By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only.

Donna Brazile has been the most divisive and destructive force in the Democratic Party this year. She engineered the Florida/Michigan fiasco, threatened to bolt the Party if the super delegates did not do her bidding and now has taken to publicly smearing the Clinton campaign:

Despite Obama's impressive victories in February, Clinton's comeback is based on sowing political seeds of doubt," said Donna Brazile, a Democratic strategist and one of nearly 800 party leaders known as superdelegates for their ability to determine the nomination. "In order to clinch the nomination, he must anticipate the worst attacks ever."

. . . "If these attacks are contrasts based on policy differences, there is no need to stop the race or halt the debate," Brazile said. "But, if this is more division, more diversion from the issues and more of the same politics of personal destruction, chairman Dean and other should be on standby."

(Emphasis supplied.)

By Big Tent Democrat

(speaking for me only)

People genuinely concerned with the will of the people regarding the Democratic Presidential nomination contest should be focusing on the popular vote. Here is a very flawed count (incl. FL and MI, WA primary not incl., 3 caucus states not incl.) from Real Clear Politics:

Clinton 13,563,192
Obama 13,522,829

The inclusion of Michigan is problematic as Obama was not on the ballot. Florida is problematic because campaigning was not allowed. Not including Washington state is problematic because there is no reason not to include it. 3 caucus states have not released their vote counts. Some of these problems can be resolved. Michigan and Florida should have a revote. Those caucus states can release their vote counts. The Washington state primary results can be included.

The bottom line is it is really close. The will of the people is undetermined as of yet.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only.

I have said that after last night, I believe it is a virtual certainty that the ticket will be Obama-Clinton or Clinton-Obama. Jeralyn disagrees with me. Hillary Clinton provides some evidence to my surmise:

Asked on CBS's "The Early Show" whether she and Obama should be on the same ticket, Clinton said "[t]hat may be where this is headed, but of course we have to decide who is on the top of ticket. I think the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me."

That is exactly where we are headed.

By Big Tent Democrat

This morning I watched the appearances of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on the Today Show. While there is much to remark upon about these appearances, I was most struck by the statements made by both candidates that they will agree to a revote in Florida and Michigan.

Clinton of course was emphatic that Florida and Michigan had to be seated. She must know that they will not be seated solely based on the January results that strongly favored her. Some type of revote will be necessary. Her position seemed like bargaining posturing to me. But she did accept the idea of a solution to seating the Florida and Michigan delegations that includes a revote.

Obama expressed no concern at all about seating the Michigan and Florida delegations instead saying he has abided by the rules and that he will abide by any ruling of the DNC, including the ordering of a revote.

There you have it. It is now up to Howard Dean and the DNC to fix the mess they have made. The two candidates have expressly accepted a revote concept. Now Howard Dean and Donna Brazile need to get it done. Again, if they need ideas, my solution is here.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only.

So where are we now? Here's my take - we have two candidates who have strengths and weaknesses. Unlike a lot of people, I am not that enamored of either candidate but I feel confident that both believe in progressive Democratic values. I have always wished both would be more overtly fighting for Democratic values and against Republican values, but I have made my views known that I have found Barack Obama's approach on that quite wanting.

There are some realities that the Super Delegates should consider when deciding which nominee to throw their support behind. The first is that Hillary Clinton, while a fine Democrat, is and will be subjected to unfair Media coverage. Period. Nothing will change that. Barack Obama has been a Media Darling and is certain to get better Media coverage. This matters. I wish it did not, but it does.

More . . .

Check out the location.

Open thread, your turn.

Only 5% in, with Obama at 56% and Hillary 44%.

I'm just looking for Hillary to win the popular vote. That will give her superdelegates a reason to stay with her.

If Obama loses Texas and Ohio, in the popular vote, many Democrats will begin to question whether he can win the big states, especially Ohio, to beat John McCain.

I'm not that interested in the caucuses. I think it's very likely the superdelegates will be deciding this race. Ill be updating this primary vote thread, but here's a place for you to comment on them.

Update: Just heard from a reader who I wrote about this morning. Hillary won his caucus, his report is below:

By Big Tent Democrat

Hillary Wins Texas says CNN and NBC.

Listen to the whining from NBC.

BTW, you are hearing a lot about Florida and Michigan again. Told you so.

Oh and there is no doubt now that the ticket will be Obama-Clinton or Clinton-Obama.

Update (TL): Congratulations, Hillary. And I'm not convinced the ticket will be Hillary-Obama or vice-versa.

Comments over 200, this thread is now closed. New ones are up.

Big Tent Democrat

Hillary Wins Texas says CNN.

Clinton is stretching her lead, up 70,000 with 75% in.

Texas is close. And Hillary has the Latino vote to thanks for that. In El Paso, Hillary is winning by 70-30 with 12% of the returns in. In Webb County, she is winning 77-21, with the votes just started.

We'll keep watching this race until it is called.

On an another note, the delegate race looks promising for Hillary tonight. After Gloria Borger said that Vermont (which divided 9-6 for Obama) would provide the largest delegate margin, CNN currently projects Ohio to provide Hillary a 46-24 delegate advantage with many to be decided. In Rhode Island splits 5-1 currently for Hillary with 15 to be decided. Texas remains to be seen. So far tonight, Hillary has gained 23 delegates with many still to be decided. [More...]

Obama is in San Antonio, a city he didn't win. I wonder why he picked it to spend tonight.

He says we may not know the Texas results until tomorrow. He congratulates Hillary on Rhode Island and says while there are a lot of votes out in Ohio, she "apparently" won there.

We have the same delegate lead we had this morning and we are on our way to winning the nomination. "Si se puede."

Decades ago as a community organizer........ (again?) Talks about youth, a reason to believe, inspire the nation to come together, we are turning the page, we are ready to write the next chapter.

More...

Update: Hillary wins Texas. New thread here. This one is closing.

Update: It's now 66% and Hillary has a 55,000 vote lead.

Update: 55% of vote is in, Hillary leads by 55,000 votes.

Okay, it's down to Texas. 50% of the primary vote is in, and Hillary is ahead. She leads by 30,000 votes.

Hillary has swept through rural Texas. Obama has Dallas and Houston, but she has San Antonio by 12%. She'll also take El Paso and the South.

CNN projects Ohio for Hillary!

Hillary's on her way to speak to supporters, the networks will cover it.

Update: Live blogging her victory speech: Hillary is jubilant. She looks fabulous in red. The song playing: Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising." She's smiling from ear to ear. "As Ohio goes, so does the nation."

"This nations coming back and so is this campaign."

"No one has won the White House in recent memory without winning the Ohio primary."

She lists all the states she has won. "Americans don't deserve more speeches, they deserve solutions and they deserve them now."

"We're ready for health care for every American." She does a recap of the 3 am call... "There's no time for speeches or on the job training." She looks forward to debating John McCain. [More...]