It is happening right on schedule

[Yael]

Right after ST, while Obama was in the midst of his 12-win streak, they* started talking about how this was going to go down.

It is all moving right along on schedule:

Step 1: People privately talking with Mrs. Clinton about standing down.

Step 2: High level (and stated uncommitted) endorsements. Dodd --> Richardson --> Casey (who stated as recently as last week that he will not endorse until after the 22nd).

Step 3: Ratchet up the rhetoric by starting the public musings about her getting out. Dodd + Richardson + Leahy == all in the last few days.

Step 4: So what comes next? A flood of SDs? More people speaking out about her leaving? Does Reid/Pelosi/Dean make a statement?

All of that said -- This may backfire huge on the party.

Questions remain as to whether or not Mrs. Clinton can resign from this race with dignity. That is something much easier to do when you aren't being publically backed into a corner. Now that public commentary from her own party is in play (and getting louder), there is an element of humiliation to this -- in that the longer she stays in, the less opportunity she has frame the decision as her own as opposed to being forced out.




*they = pundits, bloggers, DUers, etc....

[writes3000]

1. She's saying she WON'T get out....until the convention.

And given her tendency to constantly move the goalposts, I wouldn't be surprised if she launched a lawsuit after the convention to drag this out even further.

Can anyone tell me she wouldn't sue even then? I can see why the party leaders are taking action now.

[LakeSamish706]

4. If all the Super D's suddenly switch to Obama I think that would take him over...

the magic number, would it not?

[writes3000]

9. Yes, but that would force her out. I think Yael's post here is asking if...

there is a way for Hillary to bow out that won't humiliate her.

The only one who can decide that is Clinton, herself. And indications are that she's not going to bow out ever.

So the SDs will have to do it.

[XemaSab]

20. If all the uncommitted superdelegates were to endorse Obama

he would be at 1,943.

If 80 of her 247 so far were to switch, then yeah, Obama would have the nomination.

On the other hand, if all the uncommiteds were to endorse Obama, he would only need, like, 15% in every remaining race to secure the nomination. That's how close it would be.

If Obama were to get 50% in every remaining election he would only need 42% of the uncommitted superdelegates, but Hillary would need 78%.

[Alhena]

5. I expect she will use that as leverage for the VP spot

[DefenseLawyer]

2. And whose fault is that?

The call for her to get out wouldn't be so necessary if she wasn't running such a dirty, destructive campaign.

[Barack_America]

3. Honestly, once the media turns on her...

And decides that criticizing her for "selfishly" staying in the race is a better ratings draw than pretending like she's still in the race (as they are now doing).

[cliffordu]

7. EXACTLY. n/t

[Barack_America]

15. Looks like it's happening already.

There was just a bit of a discussion regarding this on MSNBC.

Also, those Gallup numbers were b.a.d. going into the weekend. Fodder for the Sunday shows. Obama's ass was saved last week by a Friday poll bump. Hillary, not so much. She's got the worst favorables of her career, potentially, plus plummeting head-to-head numbers.

This weekend is going to be brutal for her.

[HereSince1628]

6. When you want to get a critter to run into a bag...

always leave it one way out...the openning into the bag!

It seems to me that the options are down to 1 and a fraction.

As long as there is a chance that the fraction could get bigger, there won't be a dash for the bag

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. I'll Go With Sun Tzu

He said in war you always leave your enemy with a path to retreat for if you remove a path to retreat your enemy will fight to the death.

[Yael]

16. Thanks -- that is where I was going. You summed it up well.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. TY

Do not interfere with an army that is returning home. When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.
- Sun Tzu

Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve.
- Sun Tzu

http://www.military-quotes.com/Sun-Tzu.htm

[knixphan]

37. that's a great analogy (laughing)

[helderheid]

8. true. I would hope she could bow out gracefully - I hope everyone gives her that opportunity.

[theredpen]

29. It would be nice for her to be able to remain an asset to the party.

Right now, she's on the express train to Liabilityville.

[TomBall Democrat]

10. Just curious about something?

Why do you refer to her as Mrs. Clinton?

Wouldn't Sen. Clinton be more appropriate?

Peace.

[Yael]

47. It wasn't intentional positive or negative

I just went with her proper name. I have thought of her as Mrs. Hillary Clinton for the last 20 years and am not in her senate district, so didn't even cross my mind.

[OzarkDem]

11. Its a tie, voters support Clinton

in roughly the same numbers they support Obama.

An equal number of voters think Obama should resign as Clinton.

PA will turn the tide back into Clinton's favor.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

17. Link please ?

I don't recall seeing these poll results.

[theredpen]

30. Ugh I can't find the link

...but it's been posted here several times.

56% polled want the race to continue
22% think Obama should drop out
22% think Clinton should drop out

So it is a tie among who voters think should drop out. The race itself isn't a tie; Clinton is clearly losing.

Also, I don't know where OzarkDem gets the idea that PA will "turn the tide." Clinton needs to win it 70/30 in order to have any chance at turning the tide and she's far from that — and losing ground.

[AllentownJake]

23. Harrisburg Hillary

Instead of Baghdad Bob lol...

[CreekDog]

39. so do those elections count for anything?

or just the current poll?

if that's the case, sounds like we don't have to worry about FL and MI after all. :eyes:

[SoFlaJet]

12. Countdown last night

was talking about how Hillary is a pragmatist but it may be Bill who is screwing it up. If you think about it, it almost seems like he is, Hillary shouldn't damage her standing within the party if she wants to go back to the senate and be effective like we know she can be. If she continues to tear the party apart they may even have a challenger to her FOR that seat in O-12. I say let's see what happens after Pennsy

[John Q. Citizen]

14. It was right after the 10 wins (before TX,, and VT,) that the Obama campaign started

pointing out the election math and the proportional nature of awards of delegates, and correctly predicted what has become the course of this race.

I doubt the Dems relish publicly asking Hillary to step aside, but they have little choice. Hillary's truly insane decision to cast McCain as more qualified and patriotic than the Dem front runner required a response from responsible members of the party.

Any hope for dignity went out the window with those desperation remarks elevating McCain. When you tack on the heavy handed race baiting there are a lot of people in the party pissed off with the Clinton's and it has nothing to do with being Obama partisans. It does have everything to do with survival though.

Any Dem can praise Lincoln and it doesn't bat an eye, but it can't be overstated how unacceptable it is to American Political parties to have a prominent member endorse the opposition candidate over the apparent party front-runner. When Clinton did that she assured public intervention.

-edited for clarity

[dana_b]

18. true but if more big shots in the party start asking her to drop out, it could look as if

she is being bullied. That could be extremely bad for the party. They really have to walk a fine line.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. Ted Kennedy Was Six Hundred To A Thousand Delegates Behind A Sitting President And Didn't Drop Out

I suspect he felt he was defending the Kennedy brand name and wanted to go down swinging...

[AllentownJake]

24. Yep

1980...I can't remember who ended up President after that for 8 years.

[dana_b]

41. wow! I had no idea. Now that's having some huevos n/t

[joshcryer]

26. I predicted that. People here shot me down and said Obama was still behind.

People of course don't know math.

But since both now require superdelegates to win, as long as it is a relative tie, within a 10% spread, it can go either way.

What has to happen is a mass move of super delegates to Obama.

[John Q. Citizen]

31. That movement is already underway. In thbe last month Obama has gotten

something like 62 supers to less that 5 for Clinton.

[CreekDog]

40. i think it was the combination of complimenting McCain and going negative on Obama that backfired

:hi:

[Mme. Defarge]

22. Quite frankly

there has been little dignified about her campaign since she and her surrogates began "dissing" Iowa after her poor showing there in January. Since then, her disingenuous, belligerent, mendacious and poisonous behavior has steadily escalated -- to the point that it is already too late for a dignified exit.

A few honest Democratic leaders have now realized that it is better to try to intervene, than to gamble on the long shot that Ms. Clinton will make the rational decision to not cut off her nose to spite her face -- or worse.

[ecstatic]

25. I don't think she will leave with dignity

Did you see her facial expressions when she was threatening the party on Greta's show?

[Megahurtz]

35. They may have to end up removing her

with a straightjacket.

[anamandujano]

27. This message has been brought to you by BananaRepublic.com.

Thank you for playing.

[JuniperLea]

28. IMHO, they have already pushed her too hard...

And blocked any good way out for her. I think her words of fighting to the finish illustrate this well. Once again, it's the whiners who screw things up. Not Hillary, not Obama... the stupid fucking whiners... GAWD I hate whiners!

[theredpen]

32. Whiners never quit and quitters always whine...

...or something like that.

[JuniperLea]

36. LOL!

Let's throw in cheaters never prosper too! That was always my favorite.

[BlueIdaho]

33. Based on

her campaign financials - she may have no choice soon.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

34. Personally, I believe she is baiting the party

It seems to me she is trying to upset the party enough to have reason to leave - maybe run on an independent ticket or plans to join McCain? Only logical (illogical as well), explanation for her actions. Perhaps if she makes it look like it wasn't her fault, she could take voters with her? Not sure how she can pull that off, but so far a lot of her supporters are taking the bait...

[stahbrett]

38. Why the heck would McCain want her as his VP??

That's the craziest thing I've heard in awhile (I've seen others mention it too, so I'm not pointing just to you).

[Warren Stupidity]

42. May backfire? Worse than the Kitchen Stink already has?

As I noted last night, the Clinton campaign came to an unofficial end yesterday. The pressure to make it official will slowly increase. Hopefully Mrs. Clinton will wise up and do the right thing. Soon.

[dmr]

43. I half expect her to pull a Lieberman

you know, that entitlement expectation, and all the trappings of power.

[jgraz]

44. As bad as she's been, I can't see her abandoning the party

That would not only effectively end her Senate career, but it would further damage Bill's legacy.

And besides, that would require her to actually take a stand and when's the last time that happened?

[dmr]

48. Your words give me some comfort

I hadn't thought about Bill and his legacy, nor her own Senate career - which are very valid points.

Her bitter campaign style has left me distrustful. It has tainted and clouded my vision, to a point that the other day I had gotten a feeling that her need to win - at any cost - was of her running as an independent against both Obama and McCain. But your two points make good sense, and I thank you for quashing those fears.

:)

[psychmommy]

45. i don't think she can right now.

i think we know from her campaign's disclosure that she is in debt. she has to come up with the $ to pay off her debts. why is she playing to the faux news crowd? they are frothing at the mouth at how much this helps mccain. they are sending her cash to keep her in. i live in south jersey, near philly. i haven't heard a clinton add on radio or tv. is she advertising in pa-since it is the most important primary ever? you guys send her $ so she'll away. she can't have a penny of my hard earned money. ok maybe if she said she would go away if she collected a certain amount-maybe just to make her go away.

[cornermouse]

46. The absolute dumbest thing the democratic party elite could do

If they do this, they're shooting themselves in the foot. Women are the heart of the party.

[jgraz]

50. You say that like all women behave in lockstep

There a plenty of Democratic women who are sick of Hillary's BS. Given Hill's current 37% approval and sky-high negatives, it's likely that MOST Dem women are ready for her to go.

I have a lot more faith in the women of our party. You seem to think they'll all behave like petulant middle-schoolers if they don't get their way.

[liberalla]

49. Governor Hillary?

On Countdown, Jonathan Alter said that HIGH level Dems were discussing they could lure her with the NY Governorship as a consolation prize, and offer a graceful exit.

(Seeing how Paterson has had such a 'rough' start...)