Democrats Down the Ticket Worry About an Impasse

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Democrats Down the Ticket Worry About an Impasse
By JOHN HARWOOD
Published: March 10, 2008



Suddenly the Democratic presidential race is teetering on the edge — not just between Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, but between boost or burden for the party’s hopes in the fall.

So far, the clash between the two history-making candidacies has appeared to be an unalloyed benefit to the party. In state after state, Democrats displayed their enthusiasm through robust primary turnouts that drew in many new voters. If Clinton and Obama supporters have fallen into consistent niches by gender, income, education and ethnicity, polls show that most Democrats would happily support either one in November. But now the threat of stalemate, vituperation and disillusionment hangs over a contest structured to declare a verdict a month ago. Potential fallout could imperil Democratic hopes for both the presidency and larger Congressional majorities.

“I’m very concerned,” said Representative Mark Udall of Colorado, who needs Democrats in his state to unite behind his bid for the Senate seat held by Wayne Allard, a Republican who is retiring. Mr. Udall warned that unity “could be a real challenge, especially as this thing grows more fierce.”...

The threat of gridlock has touched off talk of holding new contests in Michigan and Florida, which were stripped of delegates because they held their primaries in January, earlier than party rules allow. Debates over the form new contests would take, and how to pay for them, are riven by conflicting agendas: Mrs. Clinton’s need for more big-state wins versus Mr. Obama’s need to preserve his delegate lead; his preference for caucuses versus hers for primaries. “This is the most fluid situation I’ve ever been in,” said Debbie Dingell, a Democratic National Committee member from Michigan. Yet there’s no assurance that “do-overs” would deliver a breakout for either candidate.

For party leaders, the most worrisome variable is the tone of the campaign. Mrs. Clinton won last week after escalating her attacks on Mr. Obama’s authenticity, experience and ties to a scandal-tarred donor. In defeat, Mr. Obama responded by questioning Mrs. Clinton’s ethics....

The combination of discord and procedural mishaps represents a gift to Republicans, now pulling together behind Senator John McCain, their presumed nominee....

A prolonged fight poses special risks to the party’s drive to build a working majority in the Senate. Frenetic fund-raising by the Clinton and Obama campaigns, which collected $90 million in February alone, diminishes the pool of cash available to Senate candidates. A bitter end to the nomination fight could strain party unity in states like New Hampshire, Minnesota and New Mexico, which, like Colorado, offer prime opportunities for Democratic gains. Disaffection among African-Americans could threaten the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent up for re-election, Senator Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana.

It is not clear the race has become a Democratic liability — yet. Continued competition can engage new voters, toughen the eventual nominee and keep Mr. McCain off the front pages. But party leaders do not want the fight to drag on to the late-summer convention in Denver....

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/us/politics/10caucus.html?_r=1&oref=slogin