Bring the Heat, HRC!
I don't understand why everyone is saying that HRC has to back out of the race graciously if she doesn't win by large margins tomorrow, at least in OH (which would be great propulsion to PA in early April), and preferably also in TX and RI or VT. I think the argument that the Democratic party is divided because we have 2 strong candidates is a farce. The party is only divided on the issue of delegates vs. superdelegates (and I hope everyone remembers this discourse after November and actually do something to reform the party's primary electoral process).
Outside of the delegate controversy, I think the discourse between Obama and HRC is great. The arguments they are throwing at each other are the exact same ones McCain is going to throw in the fall, so this primary season is batting practice, and the more time you have in the cage, the better chance you'll knock it out the park when it really counts. They both could use the time now to revise their platorms and rhetoric before the general election campaigning starts and the media will be a lot less forgiving. Remember the growth and learning that Obama had to do between the CNN YouTube debates and the most recent debate on MSNBC last week? He is a completely different candidate, much more presidential, and much better prepared to meet McCain on even ground come this summer/fall and the presidential debates. Look at HRC; her campaign is flailing on the message of experience, and if she has a hope of beating McCain in the fall, she'd better find a new voice to her campaign to beat Obama NOW, because McCain will clobber her if she tries to push her 'experience' agenda in a general election. Both of them today are better candidates and better able to compete with McCain than they individually were 6 months ago, and it's because of their banter with each other. The longer they go, I think, the better the candidate that comes out at the end will be against McCain.
When, on average, 70-80% of democrats polled are saying they're happy with either candidate, I think the argument that the party is divided is a complete falsehood and ridiculous. If any party is divided, it's the Republican party - because when you're divided on a candidate, you DON'T VOTE - which is what's been happening, and they've had much lower voter turnouts than the Democratic party. Democrats - don't be afraid of a little discourse and banter; the candidates are getting a chance now to stretch their arms, so to speak, and figure out what works and what doesn't work in a much safer environment than the general election will turn out to be.
Outside of the delegate controversy, I think the discourse between Obama and HRC is great. The arguments they are throwing at each other are the exact same ones McCain is going to throw in the fall, so this primary season is batting practice, and the more time you have in the cage, the better chance you'll knock it out the park when it really counts. They both could use the time now to revise their platorms and rhetoric before the general election campaigning starts and the media will be a lot less forgiving. Remember the growth and learning that Obama had to do between the CNN YouTube debates and the most recent debate on MSNBC last week? He is a completely different candidate, much more presidential, and much better prepared to meet McCain on even ground come this summer/fall and the presidential debates. Look at HRC; her campaign is flailing on the message of experience, and if she has a hope of beating McCain in the fall, she'd better find a new voice to her campaign to beat Obama NOW, because McCain will clobber her if she tries to push her 'experience' agenda in a general election. Both of them today are better candidates and better able to compete with McCain than they individually were 6 months ago, and it's because of their banter with each other. The longer they go, I think, the better the candidate that comes out at the end will be against McCain.
When, on average, 70-80% of democrats polled are saying they're happy with either candidate, I think the argument that the party is divided is a complete falsehood and ridiculous. If any party is divided, it's the Republican party - because when you're divided on a candidate, you DON'T VOTE - which is what's been happening, and they've had much lower voter turnouts than the Democratic party. Democrats - don't be afraid of a little discourse and banter; the candidates are getting a chance now to stretch their arms, so to speak, and figure out what works and what doesn't work in a much safer environment than the general election will turn out to be.