Barack Obama claims the Democratic nomination, but Hillary Clinton has not yet conceded
Barack 4 President>>>>>Finally, on the night of Tuesday June 3rd, after the last primaries in South Dakota and Montana, their struggle is over. Mr Obama has secured enough additional delegates—from the two primaries, and from unelected “superdelegates”—to be sure of the Democratic nomination for the presidential race.
Strangely, Mrs Clinton said she would make no decision on Tuesday. It is anyway out of her hands. As the polls closed in the two western states, superdelegates announced their support for Mr Obama in droves, giving him well over a majority of all delegates. But her support may still matter. She did well among working-class whites, older voters and women. As she praised Mr Obama but declined to concede in a speech in New York on Tuesday night, her supporters sporadically chanted “Denver”. That is the city where the Democrats will hold their nominating convention late in the summer. Some die-hard supporters think she should somehow continue a quixotic fight until then.
What does she really want? Lanny Davis, one of Mrs Clinton's most determined advisers and campaigners, was surprisingly mild-mannered talking about the race just before Mrs Clinton spoke. He may have reflected the view of many—but not all—in her camp that Mr Obama should offer her the vice-presidential slot. Mr Davis says she truly enjoys the Senate, and could be a powerful figure when she returns to her work there. But she may want the respect of having been offered the vice-presidential nomination.
And yet, Mr Obama will not want to make the offer if there is a chance that she will actually accept. Expect a complicated dance between the two in coming days. She probably would not bring to his ticket what it needs. He campaigned on “change”, whereas she lived in the White House for eight years in the 1990s. He rose to prominence partly for his early and clear opposition to the war in Iraq, which she voted for. And there is the delicate but unavoidable fact that Americans may be skittish about breaking both the colour and sex barrier at the same time.
Mr Obama will need someone with strong national-security credentials to hold down some of the eastern swing states, especially Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Mr Obama cannot afford to lose all three to Mr McCain, who has made a calling-card of his toughness on Iraq, Iran and the like. But his populist pitch on the economy may help him, especially in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Intriguingly, the electoral map may be shaken up quite a bit this year. Much attention will fall on the three states that switched sides between the 2000 and 2004 election. But this year Mr Obama thinks Latinos and young voters may help him make inroads into the interior West, perhaps snatching Colorado and New Mexico from the Republicans. Back east, support from affluent and youngish voters may help him to grab Virginia. He may even have a distant chance in Georgia and North Carolina. On the other hand, Mr McCain hopes to flip states such as New Hampshire, Minnesota, Washington and Oregon the Republicans’ way. New Hampshire is a particularly ripe target.
Although the electoral maths looks tight, Mr Obama will get a boost when his party eventually unifies and Mrs Clinton begins campaigning for him. He is also a prodigious fundraiser, who can repeatedly ask his army of small donors to put up a few more dollars each. Mr McCain’s Republican party is split and dispirited. Support for the incumbent, George Bush, is at miserable lows. Mr Obama has much to be happy about.
Strangely, Mrs Clinton said she would make no decision on Tuesday. It is anyway out of her hands. As the polls closed in the two western states, superdelegates announced their support for Mr Obama in droves, giving him well over a majority of all delegates. But her support may still matter. She did well among working-class whites, older voters and women. As she praised Mr Obama but declined to concede in a speech in New York on Tuesday night, her supporters sporadically chanted “Denver”. That is the city where the Democrats will hold their nominating convention late in the summer. Some die-hard supporters think she should somehow continue a quixotic fight until then.
What does she really want? Lanny Davis, one of Mrs Clinton's most determined advisers and campaigners, was surprisingly mild-mannered talking about the race just before Mrs Clinton spoke. He may have reflected the view of many—but not all—in her camp that Mr Obama should offer her the vice-presidential slot. Mr Davis says she truly enjoys the Senate, and could be a powerful figure when she returns to her work there. But she may want the respect of having been offered the vice-presidential nomination.
And yet, Mr Obama will not want to make the offer if there is a chance that she will actually accept. Expect a complicated dance between the two in coming days. She probably would not bring to his ticket what it needs. He campaigned on “change”, whereas she lived in the White House for eight years in the 1990s. He rose to prominence partly for his early and clear opposition to the war in Iraq, which she voted for. And there is the delicate but unavoidable fact that Americans may be skittish about breaking both the colour and sex barrier at the same time.
Mr Obama will need someone with strong national-security credentials to hold down some of the eastern swing states, especially Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Mr Obama cannot afford to lose all three to Mr McCain, who has made a calling-card of his toughness on Iraq, Iran and the like. But his populist pitch on the economy may help him, especially in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Intriguingly, the electoral map may be shaken up quite a bit this year. Much attention will fall on the three states that switched sides between the 2000 and 2004 election. But this year Mr Obama thinks Latinos and young voters may help him make inroads into the interior West, perhaps snatching Colorado and New Mexico from the Republicans. Back east, support from affluent and youngish voters may help him to grab Virginia. He may even have a distant chance in Georgia and North Carolina. On the other hand, Mr McCain hopes to flip states such as New Hampshire, Minnesota, Washington and Oregon the Republicans’ way. New Hampshire is a particularly ripe target.
Although the electoral maths looks tight, Mr Obama will get a boost when his party eventually unifies and Mrs Clinton begins campaigning for him. He is also a prodigious fundraiser, who can repeatedly ask his army of small donors to put up a few more dollars each. Mr McCain’s Republican party is split and dispirited. Support for the incumbent, George Bush, is at miserable lows. Mr Obama has much to be happy about.
2 comments:
Hey Josh good news to all Africans. Its just not because of Obama being a candidate of Democratic but just to believe that dreams can come true after 44 years of Martin Luther King JR now we have seen that his dreams have came true
So let us not lose a hope that one day Africa will be one of the greatest continent in the world and no body from out will change this its just africans themselves and changes oways begins with u so let s change begin with africans let us start. Sammy stay self brother we pray for u guys and we pray for SAcans to change
CONGRATULATIONS TO oBAMA ILA INGEKUA VEME HUYU OBAMA AKAJA KUWAHUDUMIA NDUGU ZAKE KENYANS,COZ INAONEKANA KICHWA KIMETULIA..KULIKO HUU MCHEZO WA MZEE KBK NA OBAMA TUNAO UONA EVERY DAY...K ALL THE BEST..pindu pasha.. mdewere..yaani kama ameshinda kura za chama hata za urais mpeni....
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