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Obama inching ever closer to nomination
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CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Wed. May. 21 2008 3:06 PM ET
Barack Obama, having now secured a majority of pledged delegates, is inching ever closer to securing the Democratic presidential nomination.
Obama, including Tuesday's primary victory in Oregon, has won 1,642 pledged delegates in primary and caucuses held so far -- enough for a majority.
Overall, including superdelegates, Obama has a total of 1,956 delegates. Clinton, including superdelegates, has 1,776, reports The Associated Press.
Obama is expected to climb within 60 delegates of the 2,026 delegates needed to clinch the nomination after results from the Oregon primary are fully counted Wednesday.
Obama currently has a 58-42 per cent margin over Hillary Clinton in Oregon with 88 per cent of the vote counted.
In Kentucky, Clinton easily won that primary by about 35 points over Obama. With all of the votes counted, she had 65 per cent support, while Obama had 30 per cent.
"There's only a handful of tiny contests to go," Allan J. Lichtman, presidential historian for American University, said Wednesday. "The basic shape of this race is not going to change.
Lichtman, speaking to CTV's Canada AM, said the only thing left to decide is if Obama will create a "dream ticket" by picking Clinton to run as vice-president.
However, despite the odds, Clinton has vowed to continue her bid for president.
"Neither Senator Obama nor I will have reached that magic number when the voting ends on June 3," she said Tuesday night in Kentucky.
"And so, our party will have a tough choice to make -- who's ready to lead our party at the top of our ticket, who is ready to defeat Senator McCain in the swing states and among swing voters."
Both candidates are spending Wednesday campaigning in Florida.
Clinton, counting results from Florida and in Michigan, claims she is ahead of Obama in the popular vote.
But the Democratic Party disqualified the two states because they changed their primary dates without authorization.
As a result, Clinton is pushing for the party to count votes from the two primaries.
Neither Obama nor Clinton campaigned in those states, and Michigan did not even have Obama on its ballot.
Obama is planning to spend several days in Florida -- a state which will be a prime battleground in the fall campaign against Republican John McCain.
The three remaining primaries are Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota.
With files from The Associated Press
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I applaud the budget, even though Health Care and education may stay unscathed. Sadly this cannot last and I worry to later this year where cuts will become enviable. If anything, this provides the Wildrose Alliance plenty of ammo when an election is called.
Comments are now closed for this story
lecram
said
Lucy
said
It is about time she get off the stage and end the show.
How a delusional person who can't seem to accept defeat attracts voters is beyond me. What because she is a woman? So what - this just proves to the electorate she is using her gender as a reason to stay in - saying I'm breaking barriers - no, barrier-breaking is for winners, not losers.
Really, give up the race and end it already - she is like an old hockey player who can't quit and it is getting pathetic to watch.
LDL
said
You've lost already, Give it up !
Good effort,your clearly an experienced politician, yada yada yada, but you came in second. Move aside.
Now if we only had this much interest or interesting players in Canadian politics, that would be fun.
BGD
said
Arujia
said
The fact that she is sounding the George Bush after each defeat - reminds me of the Iraq war that despite the evidence, Bush presses on. Clinton does the same thing - with each gain by Obama she presses on - is this what she means how as a women she will do things differently? Sounds like her being one of the men and thinking just like the current President.
Hillary is a Hero
said
She is, in effect, doing the right thing. By dividing the Democrats, she is helping to put the best possible candidate -- McCain -- in office.
.
McCain is the real deal. His presence will provide much-needed economic and political stability.
.
Herb
said
Len
said
Greg from Kitchener
said
Roch
said
Her delusional behaviour suggests medication is required.
Tsultim
said
Pavel
said
Election rules and greed are two factors that push Hillary to humiliate herself and damage the chances of Democrats in this elections.
Anna
said
Petra Wild
said
As for the comment above about Obama's pastor, it is a simple thinking process that leads one to connect Obama and Wright - think a little higher than that. The Amercian people don't even believe that, unless you are talking about the backwater trailer people in West Virginia.
Cmon, the country needs a change - an 3 decade senator tied to lobbyists and who is a war monger is not the solution.
CYL
said
Is the USA ready for a rookie to take over the Bush's mess.
Would be interesting though, to have a black president in the white house, who, in no time will have white hair anyway.
McCain is looking more like the fit.
Robin the Hood
said
Canuck in WA state
said
Is it really a great thing to say i am preferred by white voters. Is that the message you want to send?
Is it realy a great thing to say uneducated people like me? Does that say a lot for you.
Were either of these the groups that at the start of this whole thing you would have said were the criteria for a good leader?
I like Hillary and think she would do an ok job, but this is getting kind of pathetic. I very much like Obama (His book is great though a little pollyanna) and think he is the best person for the job.
Heck, I don't really mind McCain, but Bush has been so incompetent that the the GOP is gonna get a severe ass booting.
And anyone demonizing any of the candidates just shows themselves for fools.
American in Toronto
said
Eric
said
What? It's a longshot? Well, don't even bother try. Good message guys.
IAN
said
Lorne
said
It's not what you know - it's how much money you have for the campaign.
The three candidates for both parties are not qualified to run the country.
I also agree that Hillary should continue her campaign in order to give the people the right to vote for their choice.
McCain will probably win the presidential race, especially if he says he will only be a one term president.
The DNC and Democratic Pary destroyed themselves when they made the decision not to include Florida and Michigan in the voting process.
Lindsay Morgan
said
McCain will take it no matter which candidate the democrates run.
The United States of America is not ready for either one of these candidates for obvious reasons.
Call it what you will, it is the way it is!
Doug BC
said
Obama is as phoney as a three dollar bill.But he has an imazing ability to motivate.I expect,if he is elected,he will be a one term disaster for America.
As to Mrs.Clinton dropping out.Why should she??No one quits until the game is over.And,if she truely believes she is the better candidate she really is obligated to do her best to win.I don't think losing is a good excuse to quit something you believe in.In fact,I would argue the quitting is what makes "losers" out of people who otherwise may simply have been defeated in a contest.
Edward in Vancouver
said
Deeanne
said
CR
said
If the manufacturing industry in Ontario and Quebec think they are hurting now, wait until Obama or Clinton get into office and start "re-negotiating" NAFTA. At least McCain is an ardent free trader.
Obama talks about "change", but has done little do define what that "change" would encompass (other than not being Bush).
I'm hoping that Mrs. Clinton somehow pulls off the nomination. Then, the Democratic Party will tear itself apart at the seams and John McCain can start measuring drapes for the White House. Canada will be better off as a result.
Canadian Observer
said
Ki-Som
said
Neil
said
"........also tell their kids not to give up."
No; it's not a personal race, she is part of a team. .....more like telling your kid to stay on the ice even if you're tired because it doesn't matter if the team wins as long as you do well!!!!!