Thursday, February 7, 2008

Wisconsin's Open Primary: Hillary or Obama?

UPDATE, February 18, 2008: VOTE HILLARY
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UPDATE: Since Romney is out, I will be voting for one of the Democrats in the primary.
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I saw a Barack Obama ad last night on TV for the first time.

I didn't catch it all. By the time I realized what it was, it was over. It did start me thinking about the primary race coming to the Wisconsin.

There is no way that I'd vote for John McCain in the primary. No way. Likewise for Mike Huckabee. No chance.

I would vote for Mitt Romney if he's still in the race and he still has a shadow of a chance to challenge McCain. It may be too late to cast a worthwhile vote for Romney by the time Wisconsinites voice their choices for presidential nominees.

It's possible that McCain will have amassed an insurmountable delegate lead by February 19. It's possible that the Republican nominee will already be chosen.

In that case, I'll participate in the Democrat race.

Decision time--

Hillary or Obama?

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Forced to scramble now for every last delegate in every last state, both Democratic campaigns vowed to press the fight in the Feb. 19 Wisconsin primary, the final showdown before next month's "mini" Super Tuesday in Ohio and Texas.

A day after battling rival Hillary Rodham Clinton to a perfect standoff across 22 states, Barack Obama launched the air wars in Wisconsin, becoming the first candidate to run targeted TV and radio ads in the state.

Clinton, meanwhile, said after a news conference at her national headquarters: "I'll be coming to Wisconsin. (I'm) looking forward to it."

Her campaign, now at a financial disadvantage, declined to comment on when it would advertise in the state. The senator from New York on Wednesday confirmed lending $5 million to her campaign, which raised roughly $13 million last month compared with Obama's $32 million.

In recent days, Clinton aides have sought to portray their candidate as the underdog in a series of February contests up to and including Wisconsin. In Wisconsin's case, they cite Obama's support from Gov. Jim Doyle and his political presence in neighboring Illinois, among other things.

"We are under no illusion it's going to be an easy campaign in Wisconsin, but we are not conceding one inch of ground," said Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee. "Suffice it to say the people of Wisconsin will be hearing and seeing quite a bit from our candidate and our campaign between now and the 19th. . . . We expect to do well."

I don't think it's a stretch to consider Hillary an underdog.

Hillary has more delegates than Obama at the moment, but he has the financial edge. Momentum is swinging in his favor.

Hillary doesn't have the support of Gov. Jim Doyle or Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Not surprisingly, Sen. Herb Kohl isn't coming out for anyone. And I think Sen. Russ Feingold hasn't endorsed a candidate because he's sulking over his failed attempt to run for president.

Hillary may not be an underdog but she's certainly not the front-runner that she used to be.

Obama's campaign says it regards Wisconsin as a good venue.

"It is a state that has a history of supporting insurgent candidates, supporting candidates who were on the reform side of the equation. We think we fit the bill in both of those instances. It's a very important state," said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe.

"Once we get through the 12th, we look forward to spending quite a bit of time in Wisconsin," Plouffe said Wednesday.

Obama, the "insurgent" candidate?

Since the war in Iraq, the word "insurgent" has such a negative connotation.

Although I understand what Plouffe means, he still should avoid calling Obama an insurgent. That is not good.

...Clinton and Obama face the same political bottom line. They are close to dead even in the delegate count and have to compete on virtually every battleground that's left.

"It is likely no side will gain an appreciable or significant advantage in the overall delegate count between now and March 4, and even past April, because of the way our party allocates delegates. Every single delegate is going to matter a great deal," Clinton aide Howard Wolfson said Wednesday. "For all of those who, cycle after cycle, wish for a battle that goes to the convention in terms of neither side wrapping this up, you could be looking at such a contest here."

Due to Hillary's sky-high unfavorable rating, I think Obama is more of a threat to the Republicans in November.

I may actually be voting for Hillary on February 19.

Wow. That was a disturbing sentence to type.

1 comment:

Al Monroe said...

Hillary Clinton need to be the democratic nomination instead of Obama.
She has a greater chance to beat John McCain. Her husband as a president
in the 90s was way better than Bush past and present. The economy
was better in President Bill Clinton’s year, over 22 million jobs was created
vs 5 million on the Bush administration. So I would say having Hillary Clinton
as the president would be better than any other candidate. She has the vision
to put back America in strong economic growth including health care and
reduce the deficit and debt and create surplus to our nation. Hillary cares
for the children of our future and make America the best in the world again.
I suggest people of all colors to vote for Hillary Clinton. Most black people
vote for Obama, why not all white people vote for Clinton. There are 80%
white in America, I think you should considering voting for her. She is smart,
She has the experience than Obama who has not finish his term yet as a first
term Senator. While Hillary Clinton had been there twice as elected two time
Senator in New York. White people should do their homework and research
about Hillary’s resume. I think she can prevail to be the Democrat presidential
candidate. Hillary Clinton will deliver results for America. Go Hillary, we need
a woman for a change after over 200 years of men becoming a president.
First Woman president is definitely a biggest change if she becomes the
president. I think this is the change we need right now. Please vote for
Hillary Clinton.

Obama always talked about change, what change will he be changing, As far
as I’m concern Hillary could change things and way better than Obama.
I don’t think Obama could change things overnight and I don’t believe things
he say, of course this is Politics, things are not always true.

Note about Obama’s wife, I heard on the USA Today that in the past job she
had that she accepted a raise for over her annual salary from $150,000 to
over $300, 000 in the medical field she was working for and that some patient
in the hospital are not being accepted due to this greedy raise. This is a true
story and find it out from usa today.

One more thing about Obama, he has said all along that he is AGAINST
the WAR in IRAQ, but he voted for funding war on Iraq when voting in the
congress. What does that tell you, he lied to the American people. Do your
research, all this are true it’’s recorded on the congress. Don’t be voting
for him because of change, vote on candidate that has the truth and not
lie to American people