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Current Events => Archives => Politics => Election 2008 => Topic started by: Wretched Excess on March 23, 2008, 09:45:00 PM
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Clinton Backer Points to Electoral College Votes as New Measure
Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, who backs Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, proposed another gauge Sunday by which superdelegates might judge whether to support Mrs. Clinton or Senator Barack Obama.
He suggested that they consider the electoral votes of the states that each of them has won.
“So who carried the states with the most Electoral College votes is an important factor to consider because ultimately, that’s how we choose the president of the United States,†Mr. Bayh said on CNN’s “Late Edition.â€
In a primary, of course, electoral votes are not relevant, but the Clinton campaign is trying to use them as an unofficial measure of strength.
So far, Mrs. Clinton has won states with a total of 219 Electoral College votes, not counting Florida and Michigan, while Mr. Obama has won states with a total of 202 electoral votes.
Mr. Obama, of Illinois, is ahead of Mrs. Clinton, of New York, in most other leading indicators: popular vote (by 700,000 votes out of 26 million cast, excluding caucuses and the disputed Florida and Michigan results, a difference of about 3 percent); delegates (1,622.5 compared with 1,472.5 for her, according to The New York Times’s count); and number of states (27 compared with 14 for her, excluding Florida and Michigan). The opinion polls are mixed but give Mr. Obama a slight edge.
Asked how she could win the nomination, Mr. Bayh said: “Well, I do think the popular vote is important. But that’s a circular argument. It brings us back to Florida and Michigan.â€
He said he would also factor in electability and momentum, then added: “But ultimately, you know, if you look at the aggregate popular vote, and as we all recall in 2000, to our, as Democrats, great sorrow, we do elect presidents based upon the Electoral College.â€
The Clinton camp has argued that Mrs. Clinton’s having won the big states should be an important factor when considering her electability.
“Presidential elections are decided on electoral votes,†a spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, Howard Wolfson, said in an e-mail message.
But Mr. Wolfson said superdelegates would also be looking at the popular vote when determining which candidate to support.
More (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/us/politics/24campaign.html?ref=politics)
how clintonian. come up with a way that you don't lose, even if it is utterly irrelevant, and pound your point home until people's heads explode. :-)
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...When asked to explain her age theory Senator Clinton said, "Well, I'm 60 now. I have only a few good years left. This could be my last chance to become President. Senator Obama is in his mid-40's. This isn't his last chance to run. The delegates should consider time-frame before they decide on whom to support."
When contacted, Senator Obama's campaign had no official response to Senator Clinton's comment. One campaign adviser, who asked to not be identified, did say, "God DAMN Senator Clinton!".
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The fatal Flaw in the EC proposal is So what if hillary has more EC votes thats in the Democrat primaries Republicans get to vote in the General.
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The fatal Flaw in the EC proposal is So what if hillary has more EC votes thats in the Democrat primaries Republicans get to vote in the General.
she is going to use "electability" to try to erode confidence in him. he needs to look out, this is when the clintons are at their most lethal.
she is going to ride this one all the way to the convention.