Closed primary.

Given the use of surrogates in this campaign, can someone explain to me why Obama can't get his mother out on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania to address the older white woman demographic?

THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS!!!! For -

oh wait...nevermind.

Do you really need to be reminded that, in TX, Obama swung the polls 20 points in two weeks -- going from -15 points at T minus three weeks to +6 points at T minus one week?

Also worth remembering that, in two PA polls the week before TX/OH, Quinnipiac had Obama at -6 points and Rasmussen had him at -4 points.

Once Obama gets on the ground, he moves the polls very quickly. Surely you've learned that much, by now.

Storm,

The Obama and media lynching of Ferraro, while payback for Obama's lost staff this past week or so, is going to backlash. First, among white women voters, especially those who were old enough to vote in 1984, and second, by traditional Democratic and those fabled Reagan Democrats that are not going to take lightly to this serious affront to a historic Democratic figure. Yes, once the dust settles, I think Obama will and should rue the day he, the Obama Cult, and the media pulled this latest racist stunt.

I'm sure it won't affect his standing in the Black community, heck he already polls 90% like in some 3rd world dictatorship, but take note of exit polls and others showing the increasing polarization of the White vote. With the 90% Black vote only accounting for maybe 13% of the overall general election vote, Obama cannot win in a racially polarized election.

Yes, finally, as Ferraro suggested Tuesday, Obama owes her an a apology. If for no other reason, for his disrepect to her.

GO HILLARY..... Polls are looking good for you in all the states that are left to vote....keep up the good work.... if you are a hillary supporter, keep donating and making those calls:)

matt...

thank you for explaining why hillary and her surrogates would overtly inject the issue of race into this campaign. and i quote: "With the 90% Black vote only accounting for maybe 13% of the overall general election vote, Obama cannot win in a racially polarized election."

sadly, your head's so deep in the sand you've convinced yourself...er, bought hook, line, and sinker into hillary's divisive crap...that you think obama owes someone an apology.

jesus man, you're a perfect example of why we should be done with the baby boomers. you've all had your chance, and boy did you manage to f&ck it all up.

Wait, but I thought winning the Dem primary means you win the general too??

How can it be that Obama does better against McCain in this poll?

Surely the Clinton campaign wouldn't try to mislead us...

As a separate issue, I find it troubling that despite the national media over the past few months, she still has that big of a lead. While I trust that Obama will cut this down to less than 10 in the next few weeks, I doubt he'll win the state outright. It shouldn't matter - he's ahead far enough that Clinton can't win the nomination outright.

That said, I wonder if McClinton has figured that her recent tactic of not apologizing outright for Ferraro's statements is an indication that she feels that she can win simply by relying on the female vote and the white male vote. It may be enough. I'm troubled by this pattern in general.

I think it is time Obama's endorsers, like the Kennedys, go out again to rally for him. Where did they go after that first few appearances!??

Yes, and who did Obama win against? His first campaigned ended unopposed. His U.S. Senate campaign was against Alan Keyes!!! No, Obama has never been tested. Clinton at least ran against Rick Lazio, though he did blow it big time.

I keep on hearing how Hillary is such a fighter. Could someone please provide some good examples of this, please? She certainly did not fight Bush on his war and she capitulated on health care (setting that cause back ten years in the process). What big issues has she ever successfully fought for?

The primary reason I lean Barrack is there I see a tenacious fighter - just look at his record. And if he wasn't such a good fighter he would not be still in the race now - and leading at that. He has proven that he can handle himself just fine in the political ring. He just doesn't fight the way people expect and that is his great strength. People just keep punching at him until they wear themselves out. He just brushes himself off and moves on.

The Clintons have been engaging in so much "inspection" they're up into Mr. Obama's duodenum by now.

Oh and look at the time; it's March already.

Let's see, March, March.... Oh yes, now I remember! This is the month the Clintons were going to have the nomination all sewn up like a comely blue dress.

I guess you could say Mr. Obama is passing the "test", and the Clintons are failing -- even by their own standards.

Given its record of accuracy, we might do well to keep in mind the Obama campaign's internal projection for PA:

Clinton 52%

Obama 47%

A Rasmussen polls from not too long ago had Hillary losing Pennsylvania to McCain, 44% to 42% while Obama easily beat McCain, 49% to 39%, so I think it is a fair bet that Obama does much better there than Hillary, no matter how this primary turns out. The same thing can be seen in all kinds of states she has won, Obama is still the best.

McCain Begins Vice President

By Eric Allen Bell

San Antonio, Texas. (March 12) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Wednesday he has begun the process of finding a vice presidential running mate and wants someone who shares his rage and can take his place.

Speaking to reporters on a campaign plane, loaned to him by lobbyists for oil companies and war machines, the expected Republican nominee said he had seen news reports that famed serial killer Charles Manson, had expressed interest in the job, but he offered no comment one way or the other on whether Manson would be a candidate.

"Manson shares my views that human beings can and should be tortured and killed," McCain said of Manson’s interest in the No. 2 slot on the Republican ticket in November's election.

Manson told Fixed News Channel's "Hannity and Colmes" on Tuesday that "any Serial Killer in this country would be honored to be asked to serve as the vice presidential nominee for John McCain, myself included." He went on to say that, "The over 1 million innocent people killed since the Iraqi invasion makes George Bush the ultimate serial killer, especially given that half of those murdered were innocent children. I feel that McCain has what it takes to carry on that legacy and even outdo Bush with the upcoming invasion of Iran. This is history in the making." Said Manson, "And I’d like to be a part of it."

Charles Manson endorsed McCain in February after the Arizona senator defeated Gulianni in an often caustic campaign battle. McCain will face either Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York or Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois in November. Clinton, herself an aspiring serial killer who supported the Iraq invasion, has the blood of a half million innocent dead Iraqi children on her hands and seems to feel no remorse. Said Manson, "She is gifted with the ability to harm others and feel no pain but rather seek the spotlight to increase her base of power. I feel that, given the opportunity, she will kill again".

When asked about Democratic Presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, Manson went on to say, "He is not ready to mass murder on day one. He lacks the experience of taking human lives for pleasure or for personal gain. I don’t know how anyone can take him seriously."

At a town-hall meeting in San Antonio, Texas, McCain went out of his way to praise Manson as well as more notable and effective mass murderers such as the late Edi Amin, China’s Chairman Mao Tse-Tung and of course the great Adolf Hitler.

"My friends, I fought in Viet Nam. I was a trained killer" Said the Arizona Senator, "I don’t remember what we were fighting for, but I loved to kill and, given the opportunity to serve this country as Commander and Chief, I can promise you a blood bath in the Middle East. America will never be looked at the same way ever again once I leave office." he said.

Talking to reporters on his campaign bus, the Double Talk Express, the 71-year-old McCain made clear he has not put together a list of candidates yet but has some ideas in mind. He said he could not say whether Charles Manson was "on or off the list." There have been some unconfirmed rumors on the Beltway that McCain was also in talks with other serial killers and military commanders at Guantanamo Bay for the number two slot.

NO DECISION EXPECTED SOON

Offering some details on what type of person he was considering, McCain said he did not believe having a "personal bond" with the running mate was all that critical as long as they shared the same views and philosophy.

He also said he did not think the vice presidential candidate needed to be from a certain region, "So long as he is male, not a homosexual, a devout Christian and white."

No decision was expected anytime soon. Presidential nominees often wait until just before their party's nominating convention in late summer to announce their running mate.

McCain said he and advisers have begun discussing "what was the process that was used in other campaigns, what process should we go through." He added, "I just can’t wait to get my finger on the button of this nation’s Nuclear arsenal. That’s just some straight talk, my friends. Power makes me feel high and I want to destroy things, entire villages, men women and children. I don’t care about oil. I keep saying this war is not about oil. This is about showing my father that I am number one and showing the world that America is number one."

He said his prime criteria is someone "who can take your place, shares your principles, your values and your vision and your priorities." He added that "Given the principals of the Neoconservative movement, I believe that Charles Manson would be on anyone’s short list."

McCain talked about his vice presidential search as he came to San Antonio, Texas to hold a town-hall meeting at the Church of Pastor John Hagee, where he thanked the Right Wing bigot for endorsing his candidacy. "Pastor Hagee hates human beings and I share his values. If I am elected into office, I will appoint Hagee to head up a task force on how to promote American values here at home."

When asked if the Senator would consider Ann Coulter for the Vice Presidential nominee he remarked, "Now that would be going too far."

www.WeCanStopMcCain.org

I am reading this in the morning and am surprised to see no one has stepped up to answer your repeatedly-asked question, Diet. I'd kind-of like to get back to seeing the good in each candidate, too. So, this isn't what you asked for, but maybe it will get you an answer.

Hillary and Obama have similar stands on the big issues, and so maybe this is why there is so little discussion of those issues. That will come in the general, I guess (I hope!). So given that they will strive towards similar goals in the White House, and that the experience thing seems to be moot, I see some main differences as:

-Obama is inspiring new and young voters and even appealing to Republicans. He is making it okay for "red states" to come to his side because he erases these petty distinctions with his campaign. It's not just talk that he will be a unifying presence in Washington...he's already laying the foundation for that.

-He will inspire more people to feel included and get involved fighting for issues they care about...this participation is what will cause the greatest change in our country.

-He is a great thinker with a real passion for government (not a passion for power) and this trumps experience with a job like the presidency.

-He isn't a Bush or a Clinton! (sorry, that's snarky, but it is something that worries me a bit...).

-He seems to genuinely care about people and has a refreshingly open mind. He will challenge those of us who are becoming more and more segregated...whether by race, socioeconomics, religion or politics.

-He is relatively free of political baggage and can honestly represent the needs and concerns of the people. Not all of us, obviously, with every issue, but the ones who need it most.

-He has more faith in Americans than we have in ourselves. His bright view of our future is infectious.

Maybe a Clinton supporter can now highlight some unique, exciting things about her?

I'm disturbed by the signals coming from the Obama campaign that he's not going to focus strongly on PA. They don't seem to understand that the primary campaign in PA is about much more than the immediate tactical needs of the nomination contest. They need to use PA to hone their economic message for the fall, when the economy will be THE issue. So far they haven't been doing a good job at all of communicating to working-class voters that Obama understands their fears and has concrete plans to preserve and create good jobs if he's elected, and no, directing people to his website doesn't cut it. (I don't think Hillary has done a very good job on this either- she gets working-class votes based mainly on memories of better times in her husband's administration). The long PA runup represents a golden opportunity for Obama's campaign to get its act together on issues on which he'll need to runs strongly in the fall. If they waste this opportunity I'll be very concerned. I can understand spending a little time in Indiana at this point- it's a tossup state he's going to need to win. But NC can wait- his base and his lead are solid there.

Hillary is a 'survivor' by aligning with her avowed enemies, adopting their divisive tactics, even being willing to destroy her own party by lauding McCain over her own party's frontrunner.

This reminds me of Holocaust 'survivors' who 'survived' by collaborating with their oppressors and against their own fellows.

I can at least try to understand the selfish and craven behavior of those who collaborated to save their own lives....but Hillary's selfishness and heavy use of rovian tactics is just about her political fortunes, not her very life.

When I hear folks praise Hillary as a 'survivor', I think of how she is trading her integrity for that survival.

Donna,

Calling her a "survivor" implies that she's some sort of victim. She's no victim.

Yes - the math is not there for Hillary to win on pledged delegates. Of course, the math is also not there for Obama to win the nomination on pledged delegates alone.

As a Clinton supporter (and I truly believe she feels the same way) - nobody with any power in the Democratic Party would countenance any backroom deals or any appearance of such, in order to garner the superdelegates needed to push one or the other over the top.

Therefore, her only hope is to win Pennsylvania, and the revotes in Florida and Michigan (yes, they must be revotes), by enough to squeak out a victory in the total popular vote (difficult, but not inconceivable).

Then she can make an open, aboveboard claim to her being "the people's candidate" on that basis and attempt to woo the superdelegates (who can vote their conscience under "the rules") to her side.

Obama's road to the nomination is easier at this point, but to say that Hillary is out of it and should step aside, or that she needs to cheat and get some kind of backroom deal (that would never be allowed to happen), ignores the fact that this is still a very close contest - with Obama in front right now.

I'll happily suppo