# Into the Great Wide Open: the Dem Race after Mississippi **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 12, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148 "2008-03-12T20:07:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [March 16, 2008, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/61 "2008-03-16T06:00:44Z")
LOL **dropzone** , you funny. 😃 **DSeid** , Obama’s not ignoring PA. He has radio ads already running in both Pittsburgh and Philly. I know he’s been there at least once or twice, and he certainly plans on spending time there starting next week. Unlike Hillary’s campaign, though, he realizes there are 10 more states yet to vote, not just one, and he wants them all to hear his message. > [@](#): > > [Obama’s Pennsylvania spokesman, Sean] Smith said that Obama, who had to cancel a trip to Beaver County yesterday to vote in the Senate, would return to Pennsylvania next week and often thereafter. > > “We campaign everywhere,” Smith said. “We don’t cherry-pick states. We don’t designate the importance of states based on where we think we’re going to win.” > > [Pa. leaders, Clinton aides say Obama disrespects state](http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20080314_Pa __leaders__ Clinton_aides_say_Obama_disrespects_state_Obamas_campaign_chief_had_called_Pennsylvania __quot_only_one_of_ten_remaining_contests__ quot_.html) So never fear, he’ll be there, with bells on, I’m sure. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/62 "2008-03-16T06:19:53Z")
Keep in mind as well that he has over a month before the Pennsylvania primaries. He has plenty of time to hit other locations _and_ cover Pennsylvania pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/63 "2008-03-16T14:52:29Z")
One of the talking heads on TV today said that Edwards would endorse for Clinton before the NC primary. This could be huge and if she wins the PA-NC daily double, it could be very bad news indeed for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/64 "2008-03-16T15:36:51Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] One of the talking heads on TV today said that Edwards would endorse for Clinton before the NC primary. This could be huge and if she wins the PA-NC daily double, it could be very bad news indeed for Obama. [/QUOTE] What exactly does an Edwards endorsement do this late in the game? Are you saying an Edwards Endrosement would give NC to HRC? Why did the talking heads say Edwards would endorse HRC? That seems terribly odd to me. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/65 "2008-03-16T17:41:23Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] One of the talking heads on TV today said that Edwards would endorse for Clinton before the NC primary. This could be huge and if she wins the PA-NC daily double, it could be very bad news indeed for Obama. [/QUOTE] I’ll believe that when I see it. It seems odd that Edwards would wait this long if he had a legitimate political preference, or that he’d cast his lot for Clinton if this is born more out of opportunism. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/66 "2008-03-16T17:43:04Z")
By waiting this long, he has influence that would have been lost in the shuffle earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/67 "2008-03-16T17:44:16Z")
If Edwards couldn’t make a dent in South Carolina it’s hard to see him making a big difference in North Carolina. But who knows. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/68 "2008-03-16T17:47:50Z")
Who’s John Edwards? ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/69 "2008-03-16T17:50:49Z")
[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] By waiting this long, he has influence that would have been lost in the shuffle earlier. [/QUOTE] By waiting this long most of his former followers have already chosen a side, and his opinion is likely to mean less to them. NC is the only place he has any juice left at all, and even that’s diffused quite a bit since he left the race. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/70 "2008-03-16T17:58:32Z")
Oh, and I doubt Edwards intentionally waited this long, because nobody knew it would last this long. If Clinton did better on Feb 5, Obama worse since then, or better on March 4, this would be over. No way he decided to time his endorsement until NC for maximum value for Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/71 "2008-03-16T18:06:14Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] One of the talking heads on TV today said that Edwards would endorse for Clinton before the NC primary. This could be huge and if she wins the PA-NC daily double, it could be very bad news indeed for Obama. [/QUOTE] As far as I can tell, Edwards has lost whatever political clout he may once have had in North Carolina. Most folks around here tend to see him as a pretty-boy has-been with a big house. Elizabeth Edwards seems to get more respect than her hubby. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/72 "2008-03-16T18:07:29Z")
An Edwards endorsement might get Hillary an extra three votes in North Carolina. It’s not that North Carolinians don’t like Edwards; it’s just that people vote for candidates, not their endorsers. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/73 "2008-03-16T19:29:16Z")
Manteo Island I’ve got some friends - they are all stark Obama supporters -they tell me this is complete BS. Obama’s group is very well represented in NC and that it should be a solid win for Obama. BTW - These close friends moved from CT to NC in December, they’ve been BO supporters for a long time, I think they know a thing or two about campaigning. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/74 "2008-03-17T00:46:02Z")
Hillary’s plan? She is going to simply try to win PA and KY and whatever else she can and try to convince the supers to go for her. The thing about this though is that it’s going to be really difficult. Hillary will have to win over a much larger percentage of the SDs if she continues as predicted. Obama won’t win PA. I’d imagine that this plays out like the rest of Obama’s spreadsheet predicted. How the hell did they come up with those numbers anyway? So then we have to wait until the convention or maybe before to realize that Obama will be the nominee. Hillary, who should have known when to stop long ago, will probably lose without grace. Now, who knows, but Obama could possible put some pressure on her soon. Obama’s quite period here is being seen by many at DailyKos as being part of an attempt to air his possibly dirty laundry. He has disclosed his earmarks, did that long Rezko interview, plans on releasing his taxes, etc. This could mean that he plans to go on attack against HRC in a big way regarding her non-disclosing self. Really, what does she have to hide? The superdelegates? It’s really hard to say what they are up to. BO vs. HRC really is a fight for the soul of the democratic party. You’ve got your corporatist DLC side and your Obama/Dean side too. The DLC side was obviously in power the last time the Clintons ran things. So everyone who was in that group endorsed Hillary early on. Remember how her superdelegate lead was so high in the beginning? I think she’s already gotten all of the low-hanging fruit, really. The people who endorse now all seem to be going in Obama’s direction. I think the others are simply afraid because they know that Hillary is a vindictive bitch and will come down on them hard if she wins somehow. A lot probably wish they didn’t have to decide it… Anyway, the SDs probably will go for Obama. I mean how can you legitimately overturn the popular vote? I know I sure as hell wouldn’t do that. And really, I think the majority of people would agree that it has to happen in the most democratic fashion regardless of who wins. Just because the system is set up to be less than democratic, doesn’t mean that supporting such a means to the nomination is a good idea. Hillary seems to think that as long as superdelegates are required of both of them that it doesn’t matter who has more pledged delegates. Of course Obama will end up with something between 500k to 1 million more votes than Hillary. Of course it depends on how she runs her campaign in the next 40 days. Obama and Hillary are said to have made a truce the other day so I’m expecting ShRillary to come out any time soon (Shame on you, Barack Obama!). If this continues, you’ll probably see Superdelegates working their way towards BO behind the scenes. I think I speak for most people when I say that I feel that I don’t mind if Hillary chases her pipe dream and ruins her own reputation, but I do mind if she ruins Barack’s chances. I don’t give a shit if she stays in and somehow wins democratically, but this end-around approach won’t fly. ---
**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:** [March 17, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/75 "2008-03-17T02:11:14Z")
[Oregon AFSCME has endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States](http://www.oregonafscme.com/?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&HomeID=82082). > [@](#): > > “The union took action prior to the upcoming Oregon primary because Obama has a history of standing up and fighting for working people,” said Oregon AFSCME Executive Director Ken Allen. “In Illinois, Sen. Obama fought alongside AFSCME to keep vital public services open, including mental hospitals and prisons. He also worked to help organize thousands of workers at Resurrection Hospital, and supported card check recognition for other workers seeking to unionize in their workplace. > > “He is a candidate organized labor can proudly stand behind and support.” > > . . . > > With the Obama endorsement, Oregon AFSCME joins the other biggest unions in Oregon supporting Obama in the Oregon primary, including the Oregon Education Association, the Teamsters, Service Employees International Union, the United Food and Commercial Workers and others. Allen said AFSCME plans to mail to its members and participate in other get-out-the-vote activities both for Obama and for Jeff Merkley for U.S. Senate. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/76 "2008-03-17T14:33:45Z")
[QUOTE=Merkwurdigliebe] * * * Now, who knows, but Obama could possible put some pressure on her soon. Obama’s quite period here is being seen by many at DailyKos as being part of an attempt to air his possibly dirty laundry. He has disclosed his earmarks, did that long Rezko interview, plans on releasing his taxes, etc. This could mean that he plans to go on attack against HRC in a big way regarding her non-disclosing self. Really, what does she have to hide? * * * [/QUOTE] May already be happening. From an uncredited squib in this morning’s _Frostbite Falls Fusilade_: Obama strategists are demanding Clinton release more info on her income taxes and her hubby’s foundation donors. Clinton attack puppy Mark Penn responds by accusing Obama of (once again) going negative (because he finds “momentum working against them”). Affiant saith further that the Obama campaign is doing this to “deflect public opinion from their losses in Ohio and Texas”. All together now: :rolleyes: Obama’s response should be, "Now that you’ve gotten the usual political claptrap out of your system, how about _answering the question_? ---
**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:** [March 17, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/77 "2008-03-17T14:34:45Z")
[Another superdelegate endorses Obama](http://thepage.time.com/obama-release-on-illinois-superdelegate/). > [@](#): > > Margie Gavin Woods, a superdelegate from Illinois, announced she is supporting Senator Barack Obama for President today, citing his ability to unite the country: > > “I support Barack Obama for president because he is an inclusive candidate who is trying to unite our country, democrats, independents and republicans, around a common purpose. I have spent decades in public service, and I’ve never seen our young people so engaged and enthusiastic. Barack Obama hasn’t forgotten where he’s come from, and I believe he has the experience and the character to lead this great nation forward.” ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/78 "2008-03-17T18:12:39Z")
Shayna has been doing an amazing job keeping track of Obamas endorsements and superdelegates, has Hillary been getting any at all? ---
**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:** [March 17, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/79 "2008-03-17T18:20:12Z")
[QUOTE=DigitalC] Shayna has been doing an amazing job keeping track of Obamas endorsements and superdelegates, has Hillary been getting any at all? [/QUOTE] No, she hasn’t. According to the excellent Democratic Convention Watch blog, she has received no more SDs since March 4, while Obama has gained a dozen or so. Indeed, since Feb. 10, Clinton has gained 20 and Obama has gained 81. [Link.](http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/02/superdelegate-history-tracker.html) ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/80 "2008-03-17T18:36:11Z")
So, what do all y’all think will be the Thursday/Friday Scandal Surprise for Obama? Someone’s been springing them regularly. Not that they’re all that good, but hey. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148.md?page=5)