"Ready to Believe Again"

The final results in Kentucky:

Clinton 65%
Obama 30%
Edwards 3%
None of the Above 2%

Apparently John Edwards' name was left on the ballot in a state or two.

The results in Oregon (with 88% of the vote counted):

Obama 58%
Clinton 42%

Both states are overwhelming white so the Clinton camp and the media really need to stop harping on the talking point that Obama can't win white votes. His numbers across all demographics in Oregon were the opposite of Clinton's in Kentucky: He won men, he won women; he won all age groups except the over 65ers, and even them he lost by only 2 points; he won college graduates and non-college graduates; he won first time voters, he won long time voters; he won every income bracket except those who make less than $15,000 a year; and he won independents overwhelmingly.

That last point - the independent voters - contrasts the Clinton argument that she is the better general election candidate. She consistently loses the votes of independent, non-affiliated voters in most polling against John McCain. She loses longtime Democratic strongholds like Oregon, Washington State, and Wisconsin in the Electoral College, and despite the blatherings of her campaign staff, she would do more harm than good in the down ballot congressional and gubernatorial races.

That said, Obama is THISCLOSE to wrapping this up. The projected delegate count (elected delegates and announced super-delegates)
(2,026 needed to win nomination at at the convention):

Obama 1,957
Clinton 1,775

Obama is 69 delegate votes away from wrapping this up. But it's not quite over. There a three last contests to go through, and the rules committee to the convention will meet at the end of the month to deal with the delegations from Michigan and Florida. That meeting may result in an increase in the number of delegates needed two win the nomination, but I am confident Obama will still come out on top. The super-delegates are increasingly declaring the support for him.

I don't see how they turn him down. This election is about the future, and Obama's vision is hopeful and strong while Clinton's mere candidacy is stale and sour.

Hope and competence...



...vs. the past



I report, you decide.