Posted on 01/26/2008 8:36:46 PM PST by jdm
Barack Obama’s crushing victory over Hillary Clinton in South Carolina, where he received more votes than Mrs Clinton and John Edwards combined, will restore much of the momentum that he briefly enjoyed following his emphatic victory in Iowa.
But Mr Obama’s stunning win is also likely to polarise further an already bitterly divided Democratic Party as the Clintons pull out all stops to maximise their chances on the “Super Tuesday” February 5 primary of 22 states.
Even before the polls had closed on Saturday, Bill Clinton, who has been widely attacked for allegedly “playing the race card” in the last two weeks, sought to downplay Mr Obama’s victory by comparing it to that of Jesse Jackson, who won the same state twice in 1984 and 1988. Mr Obama’s victory was built on the overwhelming support of African Americans, who make up half of South Carolina’s electorate, and whose support divided 81 per cent to 17 per cent in his favour (John Edwards barely registered).
In response to a question about whether Mr Obama had beaten “two Clintons” as opposed to just Hillary, Bill Clinton replied: “Jesse Jackson won South Carolina twice, in ’84 and ’88. And he ran a good campaign. Senator Obama’s run a good campaign here, he’s run a good campaign everywhere.” The implication was clear: Mr Obama is a black candidate whom blacks disproportionately support.
One measure of how much bitterness is now felt by Obama supporters towards the Clintons occurred at Mr Obama’s victory rally in Columbia, South Carolina when Mr Clinton’s face briefly appeared on the big television screen in the hall. The crowd erupted into boos. Mr Obama did not mention either of the Clintons in his speech. But its entire thrust was to counter the argument that he can be compared to Jesse Jackson or other traditional African-American candidates.
Mr Obama reminded the audience of his victory in the Iowa caucuses on January 3, where more than 95 per cent of the population is white. And he also threw his remarks forward to February 5, where as many Hispanics are likely to vote in states such as New York and California as African Americans. Hispanics voted overwhelmingly for Mrs Clinton in the Nevada caucuses last weekend.
Both candidates now have two victories apiece in the primary process although Mr Obama is slightly ahead on the number of delegates who are bound to support him.
“Well, tonight, the cynics who believed that what began in the snows of Iowa was just an illusion were told a different story by the good people of South Carolina,” Mr Obama told a boisterous crowd who were chanting his campaign mantra, “Yes, we can!”
He added: “After four great contests in every corner of this country, we have the most votes, the most delegates, and the most diverse coalition of Americans we’ve seen in a long, long time. They are young and old; rich and poor. They are black and white; Latino and Asian.”
Mrs Clinton, who left South Carolina for a rally in Tennessee before the results had been formally declared, issued a statement after the result that gave a foretaste of the trench warfare for delegates that is now likely to dominate the remaining weeks – and possibly months – of this primary election.
She congratulated Mr Obama but also mentioned the state of Florida, which holds a nominal Democratic primary vote on Tuesday but where all the Democratic candidates have agreed not to campaign. The state was deprived of all its delegates by the Democratic National Committee for having moved its primary date ahead of “Super Tuesday”.
Mrs Clinton, who is ahead in the polls in Florida, has hinted that she would petition the DNC to allow Florida to regain its delegates after the vote. Any such move could reinforce Mr Obama’s allegation that the Clinton’s are practising a cynical brand of politics. “This will not be easy,” said Mr Obama. “Make no mistake about what we are up against.”
Mrs Clinton maintains poll leads in most of the 22 states set to vote on February 5.
Trench Warfare?
More like Obama should keep an eye open for The Sappers from the clinton camp as they get ready to rig the vote.
“Mrs Clinton, who left South Carolina for a rally in Tennessee before the results had been formally declared”
Youd didn’t vote for me so I have no use for you! I leaving and gonna have a good cry after I curse out my staff!
It’s up to the Democrat voters whether they want to endorse the Clintons openly racist appeal. Obama would be very difficult to beat in November, but the Clintons turn my stomach. Perhaps Robert Byrd can loan Bill his old KKK costume.
I’m not conVinced.
FIGHT FIGHT
My estimate is 6.
Cover of Time Mag material....probably won't make it!
I last voted democratic for Jimmy Carter, But if McCain becomes nominee of the party I will vote Democrat because McCain has hurt the conservative movement more than any other Republican. Can you image what liberals ideas would become law if he became president? At least Hillary would have the Republicans in congress fighting her and not making McCain legislation go though which could kill the conservative movement for decades.
I’m a radical conservative but if McCain wins say goodbye to the Conservative movement for decades. Plus the politicians who back that phony would increase.
Especially if Hillary ends up stomping Obama. There will be a lot of ticked-off Blacks beginning to question their fealty to the Democrats' Plantation Politics System.
Now if JC Watts was the VP for the republicans it might break the back of the Democratic party for years to come.
If Mrs. Clinton does get the nomination, there will probably be some Democrats who would sabotage her in the General, the way Bill Clinton sabotaged John Kerry in 2004 (which is why Kerry and the Kennedy’s are attacking the Clintons now.)
Calculus: The Clintons didn’t want Kerry to win the Presidency in 2004 because then Hillary wouldn’t get a shot until 2012, at which time she would be too old.
If Hillary wins the Presidency in 2008, then no other Democrat will get a chance to run until 20016, unless they want to challenge a sitting President in 2012. If Hillary loses, then Obama will have a very strong shot at the nomination in 2012.
A lot of them will stay home. Bank on that.
I don’t know about that. Ok, say Clinton wins the nomination. Romney and his father have a loooong documented history of supporting equal rights. That may mean something when push comes to shove. You know why? Because it’s the truth.
“A lot of them will stay home. Bank on that.”
Agreed, unless she can somehow convince Obama to be her VP nominee, which he would be crazy to do. Even if he loses, Obama can set himself up well by portraying himself as Luke Skywalker who got beaten by Darth Vader in the first episode but still has some life in him. But he can’t do that if he joins Clinton, Inc. as their resident house negro.
I also see many blacks walking out of the Dem Convention if Shrillary prevails and they count the MIch and Florida delegates the first time around...They won’t stand for that, especially when their man is clearly better than the Beach...
Hillary will still win this..but McCain could sure sew up a win against Hillary by picking Osbama as his running mate.
In the end..Hillary will get FL and MI counted..plus her Super Rats and she will still get the nomination.
Bill will say all is fair in love and politics.
The blacks will stay on the plantation.
:(
That could help, but let’s face facts here. Despite Mitt’s long-standing documented history in supporting civil rights, do you think that Hillary would hesitate for a moment in playing the “Mormon” card? Or using any other below-belt attack they could come up with?
I am not saying anything against Mitt, I am saying we are talking Hillary here, and I for one would feel much better about the future of America if we can stop her in the nomination process.
Frankly, the idea that Hillary could win — and don’t think she couldn’t — scares me to death. I’d rather not take the chance.
Besides, Obama might be easier to win against in November.
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