Why Can't Obama Close the Deal?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/04/21/art.obama.campaign2.jpg%5D
Eric Bloom
360° Producer
For the past six plus weeks the media and most political pundits have given Senator Hillary Clinton little chance of winning the Democratic nomination. Headlines like “The Long Defeat” and “The Clinton Myth” have portrayed Clinton’s hopes as dwindling and nearly extinguished. The numbers appear to back this up. Senator Barack Obama has a commanding lead- some might say insurmountable- in delegates, popular vote, and states won.
The Clinton campaign faced similar dire straits leading up to the March 4th contests in Ohio and Texas, and showed her campaign’s resiliency by winning Ohio and the popular vote in Texas.
Now one day before Pennsylvanians vote, Clinton appears to have abated Obama’s momentum in the polls and perhaps is increasing her lead.
If she wins by at a comfortable margin, the real question might not be whether Clinton should drop out but why can’t Obama close the deal? Why are Democratic voters so resistant to embrace Obama as their nominee? Not only is Obama not pulling away from Clinton as he continues to outspend her three or four to one in advertising, but is outright losing.
So the question is, despite what most perceive as an almost certain path to the nomination, why can’t Obama seal the deal and end the race?
|
|
Filed under: Barack Obama • Raw Politics |
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
On Twitter
Search the AC360 blog
If by some fluke Obama is not elected President, here in Illinois we will elect him as Governor. Blacrapovich will be all done here in Illinois very soon.
It's pretty simple, really. The more people find out about Obama, his past, his associates, the more the people of this country are frightened by what they're learning. He can't close the deal because the longer he stays in this race, the less credible he is. So the real question is: Why doesn't Obama withdraw? Well, there is another question: Where did the $41 million come from?
Hey John from NJ......
Add up the thousands of people smarter than George W Bush.......yet he was voted in as President.........still boggles the mind.
Joe sky is the same guy as Joe from Ohio............man are you way out there. Give us all a break. We ALL know Obama will be the nominee.
The media keeps spinning webs that pit the democrats against eachother. The media brings up all the dirt because it keeps the juices flowing and people watching. It's all a media stunt. These same stations have too few watchers if nothing juicy is going on.
How about a different perspecitve on Rev. Wright.
Clinton says she would have left the church to get away from this pastor. Obama says he does not agree with the Rev's comments but repsects that they've been friends for a long while. So if I disagree with someone I should walk out on them rather than honoring a friendship and working for a better understanding on both sides?
There is more to both Clinton's and Obama's statements and stand on this issue than what has been discussed – their attitudes speak to their characters.
If the Democrats held their primaries the way the Republicans do it would already be over. They do winner takes all in each primary state.
Obama won way more states than Hillary...........It would already be over.
He doesn't have to. All he has to do at this point is stay close to win the nomination. There is no reason to believe he won't carry the states needed in the general election. Including the ones he lost to Hillary. The democrats will bring it all together under Obama.
Bob
Rome NY
Obama is the unknown wanting change. Now things are coming out that makes him questionable, especially when they are things that the republicans will jump on in November. Whether he wants to admit it or not, his associations will be an issue. People are concerned.
We know as Hillary said, her "baggage" but his is stilling coming out.
If he could not answer the questions at the debate how does he expect to go up against McCain?
If he contradicts himself on taxes while saying he will up the capital tax gain, which is on the middle class tha he says he will not raise taxes on, then how can he go up against McCain?
Here’s the deal with Obama. He is a man who studied Tony Robbins methods of how to sway a crowd way to long. The majority of his supporters are either to dumb or just caught up with an endless list of raw raw words that when you actually stop and think about it you realize he really has nothing to offer the office of President of the United States.
I, Obama and most of the other Democratic Candidates thought Obama entered this race to get some issues out there and get his name know a little more. They and the press left him alone because they thought he was at the level of Nadar in having a chance at winning. When he began winning some things, no one wanted to question him because they are afraid of confronting a black man. Given some time I could name a hundred plus black men in politics or business that are smarter and much more experienced than Obama. Ask yourself this if your had all three of the candidates resumes in front of you for a job would Obama even be in a final cut for some a powerful job. He is not disowning his pastor because he still is shocked at how far he has come and knows it will soon be over with McCain winning and will be going right back to the Chicago neighborhood and asked them to vote him back into the Senate and if he disowns Wright he’s finished back home.
He cant close the deal because he has NEVER had too... He leveled the playing field once.. Kinda hard to lose when you run unopposed.
And seriously how hard is it to beat Alan Keyes..
HIllary Clinton is a serious contender, and he cant handle it...
He HAS closed the deal! Look at the math! She cannot win.
I'm perplexed as why she hasn't been Huckabee'd out of the news cycle. She's done!
Given the reality that superdelegates will decide who the nominee is, one answer is that "party officials" still prefer Clinton to Obama, 162 to 127 (with 131 undecided). Elected superdelegates (Governors, Senators and Representatives) are essentially even.
Why is it Obama supporters always blame the other guy for Obama problems. The first post is it is all demon Hillary's fault. He is not doing well for one reason and one reason alone, himself. Americans are beginnning to see the real Barack Obama, and honestly, I don't think they like what they are seeing.
I can't believe the poor job that the media is doing on educating the public on the Presidential candidates and their plans for the future of the country. We don't care about the Bosnia or Rev Wright or Bitter or Iran comments that’s being talked about all day, every day on the news. We do care about our failing infrastructure, our failing economy, why our brothers and sisters are dying in Iraq for no reason, why the price of gas and food is skyrocketing, why Earmarks continue to slip through, plans for securing our borders. Yeah, I know it’s considered good TV to show tabloid-type material, but it shouldn't be the sole focus of the press. After the most recent debate, no press was given about the candidate’s answers on those areas of value. Just their answers about Rev Wright and Bosnia. The press/media is becoming the leading contributor to why there are so many problems with our youth and the direction this country is going. It's a sad day when I have to monitor my children when they watch the news because I don't want them to develop bad habits like focusing on the negative aspects of people, gossiping, and overlooking things could be beneficial to their development because the media focuses so much on the negative. I guarantee you that if the media start focusing on the important issues, not the dirty politics, the candidates will change their focus as well. Why don’t you contribute to helping the country and stop dividing the country?
Most people say they want change, but in reality, change is the hardest thing for people to accept. Both candidates have the passion to win and my guess is both of them will fight to the end. I don’t believe tomorrow’s primary will seal the deal for either candidate but I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Jolene, St. Joseph, MI
Obama does not have to close the deal. Back before media got so saturated in politics people dropped out of the race along the way, but they never had to be down to a select 2 – one from each party.
If Clinton wants to she can stay until election day at the DNC.
Additionally, the Democratic party is getting much attention and resurrecting voters that in the past had lost faith in the system because the race is exciting. There is a black man and a white woman running, how much more exciting can things get?
For now, the Democrats are enjoying the mounting numbers of people coming out to vote for their party in the most exciting race our histry is yet to know.
Simple AC, to go this route he needs to bloody her up.. not hard considering all her scandals of past and present..but thats a job for the repubs in the General not a fellow Democrat in a Primary! The actually negativeness you've seen from this man is only human considering who and what he's up against..lets put it this way.. were he a Republican.. this would have been over SuperTuesday.. but instead of a republican he is a Democratic Gentleman
No, Obama can't close the deal because we WILL NOT VOTE Obama at no circumstance. We know this in Primary and we know this in the general election. We do not want Obama, even if Hillary is not running.
NO OBAMA!!!
Hillary or McCain!!!
Why Obama can't close the deal? It's so simple as ABC.
He's not fit to be the American President. He doesn't have the experience. He has a long tie with people who hates America. Rev. Wright's God D**n America came to mind. He's comfortable with American enemy, Ayers came to mind. He hasn't clear himself of Rezko deal. Did he or did he not take money from Rezko? We don't know for sure.
American people are not stupid. And that's why he can't close the deal.
Erica,
He started way behind in Ohio, Texas, and PA. He gets credit for getting really close. The good news is that HRC will never catch up.
This undermines the improbable and virtually impossible success that Obama had. Very few people in the country even knew him 15 months ago. Compare that with Clinton's presence in American history. Obama came to PA behind 20% in the polls but now close to 5% running against a formidable establishment that's supporting his opponent. Remarkably, he won most caucus states, more primary states, more delegates, more popular votes than Clinton. The only reason she is still in the race is that she is an iconic figure in our current history and she knows that. Any other candidate would have dropped out by now. Why he can't win the votes in Ohio, Texas or, Pennsylvania? Ed Rendell knows. He said many white people in PA are not ready to vote for a black candidate. Obama knows. He said, I'm a 46 years old African American named 'Barack Obama'; it's a big leap for a lot of people" But you can not deny him, can not deny the work he has done and the tremendous success he has had so far. He will close the deal in June and he will be the next president of the United States.
p.s. Have you seen the new Clinton ad featuring Osama Bin Laden? Did she hire Rove to run her campaign now?
One word, Hillary. She is the reason, she believes it is her birth-right to bankrupt and destroy the DNC with her slash and burn tactics. As long as she stays in the race, she makes it easier for McCain. She used to be a Republican during the ultra-conservative Goldwater days and is showing it again by helping McCain. In fact she's successfully duped her followers into spite-voting for McCain if she loses. If Hillary would just do the honorable thing and drop out, the "deal" would be closed and Obama could focus on taking this man down. One more thing, Hillary is over $10 million in debt right now, and this is an example of why we can't afford to let her run this country. The economy would be even worse off than it is now.
Before Obama started campaining here, Clinton was expected to win by huge margins. now Obama has been outspending her and narrowed that lead.. if clinton wins only by 5 to 10 points how can it be considered victory for her?! This will mean that she has lost.
Obama can't "close the deal" because all of the staunch OLD GUARD dems are siding with Obama. Who wants the same crap for the future that we've had in the past? Not me!
I see Barack as potentially a very good candidate and bridge builder between diverse groups. However, I also do not feel his past allegiances bode well for his current neutral identity stand. He needs Hillary's influences to balance his position with more generosity toward diversity and not anger. (i.e., Barack tried to dismiss Rev. Wright’s hostile sermons by juxtaposing how he “cringed” at his grandmother’s comment of fear, even though other African Americans support her concerns. Hence he elicited the comment of “throwing his grandmother under the bus”, and now additionally giving her a more negative public image.) A vice presidency position will show that he can work with opposing candidates constructively. After all, it’s been said that most of their solutions look pretty much the same. It’s the emotional makeup that is different and troubling. And why did he not humorously reciprocate in offering Hillary a VP position back in early March when their negativity was manageable?
Thanks for listening.
Senator Obama can't close the deal because he has based his campaign on hope, inspiration and change. That's great,a lot of people are looking for inspiration and change, but when it comes down to someone running the country after what we have gone thorugh with President Bush, most people will choose experience. My bet is on a McCain vs Clinton general election.
Voters know we are running out of time and have to be certain that the person we nominate will be able to fight McCain and win and be able to straighten out our economy. Maybe some of the glitter and newness is wearing off of Obama with all the bad press.
I think its because its down to the wire jnow and I am hoping the reason is because they are closely evaluating who would be most able to clean up the mess our country is in and also be the strongest candidate to fight against McCain because help us all if we are stuck with yet another Republican president. I can't even fathom what would become of the working class if that happened. We are all suffering now and it would only be a whole lot more than the same.
The question is why can't Hillary close the door. She knows she can't win – why is she still in the race? What is she trying to gain, here? What is her purpose?
Senator Clinton has had a very powerful base of support which includes her husband. I think President Clinton influenced this primary process more than anyone could have anticipated and Barack Obama really has been campaigning against a powerhouse COUPLE. Remember the phrase, "two for the price of one?"
I think the Clinton campaign spins have left the heads of average people spinning. It's taken time and a steady rally of support behind Obama for many voters to hear his message. Additionally, reliable hard print reporting probably doesn't reach most folks. If more people read good newspapers, like the Philadelphia Inquirer, television media would not be as powerful of an influence over critical thinking. It's likely that working people rely on one another to get the facts.
Tuesday's PA primary will definitely clarify this tortuous primary process . In my opinion there is a possibility that this thing could actually end with the voters putting it to a decisive rest with a win for Obama.
Let's face it! We will not know the outcome of this race until tomorrow and I'm certain the pollsters are NOT feeling very confident right now. Dust off your crystal balls!
Most people especially the elderly are scared of change, even if that change would work to their betterment. Most, not all don't realize that the young generations are the ones that are going to be in charge of the world.
The ocean usually recedes before it produces an enormous wave. Obama has already closed the deal.
Obama �08
Obama can't close the deal because of Obama. He has been basically unvetted by the press up till the past few weeks, but now his baggage is beginning to be revealed: Wright, Ayers, his "bitter" remarks at the SF fundraiser. He's applying for the most important job in the world with a paper-thin resume. He touts judgment over experience, but his questionable associations do not speak much of his judgment. His performance in debates has been poor. He does not do well under pressure. Some Democrats fear that if he's the nominee, McCain will make mincemeat out of him.
Because people are using he is NOT experience but you can say the samething about our present President, Bush. Obama will make an excellent president and but people don't want to see a CHANGE in the White House.
Rahni, Connecticut
Excuse me, didn't Obama win the Texas delegates? This is part of the reason why he can't "close the deal" It's like the news show that keep showing Michigan and Florida as "wins" for Hillary. The total "win" is zero for those 2 states. Nevada delegates also went for Obama but the media continues to show that state as a Clinton "win". It's hard to get to the finish line when the line keeps getting redrawn or extended. Obama can't "seal the deal" Mr. Bloom because reporters like you mis characterize the realities of this election.
Because Americans truly care about the state our country finds itself currently in with out of control gas prices, terrible economy, the lack of leadership currently in Washington and want someone they know can stand up for us and take the bumps and bruises along the way. Hillary has proven herself time and again and Senator Obama is just not the man for the job. I have seen the middle finger flicks recently and reviewed a lot of clips and up until recently never saw him use his middle finger to wipe or stroke his face. That is a show of ignorance and immaturity you would expect out of teenagers not an adult running for President. That solidified my decision to vote for Hillary. I have been so on the fence until now and am I upset at some of the things both canidates have done? Absolutely as Obama would say but Hillary is tested and vetted and will withstand the fight against the Republicans in November.
Your whole post is based on an incorrect premise. The average of all the recent polls is about a 5-7 point spread between the two. I fthis happens, it will be seen as a great victory for Obama who was able to close his gap from a twenty point deficit just a few weeks ago. Hillary will gain few delegates from a 12 point or less win, making it even more difficult for her to rationalize staying in the race. So, your post does not make sense.
David wrote:
"The [sic] start bringing up all of Obama’s negatives to remind people tha [sic] he isn’t perfect."
Anyone with a functioning brain can see he's far from perfect. It's his supporters that need to be reminded of this from time to time.
Not only old folks are afraid of change so everybody who fears change is pouring oil on the fire to try to slow down Obama so he has to fight twice as hard to compensate. This is why this race has becomed a joke to the rest of the world. Trying to choke down an opponent to me is the contrary of democracy. Controversy sells papers and brings listeners in front of their Tvs and this is why this campaign is still going on today.
Actually I have found myself in a place where I don't know who or what to believe. Depending upon the various news media and news personalities, I see different pictures of how the candidates are doing, and all these news personalities do not at all agree with each other. So whatever is going on with the campaign, in large part, seems to be pictured by the media and is vested by the media for their own benefit. It seems to me that the media is getting a lot out of keeping the suspense, the drama, the tense emotionality going for their own benefit. Is this true also with this article Eric?
It is no surprise that we find ourselves in the predicament. The Democratic nomination process has become a spectacle, but not one to model for future nomination processes. The candidates are not failing, the leadership is failing. The candidates are trying to following the process as best they can, but Democratic leaders steps in to voice their opinion that if a candidate does not drop out now it will adversely affect the eventual winner in the November General election. Here the problem with that approach; it bring up the notion in voters’ minds that it is a problem. It is not a problem if no one says it. Voters have said overwhelmingly that they want this contest to continue until the end. However the leadership, such as Howard Dean, is making the concept stick that if this is not over soon it will be bad. Here is another problem; this is how the process is set up to work. The primaries are stretched out over a 6 month period. So, if people like Dean want this process over by Super Tuesday or at least by March, why are there primaries in April, May, and June. If the Party truly want it over so quickly why are States in April, May, and June being purposely disenfranchised? No wonder Florida and Michigan moved up their primaries, God forbid they want to have a say in the nomination. I am going to offer a suggestion that will resolve this issue once and for all. Starting with the 2012 political season, have all the primaries held over a 2 month period of time. The serious candidates will come to the forefront after the first 2 – 3 weeks and then before you know it we have 2 candidates in the final month vying for the nomination. The Party will know by the end of March who will be going up against the other Party’s nominee.
While we are at it, how about outlawing caucuses and conventions. They are the least democratic way of selecting a candidate. Caucuses disenfranchise voters constantly. You do not have to look beyond the Texas results to make an obvious case for a purely primary type system. Are we afraid of making Iowa upset? From a historic point of view I can see where Iowa would be upset, but wouldn’t it be better to count the real wishes of each State. If the Parties are afraid of upsetting caucus States, like Iowa, why isn’t the same concern given to upsetting States like Florida or Michigan who just want to make sure they are heard and have a real impact on the nomination process.
This campaign has shifted from a discussion of issues to a discussion of campaign mechanics. The mechanics are a more attractive story because the issues are complicated and not easy to report about or ask good questions about. In a discussion about how you win a campaign no one seems insprational and everyone has a little dirt on their hands.
It also does nto help that false momentum is create by misreporting that Clinton won Texas. In the contest for deleagtes (which is what these contests are about) Obama won 99 an Clinton won 94. I know it's complicated but that is more the reason acurate reporting is important.
First of all Obama won Texas because he won the caucases and walked away with more delegates. Hillary did not win texas. Obama can kick her out of the race a long time ago if he would have played her game because she has a list of negatives to feed on. After the debate he's tired of being a colleague to Hillary Clinton while she behaves like a republican towards him. Where not going to come together thanks to Hillary Clinton and her tactics. Obama is going to win Pennslyvania because I believe their smarter to vote for the Cllintons who passed the Nafta trade agreement inwhich they lost jobs. Hillary Clinton has run a incompetant campaign and can't raise money that will enable her to continue. She has too many faces and is contradicted when not lying but the media doesn't expose her because the truth is they want something to talk about and give Mccain who needs to stay out of the sun, time to get grounded. The republicans are using Hillary Clinton as a flunky to do their dirty work for them. Hillary Clinton can't see beyond her own greed of destroying her own party so she continues to talk negative and produce negative ads. If Hillary Clinton wins in Penn. State where the Clintons are responsible for the closed factories and plants than I guess Americans don't really want jobs.
I think Obama will pull off a stunner and
will take Pennsylvania. People are very
angry with Hillary Clinton.
I think Obama cannot close the deal for some very logical reasons
Obama was unknown until he decided to run for president and while his talk about change and hope cought on like wild fire – after the Rev. Wrigt, race issues and other questionable alliances come up, I think people started to realise he is not what we thought he was. He is still very much an unknown and somewhat unpredictable character. Goig by his voting record he has not proved in any way that he can forge an alliance in Washington. Maybe people hate the 'Clinton' idea but Obama does not make a lot of us feel very comfortable. I personnaly feel "better the devil I know than the one I don't".
I think both Obama and Clinton have split their votes nearly down the middle. It would appear the Democrats are divided in a deadlock. Neither candidate is sailing to the finish with a massive wind at their back. We'll see tomorrow, if it's over or onward.
Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.
Perhaps it's not the media's bias one way or another so much as voters realizing that when Barack Obama speaks so eloquently he never actually says what he plans on doing when he becomes President. It's hard to vote for a person when you don't TRULY know what he'll do? At least with Clinton or McCain you can get a picture of the steps they want to take to achieve their platform goals. With Obama all I hear from him and his people is that he's the "Candidate for Change" – but change to WHAT? What is he going to do? No one knows – and that's a bit scary.
Obama can't close the deal because the media helps Hillary stay in the race. The start bringing up all of Obama's negatives to remind people tha he isn't perfect. The media does not want the race to end because the truth is I wouldn't see a smile on any of their faces when Obama starts winning over Mccain. The media are mostly conservatives anyway ofcourse their being bias. What there going to realize is they can't stop Obama telling the truth about Washington on the stump and thats going to win him the election. Media you can be biased towards Sen. Obama all you want so you can keep you 10-20 million dollar salaries in your pocket affraid you wont bemaking that if he's president and he cut out the special interest. Yes were on to you too.
What can I say? It is a crazy, crazy American politics, people, pollsters & journalists. You can never rely on anything anymore, from Gas prices, food prices, people & politics. I give up, crazy world.
OBAMA has a very hard time closing the deal because of 3 ressons:
1. Clinton has thrown him under the bus along with her staunch "OLD GUARD" Democrats.
2. CLINTON has befriended with the REPUBLICAN PARTY by using their tactics AS WELL AS STAFF...Mark Penn, Scaiffe, and others.
3. THE PA VOTER – this is the voter that is tired of bull from the CLINTON attacks as well as her divisiveness she has shown since Feb 5.
4. BARACK OBAMA – ENOUGH SAID
5. MONEY – Clinton owes more than $10 million, meaning the Democratic presidential candidate was in the red even before she heavily stepped up television advertising in Pennsylvania."
"According to the reports, OBAMA began the month with over $42 million to spend during the presidential primaries and only carried around $650,000 in debt. Obama has $52 million cash on hand overall." AP Press