Obama is The Nominee: This is Now a Battle for The Clinton Voters

[writes3000]

Looking at all of the signs, the race for the nomination is over. Barack Obama will be the Democratic Nominee for President. Not only has he won the most states, the most votes, the most pledged delegates - not only has he brought in new voters, appealed to independents and shattered fund-raising records - but the Democratic Party knows it cannot afford to overturn the results of this race without permanent damage to their African American constituency and the newfound youth constituency. Fair is fair and the Democratic Party's fundamental theme is fairness and equality for all. They can not and will not betray that philosophy.

So what's really going on?

I believe the party leaders (Dean, Pelosi, Gore, Kerry, Edwards, Carter, Kennedy, etc.) have all agreed that Obama will be the nominee. And I believe some of these people have communicated this to Obama. Clearly, the Republican party knows this. That's why they're spending all of their money and resources against Obama. Not one dime is being spent against Hillary.

So does Hillary know that this race is essentially over? Perhaps. But I don't think she's been formally told this. Why? Because there is a bigger game afoot.

This is now a battle to win over the Clinton voters. And it's fascinating to watch.

On the Democratic side: The party is doing everything it can to appear like they are giving Hillary the fairest of fair shots. Sure, there are the rare calls for her to drop out but those are nothing compared to the behind the scenes sentiment, I'd bet. The Dem party leaders know full well that the Clintons will claim injustice and sexism if Hillary is perceived to be pushed out. So they're slowly doling out SD endorsements one and two at a time. Trying to send a gentle message while they play the Clintons' game. Praying that Hillary and Bill Clinton will at some point honor the results and the wishes of the rest of the party.

Obama? He's got the toughest of missions. He's got to stay in this race but, but, but HE CAN'T ATTACK HER. He's got to try to seem nice and appealing to the Clinton supporters because he needs a bigger chunk of them to come to him rather than McCain. So he's got to stand defenseless while this goes on. He doesn't outwardly attack her on the Bosnia gaffe. Or on any of her gaffes. Clinton calls him an elitist. Obama brushes it off but he doesn't attack her in the same way. Yep, it seems like he has no fight. And the Clintons even use that against him.

But folks, make no mistake, this is why he's not fighting back. He's been told he's the nominee.

Even more fascinating is what's going on with the Republicans.

Their pundits are masterfully claiming that Hillary is the stronger candidate for multiple reasons.

1) Most obviously, they want to primary to go to the convention. They know there will be almost no time for the party to heal after August.

2) They want to increase doubt and fear within the Dem party and the Dem party leadership. "Oh no, what if Barack Obama is MORE unpopular and unelectable than Hillary Clinton!" It's ridiculous but people buy it - despite the fact that people like and trust Obama more.

3) This is the key rationale. The Republicans are pumping up Hillary so they can siphon off votes when Barack's nomination is official. Believe it or not, the Republican party is positioning themselves to become to the party devoted to disenfranchised women. They already know that their scare tactics and race baiting will work on the many uneducated Americans. But what they need is to convince women that the Democratic party has somehow betrayed them.

Will they succeed? I hope not.

But either way, IMO, the race is over. Barack Obama is the nominee.