I think it's starting to rain...

[Bread and Circus]

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/02/obama_poised_to.html

Obama poised to get big union nod
Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor February 15, 2008 10:12 AM

Barack Obama is expected to get a key union endorsement this afternoon, several news organizations are reporting.

The support of the 1.8-million-member Service Employees International Union could boost his efforts to overtake Hillary Clinton in Ohio and Texas, which vote March 4, and Pennsylvania, which holds its primary April 22. Those three states are looking more and more as the last stand for Clinton, who trails Obama in delegates, popular votes, states won, and campaign cash.

Clinton is moving to a more economic populist message as she appeals to blue-collar workers, so the union endorsements could help Obama rebut that argument.

One SEIU official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, told the Associated Press that Obama was "99 percent" likely to get the endorsement. John Edwards, before he suspended his campaign, coveted the national SEIU endorsement, but never received it. State SEIU chapters, however, became active in key states, including Iowa and New Hampshire.

Thursday, Obama won the support of the United Food and Commercial Workers, a politically active union with significant membership in the upcoming Democratic battlegrounds.

[question everything]

1. Just as he got the big union nod in Nevada and California

but lost both?

(Yes I know, he won more delegates in Nevada, one of the problems in the system and reminiscent of the popular votes vs. the electoral ones in 2000).

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. He won Nevada...

and picked up far more delegates from California than he was expected to before teh endorsement.

:shrug:

[Bread and Circus]

4. Clinton started this marathon with a 10 mile head start. Tying on Super Tuesday was just part...

of the turning of the tide.

[AtomicKitten]

3. That's the sound of support cresting the flood-wall of cynicism and overflowing.

Kinda like Katrina but in a good way. ;)

Gobama.

K&R :)

[babylonsister]

5. He got it! Just announced on MSNBC! Yay! GOBAMA!!! nt

[Bread and Circus]

6. Sweet!

[Bread and Circus]

7. Clinton may win Texas and lose it

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/casey/5543965.html


14, 2008, 10:58PM

Clinton may win Texas and lose it

By RICK CASEY

Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Sometimes life isn't fair.

Now that Obama has taken over the delegate lead in the Democratic presidential race, Clinton is counting on her potential support among Hispanics in the March 4 Texas primary to help her catch up.

But for reasons that actually make sense if you dig deep enough, in Texas the Hispanic votes don't count as much as the black votes Obama can count on receiving in overwhelming numbers.

So, it's possible Hillary could whip Barack by eight to 10 points and yet split about even on Texas delegates.

Texas Democrats could even give Clinton more votes but give Obama more delegates....

[Bread and Circus]

8. Obama Hopes to Stay in Wisconsin

Obama Hopes to Stay in Wisconsin

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120304444295470783.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Fresh from big victories in Virginia and Maryland, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign is trying to maximize momentum by framing Tuesday's Wisconsin primary as a test run for Ohio -- a state Sen. Hillary Clinton's supporters have said she must win to remain in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.


With similar demography and slumping manufacturing sectors, the Midwestern states mirror one another. Because Wisconsin is holding a primary rather than a caucus -- Mrs. Clinton has fared better in primaries -- Mr. Obama is trying to raise expectations for his opponent as she lowers them.

"By their own definition, Wisconsin would be a state you would think would be prime turf with them," Mr. Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, said.

Recent polls show Mr. Obama surging. The two latest polls in the state gave him leads of four and 11 percentage points. Since he arrived Tuesday, his rallies have drawn well. If he is able to win Wisconsin and his native state of Hawaii the same day, it would give him 10 straight victories heading into Ohio, where the latest poll showed Mrs. Clinton leading by 17 points.