Campaign and elections

March 14th, 2008

Winning Pennsylvania — Another Defining Moment?

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Written by: Verna Smith

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


About the Author

Verna Smith
Verna Smith loves politics. Its her passion. An award-winning journalist, political commentator and former producer of "The Roundtable"she holds a a BS degree in Broadcast/journalism and M.A. in Political Science from Syracuse University. The editor-in-chief of this website she welcomes you to join in: vibrant, robust conversations here or at VernaPolitics (Twitter) and also at Facebook-- Verna Politics.




  • Rebecca

    How can the rules of the game be changed in the middle? I just can’t think of Florida and Michigan having a primary.I however can understand them sending each voter secret ballot that the voter will have to mail in.Simply speaking I trust this will be done as soon a posible.I am getting tired of this drawn out exercise.

  • Dawn

    DId your article say more dabates? What more is left for people to learn about in these debates. As far as I am concerned I can’t take another debate. Focus on the issues instead.

  • Trisha

    Hurry up Pennsylvania and let’s see who the winner will be. Forget debates. What’s there to learn? Teach me something new. Debates have nothing to do with how a person will lead.I hope divine intervention will give us the leader we deserve. Just look at what’s happening in the world.

  • Goeffe

    This race among the Democrats– leaves me breathless. More debates, infighting, curse words, racial slurs… we should all walk away from this. A party and its top leadership should be about inspiring those of us in the grass roots… instead its seeking power by blackmail.

    Now its about Obama’s minister, Nehmiah Wright, but there is nothing about Hagee who is endorsing McCain. Given the bias of the media I am turning off my tv/radio sets off. News not fit to hear.

    Will be guided by my inner-spirit. Which right now says– Stay put in November; let the Democrats get what they deserve playing the cards they do. Can you belive it Rush Limbaugh is now a democratic strategist/consultant? Beware, those blue dog democrats– they bite!!

  • Rock Hackshaw

    For Hillary Clinton to arrive at the convention with more pledged delegates than Obama, she will have to win approximately 70% of the voters in all the remaining contests. That is practically impossible.

  • Bill Beck

    Congratulations!!! You have been nominated for a 2007 Best Of Blog Award!! Especially designed to bring attention to lower profile bloggers, The BoB’s as we like to call them are currently taking nominations in over 20 different categories. To find out more about how your site has a chance to become one of this year’s Best Of’s and how to nominate other bloggers, visit us at http://www.thebestofblogs.com. Remember voting begins April 14th so make sure you pass the word to your friends, family, and faithful followers.

    Sincerely,
    Bill Beck
    Project Mgr.
    The Best Of Blog Awards
    Email:Bloggerbeck@aol.com

  • Verna Smith

    Thank you Bill Beck for stopping by.

  • Maclure

    Well, Barack now faces his battle at “Waterloo” . Will address the Nation on Race and Religion. I cannot believe it has come to this.

    I thought we believed in the separation of Church and state.

    Well this all about a test our consciousness— have we moved beyond what is irrelevant? By the way, what Church does Hillary attend?

  • Gail

    Well, Barak Obama really gave all in his speech on Race and Politics in America. But will it be enough to calm the fears of those who actually believe he would be less than the leader we are hoping for.

    Irrespective of what happens in Pennsylvania and beyond, I think he deserves “Kudos” for such a masterful attempt to speak on this topic… we can move in the direction to come “together” or go in the opposite direction. Which will it be?

  • Randy

    There is no question that the Democratic party supporters will have quite a ways to go before the nominee will emerge.I hope that both candidates will make every effort to give us positive food for thought, and avoid the low road.
    I believe in inspiration in any form it comes regardless of who is doing the inspiring.It evokes energy that is often untapped and threfore can lead to nothing but forward. If both candidates give us what we deserve we can do nothing else but the inevitable-win in november.Lt’s do it now.

  • Beth

    In a couple of weeks the Pennsylvania primary will be held but the truth is we do not need another debate.How about the candidates having a call in similar to what is done on C-Span on a regular basis. Let people call in with their questions from across these united states and then the candidate has to answer.I would further suggest that no more that x amount of questions be taken on any one subject. In other words ask the callers to diversify their questions. NO MORE DEBATES PLEASE THEY ARE NOT ACHIEVING any thing NEW.

  • Janet

    The new debate, Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Obama the “terrorist”. Obama as a person of mixed race in his speech try to give a review of racial politics. Some of the critiques from left and right have been astonishing. Some hateful.

    One thing is sure before the Clinton camp introduced race into the game… there was none,now that is all the talk on cable.. and I am sick of it.

    If Hillary wins the game is over for the Democrats….. irrespective of what what happens in PA. Waiting to here on what other issues the attack will begin, now that “timid Dean” who made is insisting there will be no re-do in Michigan/Florida. Short of that it is Obama vs McCain. And with this domestic economy having everyone shopping at ninty-cents stores –do I need to predict a winner? I do not think so!
    This primary season is too long. time say FINIS!

  • Verna Smith

    What a remarkable year in contemporary American politics? I cannot recall a presidential election when contenders (Democrats) have so boldly presented their case to become president. But only one will be the nominee.

    Not to mention a candidate addressing the touchy subject, “Race and Politics”. Obama has dared to take on the issue, which could hurt his campaingn; but the jury is still out on that! Senator Clinton is fighting back so look to see the rough and tumble get worse in the coming weeks.

    Thank you for visiting and adding to the conversation, there is a lot more to come.


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