THE EMPRESS HAS NO DELEGATES
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 | 2:40 PM
By Sarah Scully
The Rocky and Eight Belles metaphors were more true than the Clinton campaign realized as they became harbingers of her ultimate defeat. The fighting filly has fallen. What she must decide now is how she will exit the ring- on a stretcher or clasping the hand of her opponent. She might even be carried out on the shoulders of her supporters if she withdraws after her likely victory in West Virginia on Tuesday. Then she could really go out like Rocky, the beloved scrapper who lost honorably. Howard Dean astutely pointed out that the unity and strength of the Democratic party rests squarely on the shoulders of the candidate who loses this battle. If I were one of her strategists, I would advise her to suspend her campaign after winning West Virginia with a speech that is both graceful and hopeful that includes a pledge to help deliver Ohio and Pennsylvania for Obama in the fall. Rocky may have been defeated by Apollo but he went on to become a champion later.
Clinton Camp. to Wake up to One Heck of a Hangover
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 | 11:17 PM
By Sarah Scully
Work crews are striking the stage and sweeping up confetti but Indiana has yet to be called. Clinton gave her victory speech when she was several points ahead and exited smiling. Now it looks questionable as to whether she can even call this a victory. Gary, Indiana is one of the last areas to be counted as it is in an earlier time zone with polls closing later. It is also the last to be counted because the turnout has been so high. With the mayor predicting an Obama blowout, Clinton's tenuous win is vanishing by the minute. Best case scenario for her now is to come out only a point or two ahead. The Clinton campaign is going to wake up with quite a hangover.
Brave Face, Open Hand
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 | 9:42 PM
By Sarah Scully
Indiana has not yet been fully counted but Hillary Clinton took her chances, putting on, not just a brave face, but a serenely calm face to address her supporters here in Indianapolis. The spin on tonight's events is as follows:
"[Obama] said that he figured I'd win Pennsylvania, he'd win North Carolina... and Indiana would be the tie-breaker. Well..."
That said, the delegate count is not in her favor and it is likely that tomorrow will bring a cold shower of a number of superdelegates breaking for Obama and media mathematicians telling her she has no shot. However you feel about the former first lady and current Senator from New York, you cannot deny her tenacity. She adds to her confident victory speech a pragmatic call for money so that she can fight on. She tells her supporters that this is really their victory. With an admonishment of Myanmar's Junta to back up her foreign policy cred, a warm fuzzy nod to her daughter and husband, she closes with a prayer for democracy: "Count the votes in Michigan and Florida!" Rocky may be on the ropes and bleeding but there are still a few more rounds to go. We'll see how the superdelegates have digested this plot line in the morning.
More From Clinton's Indiana Election Night Party
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 | 6:43 PM
By Sarah Scully
North Carolina has officially been called for Obama and the results here in Indiana look to be narrowing a little. Nervous energy has set and and you can see a few in the crowd are staring up at the ceiling, counting their fingers, doing the delegate math in their heads. They know that their candidate will need to win by double digits now to keep the "Comeback Kid" title re-earned in Philly. She's holding a strong lead at present but NC has rattled them. Surely Obama's victory will come with at least a few superdelegate endorsements.
Hoosier Pick?
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 | 6:23 PM
By Sarah Scully
Live from Indiana: The crowd is swelling here at the Murat Shrine Temple in downtown Indianapolis as "Don't Stop Believing" plays on the extra loud, loud speakers. Applause greets the results rolling in on the big screens at the sides of the room. "She's up! She's way up!" More applause, now shouting, now steady chanting: "Madame President! Madame President!" It's not exactly Beatlemania but it is a steady and solid display of support. They are not ready to give up on her nomination. When North Carolina results appear on the screen- "Boooo!" Hillary Clinton picked a comforting place to spend election night. This crowd will cushion the blow from North Carolina and dispel any doubt that she has a huge following among the elderly and working class. Where that will take her remains to be seen...
The Twelve Labors of Hillary
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 | 1:37 PM
By Sarah Scully
Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and now Indiana. In a clever, though risky strategy, the Clinton campaign has continued to put forth the idea that certain primaries are "do or die" for their candidate and many have taken the bait. The campaign has effectively changed the conversation to emphasize the meaning of wins in particular states over others, ignoring the actual number of delegates awarded. As a result, Hillary has been positioned as some sort of mythological heroine, overcoming the arbitrary challenges set forth by the gods so as to prove her strength and justify her immortality. Hercules had to kill the Nemean Lion and the Lernaean Hydra, Hillary had to win Texas and Ohio. Winning Pennsylvania by double digits was her capturing the Cerynean Hind. In place of retrieving the Apples of Hesperides, she will have to win the Indiana primary. Will she capture Cerberus in Kentucky? The trick after that, of course, will be getting King Eurystheus to count Michigan and Florida.
McCain's Secret Weapon: Giggles
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 | 12:51 AM
By Sarah Scully
Perhaps John McCain is benefitting from the protracted Democratic battle but he is also suffering from neglect in the short term. The media's obsessive coverage of every nod and head scratch by Clinton and Obama has left the most press-friendly candidate of all out in the cold. There is however one unlikely venue that has hosted the Arizona senator more than a dozen times, The Daily Show. Though Jon Stewart disagrees with many of McCain's positions, he seems absolutely enchanted by his sardonic, easygoing way, as does the audience. McCain gets big laughs and is able to articulate his platform at the same time. The "Likeability Factor" cannot be taken too lightly in presidential elections. Obama and Clinton would be wise to take a lesson from the salty old charmer. They will have to do more than awkwardly read Top Ten Lists or say 'Live from New York!" if they're going to keep up. Late-night comics may just be one of the secret weapons in McCain's arsenal for the fall. He did announce his candidacy on Letterman after all.
Clinton's German Hunting Rife Endeavor in Indiana
Monday, May 5, 2008 | 8:32 AM
If anyone was wondering what sort of hunting rifle Hillary and the Clinton camp might use, you might want to look here.
Not that I would know the difference -- but c'mon, if they're going to whack Obama with it, shouldn't they know better?
Also this.
Glad It Wasn't Me
Sunday, May 4, 2008 | 9:01 PM
One of our favorites from the Traveling Press Corps. reports on the ultimate Campaign Trail experience... http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/05/i_just_knew_this_was_going_to.html
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