April 30, 2008

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Obama’s Secret Deals for Superdelegates

Bob

obama1 Washington insiders say that Barack Obama has been secretly collecting Superdelegates in numbers that far outstrip those committed to the Clinton’s.  In fact, common wisdom indicates that the battle is really over.

Would somebody PLEASE tell Hillary and Billy?

Obama backer predicts victory in Hill war

By AMIE PARNES & JOSEPHINE HEARN
4/30/08 4:31 AM EST

Capitol Hill insiders say the battle for congressional superdelegates is over, and one Senate supporter of Barack Obama is hinting strongly that he has prevailed over Hillary Rodham Clinton.

While more than 80 Democrats in the House and Senate have yet to state their preferences in the race for the Democratic nomination, sources said Tuesday that most of them have already made up their minds and have told the campaigns where they stand.

“The majority of superdelegates I’ve talked to are committed, but it is a matter of timing,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). “They’re just preferring to make their decision public after the primaries are over. … They would like someone else to act for them before they talk about it in the cold light of day.”

Obama currently holds an 18-13 lead among committed superdelegates in the Senate, while Clinton holds a 77-74 lead in the House. Asked which way the committed-but-unannounced superdelegates are leaning, McCaskill — who has endorsed Obama — said: “James Brown would say, ‘I Feel Good.’”

[Thanks, Politico]

April 30, 2008

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They Said It On Late Night TV

Bob

Jay Leno:   “MSNBC is reporting that the Department of Homeland Security wants all 80 million of America’s recreational boaters to be on the lookout for terrorists in small boats trying to explode a nuclear bomb. I don’t believe it. What are we paying, $50 billion a year for homeland security? All they can come up with is three drunks on a waverunner in Lake Havasu?”

April 30, 2008

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Obama – Outraged by Former Pastor Wright

Bob

AngryObama In a long overdue move, Barack Obama has finally dumped his former pastor, the Right, Racist, Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.  Citing irreconcilable differences, Obama distanced himself by denouncing his former pastor’s appearance Monday as "a rant" both “divisive and destructive” and “giving comfort to those who prey on hate.”

Quite the show of cajones for someone who has been described as being incapable of fighting back.  After taking numerous punches from the Clinton’s and McCain, Barack showed us yesterday that he also knows how to throw a punch.

Taking Sharp Tone, Obama Breaks With Ex-Pastor

By JEFF ZELENY and ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: April 30, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Senator Barack Obama broke forcefully on Tuesday with his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., in an effort to curtail a drama of race, values, patriotism and betrayal that has enveloped his presidential candidacy at a critical juncture.

At a news conference here, Mr. Obama denounced remarks Mr. Wright made in a series of televised appearances over the last several days. In the appearances, Mr. Wright has suggested that the United States was attacked because it engaged in terrorism on other people and that the government was capable of having used the AIDS virus to commit genocide against minorities. His remarks also cast Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, in a positive light.

In tones sharply different from those Mr. Obama used on Monday, when he blamed the news media and his rivals for focusing on Mr. Wright, and far harsher than those he used in his speech on race in Philadelphia last month, Mr. Obama tried to cut all his ties to — and to discredit — Mr. Wright, the man who presided at Mr. Obama’s wedding and baptized his two daughters.

“His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate, and I believe that they do not portray accurately the perspective of the black church,” Mr. Obama said, his voice welling with anger. “They certainly don’t portray accurately my values and beliefs.”

[Thanks, NY Times]

Additional reading:

April 30, 2008

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Daily Internet Bargains 04/30/08

Bob

April 30, 2008

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RIAA Dealt Blow in Copyright Case

Bob

riaa The RIAA has contended that the simple act of making music files available to file sharing programs like KaZaA constitutes infringement. 

In fact, in this particular case, Atlantic v. Howell, Judge Neil V. Wake had originally granted the RIAA a summary judgement against the Howell’s.  This judgement was based upon the premise that intent was obvious.

The Howell’s then appealed saying that they really did not have any idea how Kazaa worked and that they intended to share only "pornography and free to the public software, e-books."  Eventually a judge overturned this original ruling and stated that the case would have to go to trial.

I am by no means a student of the law, but isn’t this scenario kind of silly.  The fact that I have beer in the house shouldn’t get me arrested because my 18 year-old MIGHT get drunk while I’m at work.

Here’s the full article from ars technica:

Judge deals another blow to RIAA’s making available theory

By Eric Bangeman | Published: April 29, 2008 – 03:05PM CT

One of the pillars of the RIAA’s legal campaign has been its assertion that making a file available for download equates to copyright infringement under the copyright act. There have only been a couple of decisions addressing the question so far. One that came down today in Atlantic v. Howell is the biggest rejection yet to the RIAA’s "making available equals infringement" argument, as a federal judge has denied the labels’ motion for summary judgment, setting the stage for a trial later this year.

Atlantic v. Howell is unusual in that the husband and wife defendants are representing themselves. But the couple has some knowledgeable allies on their side—the EFF submitted an amicus brief on their behalf after the RIAA moved for a summary judgment.

The RIAA sued the Howells in 2006 for copyright infringement, and the couple responded by claiming that KaZaA was "not set up to share" and that the songs listed in the complaint were for "private use" and "for transfer to portable devices, that is legal for ‘fair use.’" In a deposition, Jeffrey Howell later admitted to installing KaZaA on his PC, but said that the only files that should have been in the shared folder were "pornography and free to the public software, e-books." (Apparently, the porn was of the amateur, not-copyrighted variety.)

Their defense got off to a rocky start, as Judge Neil V. Wake initially granted the RIAA a summary judgment and awarded the labels $40,850 in statutory damages and court costs. The Howells appealed, citing their lack of knowledge about how KaZaA works, specifically the fact that their "personal files" were shared on the network, and the judge subsequently vacated the summary judgment. 

In its brief, the EFF argued strenuously against the RIAA’s position that making a file available on a P2P network is distribution. Instead, the labels must show that distribution actually took place in order to prove infringement. The only distribution that the labels can prove wasn’t unauthorized, says the EFF, because it was done by MediaSentry on behalf of the RIAA.

April 29, 2008

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Daily Internet Bargains 04/29/08

Bob

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April 28, 2008

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Daily Message 04/28/08

Bob

At the sound of the beep . . . A newer, funnier, answering machine message for you to try.

Around the world today, millions still speak French as either a first or second language. But with your continued support and help, we can wipe out French in our lifetime. Please leave a message in English at the tone, and remember, if someone tries to speak French to you, just say, “non”.

April 28, 2008

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Clinton Proposes Ill Advised Gas-Tax Relief – Decries Obama for Not Jumping on Board!

Bob

clinton-wrinkles Hillary Clinton proposed one of the worst possible plans to provide relief to the casual consumer regarding the price of gas.  She proposed to eliminate the federal tax collected on each gallon of gas during the summer months.  The current Federal tax on gasoline is 18.4 cents a gallon.  The total cost of this plan is to the government is more than 20 BILLION dollars.

With Bush and Cheney doing their damndest to bankrupt the country with obscene spending for war and propping up the criminal companies responsible for the sub-prime mortgage crisis which is the foundation of our countries economic woes I think it’s irresponsible to remove such a large sum from the treasury’s coffers.

There should be a COMPREHENSIVE economic relief plan put into motion, not a stupid, knee-jerk, politically motivated band-aid plan which would only bankrupt the country all the faster in the long run and make Hillary seem like some false god in the short run.  The gasoline tax also subsidizes much needed roads maintenance.  We don’t want any more bridges falling down, do we?

I am not surprised that Obama and his cooler-headed aides see the disaster that awaits the country should the Hillary Farce Gas Tax become a reality.  I would expect to see some plan for relief come out of the Obama camp, but I will expect that it will be well thought out and not put our country at any MORE risk.

Although not yet an official Gas Crisis Relief Plan, Obama did mention some talking points in a speech last Friday.  And they take into consideration that Exxon Mobile recently posted the highest (and most obscene) profits for a US company EVER!

Obama calls for windfall tax on oil profits as gas prices soar

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama called for a windfall tax on oil company profits Friday, as pump prices in the United States hit a new record high.

"For the well-off in this country, high gas prices are mostly an annoyance. But to most Americans, they’re a huge problem, bordering on a crisis," he told reporters at a gas station in Indiana, where he is campaigning.

According to the automobile association AAA, the average price of a gallon (3.78 liters) of gas reached a record 3.58 dollars Friday.

Obama proposes oil companies be taxed on windfall profits from oil sold at or above 80 dollars a barrel, and the revenue be used to help relieve the burden of rising prices on working people, according to his campaign.

He also wants more transparency in the way pump prices are fixed, a tax cut for the middle classes that would benefit families by up to 1,000 dollars a year, and a 150-billion-dollar investment over 10 years in clean energy.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain has proposed cutting federal taxes on pump gas this summer to counter rising prices, but Obama rejected this idea, saying such taxes brought in needed funds for road maintenance.

"I don’t want somebody to save essentially 25 bucks — that’s what the savings would yield for the average driver — and now they’re potentially driving over an unsafe bridge," he said.

"I think it’s a better option for us to use the mechanism I’ve talked about, providing a middle-class tax cut would give people relief" for rising food and energy prices.

"And at the same time go after a windfall profit tax that would be used to provide relief to low-income folks," he said.

The Illinois senator turned his attention to McCain and to his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, referring to them as "the candidates with the Washington experience."

"They mean well. But they’ve been in Washington an awful long time and even with all the experience they talk about, nothing has happened," he said.

He noted that the United States did not raise fuel-efficiency standards for more than 30 years, adding: "What have we got for all that experience? Gas that’s approaching four dollars a gallon."

[Thanks, AFP News]

April 28, 2008

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Daily Internet Bargains 04/28/08

Bob

April 27, 2008

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Clinton Calls Election Process a Game

Bob

In a recent speech, the losing Democratic contender attacked Barack Obama for accepting contributions from oil company executives.  Which I find is an odd tactic for her to use since she has accepted MORE money from big oil that Barack.

Trying to put Obama in a bad light she apparently forgot that she has accepted $336,000 from these same oil company executives in contrast to Obama’s $263,000.  I guess Hillary Clinton could be suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.  That could explain all of these recent ‘facts’ that keep popping up in her speeches that actually have no basis in fact.

It’s worth clicking through to read the comments in the original post.

Clinton Hits Obama on Oil Money

Posted by Fernando Suarez
From CBS News’ Fernando Suarez:
BLOOMINGTON, IND. — During a campaign rally at the University of Indiana, Hillary Clinton said Barack Obama takes more money from big oil companies than any other candidate.

“My opponent puts up an ad that says he doesn’t take money from oil company PACs [Political Action Committees]. In March, he took more money from oil company executives than any candidate – Republican or Democrat. So I think it’s important for you to know the facts,” Clinton told the crowd of thousands.

The recent attacks between Clinton and Obama have focused on language used by the Obama campaign that says he does not take money from oil companies. However, Clinton, and others, point out it is illegal for candidates to take money from oil companies, but it is not illegal to take money from people who work for oil companies. The Los Angeles Times reported this week that Obama took in $46,000 from oil company executives and employees in March, more than Clinton and John McCain last month. However, she conveniently left out the fact that she has taken in more overall since they announced their candidacies: her $336,000 to Obama’s $263,000.

Later, Clinton made an argument that seemed to backfire when she pointed out to the crowd that Obama had voted in favor of what she calls “the Dick Cheney energy bill” in 2005, while she voted against it. Clinton pushed the issue claming that the best way to determine what type of president you will get, is to see what they have done or how they have voted. Clinton said that looking at votes “is always the way to figure out where somebody completely stands, like my father used to say ‘watch what they do, not what they say, actions speak louder than words.’”

But following that logic raises the issue on why Clinton voted for policies she no longer supports like the war in Iraq and No Child Left Behind. When asked about this contradiction, a Clinton campaign spokesman said the comparison was different because Clinton has already addressed her vote for the war and for No Child Left Behind, while Obama has not given a clear explanation about his vote for the energy bill.

Clinton went on to hammer her opponent saying, “When it came time to stand up against the oil companies, to stand against the ‘Dick Cheney energy bill’, my opponent voted for it and I voted against it. That bill had billions of dollars of giveaways to oil companies. That was the best bill the energy companies could buy.”

Clinton’s visit to IU shows she is not willing to concede any vote.
Traditionally, Clinton has not fared well with younger voters, a demographic from which Obama draws a lot of support. Speaking at center court inside Assembly Hall where the Indiana University Hoosiers play basketball, Clinton asked students to consider her as their candidate.

“I know you have a tough decision, and I know that on campuses like this my opponent has a tremendous amount of support and I respect that. But I want you to think about this as a hiring decision,” she said to applause.

“This is a game we can’t afford to lose.”

April 27, 2008

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Daily Internet Bargains 04/27/08

Bob

April 25, 2008

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The Clinton’s – Blasted by Top Dem in DC!

Bob

clinton_mccain As the Clinton’s continue their hate filled and racist smear campaign of Barack Obama and his bid for the Democratic Nomination Candidacy, other Democratic politicians are sitting up and taking notice.

House Democratic Whip James Clyburn, of South Carolina has used the words “disingenuous” and “scurrilous” to describe the underhanded tactics used by the Clinton’s in their bid to stop Barack’s momentum.  Many people are insisting that the Clinton’s continued campaigning is aimed at hurting Obama’s chances rather than a valid bid for the nomination.  She knows she can’t win, but would rather give the Presidency to McCain than join with Obama against him.

Hate filled and divisive politicking seems to be what the Clinton’s are best at.

April 24th, 2008

Top House Democrat denounces Clinton campaign tactics

Posted by: Richard Cowan
Tags: Tales from the Trail: 2008

WASHINGTON – “Scurrilous” and “disingenuous” were among the words a top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives used on Thursday to describe Hillary Clinton’s campaign tactics in her bid to defeat Barack Obama for their party’s presidential nomination.

House Democratic Whip James Clyburn, of South Carolina and the highest ranking black in Congress, also said he has heard speculation that Clinton is staying in the race only to try to derail Obama and pave the way for her to make another White House run in 2012.

heard something, the first time yesterday (in South Carolina), and I heard it on the (House) floor today, which is telling me there are African Americans who have reached the decision that the Clintons know that she can’t win this. But they’re hell-bound to make it impossible for Obama to win” in November, Clyburn told Reuters in an interview.

Obama holds a sizable lead in delegates won in state-nominating contests which could be hard for her to overcome.

The purported theory is that an Obama defeat in November against Republican presidential candidate John McCain would let Clinton make another presidential bid in four years, Clyburn said.

Clyburn has not yet declared whether he supports Clinton or Obama. But in January, he raised his concerns about the heated exchanges between the two campaigns before the South Carolina primary.

On Thursday, Clyburn took Clinton and surrogates to task, complaining that they want the popular votes in Michigan and Florida counted, even though both states violated party rules for the early scheduling of their nominating contests.

“I think it’s so disingenuous … (adviser James) Carville and Sen. Clinton were all on TV. I’ve seen them two or three times this week, talking about counting Florida and Michigan.”

Obama did not campaign in those states because the Democratic Party said Florida and Michigan wouldn’t be included in the formal tally for the nomination. “Her name was the only one on the ticket in Michigan and still 42, 43 percent of the vote was against her,” Clyburn said.

Still, Clyburn said “I don’t think she ought to drop out.”

But he added, “There’s a difference between dropping out and raising all this extraneous scurrilous stuff about the guy (Obama). Just run your campaign … you don’t have to drop out to be respectful of other people.”

[Thanks, Reuters]

April 25, 2008

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North Carolina says NO! to Obama Attack TV Ad

Bob

hillary_and_hotdog In a surprising turn of events, TV stations in North Carolina will not be airing an ad that attacks Presidential hopeful Barack Obama. Featuring snippets from the infamous ‘God Damned America’ video by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the ad has been deemed too offensive and to ‘racist’.

It’s about time that someone said no to the negativity that the Clinton’s have used in this election season.  It’s about time that someone has determined that the race isn’t about making the other guy look bad.  It’s about time that cooler heads have prevailed and just said no to the ‘politics of fear and hate’ campaigning.

I can understand that the Clinton’s are fearful that their chances are slipping away like water through a sieve. But it’s just this kind of negativity that has turned so many of the voters against her.  To intentionally divide a party with the kind of bilious hate campaigning that both Hillary and Bill have demonstrated in these past two months is unquestionable.

North Carolina TV blocks anti-Obama attack ad

By staff writers
April 25, 2008 12:27pm

US television stations have refused to run a controversial Republican ad attacking Democratic candidate Barack Obama and those who support him.

The ad has been running in North Carolina, which votes along with Indiana on May 7 (Australian time) in the next contests in the marathon Democratic presidential nomination contest.

It features excerpts of the sermon by Senator Obama’s former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, which exploded onto the campaign agenda last month after it appeared on the internet.  Rev. Wright is shown saying "God damn America".

The ad criticises local Democrats for endorsing Senator Obama, who it says is "just too extreme for North Carolina".  Republican nominee John McCain has distanced himself from the ad, but the state branch of the party has vowed not to pull it.

However some TV bosses have decided the ad is "offensive" – and possibly even racist, according to a report in the Charlotte Observer.

"I just don’t think it’s appropriate to be on our air," said the general manager of a station in Charlotte, the state’s most populous city.  "I think it’s offensive, and I’m not real comfortable with the implications around race."

Another station in the capital, Raleigh, has also refused to run the ad.

A Republican spokesman said the party was being censored.  "You’re going down a very dark path that could end up saying, ‘These are the kinds of things you can say in a political debate, and these are the kinds of things you can’t,’" he said.

He said the party would keep looking for other stations to run the ad.  Senator Obama is ahead of rival Hillary Clinton in polls in North Carolina, while the candidates are neck-and-neck in Indiana.

Wright speaks

Speaking for the first time since the controversy broke, Rev. Wright has defended his comments in the sermon and attacked those who used his words against Senator Obama.

"I felt it was unfair. I felt it was unjust. I felt it was untrue. I felt – for those who were doing that – were doing it for some very devious reasons," he said in a US television interview.

He said he held no grudge against Senator Obama for denouncing his comments.  "He’s a politician, I’m a pastor.  We speak to two different audiences," he said.

"He says what he has to say as a politician, I say what I have to say as a pastor. But they’re two different worlds," he said in excerpts of the interview published by the Washington Post.

Senator Obama missed a chance this week to kill off Senator Clinton’s challenge when he lost out to her in the Pennslyvania primary by 10 points.  The Wright sermon and later comments about "bitter small-town voters" have led some to wonder if he has a problem getting through to white voters.

But even with the Pennsylvania loss, Senator Obama leads Senator Clinton in the number of delegates won, the number of states won, the popular vote and in fundraising.  Senator Clinton won 82 delegates on Wednesday, but Senator Obama still picked up more than 70.

Meanwhile, as Democrats grapple with which candidate to support, Senator McCain is finding a lack of enthusiasm for his candidacy in sections of the White House.

Speaking on CNN about a book she has written with her mother, George W. Bush’s daughter Jenna has stopped short of pledging to vote Republican in the general election in November. 

While first lady Laura Bush said she had no favourite Democrat because "my favourite is the Republican", Jenna was not so sure.  "Who isn’t open to learning about the candidates?" she said.

"I’m sure everybody is like that. I honestly have been too busy with books to really pay that much attention."

[Thanks, News.Com.AU]

April 25, 2008

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Daily Internet Bargains 04/25/08

Bob

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April 24, 2008

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Late Night Truthiness

Bob

Jay Leno:   “Well, even though she won yesterday, you know, Hillary Clinton’s campaign now $10 million in debt. … Yeah. And ironically, her big issue: ‘I can handle the economy.’”

April 24, 2008

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For the People of Tibet

Bob

Tibet-1

Take an opportunity to sign a petition and document of support against the atrocities that the Chinese occupiers are conducting against the subjugated Tibetan People.  Click HERE.

April 24, 2008

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China and the 2008 Olympics

Bob

chinagettingready

Amnesty International is concerned that China’s history of flagrant human rights abuses will continue in this time immediately prior to the Olympic Games as China seeks to remove dissidents from the ‘public’ eye.  Visit Amnesty International and learn how you can help.

April 24, 2008

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US Democrats in Civil War?

Bob

hillary-clinton21 That’s the take of the English news rag, The Independent.  The article published yesterday in The Independent is called "Clinton victory extends Democrats’ civil war".

Thinking bout that headline has caused me to reaffirm my comment from yesterday, "I am becoming afraid that the party division that Hillary is cramming down our throats will not have time enough to heal."

Clinton victory extends Democrats’ civil war

By Leonard Doyle in Philadelphia
Wednesday, 23 April 2008

Hillary Clinton pulled off a thumping 10 percentage point victory over her rival Barack Obama in Pennsylvania.

The dramatic sweep of her victory last night threw a financial lifeline to her near bankrupt campaign and boosted her case for remaining in the race.

"Some people counted me out and said to drop out, but the American people don’t quit, and they deserve a president who doesn’t quit either," Mrs Clinton told supporters jammed into a hotel ballroom. She was accompanied by Bill Clinton and her daughter Chelsea who played a large part in her victory, campaigning tirelessly across the state.

Mrs Clinton has now won another opportunity to persuade the Democratic high command that she is the tougher candidate, better prepared to defeat the Republican candidate John McCain in the general election in November.

The six-week campaign saw her excoriate Mr Obama – who still leads in the popular vote as well as the delegate count for the nominating convention in August – and portray him as an ineffectual elitist to the state’s white working class voters.

The tactic worked for Mrs Clinton who captured vast swathes of rural and small town Pennsylvania, while Mr Obama won very heavily in the Philadelphia which has a large black population. Pennsylvania is viewed as an electoral microcosm of the US and Mrs Clinton will now attempt to persuade the 311 remaining uncommitted superdelegates, mostly senior party and elected officials, to come over to her side and secure the nomination.

But she faces huge obstacles ahead, not least the millions of dollars of debt her campaign has run up. Democratic party leaders also fear that the ferocity of the nomination fight could wreck their prospects of winning the White House in November. While Mr Obama outspent Mrs Clinton three to one in Pennsylvania he did not come close to challenging Mrs Clinton. But thanks to earlier victories in smaller states, Mr Obama still leads in the popular vote and he is so far ahead in the race to win the 2,025 delegates he needs to secure the nomination that she cannot catch him.

[Thanks, The Independent]

April 24, 2008

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The Clinton’s Collect $8M in Contributions – Still in the Hole

Bob

hillarycash Following the Clinton’s narrow victory in the Pennsylvania Primary on Tuesday, the Clinton’s coffers saw a steady trickle of incoming cash.  Reporting 8 million in donations, the campaign is still $2 million in the hole by my count.

I hate to belabor the point, but after the excesses of the Bush era, wouldn’t we prefer someone who can keep on budget?  The Clinton’s campaign has been in the red since January when she loaned her campaign $5 million just days before Super-Duper-Tuesday.

Win brings millions into Clinton’s coffers

OBAMA INSISTS HE’S STILL THE FRONT-RUNNER

By Jeff Zeleny and John M. Broder
New York Times

NEW ALBANY, Ind. – Sen. Hillary Clinton’s fundraising roared to life Wednesday, collecting more than $8 million in the hours after she won the Pennsylvania primary, and the fresh infusion of cash immediately went to helping her mount a vigorous fight in Indiana, the next primary state.

Sen. Barack Obama, relying on an already strong financial advantage, barely mentioned his Democratic rival – or his defeat – as he filmed new TV commercials in Indiana, reassured superdelegates that he still was the front-runner and deployed scores of campaign workers to Indiana, North Carolina and the half-dozen other states that remain on the primary calendar.

Obama said Democrats should be concerned "there’s been some time lost" in turning the party’s focus to Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee. But he said again and again that Clinton was trailing in pledged delegates and the popular vote and that he would fight through the nine remaining contests "to wrap up this nomination as quickly as possible."

Clinton’s overnight fundraising success, however, gave her the means to compete on a more level field with Obama. Her chief fundraiser, Terry McAuliffe, said the campaign was on track to raise nearly $10 million in online donations in the 24 hours after her Pennsylvania victory.

While Obama had started April with more than $40 million, Clinton’s campaign was millions of dollars in debt – which threatened to derail her campaign before her 9-point victory in Pennsylvania let her make a fresh case that she would be the strongest Democratic presidential nominee, although Obama leads in both delegates and in the popular vote.

Indiana, like North Carolina, holds its primary May 6. Clinton is seeking to replicate her campaigns from Ohio and Pennsylvania to win over voters there who share many similarities and concerns. She arrived in Indianapolis on Wednesday sharply focused on the economy, by far the chief concern of Democratic voters across the country, according to exit polls. She promised that as president she would deliver "jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs" across the Rust Belt, which has seen a severe erosion of manufacturing jobs in recent decades.

Obama played down questions about whether he can win in November, claiming he would draw support from independent voters and Republicans eager for change.

"Don’t worry about the party being divided in November," Obama told voters in New Albany. "The Democratic Party is going to recognize, as soon as we have a nominee, that there is too much at stake for us to be divided."

In Pennsylvania’s primary Tuesday night, Clinton won at least 82 of the 158 delegates up for grabs, according to an Associated Press analysis of election returns. Obama won at least 73, with three still to be awarded. Wednesday, Obama also picked up two superdelegate endorsements and Clinton picked up one.

The final delegate count was delayed because many of Pennsylvania’s counties are split into multiple congressional districts. Election officials were working Wednesday to assign votes from split counties to the appropriate congressional districts. Some counties didn’t expect complete results until today or Friday.

In the overall race for the nomination, Obama led with 1,723.5 delegates, including superdelegates. Clinton had 1,592.5, according to the AP tally.

[Thanks, Mercury News]

April 24, 2008

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Daily Internet Bargains 04/24/08

Bob

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