Elections ’08 is taking on the similarities of political strip tease…. Yes, its taking a very long time to determine who will emerge the nominee for the Democratic party. Oh.!… the wisdom of the Republicans — winner take all. Now Senator McCain sits back, packaged, labeled and ready to go, itching to take on the Democrats battling to declare a winner. Well we all have to wait some more……. for a defining moment in Pennsylvania. Look to see a victor brandishing a sword covered with blood– as he/she heads to a political parade along the Democrats “Appian Way.” But if the political beheading is not complete, look to see a ‘front’ open in yet another state, where the slaughter will continue. There may be rocks, stones, arrows, the kitchen sink among other flying missiles. But will anyone be mortally wounded? I mean end up politically dead? No, not really; are the answers from my tea leaves.
Senator Clinton having lost Wyoming and Mississippi still hopes to make a comeback in Pennsylvania in the April 22 primary where Governor Rendel, a supporter and a Super-delegate, claims many in that state are not ready for a Black president. Senator Obama however, leads in delegates 1,601 (winning in 26 states) to Clinton’s 1, 497. This race, shaping up to be determined by Super-delegates (congressmen, governors) still have both candidates, battling to emerge the “clear winner”. Some think the Obama camp have more going to settle this, but Clinton vows to fight on to the end. Not to mention the belief that only victories in the big states matter — Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania,etc. So although Clinton trails in delegates, she won the big states, and her campaign actually believes she has the ‘goods’ to be declared the winner. Really! That ‘big state theory’ as embraced by Clinton’s strategist (Mark Penn) has him already saying that Obama cannot win the general election. You do know there are two schools of thoughts on this. Some also believe that Clinton cannot win in the general, either. In many ways a political stalemate continues and momentum slows. For Democrats there are also concerns on how to resolve the delegate issue in Michigan and Florida. I believe there should be a 50-50 distribution. Others believe there should be a do-over. The DNC has clearly dropped the ball on this. How do you change the rules in the middle of a game?
Debates are scheduled for April 16 in Pennsylvania, but will that settle anything? Look to see more attacks/counter attacks all meant for the jugular, and to hurt really bad. Although it would seem Senator Obama is credited for keeping the discourse cool and civil, I would not be surpised if during all this, ” a cloud darkens. The life of the Democratic party rests in the hands of these two — so can we expect to see this delegate war determined in Puerto Rico in June (55 delegates)? In any election, candidates play to win, Senators Obama and Clinton are giving all that they have although Barak goes into Pennsylvania clearly the underdog . I will watch to see how he fights back and prepares to rally his supporters.
VernaSmith
