The real key to this endrosement is the 18 delegates Edwards still has. If he releases them to Obama, that’s the equivalent of a 20 pt win in a state like OH or PA.
Also, Edwards still has 13 delegates from FL. With Edwards’ delegates, the net gain for Clinton from FL and MI if they’re seated at 100% is 43 delegates. I suspect Obama will now graciously offer to seat them fully, knowing he’s still ahead by 100 delegates even with that.
The better news from today is the NARAL endorsemen and how Emily’s List came down hard on NARAL and the pro abortion internecine strife that’s happening. Love to see that.
In any event, Clinton will still win big in KY and can take the popular vote lead with PR. That’ll be enough to go to Denver,
Correct me if I’m wrong, but if Edwards is endorsing Obama, he would have to release his 18 delegates, in which case they would be individually courted by the candidates, no?
If all 18 went for Obama, the race could be mathmatically over before Memorial Day weekend. According to msnbc (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22811059/ ) Obama has 1885 pledged and supedelegates, which means he only needs another 140 delegates. If Obama wins Oregon 60-40 (& loses Kentucky 35-65) he’ll pick up another 49 delegates. Add those 49 and Edward’s 18 and Obama would have 1953 delegates by this time next week — and would only need 71 supers to clinch. I would imagine that once he gets that close the supers will start lining up en masse behind him.
What a weak-kneed and gutless endorsement. Rather than picking to endorse Obama or Clinton earlier, when it could have swung the race, and ended it earlier, he does it now, when virtually everything is decided.
Makes me wonder if he isn’t looking out more for his own interests.
Of course it’s gutless Act; it’s John Edwards. Nobody ever accused him of being principled. He’s looking for a cabinet position so he doesn’t have to go back to actual, um, work.
Even though the media is touting 2,026 as the magic number today, the real finish line is likely to be 2,208, which includes half the delegates being seated from Florida and Michigan.
The DNC is expected to render a decision on whether to assess a 50% or 100% penalty for those two states on May 31; the day before Hillary could secure a popular vote victory in Puerto Rico.
I guess Edwards have so much guts!!! He made a powerful speech and I just think with the way he spoke the Democrats are coming together. I think we have a problem in the Fall…
On #6.. This is what turns people off from politics. How do you know it was a gutless endorsement? It is impossible that he didn’t really like either candidate and is now coming out for Obama now that it’s over. Alternatively, maybe he just couldn’t decide between the two and couldn’t genuinely decide before now. And do you really think Edwards is going to get any points by such a late endorsement. Of course not. If he wanted “points” he would have endorsed earlier..tried to pull a Christ. You only get points if you take a chance.
That’s what sucks about politics.. Even when you do something genuine (I’m not saying this was, btw, just that we don’t know) people will analyze the timing and attribute your decision to some political factor. As an example, I’ve heard liberal commentators say McCain’s position on immigration was politically motivated, as opposed to a genuine position.
The Dem party is desperate to prop this guy Obama up by whatever means necessary, especially after Obama’s humiliating loss in W Va. This is a meaningless endorsement. The good news for Republicans is that this hardens the Clintonites even more.
I suppose after she cleans his clock in KY they’ll bring out another big gun like Gore to endorse Obama - which will also be meaningless. Then she’ll pound him in Puerto Rico.
Voters don’t give a damn about these endorsements anymore.
The problem for Obama and his supporters is that the Clintonites aren’t getting the message. The media is trying to force her out - or at least drive down participation because they don’t want her to gain the popular vote lead. They’re already nervous that everytime there is a state result like OH or PA or WV or KY - it continues to highlight very real weaknesses for Obama - weaknesses that have been apparant for months and that he has so far been unable to improve upon.
sas, have you even bothered to find out what Obama’s plans are?
go to BarackObama.com, & scroll over “Issues”, take your pick of over 20 issues. You can read the summaries or go to the bottom of the page and read the actual plans. Yes you can….
New York Times Editorial: “Obama Has Endorsed The Best Idea Currently On The Table To Prevent Foreclosure.” The New York Times wrote in an editorial, “Mr. Obama has endorsed the best idea currently on the table to prevent foreclosure: amending the law so that troubled borrowers can have their mortgages modified in bankruptcy court. That would give lenders a big incentive to work with borrowers — reducing interest or lowering principal balances — before they opted for bankruptcy protection. Mrs. Clinton has not endorsed bankruptcy reform. She has called for $30 billion in federal funds to bolster state and local foreclosure-prevention efforts and has proposed a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and a rate freeze on subprime adjustable mortgages. Those measures also could help, but as the crisis has developed, the problem has become less one of resetting interest rates and more one of borrowers owing more than their homes are worth. Bankruptcy reform is a better way to deal with that problem.” [New York Times, 3/27/08]
The Edwards endorsement is important for one big reason - it stepped on the Hillary victory storyline, killing any momentum. The evening newscasts went live to the rally and it was the talk of CNN and MSNBC all night.
The Clinton people are actually angry that the Obama campaign made a good political move. Its absurd.
May 14th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
The real key to this endrosement is the 18 delegates Edwards still has. If he releases them to Obama, that’s the equivalent of a 20 pt win in a state like OH or PA.
Also, Edwards still has 13 delegates from FL. With Edwards’ delegates, the net gain for Clinton from FL and MI if they’re seated at 100% is 43 delegates. I suspect Obama will now graciously offer to seat them fully, knowing he’s still ahead by 100 delegates even with that.
The better news from today is the NARAL endorsemen and how Emily’s List came down hard on NARAL and the pro abortion internecine strife that’s happening. Love to see that.
In any event, Clinton will still win big in KY and can take the popular vote lead with PR. That’ll be enough to go to Denver,
May 14th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but if Edwards is endorsing Obama, he would have to release his 18 delegates, in which case they would be individually courted by the candidates, no?
If all 18 went for Obama, the race could be mathmatically over before Memorial Day weekend. According to msnbc (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22811059/ ) Obama has 1885 pledged and supedelegates, which means he only needs another 140 delegates. If Obama wins Oregon 60-40 (& loses Kentucky 35-65) he’ll pick up another 49 delegates. Add those 49 and Edward’s 18 and Obama would have 1953 delegates by this time next week — and would only need 71 supers to clinch. I would imagine that once he gets that close the supers will start lining up en masse behind him.
May 14th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
they deserve each other
May 14th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Crap!
May 14th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
He can’t command his delegates where to go, can he?
May 14th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
What a weak-kneed and gutless endorsement. Rather than picking to endorse Obama or Clinton earlier, when it could have swung the race, and ended it earlier, he does it now, when virtually everything is decided.
Makes me wonder if he isn’t looking out more for his own interests.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
and no, his delegates are free to support whomever they please.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
6 — Edwards, weak-kneed and gutless? Never!
May 14th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Of course it’s gutless Act; it’s John Edwards. Nobody ever accused him of being principled. He’s looking for a cabinet position so he doesn’t have to go back to actual, um, work.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Sean P,
Even though the media is touting 2,026 as the magic number today, the real finish line is likely to be 2,208, which includes half the delegates being seated from Florida and Michigan.
The DNC is expected to render a decision on whether to assess a 50% or 100% penalty for those two states on May 31; the day before Hillary could secure a popular vote victory in Puerto Rico.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I guess Edwards have so much guts!!! He made a powerful speech and I just think with the way he spoke the Democrats are coming together. I think we have a problem in the Fall…
May 14th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
On #6.. This is what turns people off from politics. How do you know it was a gutless endorsement? It is impossible that he didn’t really like either candidate and is now coming out for Obama now that it’s over. Alternatively, maybe he just couldn’t decide between the two and couldn’t genuinely decide before now. And do you really think Edwards is going to get any points by such a late endorsement. Of course not. If he wanted “points” he would have endorsed earlier..tried to pull a Christ. You only get points if you take a chance.
That’s what sucks about politics.. Even when you do something genuine (I’m not saying this was, btw, just that we don’t know) people will analyze the timing and attribute your decision to some political factor. As an example, I’ve heard liberal commentators say McCain’s position on immigration was politically motivated, as opposed to a genuine position.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I still remember when Edwards got schooled by Dick Cheney in a debate in 2004. Edwards is irrelevent. He ought to go home and care for his wife.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
The Dem party is desperate to prop this guy Obama up by whatever means necessary, especially after Obama’s humiliating loss in W Va. This is a meaningless endorsement. The good news for Republicans is that this hardens the Clintonites even more.
I suppose after she cleans his clock in KY they’ll bring out another big gun like Gore to endorse Obama - which will also be meaningless. Then she’ll pound him in Puerto Rico.
Voters don’t give a damn about these endorsements anymore.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
The problem for Obama and his supporters is that the Clintonites aren’t getting the message. The media is trying to force her out - or at least drive down participation because they don’t want her to gain the popular vote lead. They’re already nervous that everytime there is a state result like OH or PA or WV or KY - it continues to highlight very real weaknesses for Obama - weaknesses that have been apparant for months and that he has so far been unable to improve upon.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Obama is a weak candidate - and half the Dems know it. The other half are too busy swooning over his latest round of nothingness.
May 14th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
sas, have you even bothered to find out what Obama’s plans are?
go to BarackObama.com, & scroll over “Issues”, take your pick of over 20 issues. You can read the summaries or go to the bottom of the page and read the actual plans. Yes you can….
May 15th, 2008 at 12:08 am
New York Times Editorial: “Obama Has Endorsed The Best Idea Currently On The Table To Prevent Foreclosure.” The New York Times wrote in an editorial, “Mr. Obama has endorsed the best idea currently on the table to prevent foreclosure: amending the law so that troubled borrowers can have their mortgages modified in bankruptcy court. That would give lenders a big incentive to work with borrowers — reducing interest or lowering principal balances — before they opted for bankruptcy protection. Mrs. Clinton has not endorsed bankruptcy reform. She has called for $30 billion in federal funds to bolster state and local foreclosure-prevention efforts and has proposed a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and a rate freeze on subprime adjustable mortgages. Those measures also could help, but as the crisis has developed, the problem has become less one of resetting interest rates and more one of borrowers owing more than their homes are worth. Bankruptcy reform is a better way to deal with that problem.” [New York Times, 3/27/08]
May 15th, 2008 at 12:31 am
#18
NYTimes…endorsing a plan by the Democratic nominee…I am shocked
May 15th, 2008 at 7:25 am
The Edwards endorsement is important for one big reason - it stepped on the Hillary victory storyline, killing any momentum. The evening newscasts went live to the rally and it was the talk of CNN and MSNBC all night.
The Clinton people are actually angry that the Obama campaign made a good political move. Its absurd.