Barack Obama effectively clinched the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday after a grueling marathon, based on an Associated Press tally of convention delegates, becoming the first black candidate ever to lead his party into a fall campaign for the White House. Full Story »
Posted by Dwight Rousu
This story contains way too much fluff and repetition of earlier pieces without an attempt at analysis or any depth. The report of Clinton "knocking back a shot of Crown Royal whiskey" fails to note that this courting the working class male vote (working class women are not likely to drink alone in a bar full of men, and Clinton had her secret service bodyguards along) occurred at the same time that multiple accusations of rape had been reported by women in the army and women working in Iraq. Also, Clinton won the primary but lost the caucus in Texas, netting fewer delegates. The gas tax issue should have been analyzed better. Also her headstart in superdelegates and funds.
Greater in-depth analysis of both candidates. An examination of their political positions, their history, and their relative advantages and disadvantages at the beginning and at the end of the race. What benefits accrue from this lengthy primary? To whom? More and better sourcing would also have been a help. Much of the piece is cobbled together from earlier pieces. It would have been better to attribute correctly and extensively rather than pass off opinion as fact.
As the first female candidate to have a viable shot at the Presidency, Clinton garnered passionate support. However, Obama’s ability to draw huge crowds &mdash driven by an electorate hungry for change &mdash cut deeply into the former First Lady’s base of support and her initial lead with voters and donors. In Pennsylvania, Obama drew a crowd of over 20,000 in freezing weather; and in Portland, Oregon, the weekend of the state’s primary, 75,000 turned out to see and hear him.