However, the next 6 weeks will be a pain in the ass that I don't want to watch. McCain and the Republican Party are loving every second of Hillary's resurgency. I had drinks with some friends on March 3rd, including a friend who works for the RNC. He was hoping desperately for a good night for Hillary. I know he and his colleagues broke open the champagne on Tuesday evening.
It is true that Hillary did well enough on Tuesday to stay in the race. You Hillary supporters don't deserve scorn or blame, since it is only recently that Obama surged ahead and scared the crap out of Republicans not ready to face him. Yet, did the Democratic voters vote for Hillary or against Obama? I mean, by voting for Obama on March 4th, voters were either saying "I like Obama" or saying "I like both of them, but I want this race to be over so the Democrats can unify". Apparently 54% of those in Ohio simply do not like Obama. Theirs was a protest vote. Same in Texas. As for Rhode Islanders, well, they are just a different breed I suppose.
It is possible that loyal Republicans crossed over and voted for Hillary in those states, but that couldn't have accounted for that much of the difference.
What the tragedy may be is that we'll see a slug fest rather than seize an opportunity.
You see, over the next six weeks, Clinton and Obama could hold forums on REAL issues. They could discuss drug policy, autism, identify theft, housing and mortgage policy. They could certainly discuss energy policy. These forums could be used as ways to finally bring light to key issues of the day.
Of course, this won't happen. We'll hear about Rezco and Whitewater and other bullcrap from the past.
Still, we all the know the system sucks, and the media sucks. We know the candidates are unable to change the dialogue and talk about real issues. So, it is the Democratic voters who screwed up. They let their eyes off the prize. We need a Democrat in the White House. We jeopardized that by letting this race continue.
I am turning off the TV after Mississippi, and will turn it back on during the evening of April 22nd. Until then, Hillary and Obama can bash each other and the press can blab on about their big production of "only 5 weeks to showdown in Pennsylvania". I am going to get some fresh air instead! Join me!
stupid! stupid! STUPID!
Senator Clinton was always ahead in these states in polling data. Senator Obama was able to tighten the race, but ultimately not overcome her. And a lot of that had to do with that 3 AM phone call ad she ran and the blow-up over NAFTA. It changed some people's minds at the last minute. Of course, the average primary voter isn't thinking that the person who wins the national security argument is John McCain. Also, I don't think the average voter is thinking I need to vote this way or that to wrap this nomination up. The masses are not about strategy, that is what the leadership is for.
As for Ohio voters, I just have to say that NAFTA is old news. Mexico has been losing its manufacturing jobs to China, thanks to China's entry into the WTO. We could renegotiate NAFTA, a measure championed by the first Clinton Administration, but that won't do any good for Ohio as the jobs are now in China.
I do agree that a longer primary battle doesn't help us. But there is nothing we can do about that now. Superdelegates are where it is at. And it doubtful that they are going to choose to shut this thing down before Pennsylvania or even before Denver. We are just going to have to build a strategy on how to win in November based on a contentious convention.
As for McCain, one thing against him is that the continued primary fight eats up all the free media. Every major press outlet is just going to be talking about the Clinton v. Obama match up non-stop until its over. Nobody cares about the Republicans anymore because their primary is over. The only things that will get McCain attention now are major blow-ups, picking fights with either Democratic candidate, or picking a running mate. This does have the affect of preventing him from telling his life's narrative and building some image before he goes into the constant battles before November.