Jon-Christopher Bua, Sky News Political Analyst
Hillary Clinton has yanked a victory from the jaws of defeat. She won the Pennsylvania Primary by a respectable margin. Now can she ride this win to the nomination?
This victory may have come at a high price for the political process and the future successes of the Democratic Party.
In fact, in her hometown paper, The New York Times, the editorial board seems to be taking back their endorsement of the Senator for her mean, vacuous and pandering campaign tactics.
Her campaign turned very negative, especially with a last-minute ad based on fear, evoking images of Osama bin Laden straight from the George Bush - Karl Rove playbook.
Although Barack Obama was successful in draining Hillary's coffers in this state's contest, this win will help her with her "big state argument".
Clinton will argue that only she can win the big states like New York, California, Texas and Pennsylvania, with the bulk of the electoral votes needed to win in the general election.
She will also argue that she is the only one tough enough to beat John McCain.
The challenge for Clinton is to take the momentum from this win and turn it into a real "sea change" for her campaign.
In a state whose demographics were tailor-made for Clinton, she failed to have a "blow out" where she could start to catch up on pledged delegates and the popular vote.
Will this victory be enough to convince some Superdelegates to come her way?
The Clinton argument will be that only she can close the deal with the white working class voters needed to defeat McCain in November.
In their fight for Superdelegates, the Clinton campaign continues to move the goalposts and change the rules to fit any argument that can justify a win.
Even before the final numbers were in, the Clinton campaign and its surrogates were already claiming that Obama is "unelectable" because he cannot win the "battleground states".
The other key factor for Clinton will be cash. Can she turn this momentum into money?
Clinton and her team need to sell this win to their donors as a real turning point so she can fund the next contests in North Carolina and Indiana on May 6.
Before the final tally was in this evening, her team was already hot on the donation e-mail trail trying to drum up contributions.
Obama's challenge is to convince the Superdelegates that he has what it takes to beat McCain.
In a state where Obama outspent Clinton two to one, he narrowed her lead over the last six weeks but did not eat significantly into her base.
Obama's argument of "hope and inclusion" prevents him from using the "sledgehammer approach" that many are urging him to employ to flatten Clinton.
This defeat may cause him to reconsider whether he can win the nomination "taking the high road".
Obama must now win Indiana and North Carolina to keep his motor running and his Superdelegates from running away.
The Superdelegates have to decide who will be the better candidate against John McCain and how to keep the Party from crumbling before the Convention in August.
When will the american democratic population wake up and look into Obama's background, he is a first generation american on his fathers side, with muslems in his background, once a muslen always a muslem, Hilary is a true blue american, personally it scares me to think what may happen to the world if Obama gets into office, Moslems are already threatening non moslems all over the world, what will americans have to do immigrate to other countries to feel safe in their homes. Elisabeth (Italy)
Posted by: Elisabeth 27 Apr 2008 09:45:13
If Hilary becomes President God help the US!
She is not at all suitable - and this is NOT a gender issue. Obama is black - the US is buckled and marred by anti-Christian racism, yet is coloured by 'religious' bigotry.
Hilary is untrustworthy and fights down and dirty in a race which has become a showcase for her blind, inept ambition.
If the American people have any sense at all they will dump Hilary like a red hot stone.
Do they REALLY want another Clinton turn? Do they want liars as leaders?
I rest my case.
Posted by: Colleen Banham 27 Apr 2008 08:13:40
Sir
Whilst Im sure the future of America does not rest solely upon [One Man, One Woman] our nearest and dearest across the pond know how to make history and churn good fortunes, no matter what the cost.
As [Abba] move onto the next square of the monopoly board, the question that arises is despite the whispers that surround such campaigns, when eventually one is chosen to steer the boat, will both parties co-operate or cary on their election campaign whilst in office?
What the great people of America need is a leader who will ensure health, wealth and prosperity, and if that person is black or white, who cares?
Posted by: Khalid 23 Apr 2008 21:46:47
Hillary wins Pennsylvania with 10 points and Tuesday night's rally describes it as Ecstatic? - if that is so where did the voters who gave her a 26 point lead when the PA campaign first started?
Monday evening Clinton's spokesman were briefing that Hillary had a 17 point lead in their private polling, where did those supporters/voters disappear to then?
All Hillary leaves PA with is DEBTS! running a campaign that she can't win or afford. Now the Clinton Bus will go to Indiana and North Carolina and run up even more debt.
Hillary is not going to overtake Barack Obama with the Vote or Delegates, her only chance and it should be a very weak one is to appeal to the Superdelegates to overrun the Mandate of The Voters! - IF they dare do this then it will damage the Democratic Party seriously as new voters are not going to back her and even so Republicans who do not like McCain who can identify with Obama.
Barack Obama is not doing anything seriously wrong, but the "gutter" campaign of Hillary and Bill seems to just get laughed at, his disgusting language on live radio yesterday, her Lies and personal attacks, no wonder the media around the world can't believe the TV commercial Hillary ran Monday evening in PA with "bin laden" when are these serious errors of judgement going to catch up with Clinton, she can't escape them forever!
The Democratic Party is looking for someone to stand up and tell Hillary for her own good as well as The Party this must stop or the party stands no chance in November's Election.
Posted by: John B Sheffield 23 Apr 2008 13:13:59
Way to go Hillary - Its has to say something for her as she has won in all the "major" states. Obama will win the place like South carolina as it is majority black. Americans must stop trying to be politically correct and use their grey matter instead, the only way to go is to vote for Clinton
Posted by: Trish 23 Apr 2008 13:01:48