Just to do this properly, Sen. Obama wins North Carolina by 14 and comes within 2 in Indiana, effectively ending the race for the Democratic nomination. (Yes, it was already over, but now it’s really, really over.) When I got home late last night, Clinton had cancelled all of her public appearances, and it seemed reality had finally set in. But, no, word this morning is she will press on, and continue to burn money and goodwill for no apparent reason. Still, even if her campaign remains gracelessly in denial, I’d expect high-profile Clinton supporters will soon close the deal for her regardless. (Former Clinton backer George McGovern, for one, has now switched to Obama and is urging her concession.) So, the upshot is we’re done here, folks. It’s all over but the cryin’. And Senator Barack Obama of Illinois is our Democratic nominee.
Update: Sen. Obama picks up four more supers (one formerly a Clinton supporter, so it’s Obama +5 to Clinton’s +1), while Sen. Clinton’s Senate backers start looking for the exit. And May 20 is the new May 6.
As much as I hate to say it, I think Kos is right: she has to drop out, but not until after West Virginia.
Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last! I’d say it’s over after Oregon, if not sooner. ~20k more votes last night and it would have been over right then, but ah well. As someone who grew up just across the border, I’m bowled over by how well he did in Indiana after all of the Wright insanity. It is not the most hospitable territory in that regard, if you get my drift. That should remove any possible doubt when it comes to those issues possibly sinking him.
To J. Dunn… I completely agree. My personal experience in Indiana led me to believe that an Obama win would be extremely unlikely, and damn it if he didn’t come within an ace of winning. I think the polls were right, technically; I think he really was 6-8 points behind, but the get-out-the-vote operation in Bloomington, Indy and Gary must have been so strong as to outnumber the vote of those who were genuinely teed-off about Wright. Really an amazing performance, in my opinion!
Ahhhh, May 20. Who thought there would be coverage of the Kentucky primary. But, I finally get to vote…. I thought.
I just got a letter on Tuesday from the State, saying I will not be allowed to vote for the partisan elections since I switched from Independent to Democrat after December 31, 2007 (although before the deadline if I were a new registree). So, because Kentucky is so closed, I don’t get to vote for Obama. Needless to say, I was very upset. These two parties are run like the mafia. Sure, you prevent the Rush Limbaugh fans from voting against Obama, but you also prevent Obama from inspiring a switch to the Democratic.
Dang…we’re gonna need every one of those Louisville votes.
Ah well, you’ll just have to vote twice in November.