Thoughts on SC Primary Day...

...first of all I'm happy this day has come but I'm sure I'm not as happy as the Democrats are.

To say this state has completely torn at the core of the party is an understatement. As much as the Democrats claim to be a party of race and equity there's no denial that this state completely held up the same ol' barriers that people revert to when in a racially divided southern state like South Carolina.

If the goal was to get major turnout...well it's been successful. But the ultimate goal of presenting a unified party committed to improving the U.S. during its convention over the summer before going on a victory tour in the fall looks more and more unlikely.

Will Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton join hands in triumph a few months from now? Sure. But the fact remains that these two Senators, who I believed respected each other six months ago, have all but destroyed any personal relationship that may be needed in the future. And the party will need both Senators to succeed in the fall and in the future.

Meanwhile, today is primary day in South Carolina and I predict a slim Obama victory over Clinton with Edwards becoming more and more an afterthought. Some media outlets (actually just conservative pundit Bob Novak) are saying that he may drop out of the race sooner than later and start campaigning with Obama as a promise of a cabinet position awaits. And to be honest, if either Clinton or Obama take the White House, Edwards should be offered a prominent cabinet position.

So let's see how his one shakes out and see if better days are ahead.

Hillary Sheds Tears & Edwards Responds

...After going on the offensive for the last few days, Hillary Clinton took a new route and chose to get emotional during a Q&A period with her supporters.



The good news is for the Senator is that she has recovered about half her deficit going into today's New Hampshire vote, the bad news is her biggest supporter isn't the draw he used to be. Nor is he the magician he used to be as he can't make his wife younger, male or black either.

Meanwhile the bad news for John Edwards is that he sounded like a dick in responding to Hillary's emotional "outburst".

"I think what we need in a commander-in-chief is strength and resolve, and presidential campaigns are tough business, but being president of the United States is also tough business."

Stay classy John.

Going Around the Horn

Hillary On Wrong End of Threesome: Barack Obama and John Edwards look more like running mates than competitors. Both men went on the attack against Hillary Clinton with 2008's new buzz word..."status quo".

Survey Sez: Hillary is in trouble.

Wolf Doesn't Get The Fox: Ron Paul is left out in cold, but New Hampshire says otherwise.

Romney Gets Love in Wyoming: And eight delegates as well. Fred Thompson picks up three and even Duncan Hunter snags one. As for John McCain? No dice. Things weren't all roses for the Massachusetts govenor as he continues to fight one attack after another with his own.

Weird Factoid of the Night: From our friends at the Washington Post

The Clinton campaign came to this debate loaded for bear. No sooner had Clinton accused Obama of flip-flopping on funding for the Iraq war, health care, and the Patriot Act, her spokesman Phil Singer emailed reporters with factual backup for the New York senator's charges. Here is a sample from the press release on the the Iraq War:

"As a Senate candidate in November 2003, Obama said he would have 'unequivocally' voted against war funding because it was the only way to oppose Bush on Iraq:"

"Just this week, when I was asked, would I have voted for the $87 billion dollars, I said 'no.' I said no unequivocally because, at a certain point, we have to say no to George Bush. If we keep on getting steamrolled, we are not going to stand a chance." [Obama remarks, New Trier Democratic Organization forum, 11/16/03 .]

"But until he ran for president, Obama supported every funding bill for Iraq." [The campaign goes on to list a long series of Obama votes.]

Flat-Out Lie of the Night: From who else but Mitt Romney, also thanks to the WP

Barack Obama "wants the government to take over health care." --Mitt Romney.

Nonsense. Obama's health care plan is arguably less radical than the one that Mitt Romney introduced in Massachusetts while he was governor. Obama has got into trouble with his fellow Democrats for not including an individual mandate in his health care plan, similar to the one that Romney introduced in Massachusetts. Obama has focused on bringing the price of health care down--not introducing government-run health care.

Three days and counting! Let the fists fly before the New Hampshire primary.