No matter what it is, the Fat Lady sang it last night, putting a bow on the national Primary Election Season. From Anchorage to Zebulon; from Honolulu to Hatteras Isle, after six months, we have reached the end of stage 1, and the onset of an historic American Presidential Election.
As the primaries end, the Country is set to elect, either the oldest president ever, McCain would be 71, or the first black, in Obama. It had been clear for months the first female or the first black nominee for a major political party would emerge from the Democratic Party’s primary process. Not to be left out the firsts’ Sweepstakes, Republicans field, in their candidate, the oldest candidate to ever be elected president, were he to win.
The three Finalists each took advantage of their last opportunity until the Conventions to spend 30 minutes of uninterrupted time speaking directly into the nation’s living rooms. Senator McCain kicked it off. Since he was without opposition, the networks scheduled him first. He outlined his message of national security, and painted Senator Obama as the owner of the most liberal voting record in the Senate.
Senator Clinton followed with her own victory speech, reminding her audience of the 18 million voters who supported her, and pledging to work to see that their concerns are heard, and they are respected. She committed to take the next several days to decide what her role should be. Earlier in the day, apparently in a truly generous mood, she indicated she would be open to considering serving as Senator Obama’s vice president.
Finally, Obama held down the anchor leg last night. In a speech in which he deflected his pivotal role in the heroic events of the evening, he thanked his family and staff, praised Senator Clinton effusively for several minutes, laid out the fundamental differences between John McCain and himself, and then proclaimed “This is Our Time!” He did his part to extend an Olive Branch to Senator Clinton and her supporters, while he simultaneously increased the focus and intensity on the race with Senator McCain for the White House.
As the CNN analysts synthesized the speeches, much of the time was spent assessing Senator Clinton’s speech, and it’s meaning and comparing it with the tone and texture of Senator Obama’s speech. Senator Clinton’s speech was frequently described as defiant, and clearly not relenting or conceding. Alternately, Senator Obama’s speech was characterized as respectful of Senator Clinton, healing for the Democratic Party, and taking the fight to Senator McCain. In contrast to both Democrats, Senator McCain’s speech was painted as distancing himself from president Bush, while underscoring his position on national security in general and the war in Iraq specifically.
As has been the case for much of the campaign season to date, more time and emphasis was placed on the Democrats than the Republicans. The contested nature of the race insured that distinction would continue last night. The next big question is what will become of Senator Clinton?
Does she really want to become Vice President? Does she have another post or position in mind? Is her true desire to obtain and exercise major influence as Obama’s positions on policy are conceived and developed? Moreover, how long will it take before all this is clear? Will she buy-in and support the winning team, as many of her supporters have suggested she would do, if she did not prevail? Or will she use feedback she solicited from her legion of supporters to justify carrying the fight to the Convention in Denver in August?
As you can see, there are still a number of key issues to resolve before the Democrats achieve an all’s clear, and a smooth sailing prediction. How do you think the answers to these questions will play out?
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday.
2,118 needed
A.P. Delegate Projections »
Delegates:
Won to date
Super-delegates
Total
Barack Obama
1,765
388
2,153
Hillary Rodham Clinton
1,633
282
1,915
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/03/election.democrats/index.htmlAs the primaries end, the Country is set to elect, either the oldest president ever, McCain would be 71, or the first black, in Obama. It had been clear for months the first female or the first black nominee for a major political party would emerge from the Democratic Party’s primary process. Not to be left out the firsts’ Sweepstakes, Republicans field, in their candidate, the oldest candidate to ever be elected president, were he to win.
The three Finalists each took advantage of their last opportunity until the Conventions to spend 30 minutes of uninterrupted time speaking directly into the nation’s living rooms. Senator McCain kicked it off. Since he was without opposition, the networks scheduled him first. He outlined his message of national security, and painted Senator Obama as the owner of the most liberal voting record in the Senate.
Senator Clinton followed with her own victory speech, reminding her audience of the 18 million voters who supported her, and pledging to work to see that their concerns are heard, and they are respected. She committed to take the next several days to decide what her role should be. Earlier in the day, apparently in a truly generous mood, she indicated she would be open to considering serving as Senator Obama’s vice president.
Finally, Obama held down the anchor leg last night. In a speech in which he deflected his pivotal role in the heroic events of the evening, he thanked his family and staff, praised Senator Clinton effusively for several minutes, laid out the fundamental differences between John McCain and himself, and then proclaimed “This is Our Time!” He did his part to extend an Olive Branch to Senator Clinton and her supporters, while he simultaneously increased the focus and intensity on the race with Senator McCain for the White House.
As the CNN analysts synthesized the speeches, much of the time was spent assessing Senator Clinton’s speech, and it’s meaning and comparing it with the tone and texture of Senator Obama’s speech. Senator Clinton’s speech was frequently described as defiant, and clearly not relenting or conceding. Alternately, Senator Obama’s speech was characterized as respectful of Senator Clinton, healing for the Democratic Party, and taking the fight to Senator McCain. In contrast to both Democrats, Senator McCain’s speech was painted as distancing himself from president Bush, while underscoring his position on national security in general and the war in Iraq specifically.
As has been the case for much of the campaign season to date, more time and emphasis was placed on the Democrats than the Republicans. The contested nature of the race insured that distinction would continue last night. The next big question is what will become of Senator Clinton?
Does she really want to become Vice President? Does she have another post or position in mind? Is her true desire to obtain and exercise major influence as Obama’s positions on policy are conceived and developed? Moreover, how long will it take before all this is clear? Will she buy-in and support the winning team, as many of her supporters have suggested she would do, if she did not prevail? Or will she use feedback she solicited from her legion of supporters to justify carrying the fight to the Convention in Denver in August?
As you can see, there are still a number of key issues to resolve before the Democrats achieve an all’s clear, and a smooth sailing prediction. How do you think the answers to these questions will play out?
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday.
2,118 needed
A.P. Delegate Projections »
Delegates:
Won to date
Super-delegates
Total
Barack Obama
1,765
388
2,153
Hillary Rodham Clinton
1,633
282
1,915
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4987177&page=1
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/03/politics/main4148295.shtml
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24944453/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/primary_rdp
http://www.roadrunner.com/view/content/story.cfm?storyId=5145011&view=HOME&newsgroup=9000&sSect=HOM_1
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/03/networks_obama_secures_nominat.html
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10514247
http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=9965fe76-a661-4e24-88d0-cc382d3f660f
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/19485059.html?location_refer=Homepage
http://www.nytimes.com/?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1212552989-nb0xKYJ+uBr2m6gC+varPQ
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/03/poll-obama-overtakes-mcca_n_104826.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/us/politics/03text-obama.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/us/politics/03text-clinton.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/us/politics/03text-mccain.html
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