S. Senate - Lie, you have passed A BILL in the U.S. Senate - for Africa, which shows YOUR priorities.
43.) I Have Always Been Against Iraq - Lie, you weren’t in office to vote against it AND you have voted to fund it every single time, unlike Kucinich, who seems to be out gutting you. You also seem to be stepping back from your departure date in Iraq - AGAIN.
44.) I Have Always Supported Universal Health Care - Lie, your plan leaves us all to pay for the 15,000,000 who don’t have to buy it.
45.) I Only Found Out About My Investment Conflicts Via Mail - Lie, both companies you site as having sent you letters about this conflict have no records of any such letters ever being created or sent.
46.) My Wife Didn’t Mean What She Said About Pride In Country - Lie, your wife’s words follow lock-step in the vein of Wright and Farrahkan, in relation to their contempt and hatred of America.
47.) Wal-Mart Is A Company I Wouldn’t Support - Lie, your wife has received nearly a quater of a million dollars through Treehouse, which is connected to Wal-Mart.
48.) Treehouse Is A Small Company - Lie, the CEO of Treehouse last year, made more than the CEO of Wal-Mart, according to public records.
49.) University Of Chicago Hospital Pay Is Fair - Lie, your wife’s pay raise was nearly 150% her already bloated rate (going from $120K to $320K weeks after you got into the US Senate and tried to get a $1 million pork project for the very same hospital) and the hospital is a Non-Profit Hospital, which made $100,000,000 in the last 3 years. They overcharge blacks VS whites for services, and overcharge everyone in general by 538%!
50.) I Barely Know Rezko - Only 5 Billed Hours - Lie, you have known him for 17 years, and decided to do a real estate deal with him during a time when he was proven to be under investigation. Despite this, you divided your property and had them take off $300K before the mortgage problems started. Then Rezko’s wife buys the lot beside it that you can’t afford, saving you $625,000.
51.) My Donations Have Been Checked Thoroughly - Lie, you only gave back Hsu ($72K [Yes, the same Hsu, Obama supporters try to tie Clinton to]) and Rezko (first $66K, then when caught lying $86K, then when caught lying again $150K and now caught lying YET AGAIN, it’s $250k) their money when publically called on their involvement in your campaigns.
52.) My Church Is Like Any Other Christian Church - Lie, your church is so extreme, the pastor who married you, Rev. Wright, just got done blaming the US for 9/11 and named Louis Farrahkan their person of the year.
53.) I Disagree With My Church All The Time - Lie, you only recently repudiated Wright, who married you and your wife, and you still donate large sums of money to assist the church in furthering its message - hatred and revenge. You donated in 2006 alone, $22,500 to the church that you so terribly disagree with. That is nearly $500 PER WEEK - that sure is disagreement, Senator Obama.
54.) I Have Clean Connections Despite Rezko - Lie, you are not only connected to Exelon and Rezko, you are also connected to Hillary PAC supporter Mr. Hsu, AND an Iraqi Billionaire of ill repute, Nadhmi Auchi, who ripped off people in the Food For Oil, Iraqi deal. Mr. Auchi was also found guilt in another political corruption scandal (largest in France since WWII). And this is one of Obamas' good supporters that paid millions into the Obama campaign.
55.) I never heard sermons like Rev. Wright’s, that have been in videos all day, You Tube - Lie! 3 days later during your Mea Culpa speech you said “Did I hear controversial statements while I sat in that church? Yes I did.” FLIP-FLOPER
56.) The Passport Invasion is a conspiracy to find dirt on me! - Lie. Your own Campaign Foreign Policy Advisor is the CEO of the company that looked into your records. Could it be that you had them look into yours to hide the fact you looked into Clinton’s and McCain’s more than a year before!
57.) Rev. Meeks has nothing to do with my campaigning - Lie. Rev. Meeks appeared in ads for your Senate Campaign, donated to you, and helped raise money, then AND NOW. He also seems to despise America as much as Rev. Wright.
58.) My wife didn’t mean America is ignorant, she was just using a phrase - Lie. Again, MicHELLe’s comments are perfectly in sync with Wright’s, Meeks’, and Farrakhans, both in language, anger, and direction.
59.) I am very Anti-Terror - Lie. One of your good pals is long time radical and terrorist William Ayers, with whom you have been seen in the last 12 months and who has helped the now jailed khalidi, Professor at Columbia who invited Ahmadinejad to the University, to raise money for Palestinian terrorism attacks against Israel. PS - Your church published a pro Hamas Manifesto - guess you weren’t there on THAT Sunday either? How lucky for you.
60.) I have the best plan to cure the Mortgage Crisis - Lie. You and your campaign buddy Penny 'SubPrime Bank Collapse' Prizker have had your little fingers full of subprime cash - Obama has taken $1,180,103 from the top issuers of subprime loans: Obama received $266,907 from Lehman, $5395 from GMAC, $150,850 from Credit Suisse First Boston, $11,250 from Countrywide, $9052 from Washington Mutual, $161,850 from Citigroup, $4600 from CBASS, $170,050 from Morgan Stanley, $1150 from Centex, and last but certainly NOT LEAST - Obama received $351,900 from Goldman Sachs. I am sure that cash all came from folks who knew the subprime loan they had was a dream, eh?
61.) I played greater role in crafting liberal stands on gun control, the death penalty and abortion - Lie - It was found that Obama — the day after sitting for the interview — filed an amended version of the questionnaire, which appears to contain Obama’s own handwritten notes added to one answer. Read Obama had greater role on liberal survey

[Linda]

All I can say is hello President McCain.

Because I certainly WON'T vote for Hillary if Obama is not the nominee. And I seriously doubt if many of his supporters will.

A Vote for Hillary is a vote for the same inept same.

[Kip Anderson]

This arguement by the Clinton campaign just further illustrates their willingness to ignore the democratic process. Their 'when behind, change the rules' strategy is not going to win them the election in the end.

They continue to carefully wordsmith their arguements to rule out the reality that Obama is just plain ahead in the popular vote, the pledge delegate count, and very soon, the Superdelegate count. IT IS TIME FOR HILLARY CLINTON TO GO HOME AND SALVAGE WHAT LITTLE SELF RESPECT SHE HAS LEFT!

[alindra]

So let's forget the primaries and just do polls. Only which ones? They are all so different and fluctuate from day to day. So we've got to pick the right poll and the right moment when it is going to go OUR way, and bingo! we've got the nomination! Congratulations!

[Jakw]

Why are these superdelegates going for Obama right now? He is clearly the one hurting the party right now.

[Marge Pergola]

If Gov. Rendell and other like him support Barack Obama after Hillary Clinton is out of the picture, what are the statistics then?

Older white woman who supports Obama

[BJ]

Although I don't put much faith in polls, what is significant is, obviously Clinton IS outperforming Obama.

Considering all previous polls had Obama way ahead, this clearly shows the tide is indeed turning towards Hillary's favor.

Superdelegates have to consider the bigger picture. Obama is unelectable for November vs. McCain!

I personally was willing to take a hit on taxes under Clinton because I believe in her, and I believe she is the best candidate to lead us out of the mess Bush has gotten us into.

HOWEVER, I WILL NOT do this for Obama! I do not trust him, I think he is unqualified, and I don't believe his message of change!

It's either Clinton or McCain!

[Firman Beckwith]

up-coming story you may find interesting

Four Senior Citizens to Jet Ski from Chicago to New Orleans. Ages: 76,73,72, and 67.

We will arrive in Chicago on August 12 and launch two Jet skis for New Orleans on August 13. This is a 1850 mile trip lasting 16-17 days down the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.

The 76 abd 67 year old will do most of the riding and the other two will shadow us in the land vehicle.

Our story will be written up in the American Watercraft Association's magazine RIDE.

We are also trying to get a story published by AARP's Modern Maturity, and we think this would be a great story for some network to carry with 1-2 minute coverage each day of our trip.

To read about a previous 4600 mile jet ski trip go to google and enter Firman Beckwith and read the artice "Old Friends"

We may be old, but still fistie and full of it.

For more info, contact me at"

Firman Beckwith
9020 Sandorn Drive
Roswell, GA 30075
770-552-6622
404-518-6622

fpcbeckwith@mindspring.com

[Jim Lundberg, San Diego, CA]

Ron Paul would beat them all, if main stream media would give his views a fair shake. I feel like I'm living in Russia sometimes, with Air America only showing us the candidates that THEY want, not us.

[dj6080]

Voters have been taken in by this promise-them-anything-to-get-elected, smear campaigner. She continues to sow seeds of distrust amongst voters of a black candidate. Rotten politics, considering the secret in her own closet. She needs to be true to herself and not continue to throw stones at Obama. Just think about all of her promises to us, and her poor record of sound judgment--do you really believe that HRC can, or intends to deliver on those promises? Can you trust a woman with a record of lies? And BOLD lies at that! (All the way back to WhiteWater, Vince Foster, and the White House "Affairs" and Paula and Gennifer, et al.). And of course she ran for the N.Y. Senate, telling the people of N.Y. that she wanted to be their senator and wasn't interested in running for Prez. In the interest of the party, it would be better if superdelegates declared ASAP; this woman in her own way is as bad as Rev. Wright. She is only thinking of herself and her need to be President of the U.S. She will do anything to get there.

[KH]

Ok... and why does this poll matter? Obama is leading in Delegates and many more points. This is far too late to be considered as anything of substance. When Clinton finally drops out of the race she should just make sure that she speaks to her supporter and lets them know that now they have to support Obama. That is as simple as that. With the amount of supports Obama and Clinton have combined they can easily win over Mccain!

[Denver Dave]

Hillary has 2 options to combat McCain.
1: continue this divisive, guaranteed to fail, Republican-style attack campaign and hope, against all odds and logic, that she wins.
2: Drop out of the race and strongly support Obama, lending him her supporters.

The first leads to further divisions in the Democrats and has only a small chance of succeeding. The inevitable outcome is that it hastens the flight of blacks and the young from the Democratic party. If Clinton doesn't win, or wins by a small enough margin to allow the Republicans to steal the election again, then it would mean the "permanent majority" that the Bushies have been looking for.

The second leads to a united Democratic party, a leadership position in the Senate for Mrs. Clinton, and an easy win for Obama.

Of course, she doesn't see this. Instead, her operatives will continue to invite Reverend Wright to press club meetings, she'll continue to claim that McCain would be a better commander in cheif than Obama, and she'll rip our party apart. Feh.

[Steve Nesich]

Don, why no mention of this week's Zogby poll showing McCain beating Clinton, nationwide, by 10 points, but also shows Obama beating McCain, nationwide, by 3 points?

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1490

I can understand why the Clinton camp isn't telling us about this poll, but I think you're ignoring significant information that directly contradicts the recent Clinton attempts at "spin".

[Wake up People]

Rev Wright was close friends with the Clintons, so close that he got a personal invite to dinner at the white house. Why does Obama get all the flack? Wright spends more time with Clinton supporters!

[Brandon]

Seems a bit slanted:
Compare
"Clinton wins handily (50-41) while Obama is virtually tied with McCain (46-44),"
and
"Clinton leads McCain by one point (46-45) while Obama trails McCain by two points (44-46)."

[jimbo]

Stay in there and keep on campaignng Hillary . Middle America is behind you. !! We dont want this radical Obama and all his baggage of villains in the White House. He CANNOT WIN IN NOVEMBER. These Super delegates need to get back in touch with reality and with AMERICA !!! What r they smoking ??

[lata]

Oh really!!

Polls never mattered if Sen Obama was leading all this while over an year !! Now they mean a LOT??

After Obama wins the nomination, Hillary and her group can write up something on " How to spin things your way no matter what".

BTW, where are your 2007 tax returns Hillary and Bill ?

[melisande delissade]

These numbers are going to get worse for Obama. What I am concerned about is an underground current from some Hill democrats who support BO who want to ram through an early commitment from superdelegates.

Another example of some in washington being way out of touch with the rest of the country. No way no how will I vote for Obama unless he is veep to Hillary's coc.
Just can't stand the herd mentality and the whining sanctimony.

BTW, lest people say this is another indication of grouchy clinton people saying its their way or the highway, I want to make clear that my reasons for NOT VOTING FOR BO have nothing to do with my reasons FOR voting for HRC. They are two separate issues.

[J Hanks]

The fact that FOX is favorable to Clinton over Obama says it all, the right wing wants Clinton vs McCain.

[JZ]

"As tracked by Time magazine's Page blog, some superdelegates just aren't getting the message, however."
That's why they lost last two elections to Bush when the democrates should have been in the white house for those past years!!

[Larry]

So in other words, don't vote for the person you want to be president. Vote for the candidate who has the better chance of winning!

Well, I guess it's easier than running on ideas.

[Chris]

"The NBC/WSJ poll notes that Obama’s negative ratings among independents are they highest they have ever been."

So says the man who doesn't know how to use a spell checker or grammer checker function of the software they are using! :D

[ObanaNext8Years]

I thought they didn't pay any attention to polls??? Such two-faced, shallow, irrelevant, squeaky-wheel-gets-the-oil, look at me, ha-ha-ha, bull@$%#. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Will You Please Go NOW!!!

[james]

When you go to a christen church for 20 years, you’re Christian
When you go to a Jewish Temples for 20 years, you’re Jewish
When you go to a KKK meeting for 20 years, you’re a Racist
AND
When you go to a church that preaches hatred of whites for 20 years, you’re a Racist

Obama says he is trying to "change type of stereotyping and false division" [racism], but uses “typical white women” to describe his grandmother. Obama, is a Liar, a racist, and a FAKE. Now, that wright stated his true feels @ obama, the pathetic obama supports are saying wright is a Clinton supporter… HOW PATHETIC…

[Danny]

Polls are not reality only speculation.

Obama had some problems with his friends and some comments he made but they are not that bad. Hillery blantantly lies and puts herself before the Democratic Party.

I am sure if she had problems Obama would not rip her to shreds like she has done to him.

Hillary's Bad Judgement List

Voting for the war.

Staying with a husband that cheated on her multiple times.

Leaving the White House damaged when they moved out.
Supporting NAFTA

Serving on Walmart's board of directors. Walmart caused American Mom and Pop stores to close.

White Water Scandel

Threatening to nuke Iran more violence than diplomacy.

Gas Tax holiday is a joke she said it to get votes.

Chelsea Clinton telling people it is none of your busines when her father did the nasty in the White House which is a national monument and embarrased the American people. Because it happened in a place supported by tax dollars than it does become our business.

Blatant lies multiple times.

Doing the Republican dirty work to sabotage Obama from winning the White House. Super delegates know what is going on and I think it will back fire on Hillary.

[Garn Blansten]

As a conservative without a candidate in this election, I'm planning on staying home come November. But if Hillary gets the nomination, I might have to reconsider. I don't like Obama's politics, but I despise everything about Hillary. Like most Republicans who are disatisfied with McCain, I might vote for him just to vote against Hillary. Obama has the best chance of winning the White House simply because most conservative Republicans won't vote at all.

[JAMES NUNEZ]

BY, BY HILLARY. HELLO BARACK. NO MORE CLINTONS THEY HAVE HAD THEIR SCANDALS WE DO NOT NEED ANYMORE. NO MORE SPINS. NO MORE LIES, NO MORE POWER AT ANY COST.

[Carrie]

I am getting tired of seeing these polls - NBC has Obama up by 6 points over McCain and Clinton up by only 1. Every one of these polls says something different.

The Clintons are grasping at straws. They can't handle losing and will do and say anything to win. I think she should be worried about her future political career at this point. She already is having people pull away from her and join the Obama campaign. I actually liked her at one point but now I can't even stand to hear her speak.

OBAMA IN 08

[Morton Redner]

Let's try to keep things in perspective here. The fact that this Democratic race is close only underscores what an exceptional individual, a competent senator, and an excellent Presidential candidate we have in Hillary Clinton.

It should come as no surprise therefore that the race is close. But apparently somebody needs to take Hillary aside and break the news to her that only one of the two candidates can win and, by the sheer force of numbers, that candidate is not Hillary Clinton. It's Barack Obama.

Losing is tough but Hillary must make her peace with that reality. It's time for her to give it up and drop out. It's time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of the Party. It's time for all Democrats to join together so we can achieve that critical mass we must have in order to win the major battle ahead.

[curdoggy]

Hello President McCain!

Because I certainly WON'T vote for OBAMA if Hillary isn't the nominee.

[ERIC WILLIAMS]

NONE OF THESE PEOPLE ARE FIT TO BE PRESIDENT. NOT McCAIN NOT BILLARY NOT OBAMA. IF ANY OF THEM WIN THERE WILL BE A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE. WE NEED REAL CHANGE TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY GREAT AGAIN. A PERSON WHO WILL INSTILL A REAL SENSE OF PURPOSE AND NOT BE CONTROLLED BY BIG BUSINESS AND LOBBISTS. UNFORTUNATLY NO ONE LIKE THAT IS RUNNING. GOD SAVE AMERICA!!!

[CORE DEMOCRAT]

Hillary Clinton has the best solutions for the economy, health care, bringing home our troops, and Corporate greed of the oil companies! And she is a champion of ALL Americans! ALL! And not the "audacity" to say it while she listens to Anti-American and racist rhetoric for 20 years and WRITES basically the same thing in two books. If you have not read Obama's books, PLEASE DO! They may as well been written by Wright! Thank goodness Democrats understand about this great country and keeping it great! Hillary all the way! Super Delegates it is time to endorse the best candidate for ALL Americans! Florida and Michigan, We have not forgot you!

[Bimbo]

Stay in there and keep on campaignng Hillary . Middle East is behind you!! We dont want this rational Obama and all his baggage of problem solvers in the White House. He CAN WIN IN NOVEMBER. These Superdelegates need to get back in touch with reality and with AMERICA !!! Why dont all of them smoke what Hillary is selling!?

[Jim H]

You know, when Hillary was way ahead in superdelegates, and the possibility arose that she might lose the popular vote and the pledged delegate count, and win because of the superdelegates, this was the worst crime against democracy ever thought of. Now that the opposite possibility raises its head, superdelegates here we come!

[Core Democrat]

Obama,
WHERE is your senate scedules? ALL Americans want to know who you met with and what you were doing! You call for TRANSPARENCY! Well then show the paper trail! Clinton did. Why haven't you? Hypocite? OR show the schedules!
What are you hiding? What "friends" did you meet with in Chicago? Who did you meet with and when? TRANSPARENCY! You have said it too many times! TRANSPARENCY! WE WANT THE RECORDS!

[jesse]

Keep in mind. The GOP is only attacking Obama right now. Even KARL ROVE wrote an article with skewed statistics trying to bolster Clinton's momentum. We all know what his agenda is.

I fear that Clinton has already swift boated herself: Sniper fire liar vs. veteran/ POW/ war hero. How will Clinton's chances look if the GOP stops working for her?

[Justin Roth]

With no favor to Obama or Clinton these results clearly appear slanted to Clinton. How can just weeks ago Obama have such a strong lead? The Wright controversy will blow over in a couple weeks, in addition to Obamas big win in N.C. so how well with this hold up?
I'm just dissapointed in seeing the Media as a whole praise whichever candidate is hot and drop the one that's cold.
I don't like it, but this is McCain's election.

[Voice of truth]

Remember, figures lie, and liars figure

[jesse]

Keep in mind. The GOP is only attacking Obama right now. Even KARL ROVE wrote an article with skewed statistics trying to bolster Clinton's momentum. We all know what his agenda is.

I fear that Clinton has already swift boated herself: Sniper fire liar vs. veteran/ POW/ war hero. How will Clinton's chances look if the GOP stops working for her?

[Peter Noble]

Hillary will nuke the subjugated people of Iran to pander for my vote. I will not vote for a liar whose husband is a crook and a uses the race card.
Weirdly the Rev. Wright and Hillary/Bill Clinton are exactly the same, over 60 and full of bile. The gender, race wars of the 60's should retire with those in their 60's.
The news orgs give us no real news other than Hillary's pandering to bigots, gun owners and women who look like they have husbands like Bill Clinton. Everyone who supports Hillary are angry and yes bitter.
Clinton is a Republican and they both pander to worst in us and to our fears.
As a Jewish-American I don't want the blood of a genocide on my hands for voting for an insane Clinton and that's both of them. They are raving mad. Hillary is another Nixon but with less morality.

[Bassist]

Who cares about what the Polls say? This is complete garbage, and a desperate ploy to upset democracy. When the polls favored Barack, no one said anything. Now, just because of comments made by his EX pastor, and the polls change slightly, then the thought process has to change. This is exactly the kind of politics this country should avoid, which is what Barack stands for. I think it's time to rally around the people's choice, and defeat JM together. Why all this bitterness?

[Val Walker]

PLEASE DO NOT FORCE ME TO VOTE FOR MCCAINE I WILL NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA PLEASE TELL THE SUPER DELLIGATES THAT THEY SHOULD HERE WHAT THE VOTER WANTS AND THAT IS HILLARY . SHE CAN TURN THIS COUNTRY AROUND AND IMY 401K CAB GAIN BACK WHAT IT HAS LOST IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

Posted by: TRENIA KAY KASUNICK | May 01, 2008 at 12:14 PM

Re: Trenia, NOBODY CARES. . . If you want to vote for McCain then do SO, really NOBODY cares. OBAMA '08

[wm musson]

hillary needs the nomination so the democrats can beat mccain.....obama is very questionable......remember, its the enviroment, stupid..............

[dennis]

Typical Clintonian gall. She works as hard as she can to trash Obama, one of his own gnawing on his ankles, then, when people respond to her trashing, they grab the poll of the moment and scream "See! This shows I'm the one!" Typical political dishonesty, but it is really aggravating for those of us who really do want DEMOCRATS to win this time.

Hillary's supporters should realize: she's lost the election. It's over. She can't win. Capable though she is, pre-ordained as you all thought she was, Sen. Obama came along and upset the apple cart. His taking the lead is the kind of "situation" that happens constantly in politics. Polls don't reflect it (remember all those polls about Hillary's inevitability?), momentary snapshots don't equal truth. She lost, he won. He has the DELEGATES, and that won't change. It's time to show your real loyalty, not to some personality who somehow convinced you she's wonderful and deserves the presidency, but to your party and your ethical stance in the world. Please face reality and get behind Sen. Obama, because like it or not, he's your guy, and you're going to screw us all if your blind loyalty leads to four years of Bush III.

[Val Walker]

PLEASE DO NOT FORCE ME TO VOTE FOR MCCAINE I WILL NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA PLEASE TELL THE SUPER DELLIGATES THAT THEY SHOULD HERE WHAT THE VOTER WANTS AND THAT IS HILLARY . SHE CAN TURN THIS COUNTRY AROUND AND IMY 401K CAB GAIN BACK WHAT IT HAS LOST IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

Posted by: TRENIA KAY KASUNICK | May 01, 2008 at 12:14 PM

Re: Trenia, NOBODY CARES. . . If you want to vote for McCain then do SO, really NOBODY cares. OBAMA '08

[American Citizen]

Pathetic are those of you who would not vote for the other democratic candidiate if your candidate is not elected. Stop whining and grow up already. Go out and vote for your democratic party when the time comes. God bless America

[Charlie]

Who are they sampling to get these poll results? No one called me! So, why is this important? Is this democracy?

[Ed]

Last time the majority voted for Bush. I could not believe.
Like Dr. Phil would say " WHAT WERE YOU THINKING".
I saw the best bumper sticker on a truck which read,
When Bush took office gas was $1.49.
What do I really know about Obama, well not enough to judge him or vote for him.
I know H.Clinton is a tough cookie. For all the guys who
will not vote for Hilary because she is a woman,when's the last time you won an argument with your wife?
See, it's a womans world.
McCain as a P.O.W. did not agree to be freed in Vietnam
until all his men were freed with him.That says more to me than what I hear he will be the same old same old.
If it is Hilary vs McCain, I will vote for Hilary
If Obama vs McCain I will vote for McCain
I am 3rd generation Mexican American.Grandpa was born in Phoenix, Dad and I born in LA. So I am as American as anybody else here.
Reality is America is still black and white.
But it is changing, more people tolerant of others who have different skin color or religoius beliefs.

I love this Democratic process,our freedoms to agree and
disagree, respectfully. Freedoms allot of people around the world do not have. God Bless America and God Bless our next President

[Carole Mayer]

I am worried that some how People will look past Hillary because of President Clinton and the youth because of Brock obama.
I am 62, Alaska Native, and American. There is so much to do. We need the person that knows the ropes.
It is so easy for me to see that Hillary should be President and how smart it would be for Borack to be her Vice President. He could learn from her and his time to be a great President would come.
If I sound Nieve maybe I am. I want a goverment for the
people. I live in a state where most of our republican law makers are under FBI investigation. They act as if its an insult that they got caught.
Our votes dont really count. The President has been choosen before our polls close. Something is wrong.
The big problem is Our youth dying in Iraq.
Just a thought, Bush goes to Saudia Arabia and the Oil prices start to go up. He's made us a laughing stock of the world.
I make less than Thirty thousand a year. I don't get a tax break. Why do Oil companies.
I am done ranting
Just my thoughts and please forgive my spelling Carole
Iwork4ualaska@gmail.com

[Aerin]

It's time for Obama to drop out of the race so that the party can unite behind Clinton. The superdelegates have a duty to make sure the party doesn't shoot itself in the foot again. If the rest of the superdelegates have any sense of honor or responsibility, they'll declare for Clinton now.

P.S. I'm more liberal than either candidate, but the people I know who are for Obama are pretty much the same people who couldn't tell any difference between Gore and Bush (!) and voted for Nader.

[just think]

i'm starting to think this whole election thing is rigged

if clinton takes the white house, it will be proof to me that the whole election process is rigged.

1989-1993 George BUSH
1993-1997 Bill Clinton
1997-2001 Bill Clinton
2001-2005 George W Bush - appointed president by supreme court
2005-2009 George W Bush
What's Next???
2009-2013 Hillary Clinton?
2013-2017 Hillary Clinton?
2017-2021 Jeb Bush?
2021-2025 Jeb Bush?
2025-2029 Chelsea Clinton?
2029-2033 Chelsea Clinton

Oh but wait, don't forget we have the Bush Twins too...

let's just scrap this whole this idea of a president and just become a monarchy controlled by clintons and bushes.

imo, obama has dropped in the polls because of dirty campaigning by the clintons....not because hillary is better than obama.

I will vote for obama this november...if he's not on the ticket, i will just have about given up on this country, because the whole process will become FAKE in my eyes.

[Ed]

Last time the majority voted for Bush. I could not believe.
Like Dr. Phil would say " WHAT WERE YOU THINKING".
I saw the best bumper sticker on a truck which read,
When Bush took office gas was $1.49.
What do I really know about Obama, well not enough to judge him or vote for him.
I know H.Clinton is a tough cookie. For all the guys who
will not vote for Hilary because she is a woman,when's the last time you won an argument with your wife?
See, it's a womans world.
McCain as a P.O.W. did not agree to be freed in Vietnam
until all his men were freed with him.That says more to me than what I hear he will be the same old same old.
If it is Hilary vs McCain, I will vote for Hilary
If Obama vs McCain I will vote for McCain
I am 3rd generation Mexican American.Grandpa was born in Phoenix, Dad and I born in LA. So I am as American as anybody else here.
Reality is America is still black and white.
But it is changing, more people tolerant of others who have different skin color or religoius beliefs.

I love this Democratic process,our freedoms to agree and
disagree, respectfully. Freedoms allot of people around the world do not have. God Bless America and God Bless our next President

[lindy]

I am a republican and I will vote for Hillary Clinton if she runs against McCain. If Obama runs I will vote for McCain. I just don't trust Obama and I don't believe in him. I have alot of republican friends & family who feel as I do.

[Ducky]

To those saying negative things about Bill Clinton's administration- You don't have a clue. Are you so completely out of it, that you didn't pay attention during the 1990's? Or are you just really young?

[Rosemary Zacharski]

I agree with Kuilor 2K and Debbie from El Paso. I and my friends will not vote for Obama. Some will even vote for McCain. I will just sit it out if Obama is the candidate. He seems to be the darling of the media even though his remarks and his wives are so offensive. His affililiations with the likes of Pastor Wright, Ayers, and other militants make Barack Obama the most frightening candidate we have ever had. He is not mainstream, and only represents a small segment of the population. I think people are slowly waking up as to how anti-American Obama really is. He split with Pastor Wright when the Pastor insulted HIM. He didn't care when the Pastor said G-Damn America or any of the other militant remarks. We need to be SAVED from this type of a Candidate.

[jg6080]

These are Republican crossover voters improving the polls. They would never vote for Clinton in November. Read about Limbaugh's Operation Chaos. HRC received an extra 100,000 votes in PA and100,000 votes in Ohio and 120,000 votes in Texas compliments of Republicans. What a mess! She should have been out of the race by now, but the crossover votes prevented that. However, those crossover votes are MC CAIN votes in November! How do you like being manipulated by Republican voters?

[Jen]

The democratic party is so split right now that in it ensuring a win for McCain. I wish someone would throw in the towel and end this nonsense. I don't care which, either is better then McCain or Bush at this point. I'm tired of the drama, mud flinging, everything...

[ApostasyUSA]

Hillary supported NAFTA, the war in Iraq, and now she wants to cut gas tax for a few months even after economist say it won't help most Americans.

Hillary might talk a good game but she makes the wrong decisions....I want a really, really smart person in the White House......so Obama is who I support. I hope Obama wins in Indy and in NC, then we can put this mess to rest and get on with what matters like the war in Iraq and our energy problems.....also I like Obama’s deportment...and I think that it is important for bringing people together....which is what America needs right now....

My hopes and dreams of a united country are with Barack Obama.

[HilarySupporter]

So what if Hilary made 109 million in 2007. So what that she didn't want to release the information and waited until a Friday to release the information. She's just learning from her predecessor, George W., in the act of spin control. It's a sign that's she's truly prepared to handle the most important office in the world. In order to ensure the war in Iraq and the billions made off it, she must be ruthless. How else will she dominate the world? By any means necessary. Go Hilary.

[lhb3]

Obama is hampered by the fact that he cannot go after Clinton like she is going after him without destroying himself or the Party's chances in the fall. Clinton is free to pick a fight, but the early debates showed that the viewers and Clinton herself expects Obama to take a more respectful and measured manner when answering her. However, McCain and the Republicans will be under no such restraints, but rather, will be free to go after Hilary and Bill Clinton, and will bring up every sordid detail of their collective past. Read "Primary Colors" or Dick Morris's book on her, "Rewriting History", for a taste of what is to come in the fall if she is nominated. The Republican PAC packs will tear into her like wolves attacking Dr Doolittle's pushmi-pullyu. She will be portrayed as an unethical, opportunistic carpet bagger who clings to her status as a party aristocrat by pandering to the working class. Her husband's dealing with Islamic militants during his terms in office (Mogadishu, USS Cole, and car bombings), his "peace dividend" (gutting the military), her own fold after failing to get health care reform passed (take an extended trip abroad), and her choking up and whining after Obama and Edwards tag teamed her in the New Hampshire debate, will be used to counter her claims to being "tough" or a "fighter for the American people." McCain and the PACs will eat her alive. Yet FOX News continues to encourage her candidacy...

[SteveN]

Why does the LA Times print mendacious, rambling tirades like the one from Kuilor2k, printed above?

[Charlie]

She always used to poo-poo the polls as meaningless nonsense when she was bottom feeding. It doesn't matter, she is not electable. The republicans will be happy to have a female piniata to beat around. If you judge a person by the company they keep the smarmy Clintons are screwed!!!!

[Thomas Chung]

I will be one angry Democratic Party member in November should Hillary win the nomination. If she wins the nomination, it will not be due to her views on Iraq, health care reform, or the economy, but because she played the race card. Everyone knows when Hillary speaks about Obama's "electability" in November in swing states, she is pointing to his skin color. She wants to divide our party on Obama's race because she has realized she can't win the nomination based upon her policy issues, White House "experience," her name, and her pledged delegates. She's no doubt a fighter, but she's fighting for her own legacy, not for the good of the Democratic Party. Hillary, just like a true Clinton, cares more for the Clinton legacy than she does for the Democratic Party. I'm voting for McCain if Obama is not the candidate.

[Carry Bradshaw]

Hilary has ALWAYS been my idol since I was a young girl. I have always been fascinated by smart, intriguing and successful women. Most importantly, I have always admired the fact that while many politicians "retire" once they relieve themselves from a "title" (ie Al Gore, who famously was holding his Oscar and said to a reporter who asked him if he thought of going back into politics with a huge 'no').. regardless of a title or not, Hillary has always remained a person who has served her country trying to make a difference: it is her life. This country has been her purpose all her life; she hasn't done anything else, the notion of going horseback riding all the time on a Ranch (like Reagan), gunning animals on Camp David (like Cheney & Bush), schmoozing at galas with Lindsay Lohan & Will Ferrell (like Al Gore)... doesn't interest Hillary... really only this country does & her daughter does. And have you not noticed the hot chemistry between her & Bill since she started her election? Talk about rekindling the flames!

My parents are Republican, but they definitely aren't voting for McCain because they are extremely opposed to the war on Iraq. And despite the fact that Obama is a 'great' speaker, his speaking tends to discourage "experience" as replacing it with a negative connotation: "old." And he says new is "good" yet... the problem with new is that it would be great if Obama could actually speak in the debates about what he stands for that is utterly "new" and "radical" than what Hillary has already spoke of and for. Experience in my book is "proof" it's not a bad thing it's "dependability" and lets face it, in this faltering economy it's "Assurance." No offense but reality is much more important for me than this talk of change & yet no radical differences in policies & in the debates. My dad who is Republican but will vote Democrat this year around (in Oregon), feels like he tops Bill Clinton's speaking anyway. My dad says "Obama makes you think he's a great speaker that COULD possibly take on issues, Bill gets you to think about real issues." My dad is in the health field and thinks himself a philanthropist as well and admires how Bill took a 7 country tour, just in 1 week & visited about 5 more the subsequent week to 3rd world countries NOT on the African Continent who had a rising AIDS/HIV rate to talk about with those country's leaders how they needed to stand up and make a change to reverse this increasing epidemic in their countries. My dad pointed out to his friend that when Clinton spoke of change, he had an issue that went alongside with it; not Obama. With that said... my dad who deems Hillary more likeable amongst Republicans out of the two candidates, but even the couple, is drawn to the idea that Bill be "First Man."

Yesterday our family watched a very Right Wing show (won't name which one!) but they were ripping... RIPPING Obama apart. Were they predominately opinions? Not necessarily, one of the Republicans actually admitted to thinking about voting for Obama & I guess had publically announced it a couple months ago, but now he is furious about Obama's hypocrisies that have been constantly brought to light & not taking responsibility for his actions.... "how could he be attending a church for 20 years with a pastor who said anti-american things & has deemed himself as the most unpatriotic... but only now disagree with him because the public knows about it?" I'm only 19, but I remember switching churches from what my parents attended because I didn't like my youth pastor... everyone has a choice of who they decide to listen to as their spiritual & life advisor. . . Obama has a choice and his was to stay his his church for 20 years!" The Right wings also talk about how Obama is fairly a baby, he hasn't been in politics for long & yet he is already shedding lies, contradictions and constant apologies (Rezko, lying about passing bills, Reverend Wright, acting like he was raised by his black dad & white mother, when really he was raised by his white mother & Southeast Asian step-father) and I feel he SHOULDN'T be doing this early on in his POLITICAL CAREER. It shows his lack of judgement & respect in telling people the truth... They continued to move on to Hillary, stating yes she'll lied about landing under gunfire, but we all know her track record, her experience and all the good things she's done for this country, unlike Obama, she has over 3 decades of political experience that contradictions are bound to come up from present to past as current events change, but the fact that Obama has already matched up to her with that and running from Presidency less than 2 years into his political career? I just don't see it in Obama... not for the Republicans & not yet for this country. "

Aside from the media, a lot of conservatives & Republicans who majority work at oil companies in Texas applauded Hillary for being the ONLY candidate (amongst John McCain & Obama) to attend the Houston Energy Summit. Right now, there is a huge crisis in the barrel $ per oil, air travel not only is low, but very expensive and is leading big companies in BANKRUPTCY! Do you know how many jobs will be lost because of the airline industry alone? How many people will be able to see relatives abroad because of hiked up prices? Hillary made a speech that we need to stop relying on foreign oil, oil prices are high, therefore economy has hit rock bottom & companies are now getting their products from China & thus boosting China's economy & that we need to start producing oil on our own lands to maintain the jobs effected if we don't, keep gas prices low & thus keeping the economy going. Surprisingly these Republicans appreciated Hillary's speech & many agreed with her. These are a few things that make me think to myself "this lady has it going on: both for the democrats, to be the person who takes us out of this horrible economy! & her very feasible victory over the Republicans!

[marny]

Kuilor2k-
If you are into correcting falsehoods told by politicians- please look up all the lies that Hillbilly has told- but that would take a thesis- wouldn't it.

[carmen c]

I think that Obama does not have the experience necessary to be President of the United States. I also think he definately has big ambitions, but I do not think he is thinking for the betterment of the Country. I think he memorized a lot of Martin Luther King speeches and figured if it worked once, it can work again.
What he seems to have is a cult following, and while I agree that we need change in this Country, I would like to know what exactly we are changing to.

While everyone seems to be for Obama right now, I can remember when these same people were gung-ho for George W and thought he was going to save this country. Well see where that got us. I think we should look long and hard before we wind up giving this election to the Republicans for another four or eight years and really screw up this Country. I just think we all should assess our choices and make a decision based on who has the better chances to take back our Country.

csc

[Po Win]

Jack3213 WROTE: "WHO [EVER] FAVORS INTELLIGENCE, CREDIBILITY, AND EXPERIANCE? --THOSE WHO FAVOR MCCAIN.... FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE THINGS WILL "CHANGE" --DAY ONE-- IF A DEMOCRAT WERE ELECTED SHOULD KNOW THAT WITH A DEMOCRAT DAY ONE MIGHT CHANGE SOMETHING AND THAT SOMETHING IS: HIGHER TAXES, GREATER SECURITY RISK, UNACCEPTABLE HEALTH INSURANCE, AND A WEAKER ECONOMY"

Dear Jack3213,

It's obvious that Change in the economy, health care coverage, homeland security and the tax code will not happen on day one. That's indisputable. What is also indisputable is that Senator McCain is intelligent and experienced; he is, and so are his democratic opponents, Senators Clinton and Obama, alike. The credibility of anyone running for office, however, including John McCain, is speculative, at best. If a democrat is elected (and Senator McCain is not allowed to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor), your drawn conclusion that a weaker economy will follow is rash and reflects your own insecurity. No economist, Milton Friedman, included, can augur or foretell this from an election. That nearly 50 million Americans have no health care coverage is already unacceptable. Voters are not privy to Homeland Security, so your prediction, on that matter is weak and of little or no practical value. Any drawn conclusions, humble or immodest, are burdened by misanthropic musings and made obscured by character assassination.

[Not-A-Judas]

I thought only a "Judas" could support Hillary?

Whenever I hear about a Hillary supporter in the news, its promptly followed by another calling him a "Judas".

Is that thier "pet name" for each other in the Clinton camp?

[John Gibson]

Hillary Clinton has run a disgusting campaign and has succeeded in destroying all of the respect and nostalgia I had for her husband and his administration. I won't vote Republican, but I won't vote for her, either. There are alternatives if she's the Democratic nominee. And I hope when McCain is elected, her supporters take full credit for the reversal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court President McCain finally, conclusively swings to the far right.

[Indian]

International leaders don't trust Hillary - and neither does anyone I know!

We're all voting for Obama or McCain.

Don't worry Hillary - they both have a cigar for you!

[oskaruby]

Sure hillary voted for the war...because the usa was going after the weapons of mass distruction. remember? had she known the real reason, I don't believe she would have voted that way. and had BO been there he would have voted for it too.
Hillary's garbage has been out for a long long time...we haven't seen alot of obamas junk yet...well, some of it posted by Kuilor2k. so, why do people say they hate hillary? because she's a strong fearless leader that is leading the race and will probably be our next president of the USA? people have suggested they won't vote for the dem that defeats their canidate. In a blog I saw today, some guy wrote,"if hillary steals the nomination from obama all the brothers and sisters are going to stay home" stay home. (some feel like obama is trying to steal the nomination from hillary) so let's just stop the whole process now... donate all the money raised for hillary and obama campaigns, give it to our needy and give the presidency to mccain? that will solve it!

[Enough]

If the DNC overrules our votes, and puts Clinton up - thats the end of the Democratic Party!

What's the point of being a member of a party who ignores what the majority of the party wants?

Superdelegates need to be removed from this system - or just install a Dictator. Don't continue to bother us, if participation in the system is penalized!

[M. A.R.]

This Clinton supporter will not vote for Obama should Senator Clinton be denied the nomination even if she requests unity and support for Obama. She is the best choice now -- even though the Democratic leadership that "snatched defeat from the jaws of victory" in the last two elections can't see it.

[youbetcha]

To Kullor2k and all:

Wow--I'm impressed with your research and information. I can only take your word for it for now since I do not intend to do such extensive research.

But it probably doesn't matter to the dems since I believe they will put Obama up no matter what. I think they are afraid of a backlash from blacks. Ironically, both groups will probably lose because it does look like McCain would defeat Obama. One only needs to use logic to see this, not polls.

Clinton is more conservative than Obama.
McCain is more conservative than Clinton.
The country leans a tad to the right.
Therefore: Clinton fits the bill. The wavering rightists would go for Clinton instead of McCain and for McCain instead of Obama.

I've worried from the start that dems having two candidates that do not fit the norm for presidential candidates (one is female, one is mulatto) was risky at a time of urgent need for a change in leadership.

[ed penisia]

In reading one of the tabloids at the grocery store, how true is Hillary Clinton having a sexual preference towards women? Wow, what a shocker.

Guess she didn't give a damn about Bill, the cigars, or Monica.

[Cliff]

Obama has managed to maintain the high road even with the onslaught of the Clintons and the Republicans. It is hard to differeniate between the two as their tactics are pretty much the same. A good example of I will do anything to wiin is Hillary's gas tax proposal over the summer. This doesn't solve a thing except contribute more to our deficit. We need a president with more fore thought then that and Obama gives that opportunity.

If the superdelegates give this election to Hillary after the campaign she has run, they will destroy the Democratic party this year. I for one would have a hard time voting for her after her tactics and I wouldn't have said that a few months ago. Winning is important but winning with your head held high is more important. The Wright thing is over blown because it is not Obama that said these things. He has done a great job of distancing himself from his former pastor so lets get on with dealing with the issues. Vote Obama!!

[Charbax]

US Democrats, please, you have to beat the Republicans.

By all means, there is nothing else more important. Any Democrat as president will do 100x better job then the Bush and McCain camp.

President: Hillary Clinton
Vice President: Barack Obama

That team can only kick ass. And simply as a symbol, that team will bring peace to the world and solve all the food, energy and global warming problems.

[don't come back to harlem]

funny how the clintons kill the dems

seems like she'll pander to racists before she and bill will accept losing

i like obama and mccain more because they won't say and do what she and bill are happy to say and do

never saw people--even politicians--who care for themselves only like hillary and bill

if she wins the nomination i don't think she or bill should show their nasty faces in harlem ever again

[jg6080]

Carrie Bradshaw wrote, "Hillary made a speech that we need to stop relying on foreign oil, oil prices are high, therefore economy has hit rock bottom & companies are now getting their products from China & thus boosting China's economy & that we need to start producing oil on our own lands to maintain the jobs effected if we don't, keep gas prices low & thus keeping the economy going. Surprisingly these Republicans appreciated Hillary's speech & many agreed with her.

CARRIE, just google "Peak World Oil Production" or something similar with "oil" and "peak" and you may not be so naive about our ability to lower the cost of oil. Hillary is all talk. The world's oil production has peaked. We will have to find alternative sources of energy, but it won't be necessarily CHEAPER energy. We will have to look to wind and solar and nuclear energy. It will take time and MONEY. And probably before anything happens in this regard, we have to get out of IRAQ, because we can't afford a pricetag of $9 billion per week to fight a war without eventually bankrupting the country. And threatening to nuke Iran to smithereens is not a very good start on Presidential judgment--jeez, wonder what would happen on Day 2 if that steel-b*lled attorney were to be elected! That would keep me awake at night.

[ck]

Let’s hope the other super delegates are paying a bit more attention than Joe Andrew, who seems somewhat out of touch and a bit delusional, calling Obama someone with a willingness ‘not to do the politically expedient thing.’ Poor Joe, he must’ve been too busy counting his big pay-off from the Tony Rezko Chicago machine to notice Obama throwing Rev. Wright under the bus this week. Or, perhaps he’s just a little slow on the uptake, not recognizing that switching his support from Hillary to Barry at this point just might make him appear a tad on the ‘politically expedient’ side himself. His lame excuse for switching is the fact that Hillary wants to give consumers a summer break from federal gasoline taxes??? Why does that sound oh-so unconvincing??? It sure looks like Barry and Joe could write a book on doing the ‘politically expedient’ thing, maybe edited by Rezko. Perhaps Joe’s just not sharp enough to notice that the latest Obama ‘anger’ and ‘outrage’ act re Rev. Wright is just about as ‘politically expedient’ as it gets. Or, that it’s just a lame replay of the same ‘politically expedient’ ploy Obama tried before the PA primary, when he shrewdly allowed the release of Rev. Wright’s ‘God damn America’ video clips to set the stage for his Philly ‘race speech.’ If he were sharp as a super delegate should be, Joe might notice that Obama allowed Wright his racist rant last weekend (for Wright’s book deals) so Obama could step forth, 'messiah-like,' on the Tuesday before the IN & NC primaries to deliver yet another speech ‘denouncing’ Wright’s remarks, again reminding voters that only he (because of his half-black/half-white DNA) can ‘save’ America from the so-called racial ‘divide.’ Having agreed to this flim-flam more than a year ago, as Wright has admitted to the press, Jerry and Barry are probably somewhere right now having a good laugh (with a rather clueless Joe looking on) about their big-bucks book contracts and million-dollar-plus Chicago mansions (both paid for, no doubt, by Rezko or one of his pals). Oh, and laughing, too, about how they bamboozled America by deliberately turning the so-called racial ‘divide’ into a chasm for their own personal gain, and duped ill-informed, guilt-ridden voters, afraid of not being PC (sort of like Joe), into believing that only the two of them know how to bridge that chasm. Both Wright and Obama definitely believe (after 20 years together) the same radical black leftist ideology (a la James Cone, Malcolm X) masquerading as ‘religion.’ But Obama is now trying to con voters (and schmucks like Joe) into believing that he’s suddenly somewhere towards the middle…and, if they buy that, maybe he can also con them into believing that he also walks on water.

[Aussie Henry]

The Democrat party in the USA has a cancer - it's members. They are cannabalising one another.
I sit here in Sydney Australia reading all the blogs around the USA and I think to my self who made that statement "shock and awe" ? That how I feel reading the attacks on the candidates by so called loyal democrats.The longer this race goes on the democrats will lose.
For what is worth I think Obama will make an outstanding President, and God knows America and the World need one right now.

[autumn]

ED PENISIA, I don't want to quote Gennifer Flowers in this blog, but apparently Bill Clinton laughingly CONFIRMED to Gennifer that Hillary prefers women. This is in Gennifer Flowers' autobiography. His quoted comment in the book is so vulgar that I cannot quote it; however, it is available on the net. Quite gross and not befitting a future President of the U.S. And they criticize black pastors! It is they who are obscene.

[Brad Edwards]

Sen. Clinton for President: How could the Senator from New York vote against the war? She would have been run out of New York. And the republicans would have labeled her " weak " on security. Sen. Obama is not electable. He would be a great V.P. and President in eight years. Once he has some experience. I do not want a " rookie " in charge at this point in history. Sen. Obama has little if any experience. So what? Check out his spin over Rev. Wright. Talk about spin and mistruths. Spin City and it goes on and on. Sorry great speeches and books do not make a great President.

hillary is losing steam and never seems of getting it back...

the bosnia issue really matters to the delegates, also maybe the changing/resignation of her campaign people, and most importantly, maybe her stand on gay marriages...

morality is and should be the issue...

i think she s