Obama Still Can’t Close the Deal
22 April 2008 6:37 pm by Taylor Marsh
Obama Still Can’t Close the Deal
Pennsylvania.
Ohio.
New Hampshire.
Texas.
New York.
California.
…and Florida, even Michigan.
Hillary Clinton said if Barack Obama does not win Pennsylvania despite his huge campaign war chest, people ought to ask the question, “Why can’t he close the deal?” … .. Clinton went to say that if she wins Pennsylvania, she will have accumulated wins in key states that Democrats need in order to retake the White House in November. She seemed to be speaking directly to superdelegates when she tried to raise doubts over Obama’s ability to win. “With his extraordinary financial advantage, why can’t he win a state like this one if that’s the way it turns out?” Clinton asked. “Obviously we have a long way to go before people are finished voting and the votes are counted. This will be one more in a long line of big states, states that Democrats have to win.”
Obama dumped a boatload of cash into Pennsylvania, as he did in Texas, but
he still can’t close the deal. It’s also why Obama is keeping Florida and Michigan
from being counted. He can’t afford to have the popular vote count in those
states. The other problem is that Obama’s baggage has been spotlighted in Pennsylvania. That’s not going away.
Clinton’s popular vote is rising.
Now we’re waiting for the margins and how big her victory will be in Pennsylvania. This will matter to Clinton, but more importantly, to superdelegates.
However, the fact remains that Obama is vulnerable, especially looking towards the general election. Clinton will continue to exploit this fact as they both move towards Indiana.
Who can win in November? That’s what superdelegates will be asking. Regardless of Obama’s numbers, with Clinton’s popular vote rising, the answer isn’t certain and the Obama teams knows it.
