Press on traveling with Hillary; Obama's memo; Kerry on GOP lies; a prediction on delegate totals

[ProSense]

after WV.

First, the delegate totals after WV: Obama 1883, Hillary 1717

What might Hillary do?

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 6:02 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Ron Allen
These days, it can feel a bit strange being in the Hillary Clinton press caravan.

The morning newspaper headlines scream about how she should cash it all in, how the race is over. Magazine covers proclaim Barack Obama the winner. We all read the polls. We all do the math. We all think we're pretty smart.

It can feel a bit odd to carry those newspapers and all of those thoughts onto her press plane and watch her cheerfully appear there up front, ready to take on another day, never showing any hint of doubt. Nothing at all suggests it's not just yet another day on the long march to the nomination.

But while watching her, questioning her, and listening to her give speech after speech to crowds of passionate supporters, you can't help but wonder what is she really thinking? Only she, and perhaps a few people very close, know.

She has to be upset, disappointed, anyone would be but angry? How would you feel if you had your eyes on a promotion at the office, had worked real hard, had the experience, had paid the dues, and then someone younger and less experienced, someone you'd given advice to, mentored a bit, came along and ruined your dream?

Colleagues, and even friends and relatives, ask when we're coming home? When will she drop out? The answer from the campaign's point of view is that we're going all the way to Denver in August perhaps, until there's a nominee. How can that square with those headlines saying it’s over?

<...>

Someone said it’s a bit like a marathon runner who is determined to complete the entire 26-mile course. I've never done it. But I've seen the joy and satisfaction and even pain on the faces of those runners finishing hours after the winner -- competing on their own terms.

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The Obama camp's memo on WV

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 5:30 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
The Obama campaign has issued its own West Virginia memo, which makes three points: 1) Clinton is going to win West Virginia BIG; 2) Obama has already picked up more superdelegates in the last week than Clinton will gain from West Virginia; and 3) look at the crosstabs in national polls, not the exit polls, to see how Obama might fare against McCain in a national election.

Below is the memo...

TO: Interested Parties
FR: The Obama Campaign
RE: West Virginia and Obama’s Strong Position in the Race Ahead
DA: 5/13/08

West Virginia
There is no question that Senator Clinton is going to win by huge margins in the upcoming primaries in West Virginia today and Kentucky next weeks. She has poured resources into both states and she, former President Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton have all campaigned extraordinarily hard there.

The Clinton campaign has already been touting their margins in these states – In fact, Bill Clinton said that Hillary can win West Virginia with 80 percent—and the West Virginia Senate Majority Leader said Clinton needs to win by “80-20 or 90-10.” And in keeping large margins in perspective, it is worth noting that, while Senator Clinton will win big in West Virginia, Barack Obama won neighboring Virginia by 29 points.

But with 49 contests behind us and only six to go -- including several states where we expect to do well -- Barack Obama leads in pledged delegates, contests won, and superdelegates. And for perspective, while 28 pledged delegates are up for grabs this evening, Obama has won the support of 27 superdelegates in the course of just the last week putting him less than 150 total delegates away from clinching the Democratic nomination.

Obama’s Strong Position in the Race Ahead

Nationally, Obama is running stronger among Independent voters than any winning Presidential candidate since 1988 and is significantly outperforming Sen. Clinton among these voters as well in general election polling.

To understand a potential general election match-up between Obama and McCain, the only analysis and data that should be considered valid are the current head-to-head National polls rather than extrapolating irrelevant assumptions from exit poll data in Democratic primaries.

And, on the issue of Democratic unity in the Fall, analysts need only consider that in April of 1992, on a night when Bill Clinton won four primaries and was the presumptive nominee, 6 in 10 Democratic primary voters said they wanted another candidate in the race. Despite this, five months later, Democratic voters were unified behind Clinton and he won his first of two terms in office.

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Via Ben Smith:

And Obama is leading by 20 in Oregon; and

Bonus Quote of the Day

"All the kitchen table issues that everybody talks to me about are ones that the next president can actually do something about, if he actually cares about it... More likely if she cares about it!"

-- Sen. Hillary Clinton, quoted by the , in a brief recognition that she might not be the Democratic nominee.

Barack Obama and Israel: More GOP Lies (by John Kerry)

[MBS]

1. thanks for these

Terrific photo of my two favorite senators, by the way. :)

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

2. I would'nt mind a Obama/Kerry ticket.

[ProSense]

4. It's a wonderful photo.

:)

[LisaM]

3. This paragraph got my attention

"She has to be upset, disappointed, anyone would be but angry? How would you feel if you had your eyes on a promotion at the office, had worked real hard, had the experience, had paid the dues, and then someone younger and less experienced, someone you'd given advice to, mentored a bit, came along and ruined your dream?"


Because she knows and we know it's her last chance. I think she is staying in for her supporters - to show them that she cares and to extend the dream for just a little longer. I admire her deeply.

[Island Blue]

5. K & R.

Thanks as always, Pro. Excellent photo. :)

[ProSense]

6. Thanks.

Hi IB.

:hi:

[ProSense]

7. Nailed the prediction. n/t

[globalvillage]

8. Great pic. k&r.

[ProSense]

9. It is. n/t