# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/81 "2008-03-17T18:43:51Z")
I’m calling “stole candy from a baby and once tried to block out the Sun.” ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/82 "2008-03-17T18:50:18Z")
I’m going with “Obama’s secret volcanic lair and giant laser.” ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/83 "2008-03-17T19:02:40Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] I’m going with “Obama’s secret volcanic lair and giant laser.” [/QUOTE] That would be a pretty awesome reason to vote _for_ him in my book. Hell, I’d vote for HRC if she had that hooked up. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/84 "2008-03-17T19:10:26Z")
Put firecrackers in frogs mouths and blew them up - when he was a kid. Oh wait that was Bush. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/85 "2008-03-17T19:16:45Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I’m calling “stole candy from a baby and once tried to block out the Sun.” [/QUOTE] Somebody really should have told Obama that the Simpsons already did it. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/86 "2008-03-17T19:21:47Z")
[QUOTE=Maeglin] That would be a pretty awesome reason to vote _for_ him in my book. Hell, I’d vote for HRC if she had that hooked up. [/QUOTE] It’s nice that they’d let us vote if they had a giant volcano laser. Really shows commitment to the democratic process. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/87 "2008-03-17T19:23:19Z")
[QUOTE=Menocchio] It’s nice that they’d let us vote if they had a giant volcano laser. Really shows commitment to the democratic process. [/QUOTE] Hey, I’d be happy if they’d let me vote on which is my least-favorite country: Italy or France? ---
**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:** [March 18, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/88 "2008-03-18T00:23:36Z")
So Florida [nixes](http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/17/florida.primary.decision/index.html) the idea of holding a real primary, and, whether you think it is right or wrong, the rules committee will be Obama-leaning and unlikely to judge in favor of seating them unless Obama gives his say-so. If [Michigan](http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/michigan/election_2008_michigan_democratic_presidential_primary) holds a primary then it currently looks like it would be a wash. Assuming that Clinton wins Pennsylvania handily, that Obama does similarly in North Carolina, and that they mostly split the rest, then Clinton might pick up 15 to 30 pledged delegates along the way. Hell double it for good measure - assume she rocks the rest of the way. Current [delegate counts](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/17/delegate-update-the-magic-number-changes/) (these CNN’s numbers) put Obama’s lead at 169 in the pledged pile and 139 total. They have his super deficit now down to 30. Even counting Florida it is unlikely that the remainder will catch her up in the popular count although becoming close enough to call it a tie is a slim possibility. It seems very likely that Obama will end with well over a one hundred count lead in pledged count, and more likely 140 to 150. Likely to have a popular vote lead and extremely highly unlikely to be behind by much if he doesn’t even counting Florida. He may limp in to the finish and Hillary will claim some significant battleground states. That might be enough if she was within at least a hundred in the pledged count and clearly won the popular count too, but without both those? Without either of them? Even a limping finish by him and a few solid end of run wins for her are not enough get enough supers to overturn that sort of lead. Therefore I ask - What is end game going to look like? Do supers just gradually drift over during the next several weeks? Barring a surprising performance in Pennsylvania there does not look to any particular point that will call for a graceful Hillary exit. Does it just continue to hobble along from here to the floor or along the way, after some fairly insignificant loss coupled with gradual drift of supers will Hillary hang it up before then? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/89 "2008-03-18T10:14:09Z")
[QUOTE=DSeid] What is end game going to look like? Do supers just gradually drift over during the next several weeks? [/QUOTE] If I were a superdelegate, I’d certainly be holding off right now, waiting to see how the Jeremiah Wright story plays out. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/90 "2008-03-18T10:40:04Z")
[QUOTE=DSeid] Barring a surprising performance in Pennsylvania there does not look to any particular point that will call for a graceful Hillary exit. [/QUOTE] The message, “Hillary, It’s Over” in glowing celestial letters, read by a choir of angels, would not be sufficient inducement for her to make a graceful exit. ---
**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 18, 2008, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/91 "2008-03-18T11:29:08Z")
I would prefer a broomstick-riding Ann Coulter using smoke to spell out “SURRENDER HILLARY” in the sky. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/92 "2008-03-18T12:07:15Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] I would prefer a broomstick-riding Ann Coulter using smoke to spell out “SURRENDER HILLARY” in the sky. [/QUOTE] Kind of a mixed message, once you see that, though. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/93 "2008-03-18T13:00:46Z")
After Barak’s speech tonight, Hillary could clearly see the writing on every wall she encounters. Seriously, Obama has the Nations attention tonight. He’s going to knock it out of the park. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/94 "2008-03-18T15:39:18Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] He’s going to knock it out of the park. [/QUOTE] [Kiss it goodbye, it’s a home run!](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/18/obama-race-speech-read-t_n_92077.html) ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/95 "2008-03-18T15:40:56Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] [Kiss it goodbye, it’s a home run!](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/18/obama-race-speech-read-t_n_92077.html) [/QUOTE] Yeh, no shit – and watching him live, it was even more impressive. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/96 "2008-03-18T16:22:17Z")
> [@Obama](#): > > … in no other country on Earth is my story even possible. Evidently he’s forgotten about Alberto Fujimori. Has it been Youtubed yet? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/97 "2008-03-18T16:25:52Z")
Going, going, going GONE!!! WOW blogs are burning the internet is afire! Glad I’m home sick I can jump up and down in my sweat pants and no one will laugh at me! 😃 VERY INTERESTED to see what the Clinton camp does after this one. What could she possibly say to THAT??? ---
**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 18, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/98 "2008-03-18T16:27:16Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] VERY INTERESTED to see what the Clinton camp does after this one. What could she possibly say to THAT??? [/QUOTE] Congratulations, President Obama? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/99 "2008-03-18T16:28:40Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] Evidently he’s forgotten about Alberto Fujimori. Has it been Youtubed yet? [/QUOTE] Isn’t or wasn’t he on trial for civil rights violations? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148/100 "2008-03-18T16:30:33Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna] Congratulations, President Obama? [/QUOTE] Obama Administration: That has a nice ring to it 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/into-the-great-wide-open-the-dem-race-after-mississippi/441148.md?page=6)