John Nichols: Endorsements and Focus Aid Obama in Pennsylvania

[marmar]

from The Nation:



ENDORSEMENTS AND FOCUS AID OBAMA IN PENNSYLVANIA...PITTSBURGH -- Congressman John Murtha, the Pennsylvania Democrat who has become one of Hillary Clinton's most ardent backers in recent days, told reporters the other day that the New York senator will win his state's April 22 primary by "a double-digit margin."

But a new Pennsylvania poll by KDKA-TV and SurveyUSA has Clinton just twelve points ahead -- 53-41 -- of Barack Obama, who after a dislocated March is now refocused on the race and pouring time and money into the Keystone State. A Rasmussen Reports survey from the same time period has it even closer, with Clinton at 47 percent and Obama at 42 percent.

The KDKA poll, which was conducted too early to capture the full impact of popular Pennsylvania Senator Casey's enthusiastic endorsement of Obama, the Illinois senator's campaign and an expensive investment in television advertising, almost certainly suggests too wide a margin.

The Rasmussen survey has the race a good deal closer than any experienced observer in Pennsylvania thinks things stand right now.

But here is the best bet at this point: Murtha will be proven wrong.

Obama's commitment to fight for Pennsylvania, which only came in a serious way last week, will make the primary result will be closer than Clinton's 54-44 win in Ohio. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=305640

[papau]

1. LOL - perhaps spending $300,000 a day on ads helps to buy an election? - Seniors don't have

the deep pockets of the Starbucks crowd.

[wileedog]

2. Good point

Obama does have far more fund-raising ability.

Another reason he is more qualified for the GE, and another hole in the "electability" argument for Hillary.

[Cha]

4. There will be so many people taking

an active roll in getting Obama elected in November! They think they have Unprecedented registrations now?

[Forkboy]

6. Tell me. Would Hillary be spending that if she had it?

And tell me also, do you get upset when people talk about old ladies for Hillary?

And lastly, tell me, are you always a fool?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

8. The Four Seasons doesn't pay for itself.

[Forkboy]

10. Papau knows he's being silly, but I suspect he can't help himself.

[BlooInBloo]

7. Another believer in the sticky-shit-throwing theory I see. How original.

[Cha]

3. Sorry Jack...look at this

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/pa/pennsylvania_democratic_primary-240.html


"Indeed, while the Rasmussen poll is too optimistic at this point, Clinton's final margin of victory could well be in the five-point range. And if Obama focuses on economic issues -- especially trade policy -- in a smart way, he might yet gain the advantage. For that to happen, however, he must win the endorsement of the Pittsburgh-based United Steelworkers union and the United Mineworkers union that remains a significant force in the state's southwestern counties along the West Virginia border."

Come on Obama!

[BlooInBloo]

9. Yinz all stillers fans?

[zulchzulu]

5. John Nichols calls it correctly

The question is whether John Murtha will be in the same room when Hillary does her concession speech on the evening of April 22. Actually, I don't expect Hillary to actually concede her PA loss. As for Murtha, get back to DC and start ending the war you voted for, pal.