How much does momentum affect the race?

[Genevieve]

Your opinion?

Thanks

[AgadorSparticus]

1. I think A LOT! I could not believe the Clinton campaign just sat on their

thumbs letting Obama rack up the states. I don't know how that could have escaped the HRC campaing. It seems like a no brainer to me.

[workinforalivin]

2. It has become the race ... issues, policies, plans don't matter

what matters is momentum, established via the M$M, celebrities, and cash. Just ask John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich or Joe Biden.

[x-g.o.p.er]

3. Momentum is a reflection of perception. Perception is reality

Reality is that Obama's kicking the hell out of Hillary in every state, almost every demographic, and there are no signs of a Clinton turn around.

Momentum, therefore, is reality.

[XemaSab]

4. Momentum:

Speaking in a basketball arena vs. speaking in a high school gym.

[Emit]

5. Greatly, IMHO

But, specifically with regard to Obama, he can continue to build momentum -- he's that kind of preacher politician. ;)

The squabbling with Clinton is a distraction, however, and gives the appearance that the Repubs have an opportunity at the upper hand.

Bottom line, if Obama can spring board off the momentum now into the GE, all the better.

[Barack_America]

6. Tremendously...

Democratic voters are not clueless that there is an election that comes after the nomination. They're watching the Republicans coalesce around McCain. They're paying attention of the head-to-head polls of their candidates versus McCain (Obama wins, Hillary loses).

This stuff builds and, yes, it affects votes. Take for example the several posters who said today that they really wanted to vote for Edwards, but considered the race between Hillary and Obama, and voted for Obama instead. Consider the late-breaking voters in WI who voted for Obama over Hillary by over 25%.

Momentum matters.

[Genevieve]

7. Good ---

this and the other posts are what I hoped to hear.

[PurityOfEssence]

8. A lot. People are herd animals. "The Blair Witch Project" made a quarter billion in the blink

of an eye, and it's crap.

Level-headed people generally do one of two things when facing an irrational frenzy like this: find a way to profit from it, or run the other way.

This is why I keep using the metaphor of the Pied Piper.