I stayed up a bit last night to watch the Pennsylvania primary returns come in until I was fairly certain Hillary would get her 10% win, which she apparently did (with, perhaps, a little help from rounding), but was also curious to get the first batch of spin on Hill's big victory from both Dems, and even some Republicans (I even listed to Pat Buchanan talking on some show for a few minutes). Some of the issues being discussed were:
---> Why can't Obama seem to put this thing to bed? He outspent Hillary 3:1 in Pennsylvania, and yes, he closed 'the gap' from where it was weeks ago, but you could see the pendulum starting to swing back to Hill, which is where it ended up. Have the Wright and "bitter-gate" issues damaged him irreparably?
---> If you count the 300,000 or so net votes that Hillary got in Florida, added to 200,000 or so in Penn, she starts to get within striking distance of perhaps 'winning' the total popular vote, which would be a serious blow to Obama's claim of entitlement to the superdelegates based on the fact he's won more states and has more regular delegates.
---> Say what you want about Hillary's margin, it may have not be a blowout for her, but it re-legitimizes a campaign that for a while, looked like it was coming (or about to come) under serious presssure to disband.
---> Hillary seems to have some success with pretty negative campaigning, even invoking Osama Bin Laden in one ad. She's likely to continue with what works. So, does Obama get down in the gutter with her, and risk (further) "tarnishing the brand", or does he try to keep above it all and take the jabs?
So, what does all of this mean? It means that the Dems will likely have right up until their convention to continue beating the snot out of each other, which is good for everyone. It's time for McCain to raise money for his coffers and stand on the sidelines to chime in here and there, when appropriate. The Dems are doing the work for him now, and it seems like few people now think the eventual Democratic nominee will emerge stronger than he or she might have without a bruising primary.
What does this mean for us here in Illinois and the 10th District/Lake County? First, I understand McCain has promised that he will come to Illinois, and Congressman Mark Kirk's close relationship with McCain would seem to almost guarantee that, no matter how "blue" Illinois might seem. Some GOPers are petrified that Obama will lift all the local Dem races if he is at the top of the ticket, but I'm not certain. Right now, the Hillary backers are so mad at Barack, they SAY they won't vote for him. I bet they forget their anger by November and go Dem but we'll see. I also suspect that if Obama is the nominee, the Dems will empty the State and send workers everywhere they can, except Illinois, which they will believe they have sewn up. People like Terry Link will be mad if they have to stay home and defend their seats in the face of petition scandals and other issues, since they'd much rather have a safe race at home and be out working for Obama, building up favors ("I knocked on five doors in Iowa for Obama! Can you believe it? Maybe I'll get a cabinet post?")
In addition, the other new political shocker last night was that Governor Blagojevich seems yet another step closer to being known nationally as "Public Official A". The Tribune reported that Ali Ata, a former high-ranking Blagojevich administration official, admitted he bought his $127,000-a-year state job by bribing Tony Rezko and making campaign contributions to Blagojevich. Depending on how Rezko-gate continues to shape up, this may all cause some tough questions for Obama on the campaign trail, as the cesspool of Illinois political corruption and his non-existent record of bucking it will surely be an issue in the fall.
LOCALLY-- No update available yet on the Terry Link petition scandal, but the Lake County State's Attorney's office is still investigating. TA predicts that several indictments will be made, but how high they will go is anyone's guess. Assuming Link's GOP opponent, Keith Gray, survives his nomination challenge, that will be a huge issue in the fall election. The local GOP's task is to dirty up Link enough that Obama, should he win the nomination, won't touch Link (his old poker pal) as to endorsements or campaign support.
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6 comments:
"Closed the gap." To a 9 point loss? Obama is slowly and surely being exposed as being less angelic based on the strange people he hangs around with and relies upon for assistance in his political career. Or should I say "relied" upon since he has been busy throwing them all under the bus. Or should I say "kind of" been throwing them under the bus.
So Rezko financially assisted him in the purchase of his house. Rezko has helped raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars (once was only $35,000) for Obama's campaigns.
Two former weathermen who hid under alias for over 20 years and who are now "respected" college professors who refuse to admit that they did wrong in the past. Those terrorist bombs they planted that killed people?
The "audacity of hope" pastor. He used that phrase to title one of his books and sell a ton of them, but later claimed to never pay much attention to what Reverend "God DXXX America" said during his sermons.
Those who attend church and are religious or are gun owners are "bitter" people who are using religion and guns as feel good drugs. In my Lake Forest there are two types of wealthy folks, the old rich who do not put on airs, and the newly wealthy, who put on airs and behave snootily. Obama and his wife clearly fall into the second category.
Closing the gap? Or watching it slowly widen?
Obama is this year's version of former presidential candidate Stevenson, who prided himself on being an egghead and complained when the masses rejected him.
Louis G. Atsaves
TA:
Isn't it interesting that Obama is ahead nationally in Dem primaries by 501,138 votes and he won Illinois by 650,304? So if you subtract Obama's home state from the calculus, Clinton is winning the popular vote by 149,166 votes!
So, TA, based on Ali Ata’s admissions, when do you think the Blagojevich indictment will come?
In the last 50 years, four of Illinois’ seven elected governors have done time at Club Fed. This is a very bipartisan group with a pair of Democratic jailbirds (Walker and Kerner) and two Republicans (Stratton and Ryan). Will Blagojevich make five of eight?
I’m giving former Gov. Shapiro a pass from my statistical analysis since he succeeded to the job from lieutenant governor, as Pat Quinn likely will.
Maybe it’s time Mark Kirk ran for governor. His honesty and moderation would be a breath of fresh air taking us back to the days of Edgar and Thompson. Former governors should live off a well-earned pension, not the free room and board the majority of them seem to be getting.
Our Congressman needs to dispatch Dan Seals first, but I would love to see him in the Governor’s Mansion.
So Clinton vs Obama goes on another month,
Rod gets indicted,
Patatine leads a tax revolt against Democratic taxes,
No wonder Seals is so quiet.
...and to top it all off folks, Obama, Clinton, McCain, Kirk, and an host of others have released their tax returns, but not The Pup.
Pup, the letters to the editor are about to start. Can we save ourselves, your team and the local media a bunch of time? Just release your tax returns and get it over with. It's inevitable and if you're hiding something, it's just gonna be worse the longer you hide it.
I agree, unless the supers go against her or she loses he fundraising Hillary is taking this to Denver.
How do we capitalize?
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