May 16, 2008
His for the Taking (A.B. Stoddard)
The 41-point whooping Hillary Clinton gave Barack Obama in West Virginia has clearly done little for her, particularly after Obama stole her show the next night with the John Edwards endorsement. But boy, is John McCain happy.
The win upon wins — often with a staggering 70 percent or more in rural areas — Clinton has managed in blue-collar, white America has drawn a precise map for McCain through swing states he needs to win in November. These voters usually pick person over party. They voted for Ronald Reagan, for Bill Clinton, and for George W. Bush. This year they want to hear about the economy and healthcare, and McCain should polish up on these top issues to woo them.
As I described in my column this week, these voters have trouble listening to Obama. It could be racism, patriotism or a fundamental culture clash. Likely it is a combination of the three. No matter, it is McCain's gift to run with or squander. It's time for him to travel every pocket of Appalachia and cement his standing early with these voters. He won't have to down shots or talk tough, because he is. Many of these people will come back to Obama, but many of them won't and are McCain's for the taking. > Read More
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What's This May 15, 2008
A Not-Quite-Ringing Endorsement (A.B. Stoddard)
Barack Obama's orchestration of an endorsement by John Edwards — timed to knock Hillary Clinton's interviews off of several network newscasts — was a political smackdown for the record books. Not only did it change the subject from his 41-point loss in West Virginia, but it said what it needed to: This is my party, I call the shots, and this is over.
But the endorsement from Edwards, so long awaited it is practically past the sell-by date, was a semi-deflated event. Edwards came alone, without his wife, who is reportedly now behind Hillary Clinton because of her healthcare plan. In addition, Edwards insisted on complimenting Clinton in his first remarks, to the sound of booing from the surprised crowd of 12,000 that had spent hours assembling in a stadium and had heard nothing of a coming Edwards endorsement. Upon hearing their loud boos, Edwards awkwardly tried to press on over the sound while Obama began flailing his arms to quiet the crowd's disapproval, as if swatting flies. The most poignant part about this shout-out to Hillary was how genuine it was; it is clear Edwards is far more torn than enthusiastic about endorsing Obama. > Read More
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What's This May 14, 2008
What's Her Game? (A.B. Stoddard)
Still more questions … as we watch one of the most fascinating and bizarre stories in recent political history continue to unfold and head toward a money-back-guaranteed, high-drama conclusion.
Chelsea and Bill Clinton were nowhere in sight last night when Hillary obliterated Barack Obama in the Mountain State. Were they resting, or busy campaigning elsewhere?
She told her cheering fans that she vows to carry on, unbowed. But just what is Hillary Clinton's goal? She reiterated her pledge to support the nominee, and work her heart out for "him," but then again made the case that only she can beat McCain because she has won the swing states. She said she "deeply admires" Sen. Obama, but she pitched herself to "those who have the awesome responsibility, the delegates of our party." Perhaps it is that she owes all those sweet old ladies who want to elect the first woman president, and they expect her to carry on until the end. Or perhaps she can continue asking them for $5 at a time, $10 at a time, to pay off her debts to unpaid staff and vendors. > Read More
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What's This May 13, 2008
What Next? (A.B. Stoddard)
For starters, it won't be a good night for Barack Obama or his surrogates, those men and women sent out to spin a huge loss in West Virginia while Obama makes no remarks on the vote. No matter the math, it’s never good for presumptive nominees to get crushed. No storm of superdelegates — and it will likely be raining big names tomorrow — can answer the question of why Obama can't win West Virginia, or even keep it close.
But we know all about the math, and the fact that Obama gets the amount of delegates Hillary Clinton will win in West Virginia (five) about every 36 hours now in superdelegate endorsements. There is no catching up, no matter how much Mountain Staters love Hill. > Read More
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What's This May 12, 2008
Hillary Vigil (A.B. Stoddard)
The Hill's A.B. Stoddard answers questions and shares viewer comments about the future of the presidential race, including possible VP picks and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) campaign.
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What's This May 9, 2008
Behold: The Big Picture (A.B. Stoddard)
Blogs are usually not the place for it, but for today, let us behold the bigger picture.
In the middle of the drama surrounding the Clinton concession-vigil, a profound, historic event has occurred this week, unnoticed and uncelebrated. This was the week it became clear: A political party in our country is poised to nominate an African-American candidate who has an excellent shot at becoming president of the United States.
Through the drama of the horserace, which isn't officially over, no one mentions this fact. Anything can happen; many disruptions could occur before Obama secures his party's nomination. But as long as he holds his delegate lead, it won't be handed to Clinton by the superdelegates. Barring something tragic or earth-shattering, Obama will be nominated on Aug. 28, on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. > Read More
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What's This May 8, 2008
Clinton's Problems (A.B. Stoddard)
The Hill's Associate Editor A.B. Stoddard talks about the state of Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-N.Y.) presidential campaign and answers viewer questions.
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What's This What She Does Now Will Determine Hillary's Future (A.B. Stoddard)
Is Hillary headed for the hills, or a Denver jihad? It appears the party would like her to have her dignity, and decide how and when to quit, but a convention challenge will test whatever patience the party has left for the Clintons. Yesterday it was Sen. George McGovern, a close friend Hillary worked for decades ago, who switched sides to back Barack Obama and call for her to leave the race. Who will it be today?
The way that Clinton transitions from this campaign will determine her future, whatever those plans may be. Will she merely take perfunctory steps to back Obama, or will she work her "heart out" for the Democratic nominee, as she has promised? > Read More
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What's This May 6, 2008
McCain Playing It Right (A.B. Stoddard)
Since this blog started in early 2007, readers have pummeled me every time I have written about John McCain. Yesterday a poster called Gary even accused me of supporting McCain and working to help Hillary Clinton defeat Barack Obama because "the old man has no chance against Obama." I enjoy the conversation and invite each and every comment, yet a thorough search would show I have complimented the strengths of every candidate and pointed out all of their blunders, with great frequency.
Today I write to compliment the McCain campaign again, for what I see as a shrewd strategy that not only consolidates his party's base but dares to target the other party's base as well. Fellow blogger David Keene wrote today that McCain's speech on his judicial philosophy may not answer every concern on the right, but that it provided assurance on this issue, which is of paramount importance to conservatives. > Read More
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What's This May 5, 2008
Coming out Roaring (A.B. Stoddard)
In the last two critical weeks before a contest each candidate had to win, Barack Obama spent most of his time talking about the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and why blue-collar whites don't vote for him.
No one wants to hear about it. Hillary Clinton has talked up her gas-tax holiday and her outrage at everything threatening the middle class, from corporate bail-outs to the high cost of healthcare to the manipulation of energy prices. Everyone wants to hear about it. > Read More
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