A New Wave

Clinton's Letter To Supporters

I received this letter from Hillary Clinton in my email box (early this a.m.):

More...

UPDATE II: Clinton Will Suspend Campaign On Saturday - CNN

UPDATE II: (after the jump)

I haven't seen this widely reported anywhere but ABC (and Reuters) sites. CNN ended "Situation Room" segment with the story displayed as "Breaking News."

Here's the article and the link:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New York Sen. Hillary Clinton will drop out of the presidential race on Friday and cede the Democratic nomination to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, ABC News reported on Wednesday, without citing any sources.

I'm a little suspicious about this because of AP's sneaky trick yesterday (releasing a story saying  WRONGLY that Clinton would concede the nomination last night in her speech).

UPDATE I:

From CNN's Campbell Brown, Clinton will suspend her campaign. She will not release her delegates. Leverage... She is planning a birthday party for her mother in NYC tonight.

A couple of thoughts:

First, let's take a DEEP breath and think this through. We will have details soon enough, one way or the other. Clinton will release items prior to Friday, especially to those close to her campaign. We'll check in with Taylor Marsh and others later to see if Taylor's privy to anything.

Second, if she does quit, we could all go into speculation mode. But I think that is unwise until we have additional details. Then we can speculate and weigh options, actions, if any.

Third, as a proud supporter of Hillary Clinton I've said from the beginning of her campaign that I'm with her on this journey. I have also said (here) and to her that whatever she decides I am with her. This is HER decision - not the media's, not the boys' club, not the Obama blogs, not ours. There will be time in the next day or two to assess what this might mean and to deal with immediate and (possible) short- and long-term fallout from the decision.

I was stunned to turn on my television to see the "Breaking News" banner at the bottom of my screen (CNN), but the media and Obama's supporters have also been after her like coyotes on a carcass the last 24 hours and I knew last night that the pressure was going to be intense (and had, in fact, already begun).

UPDATE II:

It now appears that Clinton will officially "suspend" her campaign on Saturday, according to CNN:

[snip]

The Clinton campaign said she will make the announcement at "an event in Washington, D.C.," where she will also thank her supporters.

[snip]

A day after the final two primaries in South Dakota and Montana, Johnson sent a letter to House Majority Whip James Clyburn to lobby the Congressional Black Caucus to endorse Clinton as Obama's running mate.

Saying Clinton would "entertain the idea if it's offered," Johnson said, "This is Sen. Obama's decision. If the Congress members can come together and agree as I do that it would be in the best interest of the party to have Sen. Clinton on the ticket, they carry that petition to Sen. Obama."

"This is not a pressure. This is elected officials giving their best judgment," said Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television.

Johnson's letter to Clyburn says, "You know as well as I the deep affection that millions of African-Americans hold for both Senator Clinton and President Clinton."

It continues, "But most important, we need to have the certainty of winning; and, I believe, without question, that Barack Obama as president and Hillary Clinton as vice president bring that certainty to the ticket."

[snip]

Seems like an appropriate time for a Bette Davis analogy. How about this one from "All About Eve"?

"Fasten your seatbelt; it's going to be a bumpy night."

Better yet, here's the real deal. Enjoy!

Read into this well-known and oft-repeated scene anything.you.like and share your thoughts!

A Tribute To Hillary Clinton & Her Supporters

This thread is a tribute:

First and foremost: To Hillary - a terrific woman, feminist, Senator from New York, leader, mother, wife,  role-model, and 2008 Democratic Presidential candidate. We already know you're the best! But we also want you to know that when you showed the world your "true colors" we felt comfortable and safe in showing our true colors, too. It makes us stronger as human beings and more beautiful in our unique and complex individualities.

Thank you, Hillary!

Second: To all of Hillary's supporters - who worked our hearts out phone-banking, knocking on doors, blogging, broadcasting (Taylor Marsh), fundraising, talking, debating, stuffing enveloped, distributing flyers, letter-writing, yelling at MSNBC "pundits", and every other action we have taken on behalf of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

(BELOW THE JUMP)

Finally: In honor of Gay Pride Week (which I noted in an earlier blog, but which got screwed-up when it was published):

HILLARY, STANDING UP FOR ALL AMERICANS STILL...

As we begin Gay Pride Month, I join the LGBT community in celebrating an historic year in which our country continues to make progress towards the fair and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Still, we have so much work to do. I look forward to working with the LGBT community to make sure that all Americans in committed relationships have equal benefits and that nothing stands in the way of loving couples who want to adopt children in need. We need to expand our federal hate crimes legislation and pass a fully-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. And finally, we need to put an end to the failed policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice - the traits that define our men and women in uniform - have nothing to do with sexual orientation.

Hillary - You Showed Us Your 'True Colors' "Like A Rainbow...

Share your thoughts about Hillary, the campaign, her decision to "suspend" her campaign, your personal stories. ONE RULE: No trolls, no foul language, no sexist or racist crap of any kind! I will be moderating...

A [Media] Afterthought

Lest anybody forget the other part of tonight's story, there were actually two primaries that occurred. You might have heard about them a few days ago (maybe as recently as Sunday, or yesterday). But they certainly got blown off by most of the media tonight (CNN being the exception). I guess in the rush to crown Barack Obama as the Democratic Party nominee (see my earlier post), superdelegates forgot their obligation to let the voters speak and the media forgot (oh, hell, why don't we just say it?) abandoned journalistic integrity in favor of "thrills".

The Dream Not Realized Tonight

Okay, I admit it. I cried tonight (after crying on and off all afternoon). Big Tent Democrat understands why:

[SNIP]

Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee for President. Yes, this is historic - an African American will be our nominee. It is something for our Party to be proud of. But a different dream will die tonight, and I would hope Obama and his supporters will be sensitive to it. The chance of a woman being our Presidential nominee in this election will die tonight. For many women, this is a hard night because of it.

- MORE AFTER THE FLIP -

Lots Of News Tonight

Superdelegates Push Barack Obama Over The Top

They dripped, then drizzled, then flowed in Barack Obama's direction Tuesday. And even before the votes were counted in Montana and South Dakota, SDs gave Barack Obama the nomination. His "over-the-top" moment (2,118 delegates to "clinch") came at 9 p.m. EDT:

Sen. Barack Obama has clinched the Democratic presidential nomination, CNN projects as polls in the South Dakota primary closed at 9 p.m. ET.

So much for his campaign's early - and frequent - protests that if superdelegates were to "override" the will of voters it would be seen as an insult.

Another Argument To Superdelegates

An Updated Report

highlights and clarifies significant details about Hillary Clinton's primary state victories (vs. Barack Obama's caucus state victories). This is important information for superdelegates. Here are the highlights:

35.6 million people have voted The 37 primary states account for 97% of the vote. The 13 caucus states account for 3% of the vote. Bottom line: Clinton’s lead is from 34.5 million voters (97%) in Primaries. Obama’s lead is from 1.1 million voters (3%) in caucuses. [More...]

Out of the 50 state elections so far, Clinton has won 20 primaries and Obama has won 17. In comparison, Obama has dominated the Caucus contests by winning 12 of 13, plus the Texas caucus. 42% of his (Obama) wins are caucus states.

...After 50 election contests to date, Obama leads Clinton by 113 pledged delegates. 97.4% of the difference – 110 delegates – is directly attributable to lopsided victories in caucus contests.

New Polls Show Clinton Closing Gap In MT & SD

Two new polls from American Research Group (ARG) show that Hillary is not only closing the gap (MT), she has a comfortable lead in South Dakota:

DETAILS:

In Montana, Hillary has significantly cut into Obama's lead. She now trails him by just 4 points, 48-44; and in South Dakota, Clinton leads by a whopping 26 points, with 6 percent undecided.

I was one of several volunteers who joined President Bill Clinton today on a conference call. The former president is in South Dakota. He said this about the continued excitement and interest in Hillary's campaign:

"It feels good; we're getting big crowds. People are still undecided; they're still moving. These calls are indispensible, so let's bring it home and finish high tomorrow night."

New Items & Lobby SDs

Clinton Accepts Puerto Rico Win; Speaks To Superdelegates:

[snip]

...“So, when the voting concludes on Tuesday, neither Sen. Obama nor I will have the number of delegates to be the nominee. I will lead the popular vote, he will maintain a slight lead in the delegate count. The decision will fall on the shoulders of those leaders in our party, empowered by the rules, to vote at the Democratic convention."

Hillary Routs Obama In Puerto Rico

Hillary Clinton won more than a numerical victory today in Puerto Rico: she routed Obama, beating him in every income category, every age group, every education group, and among both men and women:

(CNN) — It was a clean sweep for Hillary Clinton in Puerto Rico in every demographic group, even those groups that are usually firmly in Barack Obama's camp.

[snip]

But in the Puerto Rico primary, Clinton won 70 percent of the male vote, 65 percent of voters under 30, 70 percent of voters who attended college, and 66 percent of voters with an income of over $50,000.

[snip]

She won 70 percent of female voters, 77 percent of those over 65, 69 percent who did not attend college, and 71 percent of voters with an income of $15,000 or less.

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