Yes sir, I used to admire McCain

When he agreeded with me, I admired his judgment. It wasn't all the time.

McCain Says Obama Undermined U.S. Immigration Measure

Do I Even Need Wisconsin?

It's not like I eat much cheese or anything. Not Wisconsin cheese anyway.

The other day Michelle went to Whole Foods and picked up a delightful wheel of brie from a little French Cheese maker. We ate it while listening to classical music with some halal (not a secret Muslim) foi-gras I found in a delightful little store just near here. It was truly wonderful.

Obama's State Primary Win Doesn't Lock Up General Election Victory, Experts Say

Apparently, now the popular vote should count

Hillary Clinton last Night:

Nearly eighteen million of you cast your votes for our campaign, carrying the popular vote with more votes than any primary candidate in history. Even when the pundits and the naysayers proclaimed week after week that this race was over, you kept on voting.

If the "popular vote" counted, then we would have President Gore and President Kerry. It is not the popular vote, it is the distribution. I did not write the constitution. A bunch of slave owning old white guys did. If they did not set things up so that Hillary would beat me, then nothing could. And if popular vote does not count for the real election, then why should it count for the primary? The Clintons need to take a good, long, hard look at themselves and ask themselves what they would rather have? Me or McCain - A charming, educated, well-spoken democrat with good ideas and a vision for the future, or an elderly, cranky old soldier with some sort of PTSD (and so many other compaints) giving us eight more years of the same?

Obviously, they are still pushing for the third option - themselves - but that is off the table. It is time for them to suck it up and be adults about this. We can win this election, but not if there is division within our ranks.

Next on Mastermind...

Ted Turner.

He's a billionaire media mogul hailing from Atlanta. Ted's special subject is "The
Bleedin' Obvious" (sorry Basil)

In news that startles no-one (except Michelle's dad: he never liked me) CNN has announced that I have clinched the nomiation, making me the "first African-American to lead a U.S. major-party ticket."

Never mind that I locked up the numbers weeks ago, CNN chose to wait until the last possible moment to realize that the new day has dawned. That the new "new deal" is here. That change has come at last.

I am the Democratic Party Nominee for President. I am Barack Fauxbama. I am not a Secret Muslim.

Also from the "Well, duh" files, Hillary Clinton still refuses to concede defeat. I must ask my team whether I can do it for her - can I concede victory? Or concede defeat on her behalf?

CNN projects Obama clinches nomination

Controlling the Intelligence Agencies, Centrally

She had probably done this a dozen times before. Modern digital technology had made clandestine communications with overseas agents seem routine. Back in the cold war, contacting a secret agent in Moscow or Beijing was a dangerous, labour-intensive process that could take days or even weeks. But by 2004, it was possible to send high-speed, encrypted messages directly and instantaneously from CIA headquarters to agents in the field who were equipped with small, covert personal communications devices. So the officer at CIA headquarters assigned to handle communications with the agency's spies in Iran probably didn't think twice when she began her latest download. With a few simple commands, she sent a secret data flow to one of the Iranian agents in the CIA's spy network. Just as she had done so many times before.

But this time, the ease and speed of the technology betrayed her. The CIA officer had made a disastrous mistake. She had sent information to one Iranian agent that exposed an entire spy network; the data could be used to identify virtually every spy the CIA had inside Iran.
Mistake piled on mistake. As the CIA later learned, the Iranian who received the download was a double agent. The agent quickly turned the data over to Iranian security officials, and it enabled them to "roll up" the CIA's network throughout Iran. CIA sources say that several of the Iranian agents were arrested and jailed, while the fates of some of the others is still unknown.

This is the CIA under President George Bush. The CIA under Republican nominee McCain (nothing to do with hot chips, I was disappointed to learn) will be more of the same bungling. Hillary and Bill Clinton did no better their first time around. That is why, I, Barack Fauxbama, the Democrat nominee for president take great pleasure in announcing my intelligence policy:

1) The CIA is incompetent. The FBI and the DHS are also not particularly talented. All these agencies will be disbanded and a new agency will be formed - named Control. A group of the Control people were here last night (at my undisclosed location) with a film they had made to promote their plans - I had no idea that the paper guy from Dunder-Miflin was a spy too!

2) In order to beef-up Control further, I'm enlisting the services of my good buddies Bill Ayers and Bobby Rush. Also joining the control team will be several of my other friends, who are also not Secret Muslims.

Reverend Wrong and I are BFF no more

Following an unmitigated series of public embarrassments, I have had to cancel Jeremiah Wrong's "Best Friend Forever" status.

As the Democratic nominee for President, I - Barack Fauxbama have cut all my ties with the Reverend Wrong's church. Between his strange tirades, stupid comments about Hillary Clinton and the fact that, apparently, secret Muslims are not meant to go to Christian churches (not that I'm a secret Muslim - it's just a civil rights issue) .

Yes We Can - The Video

(With Spanish Subtitles)

I'm scared, and writing from an undisclosed location

First she does away with Big Russ, and now she's after me!

I am not frightened of Hillary as a politician, but put a rifle in her hands and she is truly deadly...

Where are my Secret Service guys?

Jimmy Carter tells Hillary that it is over

The real JC has stepped up and called the results. Not that it has been in doubt for a very, very long time. Now, however, I have my own former President to offset the Bill factor Hillary has going for her.

Not that I expect JC to make as big a mess of things as Bill has. JC builds houses for poor people and grows peanuts. He hasn't been near an intern in his life. Heck, he once told me that he could not even get any interns to come to the white house during his entire term!


Carter calls time on Clinton campaign - ABC.net.au

I am currently recruiting for my Legion of Super-Delegates

I have just recruited about forty of Hillary's formerly pledged super-delegates, on the
basis of my mathematical (as well as general) superiority.

These forty brave men and women are doing the right thing - putting the greater good of the party ahead of the interests of their smaller cliques and cadres. They realize that splitting the party over a messy primary battle is only going to help McCain.

The last thing the party needs is for the popular candidate to be denied his rightful place on the ballot and to split the vote, handing the republicans an undeserved win.

This is not a threat - it is simply a fact. I will run for president, either as a Democrat or an Independent. I will win. Afterwards I will destroy those who ran against me - be it the Republicans, Nader or a Clinton-Democrat party. Do not make me angry. You will not like me when I am angry.

In short, we do not need another Nader or another Lieberman. Hillary should pull out now before this gets bloodier. And she will never be my VP. I am expecting FSJ to get back to me about the position in the next few days (I know he is busy getting ready to announce the iPhone 2.0 - the one I have had for a few weeks now, so he cannot call me right now). I know he has my number. He has the numbers (and SSNs, email passwords, bank account details etc) of every iPhone user in a database on his Newton 2.0 (which you will all see eventually - I love mine).

Who will be my VeeP?

Indeed - who will I choose for my running mate? I have been getting calls all weekend from all sorts of people who have crawled out of the woodwork wanting to stand beside me on the podium.

• Some of them are purely after a chance at running for president themselves in 2016.
• Some of them truly want to help.
• Some of them are planning to make documentaries and want to have some sort of credibility when they do it.
• Some simply want access to the "Undisclosed Location" so they have somewhere to take their families in case of disaster.

I want a V.P. who stands for something, who can provide a valuable sounding board and be a source of advice for me. I want someone who is creative. I want someone who demands perfection of himself and those around him every second of every day. I want someone who gives a killer keynote speech. I want someone who can fix my iPhone when it gets jammed.

I want Steve Jobs.

More accurately, and appropriately, I want FakeSteve Jobs.

So, I put it to you, FSJ, will you join me on the ticket? Will we be

Fauxbama/FakeSteve 08?

I look forward to your response.

It is Time For a Change - Time We Brought Something Back to the Oval Office that Has Been Missing for This Entire Century

Cigars!

Michelle and I, like many leading Democrats, enjoy a good cigar now and then. And, as we all know - the best cigars are rolled by Cubans (Dominicans roll them too tight, just like their crepes). We just smoke them - I cannot believe you went there - shame on you! And my smoking proves that I am not a secret Muslim (not that there is anything wrong with that), because Muslims cannot smoke - so I hear.

Thus, I have today announced the beginnings of my policy of normalizing relations with Cuba - to start with, we will be opening the channels of diplomacy through aid and travel. Lifting the embargo will, unfortunately, take time. Now that they are able to get PCs, the Cuban subscription base of this blog is sure to skyrocket - leading to a quick adoption of my ideals by the Cuban public.

But with all the tourists going back and forth come next January, the supply of black market Cuban Cigars will double or perhaps even treble overnight. I predict that demand will match the supply, so there will be no Cuban Cigar crash to fear. There will be no sub-prime cigars: I will have the Secret Service retasked to hunt down the substandard fake cigars that trap the unwary tourists.

My Bad

So, Shelly just saw my last post and pointed out that John Edward was the guy I wanted to endorse me, but it was John Edwards who did.

I still thought his name was familiar - Shelly explained that he had been Kerry's running mate last time around. I totally didn't notice him at the time, because I had like three finals that week to study for...

Anyway, can we get something to wash the stink of failure off this man?

Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Yes! We! Can!

Someone get me the stuff that you are supposed to use on skunk spray. That should clear up Bush-Cheyney spray too.

John Edwards Likes me, he really really likes me!

I knew it - all this time JE has had an enormous man-crush on me! I've been a huge fan of his, ever since I first saw "Crossing Over" years ago. I mean the man is an honest-to-Allah(swt) (I'm not a secret muslim!) celebrity, and a great asset to the Democrat party - he's our own Fred Thompson, only still alive.

And the great thing about the Edwards endorsement is that he can really mobilize the undead vote - and he'll keep them under control, so they won't accidentally vote for Pat Buchanan like in y2k.

That, and he has brought with him a variety of former democrat luminaries from the other side - people like Kennedy, LBJ, Truman, FDR, Woodrow Wilson (That right, I'm getting Treaty of Versailles and League of Nation props), Grover Cleveland, Grover Cleveland again, Buchanan, Jefferson Davis, Franklin Pierce (played with great success by Alan Alda in MASH), Polk, Van Buren, Jackson and the greatest (deceased) Democrats of all time - Lincoln and Jimmy Carter.

John Edwards endorses Barack Obama, tries to put Hillary Clinton ...
International Herald Tribune - France
AP WASHINGTON: Barack Obama secured the long sought-after endorsement of former rival John Edwards, a gesture aimed at solidifying support for the party's ...
See all stories on this topic

Hillary's Supporters are Way Bitter

So, it's "That Time of the Campaign" over at Hillary central, and the claws are coming out:

"But it's been open season on women, and we feel we need to stand up and make a statement about that, because it's wrong." - Organiser Cynthia Ruccia, 55, from an Ohio based Group.

Apparently, there is some sense that Hillary is being discriminated against because of her gender. Apparently Hillary is a woman! I wasn't sure.

Also last week, comedian and magician Penn Jillette, satirising the animus to Senator Clinton in the US, said on cable TV: "Obama did great in February, and that's because that was Black History Month. And now Hillary's doing much better 'cause it's White Bitch Month, right?"

Hillary Clinton's female avengers to hit Barack Obama
The Australian - Sydney,Australia
THE backlash from women to Hillary Clinton's almost certain defeat for the Democratic Party's nomination has started in earnest. ...
See all stories on this topic

The New Black

Hillary says she won't be pushed out, whatever that means, and that by staying in the race she's helping democracy and helping people exercise their democratic rights to vote. Supposedly quoting the AP, she also says that she has won the support of hard working Americans, white Americans.

Er...is she allowed to say that?

Isn't it White the new Black?

Now, me and my good buddy Stephen Colbert don't see color, y'all know that. But I totally see race. So isn't there something just wrong when you lump together all these White Americans like so much oatmeal? Hillary, you're a White American. I'm going to go out on a limb and say you're a White American woman, because I also don't see gender (unless we're talking about Michelle, 'cause I'm reasonably sure she's a woman--one of us is, we have kids and I haven't legalized gay conception yet).

Now, Hillary,by playing the reverse race card you have left me with no other choice - I must play one of my (many) trump cards:

The Reverse Reverse Race Card! (Yes I Can! in the 48 contiguous states, Void where prohibited and prohibited where void)

The Reverse Reverse Race Card allows me to point out all the evils the White Man has inflicted upon my proud African Brothers, Sisters and secret Muslims every where (not that I am one).

You must vote for me, because I'm a Black Man, because Your People kept My People as Slaves. You must assuage the hudreds and hundreds of years of guilt your families have built up, by voting for me. Also, We run fast, play basketball better than you and we like gansta hip-hop. I will pop a "cap" in Hillary's "ass".

There. now back to real politics (unless I need another trump card later).

I'm Barack Obama and I improved this message.

Hillary Clinton On What's Next
CBS News - New York,NY,USA
Hillary Clinton spoke Wednesday with CBS News anchor Katie Couric about what's next - including what it would take for her to wind up in the White House. ...
See all stories on this topic

Couric: A lot of people were struck last week when you noted that you had won the support of hard working Americans, white Americans. Using those words, do you think that was dangerously close to playing the reverse race card?

Clinton: No, not at all. I was just referring to an AP article. You know, people have voted for me because they believe I'd be a better fighter and a better champion. They believe I would fight for universal healthcare. That I'd make college affordable.

Tennessee Republicans Picking on Michelle

So Michelle said she was proud of America for the first time in her adult life? And this is a problem for the republicans? They question her pride in America? I question their powers of observation. Look around you - what is there to be proud of?

I feel so strongly about this that I have composed a poem to capture my feelings--

This country is a land of despair,
a land of war, a land of guns and bibles.
I am not proud of our bitter,
Our warmongering past.
Not a thing we have done in the past forty four years
has been worthy of Michelle's pride
not Watergate,
not Whitewater,
not Reagan,
not Jimmy Carter.

Not even Habitat for Humanity.
Not Iraq, not Afghanistan.
Not 'W', not Hillary,
not An Inconvenient Truth.
Not falling literacy,
not nationwide obesity.
Not Sesame Street or the Electric Company.
Not even M*A*S*H or Boston Legal.
And certainly not Flag Pins.

But we can change that.

We can make this a country to be proud of. We can create an America that deserves Michelle's pride.

Yes We Can!

We can end our unjust wars.

Yes We Can!

We can close down our illegal torture camps!

Yes We Can!

We can create a country where a Muslim can become President!

Not That I Am a Secret Muslim!

We can create a country where a woman can rise to the highest office in the nation!

But Not For Eight More Years!

CNN.com

The old-white-guy establishment is already trying to sabotage my presidency! Also, someone finds Hillary's Spine

Why would I want to be the one to have to decide on a tax increase? It was Bush who got us in to this mess - he should wear the negative karma of the measures that get us out of this. I'm looking forward to 2010, when the Bush era tax cuts for the rich are phased out. My current plan to replace them is a tax cut for the intelligentsia of X percent following this formula:

X = ((IQ/140) + IV - nG - nB)%

where X is the percentage of your default tax rate you will have to pay, IQ is your IQ and IV is the number of years you spent at an Ivy-League school. nG and nB are the number of guns and bibles respectively in your household. Indeed, the very best of us will be getting a negative tax rate - we will pay you not to run off to the highly paid jobs in India that will be appearing around that time.

Where will this money come from you ask? Well, look at the other end of the spectrum - the people for whom X is negative - the ones with the very large nG and nB numbers - their increased taxes will pay for the cuts for the rest of us.

Won't this embitter them? No! It! Wont! because they are already so, so, so bitter...


Also, we all knew Hillary had a spine - it was the heart and soul that may be missing...

Top Democrat announces budget agreement
The Associated Press -
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats controlling Congress are leaving grim decisions on automatic tax increases to the next president and the newly elected Congress ...

Hillary is the Democrat with a Spine West Virginia Morning Open Thread
By Truthteller
Hillary is the "Democrat with a Spine." The t-shirt that says it all: she keeps fighting; we keep fighting!! All profits from the sale of this shirt will be donated to HillaryClinton.com. Click on read more to see the t-shirt. ...
NO QUARTER - http://noquarterusa.net/blog

"Superdelegates Under the Desk" - Hillary's so-called "supporters" are turning...

Brendan Spiegel on the Huffington Post has blasted the undecided superdelegates (who are fewer and fewer - see below) for not making a stand - either they overturn the will of the people, or they support it. They should just stand up and say so. Either way, there is no chance anymore of President Hillary.

Even if I told my personal followers to vote for her (which I would do at the convention if I had to, but wouldn't mean) you wouldn't - I don't know who you'd vote for, we'd come up with someone. But the upshot would be four years of McCain, followed by my glorious return to save the party.

Superdelegates Under the Desk
Huffington Post - New York,NY,USA
Why are Emanuel and the rest of the undecided superdelegates so fearful of finally ending this thing? We've known for a long time that this ridiculous ...

Superdelegates in VA
WHSV - Harrisonburg,VA,USA
The superdelegates in the Commonwealth are still very much a part of that battle. Five of Virginia's 16 superdelegates have never endorsed any candidate, ...

Superdelegates Continue Heading Obama's Way
CBS News - New York,NY,USA
This race I believe is over, Senator Obama has accumulated a lead in delegates chosen by primaries, caucuses and superdelegates that cannot be overcome. ...
See all stories on this topic

Three more superdelegates for Obama
CNN Political Ticker - USA
(CNN) — Barack Obama picked up endorsements from three more superdelegates Tuesday, extending his lead over Hillary Clinton in that category to seven. ...

More Superdelegates for Obama
OpEdNews - Newtown,PA,USA
Even as the Hillary Clinton campaign awaits a likely primary win in West Virginia today, a stream of superdelegate endorsements for Barack Obama continues ...

Obama adds another superdelegate; count up to 282
USA Today - USA
Barack Obama's presidential campaign continues to parcel out announcements of endorsements from Democratic Party superdelegates -- a process that is ...

More superdelegates go Obama's way
Boston Globe - United States
He might get blown out today in West Virginia's primary, but Barack Obama has already added two more superdelegates, as more and more of the party leaders ...

The Road To Hell Is Paved With Superdelegates
Forbes - NY,USA
Superdelegates have an incentive to block-vote in order to exert the most influence. Candidates know this and that creates an incentive to "hang around" ...

Clinton hopes to woo remaining superdelegates
Business Standard - Mumbai,Maharashtra,India
The 47-year-old Obama eclipsed Clinton, 60, earlier this week in the number of superdelegates as well registering 275 of them by his side to Clinton's 271. ...

Destroying the rumor mill: Obama is a Muslim, McCain's black baby
MLive.com - MI,USA
by Susan J. Demas | Capitol Chronicles | Analysis One of my friends is a mordant editorial page editor who takes calls at least twice a day from people ...

Obama adds 3 superdelegates so far Tuesday.
Dan Pfeifer, the Obama spokesman sending out the stream of superdelegate releases, has three more so far on Tuesday. Romer, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and DC superdelegate Anita Bond.
Lynn Sweet - http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/

Update: Obama Starts Off The Day With Superdelegates ...
By sazzylilsmartazz(sazzylilsmartazz)
UPDATE: New Orlean Mayor Ray Nagin, another superdelegate, has also endorsed Obama (statement below). Also, the Washington Post reports that one of Clinton's pledged delegates from Maryland has announced that he will support Obama at ...
The Conscientious Objector - http://journals.aol.com/sazzylilsmartazz/TheConscientiousObjector/

Superdelegates endorsing Obama as West Virginia cast its vote
By anunlovedone
Here are the latest Superdelegate endorsements for Barack: · May 11th * Young Democrats of America Board Member and Former California Young Democrats President Crystal Strait · May 12th * Congressman and US Senate candidate Tom Allen ...
- http://anunlovedone.wordpress.com

Obama Gains 4 More Superdelegates, 49 More Needed
Still Needed For 2025, 152 (34%), 322.5 (71%), ---. Once you factor in the 103 pledged delegates Obama is likely to win in the final six contests, his needs just 49 more superdelegates to lock-up the nomination...
PoliticalBase.com Blog - http://www.politicalbase.com/

Two More Superdelegates For Obama
The Obama campaign held a conference call this morning with Roy Romer, a former Colorado governor and DNC chairman who announced he is endorsing Obama. Romer explained his decision during the call: "Colorado has a state convention this ...
- http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/

Yes - I totally have an iPhone. A New iPhone. The New iPhone is an iPhone of Change.

Can we install our own software?

Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Yes! We! Can!

Can we use use T-Mobile?

Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Yes! We! Can!

Can we use Sprint?

Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Yes! We! Can!

Can we Use Verizon?

Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Yes! We! Can!

Can we use Telstra or Vodaphone or even Virgin?

Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Yes! We! Can!

Can we have 3G download speeds?

Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Yes! We! Can!

Can we we have high quality video?

Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Yes! We! Can!

Can the people of western Pennsylvania afford one?

...

Can we give one to Reverend Wrong so that he'll shut up?

Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Yes! We! Can!

The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs: Obama flashes his iPhone

Has the Clinton Campaign Killed Tim Russert's Dad?

The Clinton campaign worker interviewed here on meet the press says Tim Russert's father is dead. Russert is sure he is alive - and he definitely was, at the start of meet the press. Who knows what has happened since then.

Hillary was bragging about her marksmanship the other day - Is she now bitterly clinging to the gun with which she shot Big Russ?

I am leading in the super delegates. Hillary can cling to that! Or learn to shoot it or whatever.

Obama Leads in Superdelegates for First Time
New York Times - United States
The trump card Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton held in her faltering bid for president — her support among the superdelegates who can control the fate of the Democratic nomination — began slipping from her grasp on Friday as Senator Barack Obama moved into the lead on this front, with uncommitted delegates declaring their allegiance to him as others deserted her.

Check Point On McCain, Obama and a Hamas Link
New York Times - United States
Speaking at a news conference in New Jersey, Mr. McCain said he believed that comments made by a Hamas leader approving Mr. Obama’s candidacy were “a legitimate point of discussion,” and he went on to accuse Mr. Obama of agreeing to negotiate with the president of Iran, who on Wednesday referred to Israel as “a stinking corpse facing annihilation.” He described that as “a distinct difference between myself and Senator Obama.”

Obama erases Clinton's last lead: Superdelegates
Chicago Tribune - United States
Barack Obama seized the lead in the Democratic presidential race by every measure on Friday, as he shifted his fire from rival Hillary Clinton to ...

Obama Gives West Virginia the Cold Shoulder
Newsweek - USA
Faced with a place that stands no chance of becoming "Barack Obama country," then, Barack Obama is choosing not to go there. Better to keep expectations low ...

A super shift toward Obama
Minneapolis Star Tribune - Minneapolis,MN,USA
Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead among superdelegates on Friday, picking up the backing of five superdelegates, ...

US elections: Obama plans to declare victory
Telegraph.co.uk - United Kingdom
By Alex Spillius in Washington Barack Obama plans to declare victory in his marathon battle with Hillary Clinton shortly after polls close in Kentucky and ...

Obama v. McCain

Times poll shows Clinton and Obama beating McCain
Los Angeles Times - CA,USA

Despite their infighting, both Democratic presidential candidates would probably defeat the presumptive GOP nominee, the poll finds. Voters doubt McCain can handle the economy.

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
2:00 PM PDT, May 9, 2008

Washington -- Although Democrats are still tangled in a fractious presidential primary, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would probably beat presumptive GOP nominee John McCain in the popular vote if the election were held now, according to a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll released today.

McCain remains competitive, but the poll identified one important vulnerability: Voters ranked him lowest among the three candidates on who could best handle the nation's economic problems, by far the most pressing concern for the public irrespective of party, gender or income.

ON DEADLINE: What if Clinton had Obama's lead?
Seattle Times - United States

By WALTER MEARS

AP Special Correspondent

Getting out is hard to do for any presidential candidate, doubly so when the name is Clinton. Hillary or Bill, graceful exits are not the Clinton style. Lose an election or an issue and they tend to dig in deeper.

So while Hillary's campaign game is almost up, while she can cling to the slightest chance of overtaking Barack Obama, she won't concede the Democratic presidential nomination.

It is pure guesswork, but consider what would be happening if the roles of Clinton and Obama were reversed, giving her an all but insurmountable lead. The party unity pressure on him to get out, if he hadn't already, would be far more intense than the suggestions that Clinton go. They'd be depicting him as a spoiler. Some of Clinton's people already see him that way - the first-term black senator who got in the way when Clinton was running on a strategy that presumed a quick victory.

Against Obama-Clinton '08
Atlantic Online - USA

Stan Honda/Getty Images

Rumor has it that Hillary Clinton is struggling to save face by securing the vice presidential nomination.

In an effort to halt intra-Democratic partisan bloodletting, some, including The Atlantic's own Andrew Sullivan, have suggested that Barack Obama run for president with Hillary Clinton as his running mate. And it seems that some in the Obama camp are taking the idea seriously, so seriously that senior Obama advisors are reportedly weighing whether or not to take on Clinton's campaign debt -- including, amusingly enough, Clinton's campaign debt to herself. Note that Clinton has consistently argued that Obama is not ready for the rigors of the presidency, and not ready to take on America's rivals on the world stage. He is too green, he is too trusting. If Obama does indeed acquiesce to the Clintonites' desperate pleas for some kind of face-saving gesture, he will prove Clinton right.

Obama Open to Help Clinton With Her Campaign Debt

ABC News - USA

Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior National Correspondent Jake Tapper

May 09, 2008 6:10 PM

While taking care to say the very question is premature, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, Friday indicated an openness to helping Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, with her millions in campaign debt.

Clinton's campaign debt is thought to be upwards of $10 million -- not including the $11.425 million she loaned her campaign from her personal funds. They are numbers perhaps not as immediately troubling as the 170 delegates by which she trails Obama in their race to the magic 2,025 delegate number to clinch the nomination -- but they are troubling numbers for her nonetheless.

Obama Extends an Olive Branch Toward Clinton
Washington Post - United States

By Alec MacGillis
WOODBURN, Ore. -- Even as Hillary Clinton continued to campaign against him, criticizing his health care plan, Barack Obama took another step this afternoon toward extending an olive branch toward her so that she could "feel good" about the outcome of a Democratic nominating process that his campaign hopes to soon bring to an orderly and amicable close.

Asked by a reporter during a stop at a Mexican restaurant here whether he would be willing to use his huge war chest to help Clinton retire her campaign debts, as some have suggested, Obama demurred.

Obama on Clinton as Veep
FOXNews - USA
by Shushannah Walshe

Beaverton, OR—

Senator Barack Obama praised his rival for the Democratic nomination, Senator Hillary Clinton, but wouldn’t go so far as to say he would make her one half of the much talked about Democratic “dream-ticket:”

“I have not won this nomination yet - it would be presumptuous of me to suggest that she is going to be my running mate while we are still actively running. . .we do not have this nomination locked up - so we are still competing. “

Obama was responding to a question tossed to him at a small town hall at Vernier Software & Technology, which sells science equipment to schools. He jokingly asked the questioner if he was put up to the question by the press in the back of the room. He praised Clinton calling her “an extraordinary candidate, and an extraordinary public servant.” He also added that she would be on any candidate’s “short list of vice-presidential candidates.”

---

Barack and the nomination...

Edwards: 'Obama likely nominee'
BBC News - UK

Mr Edwards said Mr Obama had done well enough without his endorsement

Former Democratic US presidential hopeful John Edwards has said that Senator Barack Obama is now his party's "likely presidential nominee".

But he has stopped short of endorsing Mr Obama, saying that the value of endorsements is "greatly inflated". After Mr Obama's victory in this week's North Carolina primary and narrow loss in Indiana, observers say he is poised to win the nomination. But his rival Hillary Clinton has vowed to go on "until a nominee is chosen".

Economics 101: Obama vs. McCain
Salon - USA
In Oregon on Friday, Barack Obama delivered a short speech on the economy. His remarks were notable not because he
debuted any fresh proposals (he didn't) but for the explicit pains the Senator from Illinois took to distinguish his economic platform from John McCain's -- as opposed to that other candidate still running for President, whose name escapes my memory, possibly because Obama did not mention it a single time during his speech.

Obama picks up 5 superdelegates, union endorsement
The Associated Press -
7 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead among national convention superdelegates on Friday and won fresh labor backing as elements of the Democratic Party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign.

Obama picked up the backing of five superdelegates, including Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who had been a Clinton supporter.

In addition, the American Federation of Government Employees announced its support for Obama. The union claims about 600,000 members who work in the federal and Washington, D.C., governments.

Obama, who won a convincing victory in the North Carolina primary and lost Indiana narrowly on Tuesday, has been steadily gaining strength in the days since.

Clinton also gained a superdelegate.

Republicans turn big guns on Barack Obama
Times Online - UK

Barack Obama had criticised former President Jimmy Carter for holding direct talks with Hamas

Tom Baldwin in Washington

One of Barack Obama’s Middle East policy advisers disclosed yesterday that he had held meetings with the militant Palestinian group Hamas – prompting the likely Democratic nominee to sever all links with him.

Robert Malley told The Times that he had been in regular contact with Hamas, which controls Gaza and is listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation. Such talks, he stressed, were related to his work for a conflict resolution think-tank and had no connection with his position on Mr Obama’s Middle East advisory council.

“I’ve never hidden the fact that in my job with the International Crisis Group I meet all kinds of people,” he added.

Obama narrows Clinton lead in superdelegates
CNN - USA

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama closed in Friday on Sen. Hillary Clinton's lead among superdelegates, the Democratic officials who hold the balance of power in determining the party's presidential nominee.

Sen. Barack Obama greets supporters Friday as he campaigns in Beaverton, Oregon.

The Obama campaign announced the support of seven superdelegates, including a previous Clinton backer.

Hawaii Rep. Mazie Hirono, New Mexico Democratic Party member Laurie Weahkee and South Carolina Democratic Party Vice Chair Wilber Lee Jeffcoat, announced they are backing the Illinois senator.

Other superdelegates that pledged their support to Obama on Friday include: California Democratic National Committee member Ed Espinoza; Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon told The Oregonian newspaper that he will support Obama's bid.

Obama wins praise from former rival John Edwards
Reuters - USA

By Deborah Charles

BEAVERTON, Oregon (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama turned his focus to a U.S. general election showdown with John McCain on Friday and said the Republican White House candidate would continue the "failed policies" of President George W. Bush.

Obama gathered momentum in his battle with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination with endorsements from seven more senior party figures and a labor union, as well as strong praise from former Democratic rival John Edwards.

Obama picks up more superdelegates
MarketWatch - USA

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Sen. Barack Obama picked up the endorsement of three more superdelegates on Friday, narrowing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's slim lead among elected Democratic officials.

With the endorsements of Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Donald Payne of New Jersey as well as John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees union, Obama, D-Ill., now has the support of 266 superdelegates, compared with Clinton's 271.5, according to the Associated Press. Payne had endorsed Clinton earlier.

Meanwhile, Clinton picked up the endorsement of Rep. Chris Carney, D-Pa., whose district went for Clinton, D-N.Y., by a two-to-one margin on April 22.

Mountain State's an uphill climb for Obama
USA Today - USA

WAYNE, W.Va. — The location of Democrat Barack Obama's just-opened headquarters here says a lot about the
challenges facing him and this community as voters prepare to go to the polls in Tuesday's primary. His office is across from the courthouse and next to a thrift shop. The torn awning over its door indicates the storefront used to be a restaurant.

Though the bell tower atop the courthouse gleams with a fresh coat of paint — the state colors of blue and gold — the rest of the town has the faded look of a community that has seen better days.

Obama moves closer to nomination
The Press Association -

6 hours ago

Four Democratic superdelegates have endorsed presidential candidate Barack Obama as he moves closer to clinching the party's presidential nomination.

The endorsements take the Illinois senator to within five delegates of rival Hillary Clinton, who has always led among the ranks of the almost 800 Democrats and party officials who will decide the party's nominee.

The movement of the superdelegates to support Mr Obama came after he made a surprise visit to the Capitol on Thursday in what many political pundits saw as a victory lap of Congress staged to position him as the party's inevitable nominee.

Tuesday's primary election contests, where Mr Obama won by 14 points in North Carolina and only narrowly lost to the former first lady in Indiana, have been widely seen as a "game-changer" in the prolonged nomination battle.

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Of Fan Clubs and Superdelegates...

Congress joins the Obama fan club
The Australian - Sydney,Australia

Geoff Elliott, Washington correspondent | May 10, 2008

OBAMANIA has swept the US Congress after Barack Obama wandered through to find politicians from both sides of the aisle congratulating him on his almost-certain presidential nomination for the Democratic Party.

As the intrigue continues over Senator Obama's lengthy battle with Hillary Clinton for the nomination, the instincts of representatives in Congress indicated Senator Obama was on his way to the main campaign, and possibly the White House.

A huge mob of journalists swamped Senator Obama for a quote during his mosey through Congress, occasionally shouting "Mr President" to win his attention.

Just 24 earlier, Senator Clinton reportedly struggled to find a party official willing to meet her in Washington.

Obama Picks Up Support of 2 More Superdelegates
Voice of America - USA

By Jim Malone Washington 09 May 2008

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama picked up more support Friday in his battle with rival Hillary Clinton for the party's presidential nomination. Both candidates campaigned in Oregon, which holds a primary on May 20. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has the latest on the U.S. presidential campaign from Washington.

Sen. Barack Obama, right, shakes hands with supporters in Beaverton, Oregon, 9 May 2008

Following his decisive victory in North Carolina on Tuesday and his narrow defeat in Indiana, Barack Obama has been shifting his focus away from Senator Clinton to the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain.

Obama took his campaign to Beaverton, Oregon, on Friday.

"We have a fundamental difference on our priorities for president," he said. "John McCain wants to continue George Bush's war in Iraq, losing thousands of lives and spending hundreds of billions of dollars to fight a war that is not making us safe. I want to end this war. I want to invest that money in America, in our roads and our bridges and our ports and our schools."

Superdelegates moving to Obama
Boston Globe - United States
Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor May 9, 2008 07:52 PM

The trickle of superdelegates moving to Barack Obama since his resounding win Tuesday in North Carolina turned into more of a torrent today, erasing Hillary Clinton's months-long lead and marking another milestone in his march to the Democratic presidential nomination.

After adding at least seven, Obama, with 270, has nearly pulled even with Clinton who has 272.5, according to the latest unofficial tally by the Associated Press. Little more than four months ago, on the eve of the primaries, she held a lead of 169 to 63.

The superdelegate count was the last measure on which Clinton led. They are the party leaders and elected officials who will almost certainly decide the nominee.

Union, 3 Superdelegates Endorse Obama
Washington Post - United States

Updated 1:56 p.m.

By Debbi Wilgoren
Sen. Barack Obama picked up an endorsement Friday morning from the union representing federal employees -- and the personal support of its president, a superdelegate to this summer's Democratic convention.

Two Democratic lawmakers also announced they would cast their votes as superdelegates for Obama, further solidifying his lead over New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the battle to become the Democratic presidential nominee.

"Senator Obama has proven he is able to energize young Americans, independents and even moderate Republicans to support his candidacy," Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) said in a statement. "I believe he represents our best hope of winning in November."

McCain hits Obama 'inexperience'ain hits Obama 'inexperience'
Baltimore Sun - United Statesby Frank James

In his interview with Bill O'Reilly on FoxNews Channel last night, Sen. John McCain, right out the box, let loose the two charges he plans to hit Sen. Barack Obama hard with, 'inexperience' and 'judgment.'

It really wasn't anything different than what McCain, the all-but-official Republican presidential nominee, has said before about Obama.

It's significance is mainly in the fact that there's no message shift; it appears fixed. Polling has shown that Obama's relative inexperience in national politics is what most troubles many voters, particularly independents.

"What's his main weakness?" O'Reilly asked.

"Inexperience. I think inexperience and a lack of judgment and a record that shows that," McCain said.

Obama in exultant return to Congress
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia

Carl Hulse and David Herszenhorn, Washington
May 10, 2008

A smiling Barack Obama came back to Washington, where he was given a warm reception by lawmakers.
Photo: Getty Images

BARACK Obama began trying to rally the Democratic Party with a celebratory return to Congress.

Even as Hillary Clinton persisted with her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, Senator Obama received an enthusiastic reception on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday in an appearance staged to position him as the party's inevitable nominee. Some Republican lawmakers were among those who elbowed past colleagues to shake his hand.

Behind the scenes, there were new discussions between Senator Obama and the party leadership. Senior Democratic officials said he met with Speaker Nancy Pelosi at Democratic Party headquarters.

Senator Obama made no public effort to pressure Senator Clinton from the race, and in interviews with CNN and NBC News he praised her as a formidable candidate who could not yet be counted out.

So now the TV pundits tell us an Obama nomination is certain.
Slate - USA
Tim Russert

About 40 hours ago, the klieg-baked TV anchors and commentators started shaking the sweat from their brows to declare that the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination was over.

Jim Rutenberg collects their election night wisdom in today's New York Times:

"We now know who the Democratic nominee's going to be, and no one's going to dispute it."
—Tim Russert on MSNBC

Edwards says Obama could beat McCain
Reuters - USA

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards on Friday declined to make an endorsement in the Democratic presidential battle, but said Barack Obama could unite the party and win in November.

In an interview on NBC's "Today" show, Edwards said Obama appears set to win the nomination. The former North Carolina senator refused to say who he voted for in his state's primary this week, won by Obama.

Edwards said both Obama and Hillary Clinton could beat Republican candidate John McCain in November.

Obama close to declaring outright victory, but Clinton's fight goes on
Independent - London,England,UK

Reuters

Mrs Clinton's campaign is desperate to recover the psychological advantage which has swung heavily towards Mr Obama

By David Usborne in New York
Friday, 9 May 2008

Amid warnings of civil war in her party, an indefatigable Hillary Clinton boarded her charter jet yesterday for back-to-back campaign appearances in no fewer than three primary states even as aides to her rival, Barack Obama, hinted quietly that he may choose to declare final victory within days.

While the US media have mostly pronounced the race for the Democratic presidential nomination effectively over, the Clinton camp is pursuing a two-pronged strategy to stay alive: challenging party rules and positing her superior electability. The candidate whose platform is called "Solutions for America" is now frantically seeking solutions for herself.

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Is Clinton out of the race? McCain adviser says Obama is being hypocritical

Beat the Press: High-flying Obama plays to win
The Associated Press -

By CHARLES BABINGTON – 16 hours ago

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Perhaps Barack Obama's competitive juices need new outlets now that he has expanded his lead over Democratic presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.

On a five-hour flight from Washington to Oregon late Thursday, the Illinois senator came to the back of his charter plane for a spirited word game against reporters, and it was clear he did not intend to lose.

In "Taboo," a player under time constraints must prompt teammates to guess words or names without using obvious hints. For instance, in giving clues for "equator," the player is penalized if he says "Earth," "center" or "line."

Obama and a half-dozen aides took on a team of journalists, mostly young TV network reporters who have traveled with him for months. The senator jumped in eagerly and often.

When his communications director Robert Gibbs gave the clue, "I've got a good," Obama called out, "vibration!"

"Shorter than that," Gibbs said.

"Vibe," Obama guessed correctly.

Why Barack Obama fears an immediate halt to Hillary Clinton's campaign
Los Angeles Times - CA,USA

"The Democratic race now moves to West Virginia," Jay Leno noted during his monologue Thursday night on "The Tonight Show." "Today, Hillary Clinton claimed she always wanted to be a coal miner. But those dreams were dashed when she was forced to attend Wellesley and Yale."

The political focus now does, indeed, shift to the Mountaineer State for its primary there next Tuesday. And then Kentucky and Oregon and Puerto Rico down to the very end in Montana on June 3 when springtime there is just weeks away.

McCain adviser says Obama is being hypocritical
USA Today - USA
The campaign day was near it close Thursday when Democratic contender Barack Obama said on CNN's Situation Room that presumptive Republican nominee John McCain was "losing his bearings." Obama's complaint: McCain had said several times that Hamas wants Obama to win in November. Obama said that was a "smear."

Obama vows to seat Fla. delegates
Baltimore Sun - United States

Sen. Barack Obama walks through the Dirksen Senate office building with his security detail at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

by Bill Gibson

Barack Obama promised a group of uncommitted superdelegates today that he would seat Florida's delegation at the Democratic National Convention this summer.

``He assured us that Florida delegates will be at the convention and they'll have their party hats on,'' reported South Florida Congressman Tim Mahoney, one of the uncommitted superdelegates.

This appears to be the first time Obama, the front-runner for the nomination, has made such a clear, definite promise. Hillary Clinton, his rival for the nomination, has made the pledge several times.

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Will Clinton take the Obama's offer of the VP spot? How important is Hamas to the nomination?

Obama makes clearest hint that Clinton could be running mate
guardian.co.uk - UK

Hillary Clinton at a fundraiser in Washington, DC. Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP

Barack Obama yesterday gave the clearest hint yet that he may consider Hillary Clinton as his vice-presidential running mate in the November election for the White House. With the campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination close to finished as a contest, Obama began looking beyond his battles with Clinton to the one with the Republican John McCain.

Victory In Two Weeks, Obama Says
National Post - Toronto,Ontario,Canada

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama predicted yesterday he could wrap up the Democratic presidential nomination within two weeks, potentially ending an exhausting 17-month campaign that has both re-energized and deeply divided his party.

But even as the Illinois Senator exuded confidence, enjoying a jovial backslapping return to Capitol Hill, Democrats were jolted as his rival Hillary Clinton appealed for support along racial lines.

McCain, Obama trade jabs over Hamas
Boston Globe - United States
Globe Staff / May 9, 2008

Barack Obama and John McCain have pledged a civil campaign, but a war of words erupted yesterday over McCain's suggestion that the terrorist group Hamas prefers Obama for president.

Obama, taking a tougher line with the presumptive Republican nominee, said McCain was trying to smear him and was "losing his bearings."

"This is offensive and I think it's disappointing, because John McCain always says, 'Well, I'm not going to run that kind of politics,' " Obama said in an interview yesterday with CNN.

"For him to toss out comments like that I think is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination," the Democratic front-runner added.

Obama picks up another Washington superdelegate
Seattle Post Intelligencer - USA

By GREGORY ROBERTS
P-I REPORTER

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen of Lake Stevens added his name Thursday to the growing list of Democratic superdelegates endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for the party's presidential nomination.

"I believe that Senator Obama is frankly the best candidate to turn our country's hopes for a better future into reality," Larsen said. "This week, Senator Obama has proven he is tough and resilient. He has shown he can take a pounding but come back and deliver to the public his message of hope and change."

McCain earnings trail Obama, Clinton
USA Today - USA

By Matt Kelley and David Jackson, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential hopeful John McCain reported earning $405,409 last year and paid $118,660 in taxes, according to tax returns released Friday that did not include many details of his wife's wealth.

The presumptive GOP nominee also reported income of $358,414 in 2006 and $96,933 in taxes paid.

McCain's reported total includes some income earned by his wife, Cindy, heiress to one of the nation's largest beer distributorships. She keeps many of her finances separate from her husband, an Arizona senator.

On his own, McCain earned $361,373 last year and $264,169 in 2006. McCain's earnings over the last two years are far less than what Democratic rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama reported.

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