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McAuliffe: If Obama Gets Magic Number, Hillary Will Concede
Did Hillary campaign chair Terry McAuliffe just reveal that Hillary will concede defeat when Obama clinches the magic number of 2,118 delegates?
He certainly appeared to do just that this morning on The Today Show. Here's the exchange...
QUESTION: If Barack Obama reaches that number today or tomorrow do you believe that Sen. Clinton is prepared to concede?McAULIFFE: Yeah, I think that if Sen. Obama gets the numbers, I think Hillary Clinton will congratulate him, and call him the nominee.
The tell there, I think, is that the questioner asked specifically what she would do if Obama hit the number today or tomorrow. And McAuliffe clearly said, Yes, she'll concede.
We'll see what happens.
Late Update: Here's the video:
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What? He must have mispoke. I don't believe it.
June 3, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he sobered up after his bender yesterday on the Morning Joe.
June 3, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow.
June 3, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
You mean that might be a God? . . . Other than the great and grand goddess herself?
I'm soooo confused.
June 3, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
There seems to be considerable disarray in the Clinton camp- all kinds of contradictory messages are coming out.
June 3, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agitprop. These contradictory statements are orchestrated to produce a climate of uncertainty but they are most certainly deliberate. It is useful for Hillary to keep everybody off balance a bit until her options begin to clarify and gel. She needs to give the illusion of fighting on to firm her support, while giving the illusion of being accommodating to leverage her future.
I see no inconsistency whatever. It's politics.
June 3, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
The following heads are exploding as I type:
THO4HILLARYCLINTON, Lalo35adm, gotalife, HillaryClinton08, dijamo, readytoblowagasket, RaeKa, "Present", Otto F, fogu2
What a beautiful sight.
June 3, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
But who's going to clean up the mess...
June 3, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Clean up the mess?
It's artwork! Take pictures. Plaster them all over the internetS.
Behold!
June 3, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Jackson Pollock of political head viscera.
June 3, 2008 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Better call an ambulance, stat.
June 3, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
LMAO. Stop it guys. LOL.
June 3, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
I would especially enjoy the exploding heads of fogu, lalo, present and gotalife for their offensive and racist avatars.
June 3, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
She'll concede he has enough delegates to win the nomination if he hits the magic number, but did the announcement say she'd withdraw from the race? You know superdels can always make a switcheroo. Just saying if as the convention draws closer Obama continues to fall behind in the polls, super dels can always change their votes up to August :)
BTW my head's just fine actually. That exploding sound is the chances of the Democrats winning in November being blown to smithereens.
June 3, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not so sure about that. You constantly claim Senator Obama is behind in the polls, but you seem to only consult the polls that bollster your agenda.
Intellectual dishonesty.
June 3, 2008 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Are there ANY electoral college polls that suggest Obama is doing better than Senator Clinton against McCain? NOPE. It is intellectually dishonest to accuse me of not finding polls that don't exist.
June 3, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Then link something! Just once, show the rest of us where you find your magic polls, Dijamo!
June 3, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Might I suggest a class on learning to use the internets and The Google? In the meantime, here you go...
http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Clinton/Maps/Jun01.html
June 3, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's not my job to prove your claims. It's yours.
June 3, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dijamo,
You're still being intellectually dishonest. I will concede to you that that poll has Clinton with a wider margin that Obama, but if you look at the Obama vs. Mcain map on that page:
http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Obama/Maps/Jun02.html
It has Obama with 276 and McCain 238. So how exactly is that the democratic chances exploding? We still win. And remember, polls are just that. They're not real votes....things can change between now and November. You're just being obtuse when you claim our chances are exploding. Just damn silly.
June 3, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's the margin silly! Hillary has a better chance of winning in the general election. Obama's lead is currently tenuous at best as many of those leaning states are not leaning very far.
If you wanted to avoid to 50.1% strategy (which obviously didn't work out so well for Kerry and Gore), then Hillary is the best candidate. Her electoral college map is much more similar to Bill's pulling states like WV, KY etc that the recent dems have ceded to Republicans. Bill may not have dominated in the popular vote but he trounced GHB and Dole in the electoral college race.
And did I mention Kerry was also leading GWB at this point in the 2004 race and LOST. largely due to Republican smear machine that defined him through lies. Obama will lose by a larger margin than Kerry for sure.
June 3, 2008 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those polls are meaningless because no one has been campaigning against Clinton for the past month. Everybody's been giving her room for a graceful exit. If Clinton were actually being hit with a real campaign, her numbers would be far lower.
Remember, four years ago at this time, polls showed Kerry with a blowout win against Bush.
June 3, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah! Obama's doing worse than Kerry was against Bush at this point. And that's before the Republican smear machine starts on him. Don't see how this benefits Obama.
June 3, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
A couple responses to you from our 'conversation' yesterday:
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/hillarybacker_vilsack_she_shou.php
June 3, 2008 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, but the Republican smear machine has been out in full force against him. 'cept of course, it's been Clinton doing most of the smearing on their behalf.
The smear machine has been trying and trying, and they haven't gotten enough traction. Everything they've tried hasn't stuck, and they're scared shitless.
June 3, 2008 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Americans, in general, want to vote for someone they respect.
They don't respect someone desperately changing the way the game is played on the chance that they might win.
June 3, 2008 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
stfu you disingenuous, morally bankrupt, troll. go over to no quarter or redstate where your tiny little troll brain can get some much needed rest.
June 3, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Smithereens? Come on. You really can't believe that Clinton was THAT much stronger than Obama. If so, why?
June 3, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did he say that in response to the specific number of 2,118? Or was he just responding to the generic term of "magic number"? It's not quite clear to me from the excerpt.
June 3, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly what I was thinking, Schrodinger ...
June 3, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Me too. They have explicitly and repeatedly contended that the "magic number" is the one you get if Florida and Michigan's delegates get full votes and they reaffirmed that position as recently as Sunday, as I recall.
Follow-up? Anyone?
June 3, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not only did he not respond to a specific number, but this:
McAULIFFE: Yeah, I think that if Sen. Obama gets the numbers, I think Hillary Clinton will congratulate him, and call him the nominee.
...may be parsed as a classic Clintonian avoidance statement.
'congratulate him, and call him the nominee.'
Concede? Go away? I see too much wiggle room in there.
June 3, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hallelujah! Praise the lord!
June 3, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought they were supposed to just raise the number . . .
June 3, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for catching this, Greg.
I didn't think they'd hold out if he got the number. Are they thinking he doesn't have it and won't?
Is that it?
June 3, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Greg?!
THis is obviously pro-Clinton propoganda if it's coming from McCauliffe. Greg is yet again showing his bias for the CLinton spin machine.
June 3, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
So get with it, SDs! Endorse already!!
June 3, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
I got an text message this morning from a Republican friend who told me that while he was watching Fox this morning a commentor pointed to a damaging tape that is to surface tomorrow about Michelle Obama. I went to a couple blogs and only found one mention about it on Kos (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/3/81952/73083/864/527970).
This is the first time i have seen or heard about this. Have you guys heard anything about this? Apparently the surfacing of this tape has been rumored for a while now.
June 3, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's a LIE.
June 3, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah it was posted repeatedly on threads from last night. I didn't watch it though. If you go back you will see the youtube links.
June 3, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Franklyn, the trolls have been all over it.
Concerned?
June 3, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
i just never heard about this tape until a little while ago.
June 3, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's bullshit.
June 3, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes and RaeK posted it like spam yesterday and last night, over and over and over...
Which is why I answered in a rather annoyed tone.
June 3, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, they claim to have a video of Michelle Obama denouncing "whitey." It's been touted/posted repeatedly on one of the hardcore pro-Hillary sites (the name escapes me right now, but I know it's not Taylor Marsh). My hunch is that it's a complete and total lie and/or exaggeration. If it were true, someone would have already run with it.
June 3, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I imagine it's akin to that tape that went around of that Clinton adviser supposedly saying West Virginians (?) were "sh*t" - it ended up being false subtitles.
June 3, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
No Quarter USA, that's the name of the web site! Here's the link
June 3, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Michelle says several times (referring to Bush) "Why'd'he...?"
Not "whitey"
June 3, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ladies & Gentlemen, now that Obama will be officially the nominee, we willsee a lot of "tapes" come out. The list below is not exaustive:
* Fogu2 will tout a tape showing Obama having tea with a certain outlaw at the foot of the Tora Bora mountains.
* Gotalife will claim existence of a video showing Obama receiving illegal barrels of oil from the Middle East.
* Dijamo will star in a video on Youtube ranting about the stolen nomination, like Mrs Rant-a-lot from the RBC meeting.
The rest of us will be spilling our Kool-Aid, laughing-out-loud.
June 3, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
If they had anything significant, they would've thrown it out there before the last primaries to keep he Obama/Clinton war going.
June 3, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
When will we see the YouTube of McSame calling Cindy a "*unt"?
June 3, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a pretty good summary of the backstory:
http://www.slate.com/id/2192801/
You'll have to scroll about half-way down the page.
June 3, 2008 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
This has been brewing for weeks but a couple of days ago I read that she was talking about Bush, saying "Why'd he" abandon New Orleans and "Why'd he" invade Iraq. If true it means some enterprising sleazebag is trying to make it that she said "Whitey" when she was saying "Why'd he."
June 3, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
There have been rumors about this supposed tape for about 1-2 weeks now. It's been mentioned on Balloon Juice and Booman. I can't get the link to work right now, but Booman seems to think it's a tape in which Michelle is excoriating Bush for his big failures. Basically, she's asking "Why'd he let New Orleans drown" and a few others. For those idiots who are so inclined, you can misunderstand the "Why'd he..." part to hear "Whitey...instead."
Anyway, I think this is more of a under the radar smear tactic than anything legitimate.
Here's a link if you want to read all of what Booman says-
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2008/6/1/235757/2325
June 3, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
This 'tape' has been rumored to be around for months, yet, has never shown up on YouTube, Drudge, or anywhere else. At different points its been rumored to be Michelle talking to TUCC, Louis Farakan, giving an interview, giving a speech, and talking on a plane. At different points all the major networks had it, ABC had it, FOX had it, Drudge had it, it was on YouTube, got pulled from YouTube, had a million dollar bounty on it, and was publically and was on the RNC website for free download. It's about as bogus as it gets at this point.
June 3, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
What McAuliffe said was she would concede when Obama got the requisite number of "convention delegates". As usual, keeping the options open for Hillary to channel her inner Harriet Christian. I'd love to think there's a high road somewhere in Hillary's future, but after Bill's tirade just yesterday, after his lying and accusing Obama of orchestrating the priest's rant, I'm just too skeptical.
June 3, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Judas.
June 3, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmmm, me smells something stinky and suspicious in Hillary Land!
June 3, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Clinton camp said earlier that they have no intention of "dropping out" of the race. If Hillary "suspends" her campaign then, technically, this statement is true. As much as I dislike Hillary, a decision to suspend her campaign (similar to what Mitt Romney did) actually makes sense. If some horrible Obama revelation were to surface between now and August, she can jump right back in. Suspending her campaign also allows her to keep her delegates and exercise some serious leverage until the convention. She'll be a major power broker. If Obama were in the same position, I wouldn't begrudge him for doing the same. That's just how politics is played.
June 3, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not much mess with those heads exploding - you need brain matter and an actual brain to make a mess!
June 3, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Baruch atah Adonai ...
who hast loved us, and blessed us, and brought us to this day!
June 3, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah wait, isn't this where Terry and Wolfie come out and claim 3,455 or pull some other number out of their ass as the "new magic number"?
"We've forgotten to take into account the votes of family pets," Howard Wolfson said amidst snickering from the CNN Newsroom. "No, seriously...my Golden Retriever supports Hillary all the way, as does my parakeet. We cannot disenfranchize those votes as well, now can we?"
June 3, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
How very large of him. But yes, I'm anticipating that the requirement will go from 2118 to 4236.
June 3, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was wondering about the "today or tomorrow" part, but would hitting it on Thursday be that much different?
June 3, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have no doubt that Terry McAsswipe is not counting Superdelegates. That he's saying once Obama reaches the magic number with pledged delegates, she'll drop out.
June 3, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Where's Idiotic? That's your cue!
June 3, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
The only way to see into the future is by the friggin SD's to get off the fence and endorce like Rep Clyburn did...force Hillary's hand and let's see how sincere and "team" oriented she is towards Novemeber. To me having her "celebration" speech tonight isn't excatly being a team player when Obama is in MN declaring he is the winner. I'd like to hear your thoughts as I can't hold any credence in her campaign staff to be straight and honest.
June 3, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Chuck Todd was talking yesterday about a very interesting situation - whether Obama wants the Supers to push him over the number before Hillary speaks or to have them wait a little so MT and SD push him over.
Should be an interesting night.
June 3, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Could have been something they discussed Sunday night.
Obama tells Hillary that he has the supers to push him over, but offers her the decision on when (before or after her speech).
Maybe?
June 3, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
As has been mentioned upthread, unless the number was defined as 2118, what McCauliff said is non committal. If they take this to Denver, the likely number would be 2210.
Supers need to give him that by tonight if they don't want a floor fight on their hands and consciences.
June 3, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh please, that so-called Michelle thing is about as realistic as the "Muslim" e-mail that circulated earlier this year.
Folks, it'll get much, much worse over the next five months. Nothing is more pathetic than a scared, desperate Republican party!
June 3, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
I trust Terry McAuliffe about as far as Hillary Clinton could throw Dick Cheney.
Terry is going to do his damnedest to make sure that magic number is never reached or that anyone knows what the magic number is for the Clinton camp.
June 3, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Be weary. They have also begun making the case that superdelegates do not vote until the convention, so they are within their rights to continue to "lobby" Obama's supers throughout the summer until the convention. The argument from some in the Clinton camp has become that supers don't count until Denver.
That doesn't mean that they'll continue on just on the off chance that "something might happen", but remember, as with everything that the Clinton's have said this nomination cycle there is wiggle room.
I'll believe they're out when it happens, but in the meantime, McCain is waiting.
June 3, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Talkingheads on msnbc this am joking about all the alcohol swilling done by HRC the last few(they encouraged Hillary to try a Depth Charge next time)...and then McAuliffe with a maniacal grin brandishing a bottle of Bacardi Rum on CNN last nite...lends a whiff of trailer trash to the campaign.
June 3, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Schumer & Boxer are doing a Super Delegate related press conference as I type . . .
June 3, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Please keep us informed.
June 3, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pardon the yellin', but ...
I WANT THIS TO END TONIGHT!
The constant use of the word "tomorrow" is becoming very Scarlett O'Hara-like ...
June 3, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
If and when the floodgates open from the SD's today, tonight and tomorrow, Obama will have far more than 2,210, believe me!
Her campaign knows this, too!
June 3, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
No! Don't concede! We must never concede! Never surrender! Nothing's over! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the going gets tough ... the tough get going. Who's with me? Let's Go! Come on! What the fuck happened to the Democrats I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you, Hillary, we might get in trouble." Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. Dean, he's a dead man! Daschle, dead! Obama ...
June 3, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
As your attorney I advise you to open a bottle of ether at once and inhale deeply. KAZART!
June 3, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
As your attorney, let me just say you're on a roll ...
June 3, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bluto!
Bluto's right!
June 3, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary has switched from the Animal House futile gesture route to victory to the Carrie prom scene route to victory in Denver. There won't be any pig's blood dumped on her head, but when she gives the speech that she presumes she is the winner, people will start laughing and then, well, I wouldn't want to be in the convention center when that happens.
June 3, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not in the mood for troll bs today!
June 3, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
He would have clinched by now if Clinton had not been so arrogant. She's been loosing for weeks.
June 3, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly.
It was sealed when Barack won Wisconsin.
It was finally conceded as over by the Corporate media when Obama won NC and almost won IN.
June 3, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm skeptical this is over. We've had so many "D-Days"...
June 3, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ron Wyden was on the radio this morning, joking with the host that he couldn't endorse anyone until "tonight" or else it would "blow the surprise", but that this whole thing would be "over very quickly" and the talk over messy floor fights "was just not going to happen".
Then he talked about the big celebration going on later.
Take that for what it's worth.
June 3, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hell...Aubie and I declared with our pictures why won't the SD's.....Right, Aubie?
June 3, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
No more on the fence for me!
As a non-delegate, I endorse Barack Obama!
June 3, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I can't figure out what is keeping John Spratt (SC) from endorsing. If big names like Clyburn and "Nosrils" Waxman can come out, what is the hold up with him? Or, for that matter, anyone else whose state went overwhelmingly in favor of Obama.
June 3, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
What's sad in all this, and it's been pointed out before, is that the Clintons and their surrogates have so trashed their good name in the Democratic party that half of us (Democrats) really don't believe most of what they say anymore. I used to love me some Clintons, but now....
June 3, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh my God, the AP is reporting that clinton will say tonight that obama is the nominee!!!!!! That would make sense because of the lack of super drift the last two days. The supers will allow her to concede that obama is the nominee and he can have his victory celebration tonight. Wow! Maybe it really is over. I hope that obama and the supers have twenty witnesses and have it in writing from the clintons.
June 3, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Their source?
June 3, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not sure either, but it is the BREAKING headline on msnbc.com right now.
June 3, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Supposedly clinton campaign officals. I got it from msnbc as well. It does make sense though because of the lack of super drift and the stories about the congress people and senators getting ready to endorse obama en masse after the final voting. It does fit, but is it true? I guess we will see tonight.
June 3, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's hoping that's correct. It will for sure be something to celebrate, if true.
June 3, 2008 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just watched CNN report the AP story.
Of course, their effing "best political team" is checking the story. Their world is falling apart.
June 3, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why am I waiting for the other shoe to drop? Strong talk out there about a Clinton VP appointment.
June 3, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let the general election begin!
June 3, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
w00t!!!!!!!!!!
June 3, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did he say that while waving a bottle of Bacardi Gold?
If Clinton merely "suspends" as opposed to "concedes" she has a very small chance of making her case to the Credentials Committee in Denver. These are to some extent the same people who worked out the compromises on Saturday. If she does that and loses, her chances of getting the VP or other slot diminish almost to zero.
If she concedes now, her chances of leveraging herself into a VP slot or cabinet slot are a lot higher. Lacking that, she still can position herself as an influential senator (till 2012).
Also, so long as she merely suspends, there is no way Obama can help her with repaying her debts (through fund raising, not giving her his supporter's money).
Hillary has every incentive to concede as soon as it become clear that Obama has the numbers. Her threat to peel away Obama delegates would be extremely damaging to the party. Hillary may fight mean but she is not stupid.
June 3, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
been saying that myself for at least two days. She's a politician and her career is a long way from over - she's not that old.
She has to play ball to a certain extent if she wants her career and she does.
June 3, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
She's not stupid. But she just might be crazy, which is more dangerous.
June 3, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
CNN Breaking News
AP: Officials say Hillary Clinton will acknowledge tonight that Barack Obama has the delegates for the Democratic presidential nomination.
June 3, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know what the hell that means...will she concede....suspend...or what?
June 3, 2008 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Given the Clintons are pretty careful word parsers, I'm suspicious that she's going to say "yeah, he's got the delegates...but I have the popular vote!"
June 3, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm wondering if they're putting two separate "facts" together to come to one conclusion --- that Obama will likely cross the 2,118 threshold tonight and that McCauliffe says Hillary will concede once that threshold is crossed.
If that's what they're doing, that's very dangerous journalism.
June 3, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess she can't say that he is the nominee, because that isn't official until the convention. Even McCain is still the "presumptive" nominee.
June 3, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the AP story. It's based on McAuliffe's Today Show interview ...
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/436022
June 3, 2008 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Key grafs from that story:
"I don't think she's going to go to the credentials committee," he said on NBC's "Today" show. Taking the matter to that committee would essentially extend the dispute into the convention and deny Democrats the unity they sorely want to achieve against Republican John McCain."
June 3, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Doofus, I don't really see anything "definitive" in that story. It was not what I was hoping to read.
June 3, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
MSNBC Breaking News
AP: Clinton to acknowledge Tuesday night Obama has enough delegates to win
June 3, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, then they're just misreading McAuliffe. It's not going to be a concession, more like "he seems to have enough delegates now, but remember they could change their minds before the convention".
June 3, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
The following heads are exploding as I type:
THO4HILLARYCLINTON, Lalo35adm, gotalife, HillaryClinton08, dijamo, readytoblowagasket, RaeKa, "Present", Otto F, fogu2
What a beautiful sight.
Posted by thejoshuablog
June 3, 2008 10:19 AM
If brains were dynamite there would not be enough, among that confederacy of dunces, to blow a kiss to Hillary.
June 3, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dear Hillary voters:
Please remember that our two splendid primary gladiators have much the same policy programs--energy, education, health care, and perhaps the two most important, ending the Iraq War and appointing Supreme Court justices.
The last two are particularly important and will make the most difference in not just our lives and rights, but of our children.
Take your time getting past what must be a terrible disappointment for many of you. And then, come back and join the other half of this year's "change" campaign and insure McCain and his programs do not enter the White House
June 3, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, but the first thing that came to mind when I read that was that line from "Airplane!": "Billy, have you ever watched gladiator movies?"
June 3, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
endorse, suspend or just acknowledge that he has the delegates needed...it is so sad that the trust isn't there
I sure would like her to bow out gracefully andlet Obama have his night ...we need this night to help launch us toward November!
June 3, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
This may turn out to be quite a scripted ending.
June 3, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
check it out
Breaking news from the AP: "Officials say Clinton will acknowledge Tuesday
night Obama has the delegates for the nomination."
yes!
June 3, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Surely, the latest dust up with Bill Clinton's tirade and the charges, which evidently mirror what was put out about him in a book recently, are disqualifying for her to be on the ticket. The GOP would love nothing more than to have Bill Clinton in the equation.
June 3, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Clinton will suspend soon and her campaign will be over. (She will not concede-- too close). She'll be off the polls. The electability arguments will be over. The three talking heads will be reduced to two. Thank gawd to all of those.
The only way she gets back in this is if Obama's numbers start to tank. Then and only then, will she get involved on the convention floor. I really don't think that's gonna happen.
Furthermore, I really hope Hillary (not Bill, so much) can get out there and deliver some great speeches for Obama and democrats in general. I truly hope she can save some face after her disasterous campaign. I'd like to see Obama and Hillary together again (though at this point I can't see her as VP). Hey, why not Edwards too?
Around Feb.5, I thought how awesome it was that we had two (if not three- since Edwards dropped out right before) highly qualified candidates, albeit in different ways. I hope I can reclaim the respect I used to have for Sen. Clinton (I voted for her on Feb. 5) and put what her campaign did since Feb. behind her (the kitchen sink disgusted me).
If she suspends I can do that. If she suspends I hope her supporters will be able to do that for Sen. Obama. Until then we're all waiting with bated breath and unsure if we should lay into each other or try to make concillatory gestures. We're kinda in limbo right now, at least until this evening, or tomorrow, or Thursday, or....
Side note: I'm going to go see, live and in person, Sen. Obama and Michelle speak tonight in St. Paul. I'M SO EXCITED!!!!
June 3, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
If Obama wins the nomination and it sure likes he will, I think the folks here need to show that they are good winners. Any bad talk from Hillary supporters and/or trolls are in the past now. Let's just leave them there and focus on beating McCain and the future of the country.
June 3, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24944453/
Whether she will "suspend" or "concede" later in the week is the next guessing game. She sure knows how to keep the narrative going, and the MSM is loving it.
June 3, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
josephcast...have fun tonight...I'd love to be there and hear his and michelle's speech first hand!
June 3, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank God! No more "Why I Hate Hillary Clinton" and "Open Letter to Hillary Clinton" posts. Let the healing begin and let the rift finally close. I'm cracking a bottle of champagne.
June 3, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
What McAuliffe said is different than the typical Clintonian wording of the AP statement, so that looks good for the Dems. However, no one will know until this evening when Hillary finally speaks if she's ending it or not. And at this point can anyone trust anything she says anyway?
June 3, 2008 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
I second that josephcast! Have fun and let us know what's happening.
June 3, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Josephcast - your viewpoint is constructive and I hope similar sentiments can take root among HRC supporters once they get through the denouement of their long sorry saga.
June 3, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Barackarate! fighters, now is the time for battle!
Do not punch at the Republican talking points like a little Kerry, punch through like the Barackarate! Master!
Like this... This is the year we will rise out of the darkness!
June 3, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whoa, Nelly! Now McAuliffe is contradicting the AP story (which anonymously quotes 2 top campaign officials). Terry says Hillary is "not prepared to damit that Barack Obama has beaten her." The operative words here are "not prepared to admit."
But he did not say she would not "suspend."
So putting on my tinfoil hat, I think the game here is to "suspend." "Suspend" allows her to concede without conceding while she plays out her endgame. Either way it is over, the only question being how much further damage she inflicts on the Dem's chances in November.
http://www.cnn.com/
June 3, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Apropos exploding heads, why not throw JakeD on the pile? Pretty tiny cerebral cortex so it wouldn't make too much of a mess...not so much a Hillary troll per se...think of him as kind of a TPM proto-troll, an earlier life form, sort of the homo habilis of what grew ultimately into the fuming HRC-groupie rumplestiltskins of late.
June 3, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
you all don't be so giddy so soon.. w/ all the rule changing schemes this entire primary ..that "magic number" can change all the way up to the convention in august.. as hillary pointed out: the superdelegates (pledged ones as well) can always "change their minds" and vote for her and she was going to "campaign" for their votes now that the states are done w/ their primaries
June 3, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
MSNBC is reporting that Lucy has yanked the football away.
Rats!!
June 3, 2008 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hahaha, perfect analogy!
June 3, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I see this as basically a plea to the spineless superdelegates who have yet to commit. In other words "Please go and ahead and commit to Obama so Hillary can finally get out of this thing with some dignity".
June 3, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm. Very low troll count on this thread. Do they finally admit the end is nigh?
June 3, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama has gotten new endorsements. He only needs 29 superdelegates now. Hillary zero. A breaking news alert just stated that the GOP are going to run ads about a disfractured coalition. Clinton has gotten on my last nerve!! She cannot win. I can see why Bill keeps having affairs. To be married to a woman like that!
June 3, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink