Obama Memo: 17 Pledged Delegates Away From Winning Primaries
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In a sign that they are likely to declare victory in the presidential primary very soon, the Obama campaign is now boasting in a memo to reporters that they are on the cusp of winning the pledged-delegate majority, thanks to the endorsement from John Edwards and a group of his delegates.
By the Obama campaign’s math, they are only 17 elected delegates away from the pledged-del majority, a number that they are guaranteed to pull off next week in Oregon and Kentucky. Expect them to court super-delegates to break their way en masse after that happens, on the basis that Obama has the popular mandate to be the nominee.
Even more important for Democratic chances in November, Obama has defeated Clinton in 28 states with a total of 217 electoral votes. Clinton has won a mere 17 states with only 256 electoral votes. This excludes Michigan & Florida, since the Democratic Party rules require they get only half their delegates; hence they are irrelevant.
Actually, the goal is to get more than half the total delegates at the convention. The electoral vote thing is as irrelevant as the lead in pledged delegates. Since unpledged delegates can change their mind until the convention vote is held, we won’t know the answer until the convention actually votes. People earning a living as news commentators don’t want us to know that we can turn off the TV until then, so they speak as though we might have the answer sooner. But we won’t, that’s how the process works this year.
I’ve been wondering whether Obama supporters will ask that the Belmont Stakes be called off. Since Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the racing triple crown is essentially over, and the other horses should withdraw for everyone’s benefit.