Posted on 01/26/2008 7:25:52 PM PST by jdm
Obama Beats Clinton 2-To-1
Which means, of course, that Obama stands to pick up a big chunk of delegates, closing the gap between him and Hillary Clinton in the totals gong into Tsunami Tuesday in 10 days.
The size and scope of the win seems quite overwhelming.
Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) scored an overwhelming victory over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) in South Carolina's Democratic presidential primary with strong support from black voters, according to network projections. The win sets up a full-scale clash between the two candidates on Super Tuesday, Feb. 5.
Obama, the first black candidate regarded as a legitimate contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, appeared to win African American voters by a four to one margin -- numbers that nearly replicated his performance among blacks in Iowa and Nevada. But unlike in those states, where blacks make up a small percentage of the overall electorate, more than 50 percent of Democratic voters in today's South Carolina primary are black, according to preliminary exit polls.
Clinton finished second and former senator John Edwards of North Carolina placed third, according to NBC and CNN. Among white voters, the candidates ran far closer, with Clinton and Edwards running neck and neck while Obama lagged slightly behind. But among black voters, Clinton's showing was modest and Edwards's showing was negligible.
Interestingly enough, Hillary Clinton appears not to have won a single county in the state, though John Edwards at this point has two in his column. That could change as results come in, but it does signal that the support for the junior Senator from Illinois is not concentrated in any one spot in the state, but is spread widely. And it is also interesting to note that Obama leads in virtually every demographic group by race, gender, and age.
And interestingly enough, we get solid evidence of the fact that Hillary's campaign is being treated as a surrogate for another term for Bill Clinton -- from the former President's own mouth.
8:15 p.m. | Bill Time Bill Clinton is speaking in Independence, Mo.
Again, interesting tag-team strategy from the Clintons — Mr. Clinton goes on television so Mrs. Clinton doesn’t have to.
Mr. Clinton says that Mr. Obama “won fair and square,” but added: “Now we go to Feb. 5th and millions of Americans will finally get in the act.” That drew a big applause. Now Mr. Clinton seems to be addressing the TV pundits who are all questioning his value on the campaign trail. “I think I know something about what it takes to put together a successful presidency” and he refers to his “post-politics” career. Yes, that’s all about him, but he says he was just setting up his point: Even if he hadn’t been married to Mrs. Clinton, he would still support her!
I find it interesting that the Clinton campaign has issued a statement in Hillary Clinton's name, but that the candidate herself has yet to have the class to step up to the microphones and cameras and concede defeat. It is pretty tacky to send Bill out first -- in another state -- to do that on her behalf. Doesn't look very presidential to me. [UPDATE: She did speak -- roughly 90 minutes later, after waiting for John Edwards to concede first.]
Ed Morrissey notes this little swipe at Billary by Obama.
"The choice in this election is not about regions or religions or genders," Obama said at a boisterous victory rally. "It's not about rich versus poor, young versus old and it's not about black versus white. It's about the past versus the future."
* * *
"We are up against conventional thinking that says your ability to lead as president comes from longevity in Washington or proximity to the White House. But we know that real leadership is about candor, and judgment, and the ability to rally Americans from all walks of life around a common purpose — a higher purpose," Obama said.
I don't agree with the platform Barack Obama is running on. That said, I'd have to argue that he is a much more inspiring, positive political voice than Hillary Clinton could ever be, even on her best day. Heck, I'd even say that he out performs her husband -- and I didn;t need exit polling data to reach that conclusion.
More At Michelle Malkin
Any day Hillary and Bill get a whupping, is a good day. Even when Obama is the cause.
Hehehe...
Whorey?
Tag worthy.
our good southern S Carolinians did the right thing.
Gee, she just couldn’t pull this one out of her crusty old pantsuit! Just hope she doesn’t reign Bill in, watchin’ the master finger-wagger was just too much fun!
Hillary should be embarrassed. Then again, how much money did she spend to beat John Spencer in New York no less! Obama is surely giving her a race. One I’m glad to see.
It is just great to see the two grifter parasites get put in their place — well not quite. They are still free, and on the streets...maybe there is a small hope for the liberal Dims afterall. Maybe.
Thanks for the update. Mod can change headline if needed. Appreciated either way. I should have been more careful with my wording. Sorry about that.
The Clintons are a blight upon this great nation.
They need to pack their traveling gypsy wagon and leave town for good. The town’s people are on to them...
Politics aside, that is one hell of a line, given the situation.
He is right next door to his home state.
Klintoon will still get the nomination but Obama is on the ticket as the VP for sure.
Keep it going, Obama for Dimocrats, GOP President for US in 2008. That empty suit will be demolished when real debating of the issues begins.
I don’t think Bill & Hill are doing all this race polarization by accident or stupidity. It’s clearly deliberate, and the more trouble it seems to bring, the more they do it.
I think their reason is that, sure, it gives Obama South Carolina on a platter. But it also gives hillary and edge in some of the key states like Ohio, where the black voters are much less significant.
At least I assume that’s their reasoning. Their behavior is undermining one of the Democrat party’s strongest suits, its lock on the black vote. But the clintons couldn’t care less how much wreckage they leave in their wake, just as long as they get back into the White House.
The question is whether it will weaken them in the general election next November. That will depend on how long the black resentment lasts. Angry blacks certainly won’t vote Republican, but they might just stay home.
And it also depends on whether the Republicans nominate a candidate for whom the base will turn out in sufficient numbers. That’s very uncertain, too. The kind of enthusiasm we saw in the 2004 election has just about dried up.
Sounds like Hillary needs to drop out.
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