Five Months Later, Obama Nears Finish Line
Forty-two.
It’s the answer to the mystery of the universe, according to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and for Sen. Barack Obama, it’s the last milepost - the light at the end of the tunnel that is this historic Democratic presidential race.
After 17 months of campaigning, numerous momentum shifts, scandals, rules committee hearings, wrangling for support among insiders and more than 35 million votes, Obama needs just 42 more delegates.
That would finally give the 46-year-old Illinois Senator the 2,118 he needs for the Democratic presidential nomination, leaving little room for rival Sen. Hillary Clinton to make the dwindling argument that the party should choose her.
Although she may still try to halt his coronation, it appears the question of what’s next for Clinton may soon being answered: concession.
Despite waging one of the most formidable campaigns for the presidency in U.S. history, the former First Lady has simply run out of options.
The last two primaries of 2008 - South Dakota and Montana - take place today, but with just 31 delegates at stake combined, even two expected victories for Obama won’t be enough to put him over the top.
Enter the superdelegates.
After more than 50 elections, Barack Obama is closing in on victory.
On Tuesday, the U.S. House Majority Whip, James Clyburn of South Carolina, the top ranking African-American in Congress who has been neutral throughout, announced that he plans on supporting Obama in the race.
“I believe the nomination of Senator Obama is our Party’s best chance for victory in November, and our nation’s best hope for much needed change,” said Clyburn, the source of one of the top quotes from this year when he told Bill Clinton to “chill” on Obama before the South Carolina primary.
“Senator Obama brings a new vision for our future, new voters to our cause. He has created energy and excitement I have not witnessed since the 1960s.”
Meanwhile, four of the 17 uncommitted Democratic senators gathered at the party’s Senate campaign committee headquarters to discuss their options.
Most of the 17 are expected to endorse Barack Obama later this week.
But Montana Sen. Jon Tester, who did not attend Monday’s meeting, said he was willing to wait until Tuesday’s results before making a decision.
“I want to wait until it all plays out in Montana,” Tester said.
“I think that what’s happened over the last couple weeks in Montana and South Dakota has been nothing short of amazing, with Senator Obama and Senator Clinton crisscrossing both of those states and giving us the kind of exposure to national candidates - the kind we’ve literally never had before.”
A dozen and a half pledged delegates from Montana and South Dakota voters, plus one final wave of superdelegate support, can give Obama the 42 he needs, leaving absolutely no doubt and bringing closure to this historic race.
It’s been an incredible ride, but it’s gone on long enough. Let’s end this tonight.
NATIONAL
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Wow! James Clyburn came out in support of Obama! What a surprise!
This campaign has been about anything, but a pratical debate concerning the issues. Thank you Axelrod! Let us just hand off the future of our country and the world to an inexperienced candidate. And if you do not agree with him or his ability, we will just label you a racist. I guess 12% of the nations population is
going to determine the future of the free world. The healing Obama
is talking about is not off to such a good start!
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:12 pm
God Bless America. God, the Father, is giving us an offer we can’t refuse. Barack Obama. With the economy in shambles, Iraq still in a bad way, even though McCain says it is better over there. He forgets that we wouldn’t even be there if he and others hadn’t voted for it. We haven’t forgot. In spite of what people say about Obama, we all know he is a dedicated, intelligent American who loves America and the American people, as a whole. We know he will do everyting he can to restore our country to where it should be. A thriving and healthy place to reside for all of us. Not just the rich.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
12%,Dave? African-Americans are only 11% at last count. A count conducted by people other than African-Americans, I might add. Therefore, they can say anything. Stop showing your racism, Dave. It’s ugly.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
President Obama = the end of America.
I will vote for a John McCain - James Dobson ticket in November.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Now that superdelegates put the black man at the top of the ticket is Donna Brazille going to quit the democratic party? I Think not,that only applied if Hillary got there first, and they say this was not about race…all liars….
I Will never vote for Obama he and his wife are both racists…even if Hillary were on the ticket I would not vote for him, time to turn our backs on the democrats like they did to us….McCain is sounding more sincere everyday especially tonight. He knows that the country will choose him now. He is a happy man. Michigan and Florida will vote against Obama you can bet that too.
We feel for you Hillary and we pray you let these manipulator’s go off to the general election and lose on their own. Please stay off the ticket so that we can show this man he is not going to force us to vote for someone we don’t want. To hell with the superdelegates too. What fools and to think that CNN helped pull this sham off. Shame on all of you…they did not want the race card pulled on them by their own friend Donna Brazille. McCains speech might be awful but he will still beat Obama
June 4th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Supers are an illusion. In the general, they will only have one little vote, like the rest of all of us who have already voted. What do the Master Manipulators think the supers accomplished? Likewise, the dumb decision re: Florida and Michigan. All those “votes” are real people, and they are still there. All the dirty tricks will not change reality. Hillary Clinton leads. Her voters are still here. The people who voted for her are HERE.
If you push her out, you will have to ask the majority of people what’s next.
The Democratic party bosses have been suckered. They have handed the election to McCain. Maybe that was the point? Maybe the oil and insurance companies are the winners. They succeeded in pushing out the only person in the United States capable of standing up to them.