The North Carolian Primaries are next Tuesday. For the Democrats, it may be a critical race. For the Republicans, it may provide another disappointment by rtbohan
(libertarian)
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
North Carolina will hold its primary next Tuesday, exactly six months before the general election. The outcome of this primary is critical to the two contenders for the Democratic nomination. Ron Paul's campaign in the state may set the stage for another disappointment for the backers of John McCain.
Everyone admits that the Democratic Party contest between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama is extremely close in North Carolina as it is across the country. The latest polls show that Senator Obama continues to hold a small lead over Senator Clinton, as he has all year, but the lead falls within the margin of effor for the poll, which means that it must be considered a tie.
Howard Dean, the National Chairman of the Democratic Party, seems to have upped the stakes in this race by calling for the withdrawal of one of the two candidates by June 3. It is unlikely that either Senator Clinton or Obama will abandon a candidacy on which they have worked so hard or so long just because Howard Dean says they should.
The trajectory of the primary probably will be more influenced by two other events of the week. Democratic Governor Mike Easley has endorsed Senator Clinton in the primary as it nears its end. Governor Easley, who is in the last year of his administration, has always been popular with the white working class voters in North Carolina, and his endorsement of Clinton was hailed as a blockbuster. The political base of Governor Easley in North Carolina is largely the same as that of Senator Clinton nationally, so probably the endorsement will not lead many voters to change their minds. But it might energise that base to actually turn out and vote next Tuesday,, and influence the outcome.
The success of Senator Obama's campaign is going to depend on Reverend Wright. Senator Obama dealt with this qustion earlier by distancing himself from some of the more outrageous soundbites from Reverend Wright. In all honesty, this should have been enough. But Reverend Wright has chosen to stage a public campaign saying that everything he said about the United States was true and that those who objected were attacking all the black churchmen of America. (Reverend Hagee,John McCain's supporter, has not been bold enough to engage in a similar campaign). Senator Obama has been forced to stop focusing on Senator Clinton and has taken on Reverend Wright directly. Whether this helps him or hurts him next Tuesday depends on the extent to which the more traditional and conservative black dhurchmen join with Reverend Wright in his defense or side with Senator Obama in his denunciation. This is likely to be critical is North Carolina.
From reading the press in North Carolina it would be difficult to tell that the Republican party is also holding a primary next Tuesday. The general presentation of the newspapers is that there are only three candidates still in the race for the Presidency. The Charlotte Observer and the Raleigh News&Observer apparently do not have a single mention of Ron Paul in their on-line archives for 2008, let alone in recent weeks. Whether there was a mention in the print edition which the newspaper did not consider worth preserving on-line I do not know.
This may change on Friday, when Representative Paul has two rallies scheduled, one in Chapel Hill and the other in Durham. The Chapel Hill rally is scheduled for Room 111 in Carroll Hall (the Journlism Building) at 5 p.m. The room has a capacity of only 425. Given Representative Paul's popularity on callege campuses and the fact that his rallies general;y draw people from around the state and well as from out of state, there is almost certain to be an overflow crowd unless the site is changed.
At 8p.m. Representative Paul has a rally scheduled at Duke University in Durham. This rally is scheduled for the Reynolds Theater. I do not know the capacity of this site, but I do know that all of the seats in the theater have been assigned and the website is suggesting that those who do not have a reservation plan to go to the afternoon rally in Chapel Hill. So another overflow crowd can be expected.
From past experience, we know that Representative Paul's rallies always invigorate his supporters. He is not going to receive more votes than Senator McCain in the North Carolina primary, but he will at least demonstrate that the revolution is still strong, and might pick up some addional delegates.
The presidential primary in North Carfoliina is not a stand alone event. it is being held with the primary elections for state offices, including a contested race for the gubenatorial nomination. This means that the turnout in the Republican primary will be greater than in some of the other states. It also means that more Republicans will probably vote in this primary, and fewer will be tempted to vote in the Democratic presidential race. It will be interesting to see what percentage of Republican voters choose to express their support (or lack of support) for Senator McCain by voting for him or not voting at all on the Presidential line on the ballot. It will also be interesting to see how many take the time and the effort to vote against John McCain in the primary
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MY FELLOW "BITTER", STUPID, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE :-)
If you think like Barack Obama, that WORKING CLASS PEOPLE are just a bunch of "BITTER"!, STUPID, PEASANTS, Cash COWS!, and CANNON FODDER. :-(
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary’s than they had ever been before or since.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)
Best regards
jacksmith... Working Class :-)
p.s. You Might Be An Idiot! :-) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â If you don't know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering...
You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year. :-)
Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. And I could go on, and on...
OBAMA AIDE: "WORKING-CLASS VOTERS NOT KEY FOR DEMOCRATS" :o
It's time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.
Hillary Clinton seemed almost somber at her Pennsylvania victory speech. As if part of her was hoping Obama could have proved he had some chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources.
But it is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.
Hillary Clinton say's that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Mr. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.
Mr. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Mr. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton's have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.
If Mr. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.
Sen. Hillary Clinton: "You know, more people have now voted for me than have voted for my opponent. In fact, I now have more votes than anybody has ever had in a primary contest for a nomination. And it's also clear that we've got nine more important contests to go."
with several NC state primary candidates. Feel free to call in and discuss critical issues with Pat Smathers (D) Lt. Governor, Derald Hafner (D) U.S. Congress NC-13, Colonel Dennis Nielsen (D) Governor, Jim Snyder (R) Lt. Governor, and Elbie Powers (R) Governor. Click one of the listen live buttons at www.thirdrailradio.com