# Handicap next Tuesday's "Potomac Primary" (VA, DC, MD) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 7, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725 "2008-02-07T21:08:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ocean\_Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8797f3/32.png) [@Ocean\_Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ocean_Annie)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/81 "2008-02-13T00:50:56Z")
I actually think Virginia will go blue this November – POUS and senate. Now, this is change. Thanks Obama. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/82 "2008-02-13T00:56:35Z")
I wouldn’t go that far. Virginia has been trending blue for several election cycles now with Mark Warner as Governor handing off to Tim Kaine as his successor. Then George Allen imploded to Jim Webb in 2006 and now Mark Warner is going to stomp whomever runs against him for that Senate seat. Really, I think it won’t be the Presidential nominee who has coattails in Virginia…it’ll be Mark Warner delivering the state for the democratic candidate. I think those 13 electoral votes are in the bag given how things are building in the Old Dominion. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/83 "2008-02-13T00:56:52Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] It’s really amazing how many pols fitting that description manage to rise to the rank of governor. Or higher. [/QUOTE] Damn but Dopers are on form tonight. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/84 "2008-02-13T01:17:07Z")
[VA still holding for Obama with 38% of precincts reporting.](http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#VA) No results yet from DC or MD. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/85 "2008-02-13T01:19:40Z")
DC called for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/86 "2008-02-13T01:30:15Z")
> [@](#): > > February 12, 2008 – A prominent member of the national Democratic Party has circulated a sharp e-mail saying the removal of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle was disloyal to Hispanics and should give “pause” to superdelegates and voters. > > The e-mail from, Steven Ybarra, a California superdelegate who heads the voting-rights committee of the DNC Hispanic Caucus, was sent to fellow caucus members in the hours after word broke that Solis Doyle - the most prominent Latina in Clinton’s campaign - would be replaced by another close Clinton loyalist, Maggie Williams, who is black. The casually open racism these people engage in is quite disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/87 "2008-02-13T01:32:02Z")
[QUOTE=cricetus] She’s already basically given up on these states, and pushed all her chips into Texas and Ohio. I just have to wonder if she thinks about the margins in these states since none are winner take all. If she loses 2:1 in every state until March 4 and then wins 51:49, how much of a difference will it make in terms of delegates? [/QUOTE] She’s [done](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9462731&postcount=187) in that case. Even with a fairly narrow win in Wisconsin she would need a blow-out in both Ohio and Texas to bring it to where she is even close and Mississippi would be next up. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/88 "2008-02-13T01:34:37Z")
One theory is that she isn’t trying to get more pledged delegates anymore. Instead, she’s trying to win the popular vote so she can make a stronger argument that FL and MI should be counted. I don’t see how they can possibly count MI. Can anyone argue with a straight face that they can include delegates from a state where Obama wasn’t even on the ballot? I could see them concievably adding FL, but even then she may not have more delegates. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/89 "2008-02-13T01:40:41Z")
[QUOTE=Richard Parker] I don’t see how they can possibly count MI. Can anyone argue with a straight face that they can include delegates from a state where Obama wasn’t even on the ballot? I could see them concievably adding FL, but even then she may not have more delegates. [/QUOTE] Largely because of the efforts of John Conyers, who urged Obama supporters to vote for “uncommitted” delegates, “uncommitted” has 40% of the vote in Michigan. So, if they did count Michigan, Obama would probably get those delegates. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/90 "2008-02-13T01:50:36Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] Largely because of the efforts of John Conyers, who urged Obama supporters to vote for “uncommitted” delegates, “uncommitted” has 40% of the vote in Michigan. So, if they did count Michigan, Obama would probably get those delegates. [/QUOTE] I understand that the Clintons make such arguments, but does anyone take them seriously? Do you? It seems indisputable that a whole lotta people who were for Obama didn’t turn out because they couldn’t vote for him, even if a lot of people did vote uncommited. And that’s putting aside any question about whether it’s fair to award delegates without an official campaign. I see seating the Florida delegation as being clearly unfair, but I think non-insane people can disagree with me. With MI, it seems like you have to subvert some pretty basic principles of democracy to decide that the vote there was fair. Principles like, you know, being able to vote for either candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/91 "2008-02-13T01:51:49Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] Largely because of the efforts of John Conyers, who urged Obama supporters to vote for “uncommitted” delegates, “uncommitted” has 40% of the vote in Michigan. So, if they did count Michigan, Obama would probably get those delegates. [/QUOTE] Not necessarily. Technically, any uncommitted delegates can vote for whomever they want to, Hillary included. IIRC, Granholm (a Clinton supporter) is in favor of the vote standing. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/92 "2008-02-13T02:04:56Z")
[QUOTE=Richard Parker] I understand that the Clintons make such arguments, but does anyone take them seriously? Do you? [/QUOTE] I’ll be honest with you. With tonight’s results being what they were, I can’t bring myself to care anymore. I think that regardless of what happens in Florida and Michigan, he’s going to win the nomination, so I’m going to stop hoping she finds a way to pull the nomination off, and spend my time reconciling myself to vote for Obama in november. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/93 "2008-02-13T02:14:05Z")
😕 What’s [this](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/toles_main.html?name=Toles&date=02122008&type=c) all about?! ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/94 "2008-02-13T02:16:41Z")
I don’t get it either. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/95 "2008-02-13T02:22:44Z")
[Clinton’s Deputy Campaign Manager Steps Aside](http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/02/clinton_deputy_campaign_manage.html?nav=rss_blog) > [@](#): > > Mike Henry, deputy campaign manager for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) has resigned, according to a source familiar with the decision. > > Henry tendered his resignation yesterday morning but worked the last two days on a volunteer basis. His departure is not entirely unexpected, as he was brought into the campaign by Patti Solis Doyle, who stepped down on Sunday. > > In an e-mail sent to staff and obtained by The Fix, Henry writes: “As someone who has managed campaigns, I share the unique understanding of the challenges that the campaign will face over the next several weeks. Our campaign needs to move quickly to build a new leadership team, support them and their decisions and make the necessary adjustments to achieve the winning outcome for which we have all worked so hard for over a year now.” Writing’s on the wall, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/96 "2008-02-13T02:24:57Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna] [Clinton’s Deputy Campaign Manager Steps Aside](http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/02/clinton_deputy_campaign_manage.html?nav=rss_blog) Writing’s on the wall, folks. [/QUOTE] Ha! Simulpost! I just posted a new thread on this. 🙂 Writing is clear as day! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/97 "2008-02-13T02:27:14Z")
OMG, I just posted to you in that thread, too. We’ve got to stop meeting like this or our spouses will start talking. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/98 "2008-02-13T02:29:54Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] 😕 What’s [this](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/toles_main.html?name=Toles&date=02122008&type=c) all about?! [/QUOTE] Well, I’m still not seeing any DC results 90 minutes out. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/99 "2008-02-13T02:33:09Z")
Maryland just closed 30 seconds ago and CNN called it for Obama! ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725/100 "2008-02-13T02:35:25Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] 😕 What’s [this](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/toles_main.html?name=Toles&date=02122008&type=c) all about?! [/QUOTE] It means when Obama takes Washington look out for etc…etc… It’s a play on how much these primaries are draaaging along. At least that’s my take. Oh and **Shayna** I agree - we’re going to have to start disagreeing on things soon… For Instance, I think Obama should get a dog before entering the white house…you? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-next-tuesdays-potomac-primary-va-dc-md/436725.md?page=6)