FINALLY, it is over!  Sen. Barack Obama is officially the presumptive democratic nominee.  After fifteen months of rigorous, high octaine, campaigning, Barack Obama finally claimed victory last night over this historic primary race.   After losing South Dakota to Clinton 55% to 45%, but trouncing her in Montana 57% to 41%, Sen. Obama made history last night by becoming the first African-American/black person in the western world to head the ticket of a major political party.   And he did it by running a positive, uplifting campaign.  The Illinois Senator said in front of a crowd of 30,000 in Minnesota “I will be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States of America.”  Sen. Obama ended the night with 2156 delegates and made headlines around the world.  PROGRESS.

Headlines around the World (see below) 

El Pais (Madrid): Obama se convierte en el primer candidato negro a la presidencia de Estados Unidos
^{(Obama becomes the first black candidate to the presidency of the United States)}

Financial Times (London): Obama clinches the Democratic nomination

The Telegraph (London): Obama limps over line despite Dakota defeat
^{Senator becomes the first black nominee in history despite Clinton win in South Dakota.}

Le Monde (Paris) Interrogations sur la stratégie de fin de campagne d’Hillary Clinton
^{(Questions on the ending strategy of Hillary Clinton’s campaign)}

Berliner Morgenpost (Berlin): Barack Obama lässt sich als Kandidat feiern
^{(Barack Obama can be celebrated as a candidate)}

Reforma (Mexico City): Hace Obama historia; asegura nominación
^{(Obama makes history; nomination assured)}

Clarín (Buenos Aires): Obama logró los delegados necesarios y es el candidato demócrata a la Casa Blanca
^{(Obama obtained the necessary delegates and is the democratic candidate to the White House)}

Jakarta Post (Jakarta, Indonesia): Obama seals nomination; McCain eager for battle

The Australian (Melbourne): Barack Obama claims nomination but Hillary Clinton hangs on

Al Jazeera (Doha, Qatar): Obama ‘wins Democratic nomination’
^{Illinois senator projected to become first African-American presidential candidate.}

Jerusalem Post (Jerusalem): Obama seals Democratic presidential nomination
^{Defeated Hillary Clinton maneuvers for the vice presidential spot on Illinois senator’s ticket without conceding her own loss.}

Ottawa Citizen (Ottawa): Obama first black nominee for White House
^{Clinton vows party unity}

China Daily (Beijing): Obama seals Democratic nomination
^{Barack Obama sealed the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, a step toward his goal of becoming the first black US president.}

Yes, the long awaited day has arrived.  After six months of fighting, kicking, scratching, and clawing between the Clinton and Obama campaigns, the last two states of Montana and South Dakota will vote.  The polling hours in Montana are 7am – 8pm.  In South Dakota the polling hours are 7am – 7pm.  For those on the East Coast the final poll in Montana will close at 10pm EST and 9pm EST in South Dakota.  In South Dakota voters must present photo identification in order to vote.  In Montana, voters must present identification that may be photo but also can be non-photo identification such as a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, voter registration confirmation notice, government check, or other government document that shows your name and current address. 

Many questions will be answered tonight   There is mounting evidence that Sen. Hillary Clinton will end her campaign tonight.  Exhibits A-H.  a) Bill Clinton said yesterday, “this may be the last day I am ever involved in a campaign like this. ”   b) Sen. Clinton summoned all of her top supporters and donors to New York for her Tuesday night speech.  c) Clinton campaign spokesperson said “it started in New York and it will end in New York.”  d) Clinton instructed staff members to turn in all of their outstanding expense reports.  e) being reported that Clinton has begun post-campaign bargaining with Obama.  g) Blank schedule after Tuesday.  h) Clinton gave her advance staff  two options for tonight, they can either told use their ticket to fly to New York for her speech and party afterwards or they can fly home and await further instructions.  If members of the advance staff choose to fly to New York they will be financially responsible for their own flight home.   There are 34 House members prepared to endorse Barack Obama.  Obama is expected to claim victory of the primary process tonight in his speech in St. Paul Minnesota.  It has been an excruciatingly long and hard fought race for the candidates and for the American people and now both candidates are about to cross the finish line.  Every voter will have had their opportunity to vote and we, hopefully, will have our presumptive democratic nominee.  Obama is favored to win both South Dakota and Montana.  Obama is now 37 delegates away from claiming the nomination.  Clinton needs 198 delegates to claim victory.   The Obama campaign hopes to roll out superdelegates in groups today so that he has enough to claim victory tonight.  It is being reported that the Clinton campaign is asking superdelegates not to do it tonight but tomorrow instead.  That would not be a good idea in this writers opinion considering that the Obama campaign is holding its last rally in the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota , the site of the Republican national convention and were John McCain will accept the Republican nomination.  If the superdelegates do not come out for Obama today it could end up being a potential embarassment for the presumptive democratic nominee.  This is not about the Clintons or the Obamas at this point.   This is about starting the general election off on the right foot.  Superdelegates must make their decision known today so as not to give the impression that the Clintons are still running the show or worst yet giving the appearance that they are not quite ready to rally behind Obama.  The primary process is over, its time to take a stand.  If the plan is to win in November, the Democratic Party cannot afford any missteps.

Hillary Clinton wins Puerto Rico!  Sen. Obama called Sen. Clinton to congratulate her on her win.  Unfortunately for Sen. Clinton, the turnout on the island was not enough to give her what she was hoping for in terms of a lead in the popular vote count.  The turnout was a disappointing 50% below what it has been in previous elections reaching a mere 384,000 of the 3 million registered voters.  The 55 delegates at stake will be divided proportionally.  Puerto Rico cannot vote in the general election therefore the primary does not speak to either candidates electability in November.  The Clinton family made a total of four visits to Puerto Rico in their vigorous effort to boost her popular vote count.  Sen. Clinton is expected to use the popular vote count to argue to superdelegates that she is the more electable candidate.  Also, Clinton’s claim of a higher popular vote count does not include caucus states, Guam, or the Virgin Islands.  States and territories won by Sen. Obama.  Clinton math….you gotta love it.  To clinch the nomination, the victorious candidate must win 2118 delegates by the end of the primary contest.  The previous 2025 number was increased yesterday to 2118 after the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee voted to include half of the Florida and Michigan delegations at the conclusion of their meeting on Saturday.  Thereby increasing the number of delegates to the 2118 number required to reach a majority because of the newly seated Michigan and Florida delegations.  The previous 2025 number did not include the Michigan and Florida delegations because both states delegates were stripped when both states moved up their primaries in violation of DNC rules.  The DNC RBC sat Florida as the voters voted in the Sunshine state giving Clinton 56 delegates to Obama’s 36.  From Michigan, Clinton received 38 delegates and Obama received 31 with Obama receiving the uncommitted votes in Michigan plus an additional four delegates to reach a total of 31 overall.   Including today’s results out of Puerto Rico as they stand now with 29% of the vote in, Obama has 2071.5 needing only 46.5 more delegates to clinch the required 2118 victory number.  Clinton has 1911, needing 207 more delegates to clinch the nomination.  There are a total of 204 undeclared superdelegates remaining.  After the results from South Dakota and Montana, Obama will need a mere 20-25, contingent upon the Montana and South Dakota margins of victory, of the undeclared superdelegates to win the nomination.  Clinton needs 195 of the remaining undeclared superdelegates to win the nomination.  On Tuesday, South Dakota and Montana go to the polls.  It is expected that the Obama campaign, in the next 48 hours, will roll out the additional 30 superdelegates it needs to clinch the nomination.  The Obama campaign is encouraging superdelegates to publicly declare before the Montana and South Dakota primaries so that it can declare an official victory soon after the polls close in these last two states.    

Too early to get a final margin because Oregon is a mail-in vote and the votes are still being counted.  With 88% of the vote in, the margin is Obama 58%, Clinton 42%.  This win marks a significant milestone for Sen. Barack Obama.  The Illinois senator now has won the majority of pledge delegates.  What does that mean?  Clinton needs 104.17% of the remaining delegates to beat the majority that Obama has secured.  Obtaining such a majority is mathematically impossible.  There are only 86 pledge delegates left to be won in the remaining states.   There are three primaries left, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, and Montana.   In his speech in Iowa last night, Obama told his supporters that the “nomination is within reach.”

Barack Obama attracted the largest crowd of this primary in Portland Oregon this past weekend.  The record drawing crowd was at least 75,000 strong with spectators watching from the lawn of the Tom McCall Waterfront Park.  The park could not hold the enormous crowd so Oregonians watched from boats, outside the park, and any other place that would allow them access to the Illinois senator.  Portland is the state’s largest urban area and has been monikered by its residents as “the whitest major city in the United States.”  The state of Oregon is also a breeding ground for anti-war activism and sentiment, so Obama’s opposition the the Iraq war contributed to him being an early favorite in the state.  Tomorrow, residents of Oregon and Kentucky will have their say at the ballot box.  Though Obama has virtually conceded Kentucky to Clinton, the Illinois senator is expected to pull out a decisive victory in Oregon.  Obama is not expected to declare victory tomorrow for fear of appearing presumptuous.  However, the Windy City senator will have won the most pledge delegates and a win in Oregon will make it officially impossible for Clinton, in the remaining primaries, to overtake his pledge delegate lead.  Obama will have to pull out a decent victory in Oregon and decrease Clinton’s margin of victory in Kentucky.  If the feedback from the Obama call banks are anything to go by, Clinton’s margin of victory will not be as large in the Bluegrass State as it was in West Virginia.  Kentucky is a culturally conservative state that does not care for Wall Street but there is a growing populous discontent in the state.  Republicans are polling poorly in the state and this may offer an opportunity for Sen. Obama to take advantage.  Having said all that, even though Obama will essentially win the nomination tomorrow, declaring victory may antagonize Clinton supporters thereby making it more difficult to unify the party after the primary season is completed.  That does not change the reality however that this race is over.  Nor does it take away from the fact that the Obama camp have solid and legitimate reasons for optimism. One being the fact that not a single superdelegate, uncommitted or undeclared, can be found to say that he/she would be willing, despite Obama’s pledge delegate lead, to overturn the result and make Clinton the nominee.  Therefore, Obama is on solid footing in his belief that he will become the official democratic nominee on Tuesday night.  Sen. Obama has chosen to spend Tuesday, not in Kentucky or Oregon, but in Iowa.  The place where his imminent rise in contention and legitimacy began.  Obama spent eight months in Iowa prior to its primary.  Eight months well spent by most calculations.   

According to thestate.com is reporting that six of John Edwards’ eight South Carolina delegates are backing Barack Obama for president. 

The head of John Edwards South Carolina presidential campaign told CNN that at least six of the eight delegates Edwards won in S.C. are ready to vote for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama at the Democratic presidential convention.

Columbia attorney John Moylan appeared on the cable news channel this morning.

Edwards endorsed the campaign of his former rival last night.

Edwards’ delegates are free to vote for whichever candidate they choose, but delegate Robert Groce said he would choose Obama.

“I was elected to represent John Edwards. I will honor his request,” said Groce, 40 and a Summerville resident. “I’m very comfortable that either one (Obama or U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton) could assume the office and do a good job. The party has really benefitted from having so many good candidates.”

Edwards’ S.C. delegates plan to release a statement later today

After John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama last night, one of his delegates did not wast any time in rallying behind the Illinois senator.  Joshua Denton,  a New Hampshire Democratic Party delegate and Iraq war veteran said that he will support Barack Obama now that Edwards has endorsed Obama.  See his statement below.

A New Hampshire Democratic Party delegate who had supported John Edwards says he will support Barack Obama, now that Edwards has endorsed his former political rival for the party’s presidential nominee.
more stories like this

Joshua Denton of Portsmouth, 26, an Iraq war veteran, says he thinks that both Obama and Hillary Clinton would be a better president than Republican nominee John McCain. He thinks that Obama is the change the country needs, along with having the best chance of beating McCain in the general election.

“My fear with Hillary was just because she is who she is — for better or worse — she would sink, not just lose the presidency,” but Democrats in Congress, Denton said Wednesday. – Boston Globe

The state of the race at this point is as follows.  Sen. Hillary Clinton needs 171 of the remaining 189 pledge delegates to overtake Obama’s lead.  That means that Clinton will need 91% of the remaining pledged delegates to secure victory.  Broken down even further, Clinton will need to win 91% of the vote in every remaining state including Puerto Rico.  Side point about Puerto Rico: it cannot vote in the general election so it does not help Clinton’s argument that she is more electable in the general election even if she wins it in the primary.  Back to the facts.  Given that Obama has a significant lead in Oregon right now of an average 52% to Clinton’s 35%, he will at least net 26 delegates of the 52 delegates being allotted.  Currently Obama enjoys a 153 pledged delegate lead over Sen. Clinton.  Obama only needs 19 delegates to win the insurmountable majority of the pledged delegates.  Because the majority of superdelegates agree that overturning the collected will of the people would be disastrous for the party, Obama basically clinches the nomination on May 20th, the night of the Kentucky and Oregon primaries.  Looks like that is all she wrote.

Rep. Pete Visclosky (IN) has endorsed Barack Obama, as well as Christine Schon Marques. Marques is the chair of the Democrats Abroad and is assigned .5 votes at the Democratic convention.  College Democrat Chairs Awais Khaleel (WI) and Lauren Wolfe (MI) endorsed Obama late last night.   Not sure how much of the Michigan vote of confidence by Lauren Wolfe will be counted.  Obama is also receiving the endorsements of 3 fomer SEC chairmen today, one of which worked for President Bush.  William Donaldson, who was SEC chairman for about 2½ years from early 2003, along with Clinton and Reagan appointees Arthur Levitt and David Ruder.

Clinton also picked up 1 superdelegate, Vicky Harwell, president of the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women.

Today West Virginia holds its democratic presidential primary.  Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama take their contest to the Appalachian state.  There are 28 delegates at stake in West Virginia and Sen. Hillary Clinton is expected to win the state by at least 30 percentage points. 

The polls are open from 6:30am to 7:30pm.  Voter Hotline:  1-866-SOS-VOTE (1-866-767-8683)

Voters may enter their precinct any time duing those hours to cast their vote.  Independents may vote in the democratic primary simply request a democratic ballot.  Here are a few more tips to help with the process.

1. Bring identification if you did not submit proof of your residency when you actually registered to vote or if this is your first time voting.  Just to be on the safe side bring ID.  Acceptable forms of identification are drivers license, pay stubs, bank statements, utility bills, or other government issued documents.
2. Be prepared to sign your name in the poll book as proof of your identity.
3. Vote via “touch screen device” or paper ballot.  If you are using a paper ballot,  make sure to mark your ballot in ink.  After completing your ballot, return the ballot with secrecy envelope, poll slip, and other material to the poll worker at which time it will be placed in the ballot box.
4. Voters may receive assistance if they have a disability, are elderly, or possess an inability to read or write.
5. Curbside voting is available from an automobile outside your precinct in the presence of an election commissioner from each political party if: 1) the polling place is not handicap accessible, and 2) no voters are voting or waiting to vote inside the polling place.
6. Provisional Ballots.  You may be required to vote provisionally if:
   1. Your name is not in the poll book
   2. Your signature does not match the signature in teh poll book
   3. It is noted in the poll book that you already voted during the early absentee voting period
   4. You received assisatnce while voting, and it appeared to teh poll worker that you did not require such assistance.

ABC News’ Karen Travers Reports: For the first time this campaign season, Barack Obama has surpassed Hillary Clinton’s support among superdelegates, according to the ABC News delegate estimate.

Sen. Obama, D-Ill., picked up two superdelegates this morning giving him a new metric to tout in addition to his current commanding leads in pledged delegates, popular votes, states won, and money raised.

 Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J., switched his endorsement from Clinton to Obama and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., endorsed Obama. DeFazio was previously uncommitted.

UPDATE:  The American Federation of Government Employees endorsed Barack Obama today.  AFGE President and superdelegate John Gage said “[o]ur people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama’s campaign.”  Gage was uncommitted, but to day also personally endorsed Barack Obama for President adding one more to Obama’s increasing superdelegate total.

California DNC member Ed Espinoza endorses Barack Obama for President. 

trickle, trickle, drip, drip

Congressman and superdelegate Brad Miller endorsed Barack Obama after meeting with Obama during the Senator’s visit to Capitol Hill today.  Miller released the following statement. 

“I will cast my vote as a delegate in Denver for Senator Barack Obama. The decision was not easy. Senator Clinton has run an impressive campaign, and has spoken eloquently to the concerns to working and middle class American families. She is one of the great leaders of this generation.”  Senator Obama understands that he has the chance not just to win the election this year, but to be a great president. Americans know that Republican policies have failed because their ideas are wrong. Americans know that our government has not acted to use Franklin Roosevelt’s words, as trustees for the whole people, but have taken the side of powerful economic interests on every issue. Americans want a fundamental change in course.  Senator Obama seized that opportunity. If Senator Obama and Democratic candidates up and down the ticket win this year and then deliver next year, we can build a consensus that will last a generation.”

Rick Larsen, the Congressman and one of the superdelegates for Washington state, gave the following reasons for his recent endorsement of Barack Obama.  

Larsen said Obama is “the best candidate to turn our best hopes for a better future into reality.”  He went on to praise Obama’s fortitude in North Carolina and Indiana by saying,  ”he can take a pounding and come back strong to deliver his message of hope and change. He is tough as nails…….This week, Senator Obama has proven that he is tough and resilient. He has shown that he can take a pounding, come back and continue to communicate with the public to deliver his message of hope and change.   In my district, Senator Obama has strong grassroots support.  He has inspired and energized my constituents like no other candidate.  I believe that Senator Obama will be the best President for our country. I have been particularly impressed by Senator Obama’s truth-telling on a proposed gas tax policy – a proposal which would make little or no difference for Americans paying too much at the pump.  Our country faces great challenges.  As President, I believe that Barack Obama can unite our country to overcome obstacles and deliver real change.”

Congressman and superdelegate, Brian Baird also of Washington state, endorsed Barack Obama today. Baird gave the following statement regarding his endorsement.

“Our nation faces extraordinary challenges domestically and abroad,” Baird said in a statement released by the Obama campaign. “I believe Sen. Obama will bring a vision of unity that will rekindle the very best of our society and help all Americans move past the partisanship of the past and into the progressive partnership of the future.  It has been many years since Americans, particularly young Americans, felt the sense of enthusiasm, hope and involvement that Senator Obama has inspired. We need to nurture that enthusiasm for the good of all Americans, and I look forward to working closely in Congress with President Obama.”

I guess Sen. Obama’s trip to the House floor during session today really paid off.  That puts the total delegates, including superdelegates,  for Obama at 1851.5, and for Clinton at 1695.  Obama needs 173 to hit the 2025 that clinches the nomination.  Clinton needs 329.5 to reach the 2025 number. 

Trickle, trickle, drip, drip. 

ABC News has learned that David Bonior, the campaign manager for the 2008 presidential race of Sen. John Edwards, D-NC, will endorse Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, today.Bonior, a former Michigan congressman, was once the second highest ranking Democrat in the House, and is influential with labor unions.

Tuesday night’s results were said to be key to Bonior’s decision — specifically the fact that Obama’s lead over Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, appears insurmountable.

Bonior is also said to like Obama’s general positive tone, as well as Obama’s message of change and stance against taking money from federal lobbyists.

Yesterday after Obama’s decisive North Carolina victory and Clinton’s squeaker win in Indiana, the Obama campaign announced three new superdelegates: Jerry Meek, chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party, Jeanette Council, a member of the D.N.C. from North Carolina and Inola Henry, a member of the D.N.C. from California.   Obama also gained a fourth superdelegate– Virginia Assembly member Jennifer McClellan, who switched from Clinton.  McClellan is the ninth Clinton superdelegate who have switched to Obama since the Super Tuesday primaries on Feb. 5.  Thus far there have been no switches from Obama to Clinton.  McClellan gave the following statement in a conference call with reporters as to why she decided to support Obama,  “I think the time has come to support Senator Obama as the likely nominee,”….. “Given what happened last night, it’s very unlikely we will have a different result, and it is time to come together as a party and prepare for victory against John McCain in November.”  The current delegate count, including superdelegates is Obama 1847.5, Clinton 1697.  A total of 2025 delegates are needed to win the democratic nomination.

The defections from the Clinton campaign have begun.  George McGovern, who endorsed Clinton back in 2007, has just endorsed Barack Obama!  McGovern is also urging Clinton to get out of the race.  The former Iowa Senator has been a long time friend of the Clintons since the then unmarried couple were instrumental in the Texas effort of McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign bid. McGovern says that he will call Bill Clinton to inform him of his decision.  UPDATE:  McGovern says that he has talked to President Clinton and informed him of his decision.  The former Senator also said that he and Bill had a pleasant conversation with no voices being raised.  McGovern gives as his reason for endorsing Barack Obama the following; ”the time has come for democrats to unite and get ready for a tough race against John McCain.”  He says that he is “hopeful that Sen. Clinton will see fit fairly soon.” 

According to George Stephanopolous this morning, superdelegates should start coming out today three, four, or five at a time.  Stephanopolous believes, and said as much, that this nomination is locked up.  Clinton also is reported to have loaned herself an additional $6.4 million last month which bring the total amount she has lent her campaign to 11.4 million.  The Obama campaign sent the following letter to superdelegates today.

TO:   Superdelegates
FROM:   David Plouffe, Campaign Manager
RE:   An Update on the Race for Delegates
DA:   May 7, 2008

There are only six contests remaining in the Democratic primary calendar and only 217 pledged delegates left to be awarded. Only 7 percent of the pledged delegates remain on the table. There are 260 remaining undeclared superdelegates, for a total of 477 delegates left to be awarded.

With North Carolina and Indiana complete, Barack Obama only needs 172 total delegates to capture the Democratic nomination.  This is only 36% of the total remaining delegates.

Conversely, Senator Clinton needs 326 delegates to reach the Democratic nomination, which represents a startling 68% of the remaining delegates.

With the Clinton path to the nomination getting even narrower, we expect new and wildly creative scenarios to emerge in the coming days. While those scenarios may be entertaining, they are not legitimate and will not be considered legitimate by this campaign or its millions of supporters, volunteers, and donors.

We believe it is exceedingly unlikely Senator Clinton will overtake our lead in the popular vote and in fact lost ground on that measure last night. However, the popular vote is a deeply flawed and illegitimate metric for deciding the nominee – since each campaign based their strategy on the acquisition of delegates. More importantly, the rules of the nomination are predicated on delegates, not popular vote.

Just as the Presidential election in November will be decided by the electoral college, not popular vote, the Democratic nomination is decided by delegates.

If we believed the popular vote was  somehow the key measurement, we would have campaigned much more intensively in our Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Andrew, who Bill Clinton appointed Chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1999, has just switched his support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama.   Andrew has been a supporter of Sen. Clinton since she first announced her bid for the presidency.  Andrew made is announcement at a press conference in his hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana Thursday morning.   During the press conference Andrew encouraged his fellow Democrats and Hoosiers to end this madness and unite behind Barack Obama for Tuesdays primary.  In his telephone interview with the Associated Press Andrew said “I am convinced that the primary process has devolved to the point that it’s now bad for the Democratic Party.”  Andrew also cited additional reasons for his switch in a letter to superdelegates.  In the letter the former DNC Chairman says ”a vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote to continue this process, and a vote to continue this process is a vote that assists (Republican) John McCain.”  Andrew went on to say  “[w]hile I was hopeful that a long, contested primary season would invigorate our party, the polls show that the tone and temperature of the race is now hurting us,” Andrew continued. “John McCain, without doing much of anything, is now competitive against both of our remaining candidates. We are doing his work for him and distracting Americans from the issues that really affect all of our lives.”  Andrew said that teh Obama campaign never asked him to switch his support but he did so after witnessing the principled way that Obama has handled two recent issues that have challenged his campaign.  The Wright controversy and the gas tax holiday qestion.  Andrew praised the fact that Obama stuck to his guns with respect to the gas tax holiday even though the politically expedient thing to do would have been to go along with Clinton and McCain on this issue.  And, he also praised Obama’s handling of the Jeremiah Wright controversy saying that Obama “has shown such mettle under fire.”  Andrew’s decision also increases Obama’s superdelegate count thereby clossing in on Clinton’s current lead.  The current count for superdelegates 247-263 Clinton.  However, Obama leads in the delegate count overall 1735.5 to 1597.5 for Clinton.  Last count, 230 superdelegates remain undecided, and about 60 more will be selected at state party conventions and meetings throughout the spring

Iowa Rep. Bruce Braley announced today that he would be supporting Barack Obama.   Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) also announced her support for Obama today.  Indiana Rep. Baron Hill will endorse Obama tonight.  One Senator also says that Obama has dozens of superdelegates lined up.  Hillary Clinton recently received superdelegate and North Carolina Governor Mark Easley’s endorsement yesterday.   Bill George of Pennsylvania also just announced his support for Clinton.  Obama is leading among committed superdelegates in the Senate 18-13, while Clinton leads in House superdelegates 77-74.

Not a game changer but doesn’t put Clinton away.  Clinton cannot come close to winning the delegate count without winning all of the remaining contests by more than an 80% margin.  Her only remaining argument……the superdelegates.  Clinton will attempt to convince the superdelegates that for whatever reason Obama cannot close the deal and she will be a stronger general election candidate.  The only problem with her argument is that Obama has secured a very important voting block……the majority of the American voting public.  If Clinton is perceived to have stolen the nomination from Obama by way of a decision of the superdelegates, she will officially become unelectable after such decision is made.  The democratic party will have disenfranchised not only the african-american community, but the hoards of new voters who have been inspired by Obama’s message and candidacy.  No democrat since Franklin Roosevelt has won the presidency without the support of the african-american community.  Because Obama is winning in the delegate count, the popular vote count, states won count, the fundraising count, and the new voter count, it is hard to deny his superior electability.   These are all areas that speak to the progression of the democratic party.   Not to mention that Obama has run a magnificent campaign in comparison to Clinton.  It is amazing that the Senator from Illinois has been able to put together such a remarkable campaign considering how fresh he is to national politics.  He has put together an innovative  fundraising machine by concentrating on small donors as opposed to large VIP donors who usually contribute the bulk of funds in democratic contests.  He has an enormous history setting volunteer network.  He realized early how to organize caucus states to his benefit knowing that running against Clinton will be like running against “the first family” of the democratic party.  The ability to organize and rally such a diverse coalition is an attribute that is essential to any CEO of any company.  Such qualities speak volumes about a candidates leadership ability.  Obama decreased Clinton’s 25  point lead to 9 points in Pennsylvania even though the state is tailor made Clinton country.  Demographically speaking, Pennsylvania is the second oldest state in the country, blue collar, and catholic.  All voting blocks that have gone for Hillary throughout this primary season.  Also, women made up 47% of the vote in Pennsylvania.  However, these are older white women as opposed to younger white women where Obama usually does well in.  Older white women is Clinton’s most loyal voting block.  The shock is that the New York Senator did not win by at least 15 to 20 points.  Also with respect to fundraising, people tend to put their money where their mouth is…..if voters are not putting their money where their mouth is, then they are not really talking.  The Clinton campaign is running on gasoline fumes right now.  In contrast, democrats, republicans, and independents are contributing to Obama in droves, to the tune of 40 million as a matter of fact.  Why can’t Obama close the deal….the question should be why can’t Clinton close the deal?  Voters and supporters are not contributing the Clinton campaign with the same vigor.  The Clinton campaign is officially broke and operating in the red.  They were able to raise 2.5 million last night but they are still operating in the red even with that minor funding boost.  Even with a fundraising spike after the Pennsylvania win, sustainability is the problem facing the Clinton campaign.  Democrats are just not donating to Clinton’s campaign in the numbers that they are to the Obama campaign.  Clinton also started out this contest as the presumptive nominee, Obama came out of nowhere and threw a monkey wrench into her plans.  Why has Clinton not sewn up this nomination, and worse yet, why is she behind by all metrics used to determine victory?  That is a question that needs to be explored in more depth.  As mentioned above, Clinton’s win in Pennsylvania is not the significant win that it needed to be to make voters pause about Obama’s candidacy.  Clinton won in Pennsylvania by the same margin or less that she did Ohio.  Obama improved his numbers with older voters and women in Pennsylvania since Ohio.  Women voted for Clinton 59% to Obama’s 41%.  Clinton did maintain her stronghold with women, older voters, and catholics.  However, Obama also kept his stronghold on new, young, and educated voters, as well as african-americans.  Also, as a final point, 13% of voters in the exit poll said that race mattered in their vote.   Of that 13%,  3 out of 4 voted for Clinton over Obama.  There are a lot of white working class voters that may have a problem voting for a black candidate.  This was probably demonstrated in Ohio and Pennsylvania.  There are also a lot of older voters who are loyal to the Clintons because of their 20 year presence on the national political stage.  In which case, Obama may need to find a way to reach these two demographics.  Is it possible to do so within the remaining months in the election cycle?  Probably. If he can convince these voting blocks that he can represent them and talk to them on a level that makes them feel that he will be fighting for their interests regardless of what their beliefs are, then he has a great chance of getting their votes.

Clinton wins Pennsylvania.  As of Wednesday morning, according to the most recent tabulation from the Pennsylvania Secretary of State,  the current spread is 54.6% to 45.4% with 99.99% of the votes counted.  This is only a 9% spread which is much different than what the main stream media is reporting as 10%.  

Obama actually improved his numbers since Ohio, even though Pennsylvania is tailor made for Hillary Clinton.  In Ohio the spred was 10%, in Pennsylvania it is only 9%.  Pennsylvania has the second oldest population in the country, a demographic that is primed for a Clinton win.  This was also a closed primary where independents and republicans, two groups that Obama usually carries, were not allowed to vote.  Pennsylvania will divide 158 delegates proportionally between Obama and Clinton.  Turnout was 52%, double the turnout in 2004.  Exit polls reveal that voters whose primary issue is the economy are voting for Clinton 57 to 43.  Voters whose primary issue is Iraq are voting for Obama 57% to 43%.  There were 300,000 new voters in Pennsylvania, 35% of which are in Philadelphia and suburbs also known as Obama country.  17% of undecided voters made up their minds in the last three days.  Seniors vote to Clinton 61 to 38.  African-American vote to Obama 92 to 8.  White male to Clinton 55 to 45.  42%  says U.S. in a serious recession.  Less than 1% consider electability an issue.  Pennsylvania voters rated the following issues as most important: change 49%, experience 26%, cares about me 14%, electability 8%. 54% think that the economy is the most important issue, and 28% think that Iraq is most important.  1 in 5 Clinton voters feel that Obama will be the nominee.   64% of women voted for Clinton.  55% of white males voted for Clinton, 45% voted for Obama.  As for voters who thought that either candidate attacked the other unfairly, 67% thought that Clinton attacked Obama unfairly, and 48% thought that Obama attacked Obama unfairly.  Late deciders who decided within the last three days went to Clinton.  Newly registered democrats backed Obama.  In addition, 29% of those newly registered voters said that they would not vote for Clinton if she is the nominee. Clinton will probably net about 14 more delegates than Obama out of Pennsylvania, in addition to increasing her popular vote count by 200,000. 

Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver of Missouri, Clinton supporter, made several statements about his candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton’s chances of winning the democratic nomination.  In a very candid interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Congressman Cleaver said bluntly “if I had to make a prediction right now, I’d say that Barack Obama is going to be the next President.”  Uhhh…aren’t you a superdelegate for the opposing candidate?  Cleaver explains, “[e]ven though I don’t expect the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Indianapolis Colts, I cheer for the Kansas City Chiefs[.]“  Cleaver clarifies further his support for Clinton using words like loyalty and friendship.  When asked about taking this nomination fight to the convention, Cleaver aswered  “I’m suppose to say that taking the fight to the convention is good for America”…..the truth is that it would be a “tragedy of tragedies.”  This is in direct opposition to Sen. Clinton’s vow to take this all the way to the convention if necessary.  Wow!! 

In contradiction to Hillary Clinton’s declarations this weekend about a credentials fight on the convention floor in Denver, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says that the party will have a nominee soon after the Puerto Rico primary June 3rd.  The official primary period ends on June 10th.  After speaking at the California State Convention this weekend, Pelosi answered a couple of questions  from reporters.  Reporters asked whether the remaining uncommitted superdelegates will make their decision known by July?  Pelosi answered “[i]t will be much sooner, right after the public has voted.”   Another uncommitted superdelegate Bob Mulholland also chimed in, “[p]eople ought to just relax,” Mulholland said. “Whoever is ahead by 50 delegates or so, you’ll see the super delegates move that direction. It’ll just happen naturally.” Mulholland has not endorsed Obama or Clinton.  In her speech, House Speaker Pelosi told democrats to remain focused on November and to “keep your eye on the prize.”  Donna Brazil also said on This Week that the Democratic Party has an “exit strategy” and anyone who thinks that there will be a convention floor fight is sorely mistaken.  Brazil reiterated what seems to be a consensus of the remaining uncommitted superdelegates that the Party will not allow this fight to go to Denver.  Therefore, it looks like regardless of how many tantrums are thrown by the Clinton campaign, the party leaders are ending this fight well before the convention in August.  Thank goodness for small favors…this fight has been an emotional roller coaster for most engaged voters.  An additional fact worth mentioning is that even if the Democratic Party was silly enough to allow this to go to the Credentials Committee, the math still does not work in Clinton’s favor.  Howard Dean has already appointed 25 members to the credentials committee.  Each state sends three representatives to the Credentials Committee in Denver, Obama has won far more states than Clinton, therefore he will have far more representatives and support on the Credentials Committee.  That does not add up to a Hillary Clinton nomination.  Looks like the party leaders have made the decision not to join in on Clinton’s murder-suicide pact.

In a statement released to the Associated Press on Sunday night,  Sen. Amy Klobuchar endorsed Barack Obama for President.  In her statement Sen. Klobuchar said Obama “has inspired an enthusiasm and idealism that we have not seen in this country in a long time.”  The Senator compared Obama to former vice president and Minnesota Senator, Hubert Humphrey.  Obama won Minnesota by a wide margin in February over Clinton.  The official announcement will be made later today.  Also, in an effort to begin the process of uniting the party, seven North Carolina Democratic House members plan to endorse  Obama as a group BEFORE that state’s primary on May 6th. 

Sen. Bob Casey endorses Barack Obama for President.  Sen. Casey is also a superdelegate.  The Senator makes his anouncement kicks ff a week long bus tour that Obama will be doing through Pennsylvania.  This gives Obama one more superdelegate as well as street cred in Pennsylvania.  Sen. Casey also has a lot of clout with working class Pennsylvanians as well as catholic voters.