# Clean Sweep! Obama - Feb 9 Caucuses/Primaries
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [February 10, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002 "2008-02-10T04:51:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/1 "2008-02-10T04:51:34Z")
Barack Obama won Washington State, Nebraska, Louisiana, and the USVI tonight. Woo-hoo!
Back to Earth now…how much real effect does this have on his chances? The talking heads are saying even if he wins Maine, Virginia, Maryland and DC, if Hillary just wins Ohio and Texas Obama will not have enough delegates to pull away. I know this actually depends on how the delegates are ultimately distributed after the tabulation, but can the psychological impact of Obama’s momentum coming out of these primaries cause enough of a switch from Clinton to Obama to pull wins for him in those two states?
I’m trying to keep my head out of the clouds here.
---
### Author:  [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/2 "2008-02-10T04:55:30Z")
Hillary’s probably going to get Ohio. I just have a gut feeling on that one. But maybe Texas will go his way. He seems to be doing better in the South than Hillary.
I’ll do my part come Tuesday.
---
### Author:  [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/3 "2008-02-10T05:01:39Z")
My sense is that both Ohio and Texas are must-wins for Hillary. If Obama can take either, then that will be the most decisive blow that could be struck. It wouldn’t be a mathematically decisive blow, but it would shift the momentum so heavily to him that the superdelegates would follow.
As has been pointed out in all the threads, this contest definitely comes down to two things: how will the superdelegates vote, and will MI and FL be included in some way. The rest is just details to be used to convince the superdelegates on electability and to convince the DNC that it can’t rightly include MI and FL without new caucuses.
---
### Author:  [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/4 "2008-02-10T05:05:30Z")
I live in New Jersey, but I’m going to his rally in Baltimore on Monday. Folks are saying you really need to see the man in person to get the full impact and power of his speech. I can’t wait! Jeez, I think I’m turning into \*\*Phlosphr \*\* or \*\*Shayna \*\* 🙂
FIRED UP!
😃
---
### Author:  [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/5 "2008-02-10T05:11:58Z")
[QUOTE=Richard Parker]
As has been pointed out in all the threads, this contest definitely comes down to two things: how will the superdelegates vote, and will MI and FL be included in some way. The rest is just details to be used to convince the superdelegates on electability and to convince the DNC that it can’t rightly include MI and FL without new caucuses.
[/QUOTE]
I agree, it’ll probably come down to the super delegates. I hope not, but that’s how it seems to me right now. It looks like Obama has to win either Ohio or Texas, no matter what else he wins in the interim, if only to get the supers to wake up and switch over.
---
### Author:  [@JohnnieEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnieEnigma)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/6 "2008-02-10T05:16:48Z")
[QUOTE=monstro]
Hillary’s probably going to get Ohio. I just have a gut feeling on that one. But maybe Texas will go his way. He seems to be doing better in the South than Hillary.
I’ll do my part come Tuesday.
[/QUOTE]
Well, you’ll do better than I did. Although I’m from Providence, I currently reside in Albany, NY… and as a registered republican living in NY, I was suppose to switch to the dem party before the last election if I wanted to vote in the dem primaries. I didn’t realize that…
… so I voted for McCain. :eek:
---
### Author:  [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/7 "2008-02-10T06:39:40Z")
I walked in to a room to grab something and the tv was turned to his speech in Virginia. I’m really apathetic but for some reason I just had to listen to the entire thing. And now that the speech is over I just donated $50 to his campaign.
The worst thing is, I’m a registered Republican.
---
### Author:  [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/8 "2008-02-10T06:59:52Z")
[QUOTE=JohnnieEnigma]
and as a registered republican living in NY, I was suppose to switch to the dem party before the last election if I wanted to vote in the dem primaries. I didn’t realize that…
[/QUOTE]
That’s so weird. When I voted here in Illinois, I walked in and they told me to sign my name on a piece of paper, then write “Republican”, “Democratic”, or “Independent”. Whichever I wrote on the paper dictated which ballot I would receive. Easy as that.
---
### Author:  [@Mr.Rosewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Rosewater)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/9 "2008-02-10T07:29:36Z")
[QUOTE=interface2x]
That’s so weird. When I voted here in Illinois, I walked in and they told me to sign my name on a piece of paper, then write “Republican”, “Democratic”, or “Independent”. Whichever I wrote on the paper dictated which ballot I would receive. Easy as that.
[/QUOTE]
I’m not entirely sure of all the differences, but I believe that it is because Illinois has an open primary and New York has a closed primary.
---
### Author:  [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/10 "2008-02-10T10:05:53Z")
[QUOTE=Onomatopoeia]
Barack Obama won Washington State, Nebraska, Louisiana, and the USVI tonight. Woo-hoo!
…how much real effect does this have on his chances?
[/QUOTE]
As an Obama fan, I don’t think anyone, including myself, seriously gave Barack a chance in hell of getting this far, even just a month or so ago.
I am beginning to believe that, short of some major gaff, Obama might just actually pull it off and become the Democratic nominee. He certainly has the momentum, he has the backing of some influential people, and he continues to get lots of money from people who can least afford it.
I don’t dislike Hillary, but to be honest - I really think Obama has caught the attention and hearts of the voters like few have in recent elections. Hell, they are even claiming there is such a thing as Republicans who like Obama!
Most Democrats I know actually like Hillary, but I think they are passionate about Obama. That just might make the difference.
---
### Author:  [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/11 "2008-02-10T11:46:05Z")
[QUOTE=RandMcnally]
I walked in to a room to grab something and the tv was turned to his speech in Virginia. I’m really apathetic but for some reason I just had to listen to the entire thing. And now that the speech is over I just donated $50 to his campaign.
The worst thing is, I’m a registered Republican.
[/QUOTE]
This is precisely why Obama needs to be the nominee and not Clinton.
---
### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/12 "2008-02-10T13:46:25Z")
Show up and see him. Listen to his speeches on his website - did I mention show up and see him?
I have not seen one crowd for Hill that was bigger or more energized than an Obama crowd. He lit’em’up in Virginia, Idaho, Washington everywhere he goes he’s lighting the fires under peoples feet. Like I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, I’ve not been to a polling center ever with a smile on my face like I did last Tuesday.
Interesting side note. My mother who has been an active feminist for decades began to change her tune this summer looking deeper and deeper into the Obama campaign. When women like Cora Weiss, Margo Jefferson, Barbara Weinstein, Kate Michelman started turning their attention towards Obama she [my mother] began turning hers. These are not just run of the mill feminists, these are the movers and shakers of national women’s movements. Heavy hitters, the big-time.
Obama’s appeal transcends gender lines, color lines, religious lines and appeals to a broad range of people a united people. If Hillary was appealing to a larger demographic in the same way as Obama, she would be the clear front-runner. But she’s not.
Obama might well take this candidacy - he’s organizing efforts all over Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania - people are showing up in DROVES to work for him. If he can rally these last few large states it’s going to be an Obama democratic ticket, and an Obama Presidency.
He may not move a mountain in his first few years as President. He may not be the prodigal son, but he has succeeded in united a LARGE group of this nation behind him. Imagine voting for a president knowing he’s got such widespread appeal and is an intelligent social force as well.
The psychological impact of this across a country represents not only a change in who comes out to vote [i.e. younger generations] but a paradigm shift in the collective thinking of a large mass of people. The benefit of that is too great to comprehend just yet - but I assure you, look into the presidency of Barrak Obama from 20 years into the future and I guarantee you’d see a national shift of some sort as yet to be described.
---
### Author:  [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/13 "2008-02-10T13:50:21Z")
[QUOTE=monstro]
Hillary’s probably going to get Ohio. I just have a gut feeling on that one. But maybe Texas will go his way. He seems to be doing better in the South than Hillary.
[/QUOTE]
Texas is a bit like Florida in the sense that it’s technically in the South, but parts of it are a whole 'nuther thing. It’s heavily populated by Hispanics and Latinos who typically go Hillary’s way.
---
### Author:  [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/14 "2008-02-10T15:45:00Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal]
Texas is a bit like Florida in the sense that it’s technically in the South, but parts of it are a whole 'nuther thing. It’s heavily populated by Hispanics and Latinos who typically go Hillary’s way.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I fear Texas may go the way of Oklahoma, rather than the way of Louisiana.
---
### Author:  [@JohnnieEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnieEnigma)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/15 "2008-02-10T15:57:25Z")
[QUOTE=RandMcnally]
I walked in to a room to grab something and the tv was turned to his speech in Virginia. I’m really apathetic but for some reason I just had to listen to the entire thing. And now that the speech is over I just donated $50 to his campaign.
**The worst thing is, I’m a registered Republican**.
[/QUOTE]
That’s what I’m saying! Obama is way more likely to win over republicans and independents than hillary is. There’s no way in hell I would ever vote for hillary.
Obama is aware of this…
In his speech last night, he addressed many issues and obstacles that he has to overcome…his speech was somewhat long-winded but never the less, awesome and inspiring. He is so fully aware of what he has to do to win over specific segments of the population. He was addressing and reaching out to them… Very good!!
---
### Author:  [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/16 "2008-02-10T16:26:08Z")
My arch conservative lunch buddies were all agog at me the other day when I said “Hillary is not a liberal.” I had to explain to them that centrist government control is not liberal. I also had to explain that there really aren’t that many liberals around now days. There are certainly none who have a ghost of a chance of getting nominated. Our extreme liberals are centrists in most other countries.
Obama isn’t a liberal either, by the way. However, now that the Republicans have pretty much decided to run their hawk centrist, it leaves me with a dilemma. If the Democrats nominate a hawk centrist, who do I vote for? I have never voted for a Republican Presidential Candidate in my life. However, I doubt that I can convince myself that Hillary Clinton is a superior choice over John McCain.
Fact is that while I am sure He won’t get us out of Iraq any time soon, neither will she. And I am not sure that she is less likely to get us into another war, when that choice comes up. On the issue of trust, I have none, so it ends up not being a factor. I don’t think the Government can control the economy, so that ends up a non factor as well. On immigration, no one is even pretending to look at the actual causes, so, hey, another non starter.
It comes down to character. He has some, Her, I am not too sure.
Obama would get my vote against McCain. If Hillary does, it is entirely because I fear the machine that the Republican Party has become, not because I support her.
Tris
---
### Author:  [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/17 "2008-02-10T17:26:01Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus]
I don’t think the Government can control the economy, so that ends up a non factor as well.
[/QUOTE]
[I think you think incorrectly](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/wallstreet/weill/demise.html).
Well, perhaps not _control_ per se, but certainly _influence_ and _affect_. Just look at our current mortgage crisis, and what that link above has to say.
> [@](#):
>
> As the push for new legislation heats up, lobbyists quip that raising the issue of financial modernization really signals the start of a fresh round of political fund-raising. Indeed, in the 1997-98 election cycle, the finance, insurance, and real estate industries (known as the FIRE sector), spends more than $200 million on lobbying and makes more than $150 million in political donations. Campaign contributions are targeted to members of Congressional banking committees and other committees with direct jurisdiction over financial services legislation.
>
> After 12 attempts in 25 years, Congress finally repeals Glass-Steagall, rewarding financial companies for more than 20 years and $300 million worth of lobbying efforts. Supporters hail the change as the long-overdue demise of a Depression-era relic.
>
> On Oct. 21, with the House-Senate conference committee deadlocked after marathon negotiations, the main sticking point is partisan bickering over the bill’s effect on the Community Reinvestment Act, which sets rules for lending to poor communities. Sandy Weill calls President Clinton in the evening to try to break the deadlock after Senator Phil Gramm, chairman of the Banking Committee, warned Citigroup lobbyist Roger Levy that Weill has to get White House moving on the bill or he would shut down the House-Senate conference. Serious negotiations resume, and a deal is announced at 2:45 a.m. on Oct. 22. Whether Weill made any difference in precipitating a deal is unclear.
>
> On Oct. 22, Weill and John Reed issue a statement congratulating Congress and President Clinton, including 19 administration officials and lawmakers by name. The House and Senate approve a final version of the bill on Nov. 4, and Clinton signs it into law later that month.
I think it will have a _profound_ effect when Obama rids Washington of the stink of Lobbyists and their influence.
Oh, and P.S. This made me smile 😃
[QUOTE=Onomatopoeia]
I live in New Jersey, but I’m going to his rally in Baltimore on Monday. Folks are saying you really need to see the man in person to get the full impact and power of his speech. I can’t wait! Jeez, I think I’m turning into \*\*Phlosphr \*\* or \*\*Shayna \*\* 🙂
FIRED UP!
😃
[/QUOTE]
---
### Author:  [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/18 "2008-02-10T17:39:45Z")
[QUOTE=An Arky]
This is precisely why Obama needs to be the nominee and not Clinton.
[/QUOTE]
Because of a few sound bites? I mean, Regan gave great speeches and lots of people listened, but most people here probably would be the first to criticize him. I’m not saying Obama’s a great guy, but to vote for someone just on the basis of giving a nice speech seems a bit foolhardy to me.
---
### Author:  [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/19 "2008-02-10T17:49:03Z")
[QUOTE=Freudian Slit]
Because of a few sound bites?
[/QUOTE]
NO! Because he inspires people, _including Republicans_ like **RandMcnally**. Some of us are sick to death of the divisive, “you’re either with us or against us” mentality that’s been permeating Washington for years. And when a politician can draw people in from _both sides of the aisle_ to support him in his effort to unify this nation, it speaks _volumes_ about what will be his ability to engender the same conciliatory environment in the halls of Capitol Hill.
> [@](#):
>
> [In Virginia, a Longtime Republican Votes for Change](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/09/AR2008020902274_pf.html)
>
> Sunday, February 10, 2008; A10
>
> GLEN ALLEN, Va. – Laura Barchi DeBusk threw on her boots and sunglasses as the school bus rounded the corner. Clutching her preschooler’s hand, she crossed the street along with half a dozen other stay-at-home moms. DeBusk and her neighbors – Republicans all – rarely discuss politics, but days before a primary election here she decided to send a little shock through her subdivision.
>
> “You’ll be surprised to know I’m voting for Barack Obama,” DeBusk, 37, announced as the school bus pulled up.
>
> “Really?” her friend Sherry Tierney, 36, said as their first-graders hopped off the bus. “Why?”
>
> “I feel like we need to get out of the Bush black-and-white way of thinking,” DeBusk said. “I feel like McCain would also say, ‘It’s my way or the highway.’ . . . Obama’s message of inclusion and working together is what we need.”
>
> . . .
>
> The Laura DeBusks of the country are just the kind of voters that Sen. Obama (D-Ill.) has courted – sick of what they’ve been offered, tired of where things are headed and willing to try something, anything, new. Exit polls from elections across the country last week showed that Obama won the majority of independent voters. DeBusk, like many voters, worries about Obama’s lack of experience, and she disagrees with him on a handful of issues, particularly his tax policies. But her desire for change is so great, she’s willing to take the chance.
>
> “Even if he doesn’t do everything the way I’d like, I really feel like he can move us forward,” she said.
>
> DeBusk was raised in a conservative military family where discipline, love of country and voting Republican were shared values. She respects McCain’s military service, but she’ll consider him only if Hillary Rodham Clinton is the Democratic nominee. She thinks Clinton is smart and capable but fears that Republicans so dislike the New York senator that the country will be polarized.
>
> “If it’s between McCain and Clinton in the general election, then I’m voting for McCain,” DeBusk said.
---
### Author:  [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002/20 "2008-02-10T17:51:36Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna]
NO! Because he inspires people, _including Republicans_ like **RandMcnally**.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, but the only way he seemed to inspire **Randmcnally** was from tuning to a speech. I’m just not sure what’s meant to be so inspiring about that.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-sweep-obama-feb-9-caucuses-primaries/437002.md?page=2)