Barack Obama thought he was being funny with his comment about Hillary Clinton acting like Annie Oakley.

Here's the new Rasmussen poll, finding Hillary ahead by 9 in PA. (Questions and Numbers here.) Check this out:

Among voters from households where someone owns a gun, Clinton leads by seventeen points.

As to whether Bitter-Gate had an effect, draw your own conclusions from these numbers about religion and immigration, both mentioned in Obama's now infamous remark:

Clinton leads among voters who say faith and religion are Somewhat or Very Important. Obama leads among those who say such topics are Not Very Important or Not at All Important.

...Sixty percent (60%) of Likely Democratic Primary voters in Pennsylvania say that it is Very Important for the government to enforce the borders and reduce illegal immigration. Among these voters, Clinton leads by sixteen. [More...]

By Big Tent Democrat

The new SUSA PA poll is out:

54 percent would vote for Clinton and 40 percent would vote for Obama. Three percent chose the "other" category. The 1,600 interviewees were questioned for the poll Saturday through Monday.

SUSA's site does not have the internals. I will add to this post as soon as we get them. We have now seen the SUSA Internals. Obama has solidified his African American support, just as we suspected. He trails by 2-1 with whites.

Barack Obama launched a new ad attacking Hillary Clinton for taking lobbyist money. I think it is flat out deceptive.

Obama relies on lobbyists. His campaign spokesman called his refusal to take money from lobbyists "symbolic" and acknolwedged "it doesn’t solve the problem of money in politics."

Obama has a network of lobbyists supporting him:

While Obama has decried the influence of special interests in Washington, the reality is that many of the most talented and experienced political operatives in his party are lobbyists, and he needs their help.

Mike Williams, the director of government relations at Credit Suisse Securities, said of the network of lobbyists supporting Obama: “I would imagine that it’s as large as the Clinton list,” in reference to rival presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), who is an entrenched favorite of the Washington Democratic establishment.

He said that while lobbyists cannot give money to Obama, they can give “policy” and “campaign support.” Indeed, K Street denizens have rare policy and national campaign expertise. Williams is actively building support for Obama among lobbyists and the corporate clients they represent.

Among the lobbyists helping Obama: [More...]

By Big Tent Democrat

The Q poll is out and "shockingly," the pollster matches his punditry, Clinton by 6. Also Ras doubles Hillary lead, to 9.

On the flip, our usual poll analysis.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Associated Press yesterday, Barack Obama offered up yet another expression of regret for his "bitter" remarks but again didn't apologize for them.

As I said yesterday, I regret some of the words I chose, partly because the way that these remarks have been interpreted have offended some people and partly because they've served as one more distraction from the critical debate that we must have in this election.

In other words, he doesn't accept the words offended some people, only that the way people interpreted them may have been offensive. And, he dismisses them as a "distraction."

He also repeated his life story: [More...]

In the grand scheme of things, I find this funnier than I do problematic, but hey, it's election season. Cindy McCain has been outed for using Food Network recipes on John McCain's website and passing them off as "McCain Family Recipes."

• Ahi Tuna with Napa Cabbage Salad (pdf) (I recommend adding a teaspoon or two of garlic chili sauce to the recipe so it's a real chili lime sauce)

• Passion Fruit Mousse (pdf)

• Farfelle Pasta with Turkey Sausage, Peas and Mushrooms (pdf).

Philadelphia Democrats held their Jefferson Jackson Dinner tonight. Both Hillary and Obama spoke separately.

Hillary rose above Bitter-Gate, never mentioning it, and included Obama in her praise:

"Neither Senator Obama nor myself could have dreamed we would be right here asking you for your votes," Clinton said, praising the pioneers of the civil rights and women's rights movements. "We are the beneficiaries of the work and sacrifice that so many of you and countless Americans have done over so many generations."

Obama went on the attack: [More...]

Earlier, Big Tent Democrat wrote about the SUSA Indiana poll taken 4/11 to 4/13. Some additional notes (Full Poll Results here):

Of the 1,600 polled, only 571 were likely Democratic voters. Of those who identified themselves as Democrats.

Among the Democrats, 60% preferred Clinton to 37% who preferred Obama. Among Republicans, it was almost the reverse.

Among the age groups, Hillary had the 18 to 34 group by 49%, Obama was at 43%. As to the African American vote, Hillary had 23% to Obama's 72%.

By Big Tent Democrat

PPP has Obama up 20. Civitas has Obama up 18. The funny thing is these polls confirm what we have seen in the recent PA, IN, KY and WV polls, and in Ohio - demography is political destiny.

For example, in the PPP poll, Clinton leads among whites 51-35 and Obama leads among African Americans 90-10 (Interestingly, I think the Civitas poll seems much more favorable to Clinton as the undecided number is much higher for whites in that poll. To wit, it is probably a lot closer than 18.) Expected turnout in NC? 65% white, 35% A-A. Obama can lose whites 3-2 in NC and still win the state. In Indiana, Obama gets 35% of the white vote too. Problem is 90% of the electorate will be white in Indiana.

Obama on the campaign trail today:

“Around election time, the candidates can’t do enough. They'll promise you anything, give you a long list of proposals and even come around, with TV crews in tow, to throw back a shot and a beer,” Obama said, stirring laughter from an audience of steelworkers and steel industry executives.

First he mocks her as Annie Oakley, now he goes after her having a drink on a Saturday night (video here) -- something she's done with reporters in tow before.

Hillary hits back:

“With all due respect, this is the same politician who spent six days posing for clichéd camera shots that included bowling gutterballs, walking around a sports bar, feeding a baby cow, and buying a ham at the Philly market (albeit one that cost $99.99 a pound). Sen. Obama's speeches won’t hide his condescending views of Americans living in small towns," Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said in the statement.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

This is offensive:

Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) on Obama: "I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button. He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country."

Davis apologizes.

By Big Tent Democrat

The new world's greatest pollster, SUSA, releases a new Indiana poll:

[T]hree weeks until the [Indiana] primary, Hillary Clinton defeats Barack Obama 55% to 39% . . . Clinton had led by 9 at the beginning of April, leads by 16 mid-month. Here's where the movement is occurring: Among men, Obama had trailed by 2, now trails by 12, a 10-point swing to Clinton. . . . Among Democrats, Obama had trailed by 12, now trails by 27, a 15-point swing to Clinton.