Polls Show Clinton Gaining Strength but Obama Picking Up Superdelegates
WASHINGTON — Polls showed voters drifting toward Hillary Rodham Clinton ahead of crucial Democratic primary votes next week, but the all-important party superdelegates — whose backing is now essential for the nomination — were falling increasingly in line behind Barack Obama. Despite the momentum building behind Clinton after her win in Pennsylvania, it still appeared mathematically impossible for her to overcome Obama’s delegate lead for the party nomination.
In the past two months, Obama has whittled Clinton’s superdelegate lead by half, a key gain for the Illinois senator because neither candidate can win the 2,025 delegates needed for nomination in the remaining nine state and territorial contests.
Clinton has a 20-superdelegate lead, 268-248, but Obama holds the overall advantage in delegates, including committed superdelegates, 1,736.5-1,602.5.
That means the superdelegates, the nearly 800 party officials and office holders free to back either candidate regardless of state votes, will decide the nominee. So far 516 have chosen sides.
Regardless, Clinton appeared to be gaining strength among voters, especially the white working-class which has reacted negatively Obama’s association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright — the Illinois senator’s former pastor who called from the pulpit for God to damn America for it’s treatment of African Americans.
Reflecting that shift, a poll released Thursday by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press showed Clinton’s lead over Obama nationally among whites who did not attend college had increased from 10 points in March to 40 points at the end of April.
That voting bloc played heavily in Clinton’s substantial win last week in Pennsylvania and was likely to be just as critical Tuesday, when voters cast ballots in Indiana. Pre-vote surveys there showed the outcome was a toss-up.
A second poll released Thursday carried more potential bad news for Obama, this in North Carolina, which votes in tandem with Indiana.
The Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. survey for two television stations in the state showed Obama’s double-digit lead had slipped to just seven points, 49-42.
Nationwide, the Pew poll showed, Democratic voters now are about evenly divided, with Obama holding a statistically insignificant 47-45 margin. In late March he was up 10 points, 49-39.
The latest Gallup tracking survey had Clinton leading 49-45, after a week of showing them nearly even. Obama held a 10-percentage point margin going into Pennsylvania.
The prolonged and divisive campaign was of particular concern for Democrats concerned about damage being done to the party’s chances in the fall against presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain.
McCain on Thursday went into the heart of America’s farm belt to Iowa, a place where subsidies for corn and ethanol fuel are wildly popular, to denounce agricultural subsidies.
Congress is struggling to finish a nearly $300 billion bill that McCain says is bloated with subsidies for wealthy farmers. The bill would pay for farm and nutrition programs for the next five years.
“I have to give you a little straight talk about the farm bill that is wending its way through Congress. I do not support it. I would veto it. I would do that because I believe that the subsidies are unnecessary,” he said.
His long-held position against subsidies has cost him in Iowa, the state that traditionally begins the presidential nominating process and is a potential swing state in the fall.
Despite his ties to U.S. President George W. Bush, whose approval rating is below 30 percent, McCain is running close to both Clinton and Obama in hypothetical matchups.
Those fears led former Democratic National Committee Chairman Joe Andrew on Thursday to switch his backing to Obama, despite having been named to the top party job by former President Bill Clinton.
“This has got to come to an end,” Andrew told reporters in his hometown of Indianapolis. He said he planned to call all the other superdelegates he knows and encourage them to back Obama.
In a lengthy letter explaining his decision, Andrew said he changed candidates because “a vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote to continue this process, and a vote to continue this process is a vote that assists (Republican) John McCain.”
“The ship is taking on water right now,” Andrew said at the news conference. “We need to patch those holes, heal the rift and go forward to beat John McCain.”
Asked for a response to Andrew’s decision, Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said, “We support that Democratic process and think that every American should be able to weigh in and support the candidate of his or her own choosing.”
Clinton adviser Harold Ickes also sent a memo to superdelegates Thursday arguing that the polls prove she is the strongest candidate to beat McCain. Among the polls they cited was an Associated Press-Ipsos survey out this week that showed Clinton leading McCain by 9 percentage points, while Obama is virtually tied with the likely Republican nominee.
This week, Obama picked up nine superdelegates, plus three add-on delegates named by the Illinois Democratic Party. Clinton gained four new superdelegates, while also picking up four add-on delegates from her home state of New York.
Realistically, can anyone deny Obama the nomination, given the lead? The repercussions would be felt years to come, I feel.
ALL OBAMA DOES IS PREACH. MAYBE THIS STYLE OF HIS HE PICKED UP FROM HIS BUDDY REV. WRIGHT.
TEE-HEE!
LOVIN’ THE BATTLE!
SHOWS THE BACK-BITING THAT REALLY GOES ON @ DNC!
Maybe the superdelegates know about the Peter Paul case. Why can’t I seem to get answers about this case? It is very important that voters are informed, and this is more relevant than any of the controversies surrounding candidate associations. This involves Clinton and her husband.
I am wondering if the pastor has tapes of Obama saying something that could really change the hurt him is that the reason he hasn’t totally renounced their association. Many parishioner have left churches and indeed it does hurt but, the response didn’t feel right to me. Unfortuately, I see a repeat of Kerry in Obama. I had wanted Dean and he lost on ranting and raving and I am sorry, this situation of his pastor reminds me of that. Realizing Obama didn’t do ranting and raving but, he knew full well that his pastor talked like this. Then stand there and say he didn’t he shows a major character flaw and it is deceptive. I believe the country is experiencing buyer remorse.
The bottom line is that Mr Obama has shown his true colors and now is trying to cover them up. The facts are, America, his is not even experienced enough (a senator for 2 years). He’s still a kid, and even if he were an honest and sincere politician (if there is such a thing) he’s not strong enough, or wise enough to deal with whats coming on this country in the near future. On top of all that, its well known that he’s the biggest liberal there. Can you imaging what this country would be like? God help us all! This man does not deserve the presidency. THINK AMERICA, THINK!
0obama im willing to bet is still friends with his pastor and terriost guy/ obama wife comments not verry good. so wise up all vote for hillary/
joe Andrews is a turncoat/wow he sided with obama who is not fit to be our commander and chief………..no one thinks much of Andrews now
This just shows why we need to get rid of the delegate system, the Superdelegates cant even think logically. If Clinton is running ahead of McCain, then why change your superdelegate vote to a losing candidate? More of the confounded logic that has been urging Clinton to exit the race despite the fact that historically many other candidates were much further behind at this point in the process. The Democratic Party is showing signs of senility!
We are supporting you Obama!!!
Middle class white woman.
Obama God bless you 08