Is This the End?

The Real Super Tuesday

It could all be over before you know it. How has the last year of the primary campaign treated you? Tomorrow could be the decisive day that anoints presumed nominees as the actual representative of the party. The campaigns know that it is now or never time. No one in the Democratic Party wants to see this fight continue within the party. It is time to rally against McCain. While the Republicans will vote tomorrow, their totals are already fairly moot. John McCain can theoretically be beaten, but this is the real election, not a political science classroom. Mike Huckabee should be mathematically eliminated after the votes are totaled tomorrow night. All polls point to the exit.

Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont will state their preference tomorrow and many leaders are saying that this will be the last election to watch before it is time to settle on a nominee. Republicans will be focused on the general election – Democrats will want to keep pace and figure out their race just as fast.

Barack and a Hard Place

And on Sunday our Governor, Bill Richardson kept fighting to hold his silence on his preference in the race. On CBS’s Face the Nation, Richardson continued his balancing act and kept his preferences to himself. And for good reason. The handful of voters that will follow his endorsement in the four states tomorrow are not worth alienation from the side he snubs. As discussed in Tuesday’s coverage, his endorsement of the Clinton is more likely due to his loyalty, but it shows him little chance of eventually paying off. Endorsing Obama – the predicted nominee by all odds makers -- is a general hit against his political loyalty but shows better promise of leading to a cabinet level appointment.

Richardson has played a very careful game of wavering between the candidates. In Iowa, he was accused of sending his non-viable supporters to Obama’s corner. In debates, his rhetoric on the importance of experience was interpreted as support for Clinton (maybe he was talking about his own experience? He had a lot of good stuff, after all.). “I may wake up tomorrow and do it. Then I may not,” Big Bill said. He is wise enough to wait this long, but is now joining the choir of voices asking for the loser of tomorrow’s elections surrender their pursuit of the nomination. Call it a quiet endorsement of Obama if you’d like . . . he’ll spin it right back the other way.


Political Home Remodeling Part 2

Facing an unresponsive electorate, Right Wing Radio, Campaign Clinton and any other Obama-fearing politician has followed up the “Kitchen Sink attacks” with a new fridge, dishwasher and oven. They know the urgency of the historic Super Tuesday states and how they are the end of this primary campaign. They also know that Obama is only gaining momentum and voters are continue to fall to his side despite the best attempts of Clinton’s campaign.

The shallow record only brought more people to support him. Rumors of Islamic schooling and pictures in a traditional Somali dress were not enough to scare people out of voting for him. Bill Cunningham recognized this urgency and went for the insult all political staffers have seen for the last year, but have been too ethical, too moral, too decent, too respectful . . . too politically correct to use. The right wing Cincinnati talker known for his inflammatory rhetoric and low brow attacks referred to Senator Obama by his middle name – Hussein.

According to a news man working in the city, the listening area has seen this cheap shot for what it is: a last ditch effort to save a failing campaign. While Cunningham would as easily insult Senator Clinton, he sees Obama as the unbeatable candidate that GOP knows he is. He says Cincy voters are ashamed of the attention and will not be swayed by the attacks. Surely a few people are ignorant enough to make the links and support Clinton from it. But as many will be turned off from voting entirely or will support Obama in defiance. He adds that it has passed and won’t weigh heavily on voters minds tomorrow. The Hussein Bomb has been dropped and the dust has settled, but accusations of an inability to fight the war on terrorism will persist through November.



If you appreciate having another angle of political coverage, you should share it with friends. Do some grassroots organizing and send them a message or give them a call. Or you can get democratic about it and vote for us for Best Local Blogger in the Best of Burque. This isn’t the end. . . you haven’t even begun to be annoyed with political commercials yet.