More likely they've simply realized that there's a lot more to gain towards advancing abortion rights by being a part of the next Democratic administration than in joining Hillary's own private Wagnerian ending.

I don't expect they'll be the last.

Posted at May 14, 2008 2:34 PM in response to NARAL Endorses Obama -- Hillary Spokesperson Is "Surprised"

I agree to a considerable extent with what you say, if you stipulate that you're talking about today's working class.

The numbers I've seen show a real difference in voting patters between younger and middle-aged white working class voters and their older, mostly retired, counterparts. Bubba was a lot more common among 80's Reagan Democrats than for today's working people.

Which further reinforces the fact that it's a declining constituency.

Posted at May 8, 2008 4:13 PM in response to Toilet bowl effect and Hillary's base

Has anyone ever lost >90% of a significant community before? I find those numbers astounding and am amazed that more isn't made of it.

Posted at May 7, 2008 1:41 PM in response to Hillary, Obama Nab Super-Dels

TPM really needs to either stop complaining about the candidates appearing on Fox or stop insisting that the Reagan democrats are the key swing vote in this election.

Asserting both is completely inconsistent. What are you suggesting, that the winner of the primaries should be the person who captures white working class votes without actually appearing on shows that they watch?

Posted at May 6, 2008 12:03 AM in response to It's Official: John And Elizabeth Edwards Will Not Endorse In Prez Race

What I'd give for a reaction from Paul Krugman.

Posted at May 4, 2008 6:48 PM in response to Obama Releases Another Ad Hitting Hillary Over Gas Tax Holiday

Every day I wake up thinking this campaign can't get any more riduculous and every day I'm wrong.

I'm actually not so surprised that nonsense like this appeals to certain low-information voters. What I am surprised at is that it doesn't offend Hillary's real base of educated progressives enough to drain support. If Obama started using the tactics that Hillary uses I'd be disgusted enough to move away from him. Her supporters, though, just seem to such it all up, however silly or even vile the day's tactics are.

Posted at May 2, 2008 1:41 PM in response to Audio Of Hillary: Are Members Of Congress "With Us Or Against Us" On Gas Tax?

Let's not even get started on the fact that the media has bought, hook, line, and sinker, the idea that this election is all about the white working class.

Aside from the fact that Obama's base is at least as important to the Democratic party, this meme totally ignores the lessons of 2006. The most encouraging outcome of the congressional elections was the indication that we could win formally Republican professionals. It seemed as though the Democrats could finally be the party of ideas, the party of grown-ups who proposed real solutions to economic and foreign policy problems for the 21st century.

Instead we've been dragged back into the past, fighting in the mud to pander to the least educated segement of the electorate. Instead of realistic workable policies we talk about cutting the gas tax, bomb bomb Iran, and respecting the flag(pin).

I find it hard to underestimate the missed opportunity.

Posted at May 1, 2008 5:34 PM in response to Pew: Obama Losing White Working Class Dems To Hillary In Landslide

Yet again, the Clinton campaign and its surrogates find themselves caught on the horns of a contradiction.

Are superdelegates:

a.) Supposed to vote for a candidate based on their own best judgment?

or

b.) Supposed to ratify the decisions of the voters.

Because if it's a.), there's no basis for complaining that Dean is asking the SDs to hurry up and use their judgment. And if it's b.), Hillary might as well go home now, since Obama is winning every popular metric.

Posted at April 18, 2008 3:50 PM in response to Top Hillary Fundraisers Rip Into Howard Dean For Saying Super-Dels Should Announce Support "Starting Now"

Is $250k really the upper limit of the middle class in this country?

Maybe in the old European bourgeious sense, but not the accepted American usage, where anyone who owns their own house and has a little money in the bank for emergencies considers themselves middle class.

Posted at April 16, 2008 9:23 PM in response to Hillary And Obama Spar Over...Weather Underground

I never thought I'd miss Russert.

Posted at April 16, 2008 8:52 PM in response to Hillary: Wright Would Have Been Intolerable To Me Because Of 9/11