Archived: Apr 28, 2008

> Editorial

Why Obama can’t ‘close the deal’

More than one obstacle stands in his way

By Chris Walker

I’ve read many articles in the past week spinning the latest presidential primary election in Pennsylvania, with most of them asking this simple question: Why can’t Barack Obama “close the deal” with Hillary Clinton and begin focusing on Republican candidate John McCain?

The answer isn’t so obvious. As Democrats, we’d like to believe that it was simply because we have two amazing candidates that are worth examining to the bitter end.

And that’s partially true.

Hillary Clinton, in her own right, would make a formidable opponent for McCain were she to get the eventual nomination, and since she still has a slim shot of becoming the nominee, she’s still in the election. But the fact is that sources outside politics have held Obama back.

Every presidential candidate goes through a “lull” at some point during the campaign. For Barack Obama, this is that time. He’s doing very well for a lull, however, considering the controversies that helped create it (his “bitter” comment and the Reverend Wright fiasco). These controversies are partly to blame for his inability to seal the deal for the Democratic Party. Were it not for these controversies, Obama would have remained popular and could even have taken Pennsylvania last week.

However, Obama’s primary loss does not translate into an automatic loss for the candidacy. Indeed, Clinton still faces insurmountable odds when it comes to defeating Obama by the Democratic Convention come July. He still holds the delegate lead and the popular vote lead, and is making strong inroads on the superdelegate count.

Another thing to consider, in regards to Obama’s failures at closing the deal, is the now infamous (among political aficionados) “Operation Chaos” led by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. In an attempt to prolong the Democratic race for as long as possible, Limbaugh has encouraged his listeners in the remaining primary states to switch party affiliations and vote for Clinton. So any Clinton win is further tainted by the voters who are devotees of Limbaugh.

That is not to say that Clinton didn’t deserve her win in Pennsylvania last week; she was the obvious winner by wide margins. However, those margins may not have been so wide had it not been for these Limbaugh-voters who choose to play dirty in this year’s election.

Despite these setbacks, Obama is poised to become the eventual Democratic nominee. As I observed earlier, he is leading in both delegates and popular vote; and unless Clinton can win the next few contests by the same (or even larger) margins as Pennsylvania, her candidacy won’t have much to go on if it wants to convince the superdelegates that she’s the best choice for the party.

Adding to her problems are recent polls indicating that her approval rating is the lowest since she came onto the national scene as first lady in 1992. Barack Obama, on the other hand, is now seen as the most likely candidate to beat McCain come November.

We needn’t worry ourselves over whether Obama will defeat Clinton or why he can’t “close the deal.” It’s only a matter of time before the Illinois senator takes the nomination, or before Clinton realizes that she cannot defeat Obama in the long run.

It’s time that Obama started focusing on his campaign against McCain and taking his focus off of defeating Clinton – he’s already done that over 20 times.

> Comments

hotels.com on Apr 28, 2008 at 07:32 AM:

Is B. Hussein Obama qualified to be our next president?

No.

But he did stay at a holiday inn express last night!!

Johanan Raatz on Apr 28, 2008 at 08:59 AM:

"infamous (among political aficionados) “Operation Chaos” led by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. In an attempt to prolong the Democratic race for as long as possible, Limbaugh has encouraged his listeners in the remaining primary states to switch party affiliations and vote for Clinton. So any Clinton win is further tainted by the voters who are devotees of Limbaugh."

Well it depends on which aficionadas we're talking about. :)

"Operation Chaos” led by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh."

Eckxcellent now go fetch me Karl Rove Mr. Smithers.

James Lazar on Apr 28, 2008 at 09:02 AM:

So I've been sending in an editorial about Obama for the past two issues, and it hasn't been published. Why is that?

B. Hussein on Apr 28, 2008 at 09:32 AM:

NObama...

Chris Walker on Apr 28, 2008 at 09:43 AM:

James, Where did you send it to? Email me a copy: editorial@uwmpost.com

James Lazar on Apr 28, 2008 at 10:54 AM:

Alright, sent. I think the problem was that I was sending it to post@uwm.edu because I couldn't find the editorial email address.

Terrence on Apr 28, 2008 at 11:58 AM:

Does anyone realize that Obama supports infanticide and Marxism(unlike Hillary who is just a socialist)? The guy is friends with a Marxist terrorist for crying out loud.

James Lazar on Apr 28, 2008 at 12:39 PM:

Saying that Obama supports Marxism and is a socialist is a joke. Obama is a corporate pawn with a progressive face.

Terrence on Apr 28, 2008 at 01:14 PM:

James, Oh God! Obama isn't Marxist enough for you? All three candidates are socialists or Marxists.

Hillary = socialist Obama = communist McCain = national socialist

So Obama isn't Marxist enough for you? You know commies obsession with "corporations" has gotten absurd when they try to find corporate interests hiding in their own ranks.

Granted Bush and the neocons have been giving away corporate welfare to companies which is also a problem but I seriously think you guys should get over this obsession with everything "corporate" it's completely absurd and unhealthy. If you don't like corporations then move to some communist paradise like Cuba or North Korea.

Obama is a friend of communist radical and terrorist Bill Ayers and wants to give away about a trillion of OUR tax money in foriegn aid. Americans can't afford that. The liberals and the neocons have already wrecked our economy.

The only reason you would do that is if you believe in international marxism.

James Lazar on Apr 29, 2008 at 10:04 AM:

"James, Oh God! Obama isn't Marxist enough for you? All three candidates are socialists or Marxists."

Seriously, if you're going to criticize Obama, then you might as well criticize him for something that actually makes sense. In the editorial that hopefully they will be printing next edition, I've shown his corporate ties. 90% of his campaign funding comes from donations of $1000 or more. Who do you think can afford to give $1000 or more to a PRIMARY candidate?

"Hillary = socialist Obama = communist McCain = national socialist"

HAHAHA I don't know how anyone could take you seriously when you're calling McCain a socialist (or Hillary or Obama, for that matter).

"Obama is a friend of communist radical and terrorist Bill Ayers"

Bill Ayers isn't radical anymore. He's a democrat through and through; I met him personally, I would know.

"and wants to give away about a trillion of OUR tax money in foriegn aid."

No he doesn't; he actually wants to spend OUR tax money on increasing the Pentagon's already bloated budget and moving more troops into Afghanistan.

"The liberals and the neocons have already wrecked our economy."

The economy was wrecked by the credit and housing bubbles bursting. If anything, the current administration SAVED the economy by subsidizing the takeover of Bear Stearns by JP Morgan Chase (the government actually approved the trade before the offer was made). If nobody picked up Bear Stearns the economy would have completely collapsed.

The economy is fucked because the system is based on periodic crises that get worse over time.

Mike on Apr 29, 2008 at 11:20 AM:

Obama cannot seal the deal because people are realizing just how liberal this man really is. Just look at the friends he has, from Ayers to Farrakhan! One does not repent bombing his own country and wishes he had done more, while the other hates Jews. Look at his Pastor, who calls this country the US of KKKA, sorry if you don't like it, don't let the door hit your backside on the way out! Not to mention that he wants to raise taxes, like that will help the economy! Stating that he does not mind if raising the capital gains tax brings in less revenue than now, he still would raise it. Does that make sense? He is even against repealing th Federal gas tax for the summer, saying it will not do enough, well not doing anything is not going to anything either! That may be obvious to most people, but not to Obama. The honeymoon is over, people are looking at what he believes in, and some do not like it. Rush may be playing a part in this but if Obama fails, which I am certain he will, he has no one to blame but himself.

Johanan Raatz on Apr 29, 2008 at 11:28 AM:

"Obama cannot seal the deal because people are realizing just how liberal this man really is."

Well he is ranked as the most liberal member of congress by the National Journal, and Terrence (despite calling me a crypto-fascist and making other um 'interesting' claims) happens to be right about his support of infanticide.

It's unfortunate that people have been drinking too much of his demagogic kool-aid to notice these things.

Johanan Raatz on Apr 29, 2008 at 07:52 PM:

"The economy is fucked because the system is based on periodic crises that get worse over time."

But I think that could be fixed with a corporatist command economy like they have in Japan. You don't need to have a war or a catastrophe to spike the economy you can just spike it artiticially by manufacturing bubbles in the stock market and then cashing in on them before they collapse. By having the government buy and sell the stock prices at an artificially high level you can just reset the economy whenever it goes into a downturn.

An added attribute would be that if you continued this indefinitely on the international market and combined it with external free trade policies your country and everyone in it would just get richer and richer regardless of their class. From what I understand this worked really nicely when the Japanese tried it out. I read somewhere that by manipulating the market like this they experienced economic growth 3 times faster than any other economy in history.

Racist Dan on May 01, 2008 at 12:58 AM:

My name is Dan Bahr, I am 30 years old and I still go to UWM, I am a big fat CUNT, and I like to puff my chest and proclaim that I am a Democrat, even though I disrespect the press and other freedoms

RE: Racist Dan on May 01, 2008 at 06:52 AM:

Yeah,

I think you need to get over the loss.

Bitchez n Hoez on May 01, 2008 at 12:34 PM:

Nuff said foo.