Why March 15 will be make or break for the presidential candidates

[LuckyTheDog]

The strangest and most volatile presidential race in modern history got even more unpredictable on Tuesday night.

On the Republican side, Donald Trump overcame a relentless wave of establishment attacks to win Mississippi, Michigan and Hawaii by large margins. Trump’s only defeat of the night was by Ted Cruz in the Idaho caucuses.

On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders proved the polls and pundits wrong by narrowly edging out Hillary Clinton in Michigan. Equally important, however, Clinton won a landslide victory over Sanders in Mississippi.

So what does it all say about the state of the 2016 presidential race?

MORE HERE: http://yonside.com/march15-presidential-candidates/

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. "Equally important"? Really?

>>>>On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders proved the polls and pundits wrong by narrowly edging out Hillary Clinton in Michigan. Equally important, however, Clinton won a landslide victory over Sanders in Mississippi. >>>>>.

[Adrahil]

3. Why not? She CRUSHED Bernie there, and snagged a huge share of the deelgates.

Although I admit that I think MI is of more interest. The South is done, for the most part. Is MI a bellweather or not, is the real question.

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. Please.

6 electoral votes vs. *26*.

Even Clinton... as ideologically... ahem... "flexible" as she is..... has zero chance of carrying it in GE.

And... it ( Miss.)..... hasn't gone DEM in a presidential election since *1960*. (That means GOLDWATER and friggin *WALLACE*!)

And that's only because they ( Mississippians) thought that JFK and LBJ were segregationists.

>>>Is MI a bellweather or not, is the real question.>>>


I'll save you the trouble:
It's a bellweather.

Our gal is in trouble.!

[Lizzie Poppet]

7. 1960 would be Nixon/Lodge.

But your point is still perfectly valid: Mississippi is a lost cause for Democrats. Not saying their votes aren't as valid as anyone's in the primary; they have every right to express their preference. Hell, I'm glad they did, despite being for Bernie. Because democracy.

But the fact remains their votes won't be of any importance whatsoever in November. That's just a fact of US political life as long as the Electoral College remains.

[Smarmie Doofus]

14. Sorry. I was unclear.

I meant it ( Miss) went for Goldwater in '64 and Wallace ( George.... certainly not Henry) in '68.

It's probably a nice state w. many "nice" people in it but it has nothing to do w. our ( DEMs) constructing an electoral majority in NOV.

*Nothing*.

[Lizzie Poppet]

15. Ah, I got ya. =)

And yep...Mississippi is, from a presidential election standpoint, completely irrelevant to Democrats (and other liberals).

[Garrett78]

18. That's true to an even greater extent of NE, OK, KS and other states outside of the Deep South.

But it's a pointless meme for reasons I stated here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511460282

[Adrahil]

9. Right now,mwe are concerned with delegates for the nomination.

But like I id, we'll see where we are next Wednesday. If Bernie can convert in illinois, I'll really take notice. For now, he is way oof pace for the nomination.

[demwing]

6. Yes, how the hell is that "equally important"???

the latter was expected, the former was a surprise game changer.

Why are some people (not the OP!) so fucking stupid?

[bigwillq]

10. It is equally important to note that, imo.

Clinton has a great night, she increased her delegate lead. I don't see what the issue is here.

[Codeine]

13. It's a race for delegates, so definitely

"equally important." Is it equally remarkable? Equally impressive? Equally inpactful? Nah. But it is important.

[Adrahil]

2. I think that is true.

If Bernie can pivot off his remarkable MI victory (and it was remarkable, however narrow), and take either Ohio or Illinois, or... BOTH, then he has a very real chance. If not, then MI was a blip. I think it's likely that Clinton takes FL and NC.

But I'll tell you this, I am taking every poll with a giant grain of salt for the rest of the primary!

[Garrett78]

17. I suspect OH and MO are more attainable than IL.

But who knows. Anyway, if Clinton expands her delegate lead by another 200 on March 15, it'll be virtually impossible for her to lose.

[highprincipleswork]

4. That's what was said last time. It will not be over till it's over. I'm with Bernie!!!

[Cheese Sandwich]

8. March 15 is not make or break.

Hillary campaign is spreading that myth because they want to discourage people from voting.

Bernie can lose on March 15, collect some delegates and still rebound

[Karma13612]

11. Nope, not buying it. March 15th is an artificial deadline.

Bernie's win last night has helped a LOT.

And he will do well after 3-15.

Bernie is going all the way thru all 50 states, and on to the convention. He wants everyone to have their voices heard.

I for one would not want to deny Bernie or the rest of the country.

I stand with Bernie because he stands with me, with the 99%.

Hope you are on board, but if not, we will save you a spot at the convention.

And on Inauguration Day in 2017.

[marions ghost]

16. Well said!

I'll take that spot on the mall on inauguration day 2017

I was there for Obama. I will be there for Bernie.

Meanwhile, work to do.

[Karma13612]

19. You lucky stuff! You were AT Obama's Inauguration?? Wow.

I am not worthy...

Yes, much work to do and then time to celebrate.

[Garrett78]

21. Pro-Obama and anti-Clinton doesn't make sense to me.

Chances are a Clinton Administration would operate more or less the same as the Obama Administration has operated. Of course, it's not the individual that's the issue so much as the system in which individuals operate.

Personally, I voted Green in '08 and '12, and will do so again this year. But I don't live in a battleground state, so have no qualms about voting Green in hopes it'll help the Green Party achieve federal matching funds eventually.

[marions ghost]

23. I voted for Obama against Clinton

in the 2008 primary--so how does that not make sense? I am happy to have a choice again not to vote for her. Certainly not with an even more progressive candidate running, who has plenty in common with Green party objectives. Not all, but certainly in synch with environmental concerns.

I'm in a battleground state.

[Garrett78]

24. Because Obama and Clinton are basically the same.

They're corporatized neoliberals. Actually, they aren't the problem, per se. They're symptoms and not causes.

Obama's 2nd biggest donor in 2008 was Goldman Sachs. So, who became Treasury Secretary? Timothy Geithner, of course.

The arguments against Clinton apply just as much to Obama, minus the bogus scandal stuff.

[marions ghost]

25. In 2008

it was less clear what Obama was going to be able to do. He ran on a populist platform.

I don't disagree with you. But we didn't have a Bernie running then.

[Garrett78]

26. I don't think it was unclear at all.

Rhetoric isn't policy. To paraphrase Clinton's 1992 motto, "It's the system, stupid." It was obvious that an Obama Administration would be pretty status quo.

[marions ghost]

27. Of course it's the system

duh--but we did have reason to hope for better things with Obama. During his presidency, we saw just how messed up the system actually is, and how far the RethugliCons will go to make sure it doesn't work at all.

Not everyone has your long distance prophetic view on things. But they've got the picture now.

[marions ghost]

22. Yes freezing our

..........buns off on the Mall in sub-freezing temps for 5 hours with all the masses (not up on the capitol steps but only one jumbotron away so we got a good view). They do this thing outside in January y'know. You can't take any chairs--you stand or sit on the ground. It's restricted high security access (backpack search) for a million people or so, monitored by snipers on rooftops and helicopters. The whole Mall was lined with porto-potty walls on both sides--surreal. Talk about feeling corralled......

But it was a beautiful moment--to be surrounded by a huge crowd of kindred spirits who were so positive, so excited, so hopeful. Our tribe. Those who believe in better things for this country.

I will never forget it. And if Bernie makes it, I will be there again.

Work to do.

[kath]

12. It is BULLSHIT to say that Mar 15 is "make or break". see this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511447217

Enough is enough is ENOUGH of this crap.

[Karma13612]

20. You said it!!! Woohoo!!

And Bernie was outstanding last night in Florida.

This is now a train at full speed.

No stopping, no derailments, on to the convention.