Democrats Warn of Coming ‘Train Wreck’ as GOP Moves Closer to a Nominee
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, shown here at a November debate, are so close in the delegate race that party leaders fear the campaign could drag on through the August convention. (AP Photo)
With John McCain closer than ever to being the Republican candidate for president, Democratic leaders are sounding the alarms about a worst-case scenario in which their party has no apparent nominee until the national convention in late August, leaving them with just over two months to mount a general election campaign.
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, speaking on the floor of the Senate, warned Friday that it would be a “train wreck” for the party if Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton cannot break their deadlock soon.
“Here is the coming train wreck,” Nelson said. “If one of our two leading candidates does not get a majority by the time that all the primaries and caucuses are over … then we go into a period during June, July and all the way to the end of August at the National Democratic Convention, a period of enormous uncertainty and turmoil.”
He said part of the turmoil would be the backroom deal-making of “superdelegates” — elected officials and other party leaders who come to the convention uncommitted to any candidate — and the fact that Florida’s and Michigan’s delegates will not be seated at the convention. Those two states were stripped of their delegates for holding primaries before Super Tuesday, in violation of party rules.
Clinton won the primaries in both states, and seating their delegations would benefit her.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has said he fears an intra-party showdown at the convention in Denver. Dean, who calls McCain a “media darling,” has warned about the party having no presumptive nominee going into the convention.
He recently told a New York TV station, “The idea that we can afford to have a big fight at the convention and then win the race in the next eight weeks, I think, is not a good scenario … I think we will have a nominee sometime in the middle of March or April. But if we don’t, then we’re going to have to get the candidates together and make some kind of an arrangement.”
He didn’t say what that arrangement would be.
The Associated Press reported that DNC member Debbie Dingell said the national committee is asking Florida and Michigan to consider holding caucuses — but Nelson, who has endorsed Clinton, said “you can’t undo an election with caucuses.”
Three days after Super Tuesday, delegate tallies by The Associated Press show Clinton with 1,045 delegates and Obama with 960. A candidate needs 2,025 delegates to clinch the nomination; both candidates are about halfway there.
McCain needs only a few hundred more delegates to guarantee victory; Mitt Romney’s exit from the race on Thursday left McCain as the odds-on nominee, although Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul are still officially running for the GOP nomination.
Republicans who have clashed with McCain in the past have begun to accept his candidacy, even though some conservatives — like Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, who endorsed Mike Huckabee Thursday night — say McCain and his moderate positions will never be palatable to the right.
And McCain has already started his general election campaign, focusing on Obama’s and Clinton’s positions on Iraq and taking them on in tandem as a singular threat to conservatives.
He continued his assault on the candidates Friday, after speaking at a national security round-table in Norfolk ahead of Virginia’s primary Feb. 12.
“All I can say is that they want to set a date for withdrawal,” McCain said. “There would be catastrophic consequences … There is a fundamental misunderstanding on the part of both of them as to what’s at stake and a failure to recognize that our strategy under General Petraeus, called the surge, has been succeeding. That, I think, will be a major issue in this campaign.”
Obama and Clinton have tried to return fire — Clinton complained yesterday about his economic and military policies — but their quest for delegates keeps them focused on each other.
This leaves McCain in the enviable role of statesman, senator and party figurehead, observers say, unshackled from the once-consuming battle among a dizzying field of Republican candidates.
Democratic pollster Doug Schoen told FOX News, “With John McCain the Republican nominee, if he can get the right in line with his candidacy, and the Democrats remain divided, it’ll make a Democratic victory more unlikely in November.”
McCain’s National Finance Co-Chairman Fred Malek said McCain will now be able to show leadership on Capitol Hill, and not just the campaign trail.
“While Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are out on the campaign trail kind of fighting each other on things, John McCain can be back in the Senate leading the charge on issues that are really important to the American people.”
Despite tasting victory, McCain said he will not discount Huckabee, who said Friday that it’s not a lock for the Arizona senator.
“An election is about a choice, not a coronation,” Huckabee said in Kansas.
McCain fended off discussion of potential running mates, as rumors continue to swirl that Huckabee could be a contender.
“Governor Huckabee is still in this race and he is a viable candidate and I am sure will continue to show strength,” McCain said in Norfolk.
FOX News’ Mike Majchrowitz and Mosheh Oinounou contributed to this report.
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that DNC Chairman Howard Dean suggested Michigan and Florida hold caucuses in order to seat their delegates at the convention. That is incorrect. We regret the error.
Do not give up you still have a chance. The only real conservative is still in the race RON PAUL.
Texans, the media campaign is telling you to vote for hilary because they don’t want you to vote conservative.
There is no difference between McCain and Clinton.
WAKE UP, the conservatives still have a chance.
RON PAUL for President!
PS: To the troops, real help is on the way, thank you and God Bless You.
If it wasn’t for Asians and Mexicans voting for her Hillary would have been gone by now. Hillary will not win because all of the White men in the Democratic party and half of the white women will not vote for her and blacks won’t vote for her because her husband called barack Jessie Jackson. She will beat Barack Because of the immigrant vote but McCain will prevail in the end.
MsBurger has done went and lost her/his ? MIND !!!!!!!!!!!
Not all Utahns voted for Romney. This one voted for McCain. It’s not about who the right Republican candidate is, it’s about who can defeat Hilary. Another 4 to 8 years of Clintons is unacceptable. For our Military, for our Economy, for our Sovereignty. I hope Obama kicks her as*%, so McCain won’t have to. She who wants it the most is the one you should least give the power to. Only Hilary feels shes entitled to the Presidency, none of the rest of us do.
As for GWB’s post above, that Huckabee lies with Lucifer.
Mormons preach that you can become a God in your own right. Sealed to your mate, immortal, create your own planet and children. As long as they believe that, they are polytheistic, and non-christian, and the cult the Baptists paint them to be. Simple as that from a Christian who’s lived in Utah 27 years. Jesus never preached you could become a God, only Godlike.
“You shall have no other Gods before me.”
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below(including yourself). You shall not bow down to them or worship them: for I am a jealous God punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the 3rd or 4th generation of those who hate me. But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
Hello American’s ,
I am writting to you with great fear and full concern. I have read these post to keep up to date on these debate’s and nominee’s.When I am not on the field working my butt off for America’s freedom. I am saddened to know by what I have read my contribution to ‘ War On Terror ” has not made any difference to many American’s . I am also saddened by the response President Bush has gotten from our own for his oath to keep America safe . And yes maybe I am alittle angry at all these people voting for the end of this just cause. My commrades and I do get home sick sometime and yes we miss our famlies but we are here amonst the enemy instead of there where our enemy would be if President Bush had not had the guts to see what was fit. I myself along with my commrades has seen the true color of President Bush unlike most of you there are willing to see. It was his visits that showed us here what kind of person and President he really is . We saw the tears ,We heard his prayers. We felt his grief .
There was once incident he didn’t know we were watching upon him, his head was hanging in prayer ,he had the good book ,he looked up at the heaven’s ,about that time we got alittle closer,someone spoke up ,President Bush wiped his eyes and ask if he could do anything for US . We set and talked awhile just about how proud he was of all US . He talked about the American people ,how he was committed to protect and let freedom ring . Before he left he saluted us and said God Bless America ,God Bless you our troops and God Bless the American People.
It is with my best interest that I say no more Bashing of this man .
I will be voting because I am an American . I will be voting Conservative
Thank You
Preston P .PTV. US NG
To TIRED ALREADY,
BELIEVE…. It’s not only Hillary who can pull America out from economic and war troubles…..Bill Clinton will always back her up because they both know the ins and outs of economy. Remember the US economic glory of consistent budget surplus of the 90’s during the Clinton years. But if Obama becomes her running mate, much better. He will get his chance next time.
Hey, listen up you liberal $$#$#$#$%$…I’ve got something for you.
See, we here in Texas are pretty angry about not getting a say in who our Republican nominee is. Nevertheless, we’re going to vote for that liberal &*%$ball, mccain. He sucks, but at least he’s not hillary or the muslim.
So, I am going to vote in the DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY!!!!! That’s right…we have a widespread media campaign here urging Republicans to vote for hillary in the democratic primary. We have open primaries here. We’re going to vote for hillary and then mccain will beat her.
And, don’t get me wrong — mccain is an idiot and the most extreme liberal I’ve seen…he’s right there with kennedy and feinstein (don’t tell me about capitalizing their names…I’m intentionally not capitalizing them out of disrespect)…he’s a moron and we hate him, but he will beat her in the election.
This whole election year sucks. I’m voting straight Republican on my representatives, senators, judges, etc. We’re not going to let you liberals destroy our lives. It isn’t gonna happen, so just get over it. We’re not going to pay for your healthcare. We’re not going to pay for your anything. We’re DAMN SURE not going to pay for illegals to go to college. My friends from out of state have to pay out of state tuition. There is NO WAY you people here illegally are going to get away with getting a free education, paid for by me. You can take out friggin’ student loans like *I* did.
Idiots…we’re gonna get you when we vote in our primary.
I had a big sigh of relief when I learned that HILLARY is predeicted to be the ONE - You GO girl. God will always be with you. We asians love you, Hillary Clinton.
At this point, I can’t wait for the elections to be over. Whoever does the best tv show can win. Stay in the Oval office for four years…
Then we will start again, and look for a wonderful 8 yrs from there.
Oh Boy!!! what’s a Girl to do???
2 Chinese Expert Astrolgers already predicted who the next US President will be. I’ve always been a staunch believer of feng shui:
Joseph Yu:
Hilary Clinton will be the next US President. When she sees a rat, she will scream with tears in her eyes. Women will give her their votes because they also scream when they see a rat. Men will also give her their votes because they want to protect the fair sex.
Celebrity fortune teller Peter So was coy about who he thought would win the race.
“I can only say Hillary Clinton stands a better chance, as I don’t see that Barack Obama or (Republican hopeful) John McCain will have a good year,” So said.