A range of opinions on Skinny’s prospects

According to the New York Times, Bittergate (also known as Falseconsciousnessgate) has “stirred anxiety among many Democrats” about Obama’s prospects in the fall. But what about his prospects for the nomination? Political observer Charlie Cook writes that “short of a Rev. Jeremiah Wright-level embarrassment visiting Obama each week for four or five more consecutive weeks, this thing is over.” Taking a very different view, G. Terry Madonna and Michael Young at Real Clear Politics tell the stories of several past candidates in Pennsylvania elections whose candidacies were undone late in the campaign by foot-in-mouth disease, and conclude that as a result of Obama’s condescending remarks, “[h]e has probably assured that the nomination race will now go on well past Pennsylvania—to an ultimate fate that few if any can predict.”

Meanwhile, John Judis at The New Republic, after discussing how Obama’s remarks have badly hurt his prospects in the industrial heartland states that he must win to win the presidency, writes:

There is even a slight chance that Obama’s words in San Francisco could cost him the nomination. Obama is almost certain to have more elected delegates in June than Hillary Clinton, but if he loses Pennsylvania by 15 percentage points (which is not out of the question), that could start a media firestorm around his candidacy that could contribute to other primary defeats and to superdelegate support for Clinton. It’s not likely to happen, but after Obama spoke his mind, and, perhaps, lost small-town voters’ hearts, in San Francisco, it has suddenly become conceivable.

By the way, how’s Michelle Obama doin’? We know that in her view the only time Americans are non-fearful, non-cynical, non-isolated, good, and pride-worthy people is when they are supporting her hubby for the presidency. Given the blanket criticism he has come under for his San Francisco remark, a remark, moreover, in which he said exactly what Michelle has been openly saying all along (namely that that only reason that people don’t vote for him is that they’re fearful, hung-up, and racist), she must be in a white-hot rage at America right now. I wonder if the campaign even allows cameras at her events.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at April 17, 2008 05:31 PM | Send