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Don't write off Clinton, the race isn't over yet
April 10, 2008 3:17 PM
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With several months left to go until the last scheduled presidential primary, everyone from Newsweek columnist Jonathan Alter to Vt. Sen. Patrick Leahy is urging Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race. However, with Clinton trailing Barack Obama by a little over 100 delegates, these figures forget that this race is far from over. Yes, due to the Democrats' own rules, the victor in the primary has to win at least 2,024 delegates and it will take a miracle for Clinton to get that number. The same could be said about Obama. But still, the media, I mean, Obama supporters, want Clinton to drop out to make it easier for him. We live in a democracy, a country known for its wide variety of choices, where election results aren't predetermined and voters get a chance to voice their opinions. And as Hillary said to Jay Leno on the Tonight Show last week, she wants "everyone to have a chance to vote." Those who want Clinton to drop out should tell residents of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Indiana, Montana, West Virginia, Kentucky and Oregon (not to mention Puerto Rico and Guam) that again their opinions are meaningless. In 2004, John Kerry was largely declared the winner of the Democratic primary by the media before he even won the majority of delegates. Do we want a repeat of this arrogant declaration of a supposedly inevitable result by the media? For those who say that Clinton staying in the race would hand the election over to John McCain, polls have shown the opposite would happen. According to Gallup polls from two weeks ago, 19 percent of Obama-supporting Democrats would vote for McCain if Clinton wins the nomination, while 28 percent of Clinton-supporting Democrats would switch their votes to McCain if Obama wins. Among independents who lean Democratic, 29 percent of Obama supporters would switch their votes to McCain while 39 percent of Clinton supporters would vote for McCain before voting for Obama. That shows that if Obama wins the Democratic nomination, John McCain would get far more votes than if Clinton were running. If Democrats don’t accept that argument, there is another good reason for Clinton staying in the race. Competition always brings out the drive in people and ultimately magnifies and defines people's strengths and weaknesses. If Obama is the man that his ardent supporters say he is, his qualities will only grow more apparent. If he is the tough and great politician his fawning fans think he is, he can prove it by duking it out to the last minute. Even Obama wants Clinton to stay in the competition. “My attitude is that Senator Clinton can run as long as she wants,” Obama said at a press conference in Pennsylvania last month. “Her name is on the ballot. She is a fierce and formidable opponent.” Let's keep this race exciting. Let the candidates give all they can give and show us what they're made of.
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COMMENTS
Walden Greenwood said April 10, 2008 4:17 PM
What a joke. It's so over. Hillary's Kamikaze Kampaign is designed purely to damage Obama enough to enable a McCain victory - and give the phony nepotist (Hillary) another chance to exercise her ego at the expense of the country in 2012. Martymar said April 10, 2008 4:23 PM
So what if some media pundits want Hillary to drop out. Obama clearly said she should stay in the race. As long as she is in the race the GOP is in suspended animation as to who to attack. Hillary is doing a great service to the party. Sen. Obama will be a stronger nominee once he secures the nomination later down the line. And no, Hillary cannot win the nomination at this point. She can provide cover for Obama, but win she cannot. John Pender said April 10, 2008 5:43 PM
" Hillary.., STAY THE COURSE " The media has been brutal on Hillary Clinton since day one The real question that voters should focus on is who in PS Which of the 2 candidates has
Kathy Archie said April 10, 2008 5:51 PM
Thank you Kory for a sensible column. Why can't other reporters get this straight? Do they think the majority of us are idiots? A LACHINI said April 10, 2008 6:07 PM
I hope Clinton wins in Philadelphia and rest. Jkan said April 10, 2008 8:02 PM
Democrats know how to lose. that's for sure as the 2000, 2004 elections show. They are aware if Obama is nominated, McCain is going to win. Still they want Obama to get nom. Fatal attraction??? You name it! Stan Grose said April 10, 2008 8:15 PM
As a resident of North Carolina I couldnt agree with this article more! I think Sen Clinton will surprise a lot of people here! GAC said April 10, 2008 8:41 PM
In match-up polls, both Clinton and Obama win against McCain -- with Obama taking a bigger margin of electoral votes. I don't think Clinton has to quit now. It would be a good thing, IMO, if this was wrapped up shortly after the primaries were over, but if Clinton wishes to fight all the way to the convention, that's fine. Also, don't forget that the media declared Clinton inevitable early in the campaign. They've only recently picked up the narrative that she can't win. In the end, the media won't decide it. It'll be the voters and the delegates who do that. Rene said April 10, 2008 9:09 PM
I think the concerns of the DNC have more to do with Hillary dividing and weakening the party than with who is more adept at landing punches. George Bush showed that by staying and wearing out his welcome in Iraq he could also prove he is able to drag the fight on indefinitely, but to what good? Carlie Stearn said April 10, 2008 10:54 PM
Obama’s Dubious Affiliations There is no way a white man with the same background and credentials as Obama could ever be elected to any significant office in this country. Look at Obama’s affiliations: - Mr. Auchi is a billionaire and major financial sponsor for Obama’s rise to power throughout the past years. - Mr. Wright is a racist who hates America and whites and is reminiscent of Hitler and has been Mr. Obama’s teacher for over 20 years. - Senator Meeks who openly hates whites and gays and is one of listed on Obama’s campaign website as a major supporter and is one of Obama;s super-delegate. Mr. Meeks has been integral in helping Mr. Obama succeed in politics. - Michelle Obama trumpets Obama as “the second coming of the messiah,” and also states that she “has never been proud to be an AMERICAN in her adult life". The list goes on… How can Obama’s bad judgment and affiliation with criminals and fanatics be justified? Oh! And don’t forget Obama’s desire to add Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the above list. Didn’t Mussolini choose Hitler to be his friend? We certainly will be able to add Ahmadinejad to the future list of Obama’s friends as we hide in our nuclear shelters. Hey everybody - am I missing something here? It seems to me that perhaps instead of electing Obama president, it would be easier if we just shot ourselves in our collective foot. Steve said April 11, 2008 1:17 AM
Uhhhh... yeah it's over.
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No, it is not over for Democrats. Unless Obama wins the nomination, and there goes Florida and Ohio, and if that is not enough to do it (and we know it is), we may also lose Michigan and Pennsylvania...and a guaranteed win for McCain.