Archived: Feb 11, 2008

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Last Tuesday’s Super results

McCain in the lead, while Clinton and Obama remain head-to-head

By Maura Metz

With nominees still undecided, it is good news for Wisconsin voters, who want their Feb. 19 primary votes to be meaningful.

Delegate totals and candidate information listed were current as of Wed., Feb. 6.

Despite the political pundits’ earlier speculation that each party’s nominee would be decided by Super Tuesday, the nominees are not yet set in stone.

Sens. Hillary Clinton and John McCain scored big wins in states like California, but they both have battles yet to fight.

Sen. Clinton raised her delegate total to 825 on Tuesday, providing her with a slight lead. Sen. Barack Obama trailed close behind, earning a total of 732 delegates.

Unlike the majority of Republican primary races which use a winner-takes-all system, most Democratic primary races divide delegates proportionally, which has intensified the tight race between Clinton and Obama.

Both candidates attempted to spin Tuesday’s results. Obama’s Web site declared that he won a “clear majority of Super Tuesday states,” citing wins in states like Illinois, Georgia and Missouri. The equally happy Clinton campaign also touted wins. They were particularly pleased to win was Massachusetts, where Obama had received the endorsements of both of the state’s senators, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry.

McCain claimed the most victories in the Republican Party on Super Tuesday, which put his delegate total at 615, prompting him to declare his front-runner status during his victory speech. It’s interesting to note, however, that many of his wins were in what are considered “blue” (heavily Democratic) states like Illinois and New York.

Those states would not likely help him if he made it to the general election. McCain’s inability to win “red” (heavily Republican) states appears to reflect the Republican party’s dissatisfaction with McCain and their party’s candidates in general.

Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, pulled out some shocking victories by winning five states on Tuesday, including West Virginia and Alabama. That’s quite a feat for a candidate who was first taken seriously only a month ago when he won the Iowa Caucuses. Huckabee was able to capture wins in important southern states that McCain and Romney were unable to claim.

Mitt Romney supporters were quite disappointed with his weak showing on Tuesday. He only managed to acquire a total of 268 delegates. He is still in the game contending with McCain, but his lack of wins undoubtedly hurt him.

Ultimately, everyone remains in the race. Neither Democratic nor Republican nominees are definite. According to CNN.com, Democratic candidates need to receive 2,025 delegates to win the nomination, and Republican candidates need to obtain 1,191 delegates to win the nomination.

Presidential candidates will continue the struggle through the upcoming primaries throughout the month. With nominees still undecided, it’s good news for Wisconsin voters, who want their Feb. 19 primary votes to be meaningful.

The Super Tuesday primaries were held last week on Feb. 5. Delegate numbers were taken from CNN.com.

> Comments

Terry on Feb 16, 2008 at 11:09 AM:

After months of this campaign, Obama has yet to present anything of substance or definitive plans for our country’s future. It is unconscionable that the press continues to allow this metamorphosis to grow, unchecked, in any way. Instead, the focus still remains concentrated on rhetoric, personalities and polls. The dangers this UNTESTED, DEMAGOGUE presents at this time in our nation’s history may be devastating and irreversible.

Now as his ego grows, Obama’s rhetoric and propaganda is more arrogant and filled with even more subtle “NEGATIVE INNUENDO.” His cocky language is becoming filled with more jargon, and interjections of “rapper slang.” His rallies resemble “Rock Star Events.” Are 17 year old rappers are driving the vote for our American President? Do these young people realize that once Obama is elected, that these “Rock Star, Upbeat Rallies” will end? Will these young voters even show up in the fall, (after the damage has been done in these early Primaries/“Rock Star Events”)?

History has taught us that when the masses follow a demagogue, who is unchecked, with only a vague clue as to why they are doing so, (“except feeling good”), the outcome is likely to be catastrophic!

As a result of the unfair, unbalanced coverage of this campaign, (and of course the “Oprah machine”), an unproven, unprepared candidate is being propelled to leadership on the world stage. Be very careful of the unintended consequences of the “change” you seek! We have suffered 7 long years of an inexperienced, on the job learner, leaving us in a deplorable state in our Economy, Health Care, Security, the War in Iraq, and in our Standing in the World Community.

When our next major crisis occurs - and one surely will, (whether an Economic Crash, another Katrina, a disastrous event in Iraq, etc…), what can we expect of our leader?
WE ARE CERTAIN OF HILLARY’S EXPERIENCE, COMPETENCE, “CLEARLY ARTICULATED” PLANS AND GOALS. Can Obama even rise to the level of incompetence that we have endured over and again with G.W.Bush? Other than the art of speech, does Obama even have the wherewithal or savvy of George W. Bush!

Fact: Obama failed to make a decision and did not vote in the Illinois Legislature on at least 130 occasions. Obama recently admitted; "that on at least 5 occasions, he wanted to vote one way, but pushed the wrong button." HE PUSHED THE WRONG BUTTON? A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT PUSHED THE WRONG BUTTON! AND HE DID SO 5 TIMES! Doesn’t it occur to anyone that the President, from day one, needs to know how to correctly push many buttons and make many decisions?

Fact: Obama’s Rezko connection was briefly touched on during and after the January debate. It wasn’t until Sunday 01/27/08, that John McLaughlin finally, clearly laid out the fact that there was a 17 year old relationship between Obama and Rezko. While it appears Obama may be totally innocent of any illegalities, shouldn’t the voters know of such dealings, and that OBAMA CLEARLY LIED DURING THE LAST DEBATE.

PLEASE DO NOT CONTINUE ALONG THE PATH OF THE “INEXPERIENCED, ILLEQUIPPED” DRIVING OUR COUNTRY TO DESTRUCTION.

OBAMA WILL BE VISITING YOUR STATE SOON TO HAVE YOU JOIN HIS “CULT.” PLEASE RESIST BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE FOR US ALL!

JOHN MA CAIN, HILLARY CLINTON OR BARACK OBAMA WILL BE OUR NEXT PRESIDENT. ONLY ONE IS UNTESTED AND INEXPERIENCED. ONE COULD NOT MAKE A DECISION ON 130 OCCASIONS. FOR OUR SECURITY AND THE WELL BEING OF OUR NATION ON ALL FRONTS, WE MUST VOTE TO ELIMINATE OBAMA FROM THIS ELECTION!

Before you decide please read: http://www.slate.com/id/2184480
www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-wilson/battletestedb86355.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-wilson/the-real-hillary-i-know-b77878.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-wilson/a-reality-check-on-iran-pb70973.html